Winnipeg, Man. — A Mennonite Church Manitoba meeting at Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship took a confrontational turn on Jan. 12, opening the floodgates of debate on just what it means for local congregations to “create space” for one another based on the Being a Faithful Church 7 resolution passed at last summer’s general assembly in Saskatoon.
The recent presidential executive order temporarily banning entry from seven Muslim-majority countries has been having widespread effects, including for institutions of higher education. Several Mennonite colleges and universities have already reported impacts from the federal action, though the long-term results of the ban are still unclear.
A new federal indictment concerning almost $1 million in fraudulent activity at Hopi Mission School in Kykotsmovi, Ariz., includes two principals and the school board’s treasurer.
HARRISONBURG, Va. — President Susan Schultz Huxman launched an Action Plan Steering Committee Jan. 26 at Eastern Mennonite University to ensure EMU meets federal regulations and implements best practices to prevent and respond to allegations of sexual misconduct.
The teach-in was supposed to happen at a local library. But when President Trump entered office with executive actions that heightened fears among the immigrant community, a larger venue was needed. Columbus (Ohio) Mennonite Church shoehorned nearly 400 people into its sanctuary Jan. 31 as the expansion site for a teaching session on immigrant sanctuary by the Central Ohio Worker Center.
Mennonite Women USA is building stronger leadership for its Sister Care seminars in Latin America, where enthusiasm for the program is high.
Jonathan Kuttab, a Palestinian-American who attends Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster, Pa., spoke at a New York City synagogue on Nov. 29.
FRESNO, Calif. — A candidate with administrative, fundraising and international experience has been chosen as the next President of Fresno Pacific University.
In September, Naomi Engle was diagnosed with brain cancer after experiencing problems maintaining her balance. The co-pastor of West Clinton Mennonite Church in Wauseon, Ohio, died Jan. 1 at age 51.
WASHINGTON — Wilma Harder felt stronger with every rest stop she visited driving from Goshen, Ind., to Washington to join the Women’s March Jan. 21.
Hannah Hochstetler, co-leader of the Mennonite Mission Network Service Adventure unit in Jackson, Miss., died Jan. 19 in a car accident near Roanoke, Va. She was 26.
An external review of responses to reports of sexual abuse in a Virginia congregation has led Mennonite Church USA staff to conclude the lead pastor acted in ways that protected the alleged perpetrator, to the detriment of caring for the victim.
