weLink
Vol.
4, No. 15: Aug. 26, 2009
- Conference prayers
- Annual Sessions 2009 coverage
- Thank you, Transition Team!
- Finances
- Gifts development resource
- Events
- At Bethany Christian Schools
- At Amigo Centre
- In the wider church
If
possible, please include blurbs from weLink (as applicable) in your church
bulletins and/or newsletters. Thank you!
Conference prayers
We invite
your prayers for the IN-MI Missional Leadership Team as they
meet this Friday,
Aug. 28, to discern
priorities and vision for this next year.
Annual Sessions 2009 coverage
(June 18–20
at Clinton Frame Mennonite, Goshen, Ind.)
View coverage of
the event in Gospel Evangel online:
im.mennonite.net/news/gospel_evangel/gospel_evangel.php
Yarn Overcomers (YO!) stories online. During Friday
evening’s worship session, Sher King from
College Mennonite, Goshen, Ind., shared about Yarn Overcomers,
a knitting support group that she and others began to help people in their
community affected by the stress of unemployment. She said that when MSNBC
featured YO! on their home page, people from all over
the country wanted to know how to
start such programs and how to donate materials. Here is the link to that story
(elkhartprojectblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2009/05/31/2883069-a-novel-prescription-for-knitted-brows) and to another story about YO! from the Elkhart Truth
(www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=479742).
Thank you, Transition Team!
Annual Sessions 2009 marked the formal ending of the IN-MI Transition Team. This eight-person team worked for two years -- beginning after Annual Sessions 2007 -- to implement the proposal for the new conference system developed by the IN-MI Listening/Redesign Team (2005–2007). These Transition Team volunteers invested many hours of their time in discerning direction for the conference in the midst of many changes in our conference and in the wider culture. We recognize and thank TT members Gene Hartman (chair), Dan Miller, Phil Mininger, Sarah Schlegel, Bill Scott, Klaudia Smucker, and John Troyer, and past members Sherm Kauffman and Timothy Burkholder, for sharing their time, energy, passion and vision for the church in this way!
Finances
July revenue was $30,372, and expenses were $30,471, for
a balance of ($99). This is encouraging for a month that is often down in
revenues. Thank you to congregations and individuals who continue investing in
our life together! The Stewardship and Finance Commission is planning a
conference call in September to monitor the overall financial picture. The July 31 year-to-date figures:
2009–10 2008–09 2009–10 2008–09
Estimated income* $35,500 $39,500 Estimated expenses** $41,968 $54,063
Actual income 30,372 14,186 Actual expenses 30,471 37,741
*calculated according to
historical giving patterns **one-twelfth
of total spending plan
Gifts development resource
“Many Gifts: Calling
and Growing Congregational Leaders.” The IN-MI Gifts Development Team
(GDT) introduced this booklet during a seminar at Annual Sessions this summer. Developed
by Mennonite Church Canada in cooperation with Mennonite Church USA, this
resource for pastors and other church leaders works at calling out and
nurturing the gifts of children, youth and adults; and at deepening our
commitment to forming a people of God, becoming a global church and growing
leaders. This resource can be purchased (print version) or downloaded (free
version) at: www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/ResourceView/5/11692 -- Bob Yoder, chair, Gifts Development Team
Events
“From MEDA to the Gates Foundation”: Thursday, Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m. at Bread and Chocolate (1401 Lincolnway East, Goshen). Come for dinner and a program by Joyce Lehman, program officer for microfinance at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Joyce will share some of her work experiences at both MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) and the Gates Foundation and will explain current microfinance projects of the Gates Foundation. RSVP by Sept. 4 by calling 877 787-6332, e-mailing reservations@michianameda.org or going to www.michianameda.org. Cost: $15/members, $20/non-members, $5/students. Please indicate special dietary needs with your reservation.
Mennonite spiritual directors
retreat, Oct. 26–28 at the Jesuit Retreat House
in
Business as a
Calling 2009: “New frontiers: new solutions,” Nov. 5–8 in San Jose, Calif. The annual Mennonite Economic
Development Associates (MEDA) convention will offer some new perspectives for
addressing new global realities, with a special focus on alternative energy and
food supply/security issues. Learn more (and view a promotional video) online: www.meda.org/news/MEDAzine/2009/June/sanjose.html
At Bethany Christian Schools
The gift of tuition. Bethany’s parent-teacher
organization has spearheaded a grassroots effort to assist families most
affected by the economy. See: www.bethanycs.net/Gift_of_Tuition_2009
Bethany
5K Run/Walk and 2.5K walk: Sept. 12.
Registration forms are available: www.bethanycs.net/run_walk_2009
At Amigo Centre
Mennonite Central
Committee (MCC) Bike Michiana at Amigo Centre: Sept.
16–18. Come and spend the weekend biking around southern Michigan and help
raise money for MCC at the same time! Spots tend to fill up quickly, so get
your registration in early! See online (www.amigocentre.org) or call 269 651-2811.
“Finding Our Way: Navigating the challenges of authentic engagement”: Pastoral Leadership Team Weekend, Oct. 30–Nov. 1. Come to Amigo for a great fall weekend of fun and learning! Registration brochures were sent this week. Watch your (postal) mail, and sign up early for the best housing options! (A brochure also is available to download at im.mennonite.net.) Sponsors: Amigo Centre and IN-MI Mennonite Conference. Contact Kent Miller (269 651-2811 or info@amigocentre.org) or Dan Miller (800 288-8486 or dan@im.mennonite.net).
In the wider church
Ervin
R. Stutzman named Mennonite Church USA executive
director. Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board named
Ervin Stutzman of Harrisonburg, Va., the
denomination’s next executive director at a special meeting held Aug. 25.
“Ervin
is the right person for this time in our denominational history,” said
Mennonite Church USA moderator and Executive Board member Ed Diller, Fort
Thomas, Ky. “His experiences in the church and his commitment to the
healing and hope vision of Mennonite Church USA will serve him well in this
role.”
Stutzman is vice president
and seminary dean as well as professor of church ministries at Eastern
Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg. He served on the Executive Board
for Mennonite Church USA from 1999 to 2005 and as denominational moderator from
2001 to 2003. He expects to begin as executive director in early 2010. Read
more: www.mennoniteusa.org/Home/News/tabid/65/EntryID/168/Default.aspx
Researcher seeks stories about Goshen-area Mennonites. Janis Thiessen, a researcher from the University of Winnipeg, is collecting stories about Mennonites in and around Goshen, Ind., and their involvement in and attitudes toward work and religion. Specifically, she is interested in the role of Anabaptist values and the actions and beliefs of the Christian in the workplace: duties, responsibilities, and opportunities. She hopes to interview business owners and managers, pastors, academics, and workers and/or their children and grandchildren. Interested individuals should contact her: Janis Thiessen, Department of History, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3B 2E9; 204 282-0785; ja.thiessen@uwinnipeg.ca or Janis.Thiessen@unb.ca
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 Sept. 9 weLink
by noon on Sept. 3.)
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