weLink
Vol. 4, No. 1: Jan. 14, 2009

- Conference office updates

- Remembering Thruman Miller

- Lead conference minister candidate name sent to delegates

- Missional Leadership Team nominees affirmed

- Transition Team update

- An experiment: north and south regional meetings

- Delegates sent to ecumenical peace gathering

- At Bethany Christian Schools

- In the wider church

If possible, please include blurbs from weLink (as applicable) in your church bulletins and/or newsletters. Thank you!

Conference office updates

Happy new year to each of you! The conference office will be closed Jan. 19 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day

Remembering Thruman Miller

Thruman Miller, 85, former pastor of Rexton (Mich.) Mennonite, died Monday, Jan. 12, in Phoenix, Ariz., where he had resided for 30 years. He and his wife, Dorothy, who survives, were called to serve at Rexton in 1967; Thruman was ordained in 1971. The Millers resigned in 1977 to enter voluntary service in Buckeye, Ariz.

Thruman was the father of T. Lee Miller (Marty), who recently retired as pastor of Howard-Miami Mennonite, Kokomo, Ind., and father-in-law of Ken Bontreger (Jan), who formerly pastored several IN-MI Conference congregations. Services are scheduled for Jan. 17 at the Glencroft Retirement Community Chapel, Glendale, Ariz. Sherm Kauffman, Thruman’s nephew (and former IN-MI executive conference minister), will officiate at the graveside service.

Lead conference minister candidate name sent to delegates

On Jan. 2, the IN-MI Executive Committee sent to delegates the name of the candidate for lead conference minister recommended by the search committee, with a request to respond by Friday, Jan. 23. Thank you to delegates who have sent their ballot response to Michael Nolt, assistant moderator! (Delegates who haven’t yet, please remember to do so!)

Missional Leadership Team nominees affirmed

The IN-MI Conference Transition Team (TT) is pleased to announce that all of the new Missional Leadership Team (MLT) nominees were affirmed by 94 percent or higher by conference delegates who responded in November/December. The TT selected these individuals based on their skills and commitment to move forward in the missional direction that the delegates affirmed at Annual Sessions 2006. The MLT (which will replace the conference’s Executive Committee) anticipates having their first meeting in March 2009.

MLT members are Brent Eash (moderator), Shore Mennonite, Shipshewana, Ind.; Wes Bontreger (moderator-elect), Yellow Creek Mennonite, Goshen, Ind.; Gary Martin, Faith Mennonite, Goshen; Frances Ringenberg, Prairie Street Mennonite, Elkhart, Ind.; John Troyer (Transition Team representative), Clinton Frame Mennonite, Goshen; Samuel Wilson, Community Christian Fellowship, Detroit, Mich.; and Talashia Keim Yoder, College Mennonite, Goshen.
-- Sarah Schlegel for the Transition Team

Transition Team update

The Transition Team continues to be excited about the progress being made and about how we’re seeing God at work in our IN-MI Conference restructuring. I hope you share in this excitement! A couple of recent highlights for our conference include the naming of a candidate for lead conference minister (see above) and the work on the job narrative (job description) for the regional conference ministers. Also, the list of candidates to serve on the Advisory Council is nearing completion and we expect the affirmation process to come in the near future.

Along with this excitement of things coming together comes the realization of the amount of work still to be done before Annual Sessions in June. While I won’t go into all of the “nitty gritty” pieces being worked on, I would ask you to pray for the Transition Team as we work at one particularly important piece of this transformation that is beginning now -- the formation of a search committee whose task will be to bring to the delegates recommended candidates to serve as regional conference ministers (RCM). The RCM role is vitally important to the life and well being of IN-MI Conference.

Thank you for your continuing prayer support and openness to God’s moving during this time of transformation.
-- Gene Hartman (chair) for the Transition Team

Note: If you are new to IN-MI Conference or are a new delegate, you may find the Transition Team background information helpful. See online: im.mennonite.net/news/transition_team_process/transition_team_process.php

An experiment: north and south regional meetings

You may have been waiting to hear more about plans for this spring’s cluster meetings, anticipating this time of gathering with people from sister congregations. As many of you are aware, IN-MI Conference is in the midst of significant transition. The Executive Committee -- seeking to be flexible in following the Spirit’s leading -- is calling for two regional meetings (instead of seven cluster meetings) to be held this year. We believe that your presence at these meetings will be very important -- and that each delegate’s voice makes a difference!

