Our IMMC by-laws say that the Missional Leadership Team (MLT) “has a primary responsibility of cultivating healthy relationships.”

Tending to this responsibility, the MLT has felt the Spirit nudging us to prioritize intercultural relationships. As our conference size has shrunk, its intercultural character has become more prominent. Burmese congregations, several African American congregations, and a newly forming Latinx congregation have already enriched and broadened our worship and conversation. Almost all our congregations includes cross-cultural relationships either with people from around the world or people from different religious, ethnic and socio-economic cultures closer to home.

Cultivating these relationships at more than a superficial level takes courage and commitment. A few IMMC congregations have been intentionally cross-cultural for years. They have named the barriers of racism and white privilege (the comfort that allows white folks to ignore differences in a way that benefits them); and can tell stories about mutual benefits that come from healthy intercultural relationships.

We all have more to learn. Before the Spring Summit meetings, I encourage you to visit the Conference website and familiarize yourself with the variety of congregations that are part of our community of congregations. One click on this page will take you to any congregational website you’d like to learn more about. Jesus told us that we will find him as we engage each other – what better motivation could we want?   

https://www.im.mennonite.net/people/directory-of-congregations/  

Spring Summit – March 19 at Fairhaven Mennonite Church, Fort Wayne and on March 26 via Zoom.

Breaking the body of Christ? Hear MWC General Secretary César García – Join César García and Mennonite World Conference (MWC) President Nelson Kraybill at Silverwood Mennonite Church, 1745 W Lincoln Avenue in Goshen, on Thursday evening, April 28 at 7:30pm for a public gathering lifting up Jesus’ prayer for the unity of the church. “When we exercise our gift of unity as sisters and brothers in Christ and follow Jesus together, others are more likely to follow Jesus, too,” says César. Come and welcome César to our community!

For pastors only: A conversation with César García – We are churches together for mutual learning and sharing, says César García, General Secretary of Mennonite World Conference (MWC). Join César for an hour of conversation together about being a global communion of churches, not just fragmented congregations. Berkey Avenue Mennonite Church (2509 Berkey Ave in Goshen) will host us on Friday morning, April 29 at 11am.

“Believe and Be Baptized”: Conversations on a 500-year-old Tradition – A workshop on Baptism in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition will be led by John D. Roth, in conversation with local Lutheran and Catholic clergy. It will be held on May 7, 2022 at Waterford Mennonite Church from 9:30am to 2:30pm. Learn more and register here.

SAVE THE DATE: Annual Sessions will be held in Elkhart on June 17-18, with worship resources provided for Sunday, June 19 to connect congregations with the ministry of conference.

• Cindy Voth accepted the invitation to serve as lead pastor at Waterford Mennonite Church. Already on the pastoral team, she’ll assume her new role on April 18, after a month of leave.
• Worship and communion with Mara Christian Church of America, Indiana. Joanne Gallardo preached, and Sharon Yoder shared greetings in their Sunday morning worship service on March 6.

• Sharon led the worship service and preached, via zoom, with the Wildwood Mennonite Church on February 27.
• Joanne and Sharon had opportunity to connect with a variety of church leaders and met with students considering ministry at Pastors and Leaders meetings at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary February 21-24.

• Joanne continues to connect with area cluster groups and will preach/lead worship with Wildwood Mennonite Church on April 24.

• Healthy Boundaries trainings are required for all ministers with active credentials every three years. Please note new training dates offered on the MC USA website: May 7 for HB 101 (for first time participants) and April 20, April 28, and June 23 for HB 201 (for those who have already done 101). Healthy Boundaries Training | Mennonite Church USA (mennoniteusa.org) Watch this website for additional dates to be posted. Please inform the conference office when you complete the training.
• Sharon had conversation with 11 potential pastoral applicants in the month of February. These meaningful exchanges lay the groundwork for recruiting qualified applicants when congregational search processes are launched. 
• Leadership Enhansement Team (LET) continues to resource congregational coaches and will hold an information session in May. LET celebrates churches with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and continues to think about what kinds of resources IMMC could offer these pastors, congregations, and coaches in terms of leadership development.

