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.”
LANCASTER, Pa. — From plain to acculturated, uniform to diverse, insulated to global, the Anabaptist movement has changed and will continue to do so. A panel of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ leaders assembled by the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society and the Brethren in Christ Historical Society gathered Nov. 9 at the Lancaster Brethren in Christ Church to discuss shifts in the Anabaptist world community.
One of the world’s largest and oldest interfaith organizations met in the U.S. last month, and an Illinois Mennonite orchestrated the final preparations and implementation. The Parliament of the World’s Religions gathered Oct. 15-19 in Salt Lake City. More than 9,000 people representing 80 nations and 50 faiths and traditions met for a program of speakers, workshops, exhibits and performances focused on themes such as compassion, peace, justice and sustainability.
Since its founding in Germany in 1708, the Brethren stream of Anabaptism has been associated with Mennonites, particularly for their shared opposition to war. Yet both groups have often overlooked their connections. Now efforts are emerging to rectify that.
Teaching at European seminaries in September, David W. Shenk said conversations everywhere were about how to respond to the continent’s refugee crisis. Shenk, a member of Eastern Mennonite Missions’ Christian Muslim Relations Team, taught for three weeks at seminaries in Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. All of the classes included learning about Muslims, and two had lively encounters with Islam.
HESSTON, Kan. — Hesston College President Howard Keim announced Oct. 22 he will transition away from his role at the end of the 2015-16 academic year, concluding 11 years of leadership as the college’s eighth president. Keim will conclude his service in June.