The two regional meetings are scheduled for:

- Saturday, Feb. 14: North -- Ninth Street Community Church, Saginaw, Mich., likely 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

- Saturday, Feb. 21: South -- First Mennonite of Indianapolis, likely 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thank you in advance to Ninth Street Community and First Mennonite -- Indy for hosting our meetings! The agenda will follow in several weeks.

For a list of which congregations will be considered part of the north region and which congregations part of the south region for these meetings, see online: im.mennonite.net/events/cluster_meetings/cluster_meetings.php. While you’re encouraged to attend your region’s meeting, you are welcome to attend the other region’s meeting if it suits your schedule better. Thank you for your flexibility as we try something new … we look forward to seeing you at these meetings!

Delegates sent to ecumenical peace gathering

Julia Gingrich of Waterford Mennonite, Goshen, Ind., and Rich Meyer of Benton Mennonite, Goshen, are representing IN-MI Conference at an interchurch peace conference Jan. 13–17 in Philadelphia, Pa., titled “Heeding God’s Call: A Gathering on Peace.” The late Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision for peace lies at the heart of the gathering, whose purpose is to “strengthen our witness and work for peace in the world by inspiring hope, raising voices, taking action.”

Co-sponsors are the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the Church of the Brethren, and Mennonite Church USA. Organizers expect about 600 participants, approximately half from the historic peace churches and half from other Christian traditions. Each Mennonite Church USA conference has been invited to send two delegates. Please pray for the participants as they meet this week! Read more: www.peacegathering2009.org

At Bethany Christian Schools

Paw Ball. Bethany Christian Schools will hold a developmental basketball experience for youth in grades 4–6. Each Saturday from Jan. 24 to March 14, participants will meet for a 90-minute session that includes instruction and a game. Registration is $10 per child (free if a parent serves as a volunteer coach) (limited to 60 participants). Contact Bryan Kehr during school hours (574 534-2567 or bjkehr@bethanycs.net) or see www.bethanycs.net/pawball. Register by Jan. 17.

Students raise funds for trees. Inspired by technology director Peter Shetler’s presentation on his research related to acacia tree reforestation in Tanzania and after reading about deforestation in Haiti, several Environmental Science students suggested that the class raise funds to buy trees for Haiti. Students raised $50, which was matched by teacher Amy Thut. The $100 will cover the purchase of 700 trees through Mennonite Central Committee's reforestation work in Haiti.

In the wider church

MCC increases humanitarian aid, advocacy for Gaza. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is working to respond to the grave situation in Gaza. See mcc.org for up-to-date information on MCC’s efforts, suggestions for ways to respond to the crisis, and a document for congregations that contains a bulletin announcement and prayer for peace written by MCC workers in the region and commissioned by Mennonite Church USA. Donations to MCC's response in Gaza (designated “Palestine Emergency Assistance”) can be made online at mcc.org, by phone (888 563-4676) or by sending a check to your regional MCC office. Thank you for working and praying together with us for peace. -- Arli Klassen, executive director

Mennonite Disaster Service offers youth programs during the summer of 2009. The objective of each program is to provide an environment that will meet the needs of youth volunteers as they reflect the love of Christ by assisting others in rebuilding homes. Dates are Jun. 15–Aug. 8 at two sites in the U.S., and July 5–31 at one site in Winnipeg, Man., Canada. Registration forms are due Jan. 16. See: mds.mennonite.net/programs/youth_programs

weLink serves to connect IN-MI Conference congregations to each other, to Amigo Centre and Bethany Christian Schools, and to the wider church. It is published on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. weLink issues are archived on the conference web site at: im.mennonite.net/news/welink/welink.php

To subscribe to or unsubscribe from the weLink mailing list, contact the conference office: imoffice@im.mennonite.net
Editor: Annette Brill Bergstresser, annette@im.mennonite.net (Send material for the Jan. 28 weLink by noon on Jan .26.)

Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference
Mailing address: 212 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526-3723
Phone: 574 534-4006; 800 288-8486
E-mail: imoffice@im.mennonite.net
Web site: www.im.mennonite.net