Among several large Anabaptist conventions and assemblies in North America this year, the biggest was put on by a relatively small denomination. The Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, held its general conference — its first since 2003 — Nov. 17-20 in Tupelo, Miss.
FRESNO, Calif. — Paul Toews, a leading Mennonite Brethren historian who taught for 44 years at Fresno Pacific University and did groundbreaking research on Mennonites in Russia, died Nov. 27. He was 75.
A donation shortfall has prompted Mennonite Church Canada to reduce staff and accelerate structural change, placing more ministry activities at the provincial level. A Nov. 28 news release cited “a pressing financial necessity” to implement changes proposed by the Future Directions Task Force earlier than expected.
GOSHEN, Ind. — By invitation, Goshen College President Jim Brenneman took part in a higher education climate roundtable discussion Nov. 19 at the White House, as part of the American Campuses Act on Climate day of action. About 50 colleges and universities were represented.
ORANGE WALK, Belize — More than 40 adults and children participated in the 10th anniversary celebration of Jesus’ Deaf Church Oct. 11. Nancy Marshall, a worker with Virginia Mennonite Missions and Eastern Mennonite Missions, started the church and continues to pastor the group.
Franconia Mennonite Conference addressed fractious times within Mennonite Church USA by focusing its annual assembly on being the church together. In a series of statements submitted by congregations, refined by a committee and passed by delegates Nov. 13-14 at Penn View Christian School in Souderton, Pa., FMC acknowledged differences but affirmed staying together as a conference and with MC USA.
Taking in refugees from Syria wasn’t the initial plan of Forest Hills Mennonite Church in Leola, Pa. “In February, our winter Bible school focused on immigration,” lead pastor Jon Carlson said. “This was long before the Syrian refugee crisis made headlines. Syria wasn’t on our radar.”
Representatives of every stream of global Christianity met Nov. 1-5 in Tirana, Albania, for a consultation on “Discrimination, Persecution, Martyrdom: Following Christ Together.” The event was convened by the Global Christian Forum.
None of Mennonite Mission Network’s five international personnel in or near Paris was hurt in the Nov. 13 terrorist bombings, although each has been affected by them. “It took a little while to confirm that our five workers in Paris were all safe, and I found them to be sad, concerned and prayerful,” said Tim Foley, MMN director for international ministries.
Story updated Nov. 24
Lancaster Mennonite Conference announced Nov. 19 that it will withdraw from Mennonite Church USA by the end of 2017. A proposal from the conference’s Board of Bishops was ratified by 82.3 percent of credentialed leaders, surpassing the two-thirds needed to pass.
HARRISONBURG, Va. — One hundred pastors and credentialed leaders in Virginia Mennonite Conference gathered Nov. 9-11 at Lindale Mennonite Church for a consultation on “Same-Gender Attraction, Relationship, Lifestyle.”
