Centering the value of unity, commitment to being God’s people ­together and having a kingdom identity, CMC, previously known as Conservative Mennonite Conference, met Aug. 6-8 in Goshen, Ind., for Multiply, its annual gathering.

The event, held at Clinton Christian School, drew 654 people, fewer than previous years.

Members celebrated their newly named conference pastor, Darren Peachey of Belleville, Pa.

Peachey opened the event with a word of hope, referencing Paul’s experience on a storm-tossed ship from Acts 27.

“Where do we find ourselves in this story?” Peachey asked, acknowledging that the stormy year of pandemic has affected everyone.

By connecting the imagery of those left on the ship with Paul to a present-day group of believers, Peachey said, “All 276 people of this congregation stayed with the ship and went into the water. I see a picture of baptism here.”

“As the church, we are his people,” he said. “We choose to live by faith — faith only in Jesus, following Jesus, powered by the Spirit of Jesus to do life together and to invite others into the kingdom of Jesus. At CMC we call that maturing and multiplying churches locally and globally.”

Breakout sessions covered topics of church-and-state relations, conflict resolution and church planting.

In a session on “Jesus and the Fox: Considering Church/State Relations,” Roger Hazen, pastor of Pineview Mennonite Church in Vassar, Mich., reviewed Scripture concerning authorities and governments, early Anabaptist commitments to church-and-state separation and issues for Anabaptists today.

Questions from attendees included whether Anabaptists should vote, whether a nonresistant person can justify calling the police and what Jesus meant when he told Peter to buy a sword (Luke 22:36).

Hazen, who was born into the Catholic church and converted to Anabaptism, described why he’s found a home in CMC.

“I hear Jesus calling his people to a way of kingdom living which in many ways is quite contrary to the ways of living in the kingdoms of the world,” he said. “I have found in CMC a people who have answered the calling to live in kingdom ways. That’s why I’m here with all of you.”

Hazen encouraged CMC to reject the belief that by gaining political or social influence they can bring in the kingdom of righteousness.

“That program has never worked, and it never can work, because it is not the program of Jesus Christ,” Hazen said.

“In our practice, fellowship and scriptural understandings, I would say that we as CMC hold a unique place in the Anabaptist world, and I hope we will continue to hold that place as a refuge for those who want a faith and faith practice that they really can’t find anywhere else.”

CMC counts 13,500 members spread across 23 states. Next year’s gathering is planned for July 22-24 in Grantsville, Md.