Joseph Manickam, a former president of Hesston College, began a six-month contract in February to support Mosaic Mennonite Conference with partnership development.

Manickam is executive director of Arelti, a nonreligious organization based in Hesston, Kan., that works across borders and boundaries to support communities at the grassroots level.

Before serving at Hesston College, he directed the Institute of Religion, Culture and Peace at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Manickam accompanied a Mosaic delegation in February to India to visit Peace Proclamation Ministries International, a Mosaic conference-related ministry. He will support the Mosaic board in conversations about partnership with other Mennonite organizations.

“We are asking Dr. Manickam to help us continue to deepen intercultural awareness and think about partnerships in ways that aren’t colonial or paternalistic,” said executive conference minister Stephen Kriss. “His experience as the son of mission workers from India to Thailand, with Pacific Southwest Conference in California and in leading Mennonite organizations are all valuable as the conference tries to understand the possibilities that exist in partnerships outside the U.S. in ways that are healthy, mutual and strengths-based.

“Joe’s work with Mosaic Conference comes at a critical time as we discern and navigate our relationship with Mennonite Church USA and work to define what a robust partnership could look like.”

Manickam said: “Mosaic is in a space of missional curiosity right now, and I sense this curiosity is aligned with the movement of the Holy Spirit around the world.”