The refrain, ­“We have been here before,” echoed throughout the Hope for the Future Conference at Goshen College Feb. 28-March 2.

The annual gathering for BIPOC leaders — Black, Indigenous and other people of color within Mennonite Church USA — celebrated resilience, honored the past and envisioned a future grounded in justice and hope.

The conference commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Damascus Road Anti-Racism Process, launched by Mennonite Central Committee U.S. in 1995.

Damascus Road laid the foundation for antiracism training within Mennonite and Anabaptist communities, equipping participants with theological, educational and organizational tools for institutional transformation.

The conference honored early founders of Damascus Road, inspired those committed to its vision and welcomed White allies into the sacred space of shared learning and solidarity.

“People of color have been here before, but radical love will overcome,” said Iris de León-Hartshorn, MC USA’s associate executive director of operations and an early supporter of Damascus Road. Speaking to more than 130 gathered attendees at College Mennonite Church, she drew connections between past injustices and present challenges, urging the community to rise in faith and action.

“Radical love will overcome racism, hate and abuse of power,” she said. “Each generation must rise to meet the challenge. My friends and fellow believers, we cannot keep silent.”

Her words were underscored by the hymn “How Can We Be Silent,” led by Joanne Gallardo, co-minister of Indiana Michigan Mennonite Conference.

Anabaptist historian Felipe Hinojosa interviewed the co-founders of Damascus Road: Regina Shands Stoltzfus, a peace and justice educator, and Tobin Miller Shearer, who described himself as a “young, punk, naïve, White Mennonite boy” when he first felt called to dismantle racism in the church. Their early work began in 1995, culminating in a landmark gathering of 250 people in New York City, just four months after they met.

They recounted the struggles of grassroots organizing, building a network of allies and navigating institutional resistance, all while balancing young families.

“It was important to me that our children knew why we did this work,” Shands Stoltzfus said. “We started each training with: ‘I do this work so my kids can live in this country and not be afraid. I do this work so your kids can live in this country and not be afraid.’ ”

Signs of hope emerged over the decades, evidenced by BIPOC leaders now heading key Anabaptist organizations, including MC USA and the Anabaptist World board of directors. Today, Miller Shearer continues his work as a professor of history and African-American studies at the University of Montana, while Shands Stoltzfus serves as professor and director of peace, justice and conflict studies at Goshen College. They also collaborate through Widerstand Consulting.

A second storytelling panel, facilitated by Jill Hurst-Wahl, executive director of Widerstand Consulting, featured leaders and trainers from Damascus Road and its successor, Roots of Justice. Panelists Phil Brubaker, de León-Hartshorn, Rick Dirksen, Hinojosa, Hendy Matahelemual, Thulani Moore, Maati Yvonne and Brenda Zook Friesen shared personal stories of oppression, antiracist transformation and the lessons that shaped their work.

— “Be courageous,” urged de León- Hartshorn. “Courage is not the absence of fear.”
— “Be patient,” advised Maati Yvonne. “Because sometimes it takes people longer.”
— “Build sustainable alliances with other targets of oppression,” urged Thulani Conrad Moore, cautioning against divisions among marginalized communities.

Moore added: “We have done good work. We have reason to celebrate. Our most powerful weapon is hope.”

Shands Stoltzfus delivered a keynote address reflecting on the anniversaries of Trayvon Martin’s and Breonna Taylor’s deaths and highlighting the importance of history, community and resilience. She recounted stories from the Great Migration, the 1968 Howard University protests and the role of Black churches in sustaining justice movements.

“This is our legacy,” Shands Stoltzfus said. “This is what a gathered community can do when we recognize our vision, our strength and our power. Because we have been here before.”

Leonard Dow, vice president of community and church development for Everence, affirmed this message: “By God’s grace, through organizing, prayer, financial resources, wisdom and education, we have persevered. We’ve been here before. Therefore, we have what we need to move forward together.”

Shands Stoltzfus and Miller Shearer were recognized at a gala later that evening for their role in dismantling racism in the Mennonite church. MC USA executive director Glen Guyton expressed his gratitude for “the legacy you left behind and the people you influenced. The work that you did paved the way for people like me.”

Suzette Shreffler, co-pastor of White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church in Busby, Mont., shared a testimony of how God walked with her through trauma, loss and healing. She challenged attendees to embrace their own call to redemption: “God has equipped me, parented me as a father and used me to help my people. Where do you see him in your life wanting to redeem you?”

Following her testimony, attendees participated in a healing ritual, placing their hands in water and over the part of their body where they carry the burdens of their work. Each person took a swatch of gold fabric as a tangible reminder of God’s love.

A panel discussion, moderated by Madalyn Metzger, Chief Marketing Officer for Everence, explored the future of antiracism work. Panelists shared personal experiences and emphasized the importance of centering Jesus and community, fostering interfaith collaboration and engaging in ecumenical outreach.

Learning labs provided attendees with tools for addressing topics such as transracial identity, supporting immigrant communities, preserving BIPOC history and writing as a political act. Separate spaces for a White caucus and a BIPOC healing circle furthered opportunities for reflection and growth.

