The Future of Ohio Conference

Mission Statement

As God calls us to walk in the way of Christ,¹ the Holy Spirit empowers us to share the good news of Jesus.² Embracing an Anabaptist perspective, our prayer is that:

• Our passionate worship flows from our confession of God as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer,³
• We have a vibrant faith in God as Lord of all, who is at work reconciling the world,⁴
• Through our bold witness others will accept Christ as Savior and Lord.⁵

¹Mark 1:17; Luke 9:23-25; Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 5:3-16

⁵Philippians 2:11; II Corinthians 5:18-20; Romans 10:9; Titus 3:4-7

Focus statement

In order to fulfill our mission, the focus of Ohio Conference is to support, connect and lead in ways that equip and empower our congregations to enlarge the faith community in obedience to Jesus Christ.

Focus areas

• Mission: evangelizing and peacebuilding
• Leadership development
• Healthy congregational life

Ohio Conference's mission statement is now available for download in both PowerPoint and PDF formats.

Ohio Conference Mission Statement (PowerPoint)

Ohio Conference Mission Statement (PDF)

Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA

Summary of ACA 2007 and April 2007 Leadership Retreat using Appreciative Inquiry

These statements describe who we are and what we aspire to become.

These motivational actions describe our purpose.

1. A sent people driven by their vision of the kingdom of God on earth.

• We exist to be an active part of God’s redemptive work as a priesthood of believers in the world but not of the world. This being said, we seek to understand and communicate in the language and symbols of our culture.

2. Spirit-filled discipleship...living a “come and see” life with Jesus by our side.

• We invite people into our lives to walk with us as we walked with Jesus.
• We teach and model Jesus’ teaching.
• We help people understand their Holy Spirit-given gifts and passions and encourage them to use these in service.
• We create systems that free people to use their gifts, in concert with others, in ways that are energizing and life-giving.

3. When the Mennonite Church is at its best, we are giving sacrificial service and love, creating living relationships in the pew, across the street and around the world.

• We do this individually.
• We also find ways to do his congregationally.
• This may involve risk within and without.

4. Welcoming, dynamic community grounded in its faith and values and completely open to change.

Leadership

• Understand how large systems have successfully implemented their faith and values into their system (moved from concept to practice/habits)

Congregation

• Identify congregations who are engaged in risk-taking (open to change/ambiguity) and invite other congregations to network with them with available resourcing from Ohio Conference.

5. Shalom – A commitment to holistic, authentic conflict resolution/transformation leading to restorative justice.

• Allow conflict to move us to healthy relationships in our families, our congregations, our communities, and our world by offering conflict skills/methods to membership classes and church leadership bodies to promote healthy congregations that practice these skills and share them with others, living by the example of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

To download a copy of the Appreciative Inquiry Statements, click here: Appreciative Inquiry Statements (PDF)

Disclaimer

Last updated: January 16, 2009