• Amigo Scrapbooking, Crafting and Sewing Retreats. Online registration is now open for the dates listed below. See the web for additional details.
  • April April 7-11
  • September 22-25
  • December 1-5
• Amigo Park – opens May 20, 2022. Think camping… call now to reserve your space for this summer! Phone: 269-651-2734 – leave a message for Caz and Sheila.
• Summer Camp Dates will be coming soon. Watch for details.
• Save the Date: Amigo Bike Michiana is scheduled for September 16-18. Additional details coming soon.

Bethany Christian Schools, Goshen, IN, is pleased to announce the hiring of Ashton Cluts as its inaugural first grade teacher. Cluts currently teaches kindergarten at Model Elementary School in Goshen, having previously taught first and second grades as well. She recently completed a Master of Arts in Education degree from Baldwin Wallace University with a focus on literacy. She also brings a wealth of international leadership, service, and learning experiences to Bethany’s global student community.

“Ashton’s ability to connect with kids and parents, her growth mindset, creative lesson planning, and her emphasis on experiential learning are all attributes that made her a natural addition to our team,” said Tim Lehman, Head of School.

New elementary principal Juanita Hershberger will lead an experienced staff in the Bethany lower grades. Linda Hochstetler and Adam Friesen have taught fifth and fourth grades, respectively, for the last 10 years. Their creative curriculum and caring ways have contributed to consistently full classes in their grade levels. Waldorf-trained third grade teacher Karin Fast welcomed Bethany’s first class of third graders this past fall. Her unique approach to holistic, hands-on learning has enlivened her students, and the elementary community as a whole. Jen Bontrager has been hired as the new second grade teacher and brings a wealth of experience and love of learning from decades of teaching in area public schools. Ashton Cluts now rounds out Hershberger’s team for the 2022-23 school year – a group of committed educators who are excited to welcome the youngest Bruins into our community.

Shalom Mennonite Church in Indianapolis is sponsoring an organization called Indiana AID, which reaches out to immigrants who are detained in our state’s only long-term ICE facility through video calls. Indiana AID is currently looking for volunteers – especially Spanish-speakers – who would be willing to serve as visitation partners with the people we serve by committing to talking with them once per week through a video call. Indiana AID is also raising money to help with legal fees and other immigrant needs, as well as creating a list all across the state of allies who would be willing to help with transportation, temporary housing, translation, etc. If you think you can help in any of these ways, please email us at indianaaidcontact@gmail.com or visit our website at www.indianaaid.org.

“Diversity: God’s Design,” a new, multimedia, study from Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) calls young adults to celebrate their unique gifts and the intentional diversity of God’s creation. The four-week curriculum uses biblical reflections to introduce the importance of intercultural competency as part of Christian growth and formation.

“This curriculum will become increasingly relevant in our denomination as we seek to be more diverse and inclusive in sharing the Good News,” said Glen Guyton, executive director of MC USA and speaker, author and advocate for cultural competency. “So often we overlook the capability of our young people in discipling others. The curriculum provides an opportunity for today’s young adults to reflect on how they will shape the future of our denomination,” he added.

“Diversity: God’s Design” features voices from across the Mennonite church who share biblical narratives and personal experiences that invite participants to explore how and why they should join the journey of celebrating diversity. The study is recommended for young adult and intergenerational audiences in faith-based settings, such as churches, Mennonite and other Christian schools, small groups and self-study.

“Being intercultural is part of biblical discipleship,” said Sue Park-Hur, MC USA denominational minister for Transformative Peacemaking. “Without this lens, it’s hard to welcome people. We need to see God’s intentional plan for diversity, and to ask ourselves, ‘How do we come together as a church and still celebrate our differences?’”

Learn more and download content on the Diversity: God’s Design page.

Joanne is a monthly contributor to the Anabaptist World online. Check out her 5 Things Friday Roundup: Happy Women’s History Month.

• Bethany Christian Schools is Hiring a Sixth grade teacher. Find out more information here.
• Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship is looking to hire a pastor or pastors to join the congregation’s pastoral team. Depending on potential candidates’ gifts and availability, this job description (1.0 FTE) may be adapted to create two or more positions. View the job description.
• Mennonite Mission Network has several employment opportunities listed on their employment page. 
• Mennonite Education Agency lists openings throughout Mennonite-affiliated schools on their employment page.
• Explore pastoral opportunities in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference and beyond on MC USA’s  Pastoral Openings list.

If you would like to list an opportunity here, please contact the Conference Office.