Keynote speaker Lerone Martin, director of the MLK Jr. Research & Education Institute at Stanford University, delivered an address on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. He emphasized that racism, poverty and war remain interconnected struggles that demand action today.

“King knew that every human being was made in the image of God,” Martin said. “Racism instills a false sense of inferiority in people of color . . . and a false sense of superiority in those who perpetuate it. Both are harmful.”

Quoting King, Martin urged the audience: “Use whatever you have to push the needle toward justice. If you can fly, fly. If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. But whatever you do, just keep moving.”

Martin also spoke on Sunday morning at College Mennonite Church, delivering an unpublished sermon King preached on July 21, 1963, at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

The conference concluded with a book signing featuring works by de León-Hartshorn, Hinojosa, Miller Shearer and Shands Stoltzfus.

The conference was sponsored by Everence, Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite Education Agency, Mennonite Mission Network, MHS Association and the Schowalter Foundation.

Since its inception in 2011, Hope for the Future has provided a sacred space for BIPOC leaders to gather, worship and strategize for systemic transformation within MC USA.

Jerrell Williams, an MC USA Executive Board member and lead pastor at Shalom Mennonite Church in Newton, Kan., captured the event’s hopeful spirit: “Hope for the Future inspired me by showing me that the challenges we face are not new. There is a history of antiracism work and of working for justice for all creation. We need to continue that work. The path has been laid out for us, and we have a way forward.”

Hope for the Future honors seven elders

Mennonite Church USA honored seven community elders at the Hope for the Future Conference.

Lupe DeLeon Jr. dedicated his career to advocating for equal opportunities in financial and professional training for Spanish churches in the United States. He served on the board for minority economic development with both Mennonite Central Committee U.S. and Mennonite Economic Development Associates, helping to address economic disparities. He was an active member of the United Farm Workers of America, fighting for equality in farm labor rights. He contributed to Mennonite Board of Missions, focusing on educating minorities in pastoral theological training.

Seferina G. De Leon has dedicated over 30 years to ministry, beginning with her service at Iglesia Mennonita del Buen Pastor in Goshen, Ind. She coordinated women’s ministry for the Hispanic community and later provided leadership at both the local and national levels. She served on executive committees in Indiana Michigan Mennonite Conference and was the assistant conference minister. After graduating from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, she was ordained into ministry at the age of 60, becoming the first Hispanic woman ordained in Indiana Michigan Mennonite Conference. She served as co-pastor for three congregations, focusing on pastoral care, while pursuing a master’s degree in Christian spirituality and working part time as a chaplain.

Harley Eagle, of Dakota and Ojibway Indigenous ancestry, is a member of Whitecap Dakota First Nations Reserve in Saskatchewan. Since 2014, he has worked with Island Health in British Columbia as a cultural safety facilitator, pioneering the first role of its kind in Canada. He specializes in restorative justice, antiracism, trauma-­informed practice and cultural safety. He held leadership positions with Mennonite Central Committee in Winnipeg, Man., and the Oglala Lakota Nation, focusing on Indigenous issues. He has facilitated workshops on Indigenous life and dismantling racism for over 20 years.

James Logan is associate academic dean for faculty, professor of religion and director of African and African American Studies at Earlham College. He is the National Endowment for the Humanities chair in Interdisciplinary Studies. His research focuses on religious and social ethics, Black religion and the intersection of religion, ethics and politics. He is the co-author of Ethics That Matter and the ­author of Good Punishment? Christian Moral Practice and U.S. Imprisonment.

Thulani Conrad Moore has been engaged with Roots of Justice since 1997 and serves as a trainer representative. He has dedicated himself to the roles of antiracism educator, organizer and co-coordinator for the Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Anti-Racism Program/Damascus Road. He has contributed to peace and justice education, particularly in crime and justice issues. He shares his knowledge at Atlanta’s APEX Museum, a museum of history presented from the Black experience.

Maati Yvonne serves on the Executive Committee of Mosaic Mennonite Conference and is minister of youth and community outreach at Nueva Vida Norristown New Life in Pennsylvania. She facilitates with the Roots of Justice antiracism organization. She co-created Restorative Norristown, which trains youth and residents in Restorative Circles, and is passionate about addressing systemic racism in her community.

Suzette Shreffler or Ámé’há’e (which means Flying Woman) is co-pastor of White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church in Busby, Mont., on the Northern Cheyenne Indian reservation. She is the first Northern Cheyenne woman ordained by Central Plains Mennonite Conference and the second within MC USA. She is passionate about walking with others in their healing journeys of traumas, hurts and grief as she shares the hope of Jesus Christ.

MC USA executive director Glen Guyton paid tribute to Tobin Miller Shearer and Regina Shands Stoltzfus, co-founders of the Damascus Road Anti-Racism Process. Several “co-conspirators” were recognized for supporting Damascus Road: Brenda Zook Friesen, Roots of Justice trainer; Cheryl Miller Shearer, co-founder of Wider­stand Consulting; Jim Stutzman Amstutz, peace educator, author and retired pastor; Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, MC USA denominational minister for peace and justice; Phil Morice Brubaker, Roots of Justice trainer; and Rick Derksen, Roots of Justice trainer. — Ana Alicia Hinojosa/MC USA