Allegheny Mennonite Conference
Spring Faith and Life Gathering (virtual)
March 4, 2023
The Spring Faith and Life Gathering of Allegheny Mennonite Conference was held virtually on March 4, 2023. There were 40 delegates and 2 visitors participating.
Jayne Byler, Moderator-elect, led the meeting in Randy Kolb’s absence as he was out of the country in Honduras serving with a medical team.
Minutes from the Fall Faith and Life Gathering on November 5, 2022:
ACTION: With two minor changes noted in the CLC report, the minutes from the November 5, 2022, of the Faith and Life Gathering were approved by unanimous consent.
Randy Kolb, Moderator, provided a video report – he is excited to be a part of Allegheny at this time; with the retirement of the Conference’s Children and Youth Minister, Joy Cotchen, a committee has been formed to review and evaluate how conference should be involved with children and youth; Dave Swanson from Pittsburgh Mennonite Church is leading a discernment committee composed of ; Leadership Council continues with IDI (Interculture Development Inventory) training; the Leadership Council has decided to raise the administrative fee for the 2023-24 fiscal year from $500 to $750; a Ministry Resource Committee is being formed to look at ways to review financial models.
Dave Mishler, Conference Minister, reported:
• Everence is offering an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and 6 Allegheny pastors are participating in that program.
• The Leadership Council welcomed the exchange from Winchester, VA as a new Allegheny Conference congregation on February 4, 2023. Virginia Conference released Pastor Chris Scott’s credentials to Allegheny.
• Pastor searches: Leah Rittenhouse has been hired by Scottdale Mennonite as a half time pastor and is also working at Laurelville as Youth Program Manager (Joy Cotchen will be helping as a consultant with summer camps this year). West Philadelphia Fellowship has hired Jonny Rashid as pastor beginning May 1st.
• He continues to share Allegheny’s story with congregations and conferences.
Karin Miller, Conference Treasurer, reported:
• Historical income and expenses
• Income and Expenses comparing current year with a year ago
• Year to date report
• Operating funds report
Karin asked delegates to go back to their congregations and relay this information.
Karin presented the proposed budget from the Leadership Council.
ACTION: The proposed budget for 2023-34 was approved by unanimous consent.
Kimberly Schmidt (Hyattsville) from AMC’s Repair Committee read quotes from Lila Watson, Katerina Gea, and Erica Littlewolf. She explained that the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery created the Repair Network. The network is a group of people and congregations who want to work with Indigenous justice issues and that Allegheny is the only group participating as a conference. She stated that Allegheny’s Repair Committee now has a live webpage within Allegheny’s website. She reviewed the various website resources. She suggested that congregations start with a Sunday School class using the resources on our website. Repair Committee members are open to coming in person to congregations for a presentation.
We welcomed the exchange as our newest congregational member of Allegheny Mennonite Conference. Pastor Chris Scott, who was joined by Viqui Dill, shared a bit about their congregation. They started in 2011 as a church plant in Virginia Conference. They are a community of friends who follow the way of Jesus. They love God and love all God’s creation. Pastor Chris showed a recorded presentation and concluded with they are excited to be joining Allegheny.
Joyce Hall, Constituency Leadership Council (CLC) representative for Allegheny, prepared a written report:
• Joyce and Randy Kolb will be attending the CLC meeting from March 23-25 in San Antonio, TX. Updates from our conferences and constituencies will be shared and the CLC will reflect on some aspects of our denomination structure, particularly our relationship with churchwide agencies.
• The MC USA Convention or MennoCon23 will be this summer from July 3-6 in Kansas City, MO. The theme for this convention is #Be Transformed. On July 7th there will be a full day Climate Summit for youth and young adults. The Delegate Assembly will be on July 7 & 8. Registration is now open at: https://convention.mennoniteusa.org/registration/
• Scholarships to attend MennoCon23 are available for groups, individuals, and families who are unable to raise enough funds to cover all convention expenses. The form to apply must be submitted by April 5th.
• Last November the Executive Board posted the new “Guidelines for Developing Organizational Resolutions & Church Statements in Mennonite Church USA.” In July at Delegate Assembly will be discussing these guidelines which clarify distinction between
organizational resolutions and churchwide statements. Joyce and Randy Kolb will represent the Allegheny Mennonite Conference as delegates at the Delegate Assembly. AMC can also send one youth delegate.
International Guest House funds:
Randy Kolb presented a video of information he shared at a workshop last August at Celebration. This video talked about “the great unraveling, the great turning, and toxic charity.” Randy shared he has a worksheet, and anyone is welcome to contact him with any questions.
Ballot affirmation for positions within conference for 2023-24 year beginning in August 2023.
ACTION: The following positions were affirmed by unanimous consent:
• Constituency Leadership Council (CLC) representative: Deb Bergen (Morgantown) was affirmed for a two-year term.
• Representative on Leadership Council: Lee Good (Community) was affirmed for a 3-year term.
• Nominating Committee member: Ruth Scott (Scottdale) was affirmed for a 3-year term.
Dave Swanson, pastor of Pittsburgh Mennonite shared about an event they are hosting – Forging Peace, Cultivating Justice – on July 23, 2023. The day will be filled with forging gardening tools out of guns. He asked for prayers for this event. There will be a gun buyback, food trucks, workshops on violence prevention and post traumatic healing. To end the day there will be a service of healing and hope. Monetary donations are welcome!
A thank you to Michelle Burkholder for handling the technology for the zoom meeting today.
Jayne Byler closed the meeting with a benediction.
Report by Kathy Holsopple
