weLink
Vol. 3, No. 6: March 26, 2008

ⁿ Conference prayers

ⁿ Remembering Aden Horst

ⁿ Annual Sessions 2008

ⁿ Transition Team update

ⁿ Invitation to help provide an office facility for Puerto Rico Mennonite Convention

ⁿ Economic Challenges Task Force named

ⁿ Connecting congregations

ⁿ Finances

ⁿ At Bethany Christian Schools

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

Conference prayers

Please pray for the Constituency Leaders Council—which consists of representatives from Mennonite Church USA’s area conferences and constituency groups—as they meet March 31 to April 2 in Mt. Pleasant, Pa. One of the items the group will respond to is the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board’s new vision for changing the denomination’s behaviors, organization and structures, believing that our vision and call are “not adequately supported by [the current ones].” Read more about this new development: www.mennoniteusa.org/news/news/jan-march08/03_19_08.htm#1

Remembering Aden Horst

We mourn the loss of Aden H. Horst, 87, of Columbus, Ohio (formerly of Elkhart, Ind.), who died March 13 in the Columbus Alzheimer's Care Center. Aden, a retired teacher and pastor, was ordained by IN-MI Conference in February 1956. He served in pastoral roles at Locust Grove Mennonite, Elkhart, Ind.; Fairhaven Mennonite, Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Hudson Lake Mennonite, New Carlisle, Ind. A memorial service was held March 15 at Sunnyside Mennonite in Elkhart. Memorials may be given to Prairie Street Mennonite in Elkhart, where Aden was a member. Please remember his wife, Mary, and family in prayer. Aden’s obituary may be read online at www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=442564 and www.goshennews.com/archivesearch/local_story_074101712.html.

Annual Sessions 2008: (Knock, knock) | “Who’s there?” (Luke 10:1-12)

June 19–21 at Westview Junior-Senior High School, Topeka, Ind.

ⁿ Bring your children through age 12 (6th grade) to This is My Father’s World: as seen through the eyes of the early pioneers. Based on Psalm 8, activities will be directed by teachers, naturalists and pioneer specialists. Some things to look forward to are a daylong field trip to a pioneer village with group games, crafts, songs and skits. On Friday the children will help cook a “pioneer” lunch, go on a naturalist hike, play games and snack on kettle corn. On Saturday they’ll be treated to a professional puppet show, rides on a carousel, devotions, more games and songs! Infants will be cared for in a special nursery set up at Westview for parents’ easy access. Thanks to members of Lake Bethel Mennonite who are planning these activities with much enthusiasm!

ⁿ Lodging: See the attached lodging summary (also available at www.im.mennonite.net/Conf_Assembly/Lodging). Some blocks of motel/hotel rooms are reserved until May 14. Thank you to the Farmstead Inn and Conference Center for offering an extra special deal of $69/night for people who choose a three-night stay. Home lodging is also available: contact Carrie Lambright at 260-768-4502 or clamb@maplenet.net

ⁿ Registration forms will be available in April.

Transition Team update

At the IN-MI Conference Transition Team’s next meeting on Monday, April 7, team members plan to begin writing the job description for the new lead conference minister position, taking into consideration the helpful discussion and input from delegates at cluster meetings. Team members also will go over some governance models with Rick Stiffney of Mennonite Health Alliance so that they can continue their work on the new constitution. Although the work on the agenda is technical in nature, the team continues to reflect on what it means to make adaptive change on the conference level. We appreciate your continued prayers and support in the months to come.—Sarah Rohrer, Transition Team member

Invitation to help provide an office facility for Puerto Rico Mennonite Convention

The Puerto Rico Mennonite Convention has received a building to house offices for its ministry and has asked IN-MI Conference for financial assistance to make the renovations needed to convert it to an office facility. (Approximately $20,000 is needed.) The IN-MI Stewardship and Finance Commission would like to share this opportunity with our conference constituency for support through designated contributions. Many people in our conference have close ties to Mennonite ministries in Puerto Rico. If you would like to contribute, please send a check designated “Puerto Rico” to
IN-MI Mennonite Conference, 212 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526. We will forward these funds to the convention. Thank you for considering this invitation to give!—Stewardship and Finance Commission

Economic Challenges Task Force named

An Economic Challenges Task Force has been formed to explore the financial pressures our pastors face and design programs to respond to these challenges as part of the first phase of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s experimental Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Indiana Pastors. (The conference has received a planning grant from Lilly to participate in this project.) The task force will base its programs on extensive research among pastors and church leaders. If sufficient needs are identified, the conference will apply for a grant to implement these programs.

Task force members include Tyler Hartford (chair) of Pleasant View Mennonite, Goshen, Ind.; José Ortiz of Iglesia del Buen Pastor, Goshen; Lyz Weaver of Fellowship of Hope, Elkhart, Ind.; Jewel Gingerich Longenecker, representing Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart; and Steve Ganger and Brad Miller, representing MMA. They will work with Timothy Burkholder, project director, and Rich Gerig, project consultant from Advancement Associates, Inc. We welcome your prayers for this task force!—Timothy Burkholder, interim executive conference minister

Connecting congregations

“The impact of the obsession with sports.” You are invited to hear Dave King, athletic director of Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va., speak on this topic at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, at Clinton Frame Mennonite, 63846 CR 35, Goshen. Dave will explore the current state of youth and club sports, exposing some of the myths guiding our involvements and looking at alternatives and solutions. Questions? Call Clinton Frame at 574 642-3165.—Sheila Troyer, pastor of youth and young adults, Clinton Frame Mennonite

Help rebuild tornado-damaged homes in Nappanee, Ind.: April 8, 9 and 10. Habitat for Humanity (HFH) of St. Joseph County, in cooperation with the HFH affiliate in Elkhart County and the Northern Indiana Tornado Relief Organization, will be rebuilding three Nappanee homes damaged by the Oct. 18, 2007, tornado. The work days will last from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Volunteers will meet at Nappanee Missionary Church at 8 a.m. each day, and lunch will be provided on site. To volunteer, contact Lisa Bailey by April 1: 574 533-6109 x115 or lisa@habitatec.com

Finances

Congregational giving is 2 percent ahead of last year at this time. At this point—eight months into the conference’s fiscal year—29 congregations have increased their giving, 21 have decreased their giving, and 31 remain the same. The dollar amount received is the highest in the last five years! The actual operating deficit continues to be less than projected.

We really appreciate your generosity and trust that the strong support will continue over the remaining five months to help us end the year positively while building a strong financial base for the new organization to which we will transition.

The Feb. 29 year-to-date figures:

2007–08 2006–07 2007–08 2006–07
Estimated income* $429,845 $381,946 Estimated expenses** $459,280 $429,424
Actual income 369,351 364,429 Actual expenses 396,727 375,517

*calculated according to historical giving patterns
** eight-twelfths of total spending plan

At Bethany Christian Schools

Bethany sweeps MCC essay contest. For the second consecutive year, students in Suzanne Ehst's senior English class earned the top three awards in the Mennonite Central Committee Washington Office's high school essay contest that focuses on public policy and faith. The three winning essayists—Daniel Gingerich, Simone Sommers and Emily Bowman—all chose to write about restorative justice. Read more: www.bethanycs.net/MCC_Essays_2008

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: www.im.mennonite.net/News_Calendar/weLink

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Editor: Annette Brill Bergstresser, annette@im.mennonite.net

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