Next Delegate Assembly – scheduled for October 5, 2013 at Celebration
Delegate Assembly April 2013
Delegate Assembly took place at the Seneca Falls Community Center on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Delegate Assembly April 2013
April 2013 Delegate Assembly Report from Sonya Kurtz
Stories from Ethiopia, Israel, Oxford, England and all around our conference highlighted how God is at work around the world and around the corner at Delegate Assembly on April 20.
Special guests from Meserete Kristos College, President Kiros Teka Haddis,and Board Chair Kelbessa Muleta Demena shared how the Bible college in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia is training church leaders for the 900 church planting centers and 700 local churches which continue to draw new believers.
Diane Stitt Melchert, Oxford, England, shared about her work as a missionary and evangelist in Oxford, a university town known for its town and gown rivalries, and a population which rarely goes to church, except for weddings and baptisms.
Troy Watson, church planter in Buffalo, presented ideas on how to support new expressions of church by giving freedom to experiment, freedom to fail, and years of patience and prayer support.
Conference minister Gene Miller, shared images and inspiration from his sabbatical trip to Israel, and encouraged us to remember our mission – forming new and renewed communities of faith.
Delegates heard about Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Disaster Service projects in which we can participate, as well as reports from Constituency Leaders Council, and Hispanic Ministry group (Julio Rodriguez). The exploratory mission group continues to meet to pray about work with soldiers and families in the Fort Drum area, as well as our witness for God’s peace in all of our communities.
Delegates gave council and encouragement to planners working towards our new Day of Celebration, a one day festival event, to be held October 5, 2013, in Liverpool, outside Syracuse. Nelson Okanye, Eastern Mennonite Missions will be our guest speaker. Youth events and time to share God’s work in our congregations and ministries will happen throughout the day.
New resources available from MennoMedia were highlighted. Kathy Shelly, resource advocate, and Gene Miller will be NY conference delegates to Phoenix this summer.
In other business, LuAnn Martin was affirmed as lay representative to the Leadership Commission to fill out Sandy Craft’s term. The meeting closed with sharing from delegates about places they have seen God at work in their own congregations.
Special guests from Meserete Kristos College, President Kiros Teka Haddis,and Board Chair Kelbessa Muleta Demena shared how the Bible college in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia is training church leaders for the 900 church planting centers and 700 local churches which continue to draw new believers.
Diane Stitt Melchert, Oxford, England, shared about her work as a missionary and evangelist in Oxford, a university town known for its town and gown rivalries, and a population which rarely goes to church, except for weddings and baptisms.
Troy Watson, church planter in Buffalo, presented ideas on how to support new expressions of church by giving freedom to experiment, freedom to fail, and years of patience and prayer support.
Conference minister Gene Miller, shared images and inspiration from his sabbatical trip to Israel, and encouraged us to remember our mission – forming new and renewed communities of faith.
Delegates heard about Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Disaster Service projects in which we can participate, as well as reports from Constituency Leaders Council, and Hispanic Ministry group (Julio Rodriguez). The exploratory mission group continues to meet to pray about work with soldiers and families in the Fort Drum area, as well as our witness for God’s peace in all of our communities.
Delegates gave council and encouragement to planners working towards our new Day of Celebration, a one day festival event, to be held October 5, 2013, in Liverpool, outside Syracuse. Nelson Okanye, Eastern Mennonite Missions will be our guest speaker. Youth events and time to share God’s work in our congregations and ministries will happen throughout the day.
New resources available from MennoMedia were highlighted. Kathy Shelly, resource advocate, and Gene Miller will be NY conference delegates to Phoenix this summer.
In other business, LuAnn Martin was affirmed as lay representative to the Leadership Commission to fill out Sandy Craft’s term. The meeting closed with sharing from delegates about places they have seen God at work in their own congregations.
