POTC has a new website: explorePOTC.org Peaceful Options for Training and Careers (POTC) has launched a website (explorePOTC.org) where young adults across the U.S. can find information about non-military career, service and training opportunities. POTC is an independent initiative formed by Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Central Committee to address the widespread issue of military recruitment on high school campuses. “The United States military is in desperate need of recruits,” said Joe Roos, chair of the POTC Steering Committee. “They blanket high schools with promises of signin ..read more

Mennonite Church USA’s Safe Church ministry is strengthening its commitment to ensuring safe spaces for all members by offering background checks (mennoniteusa.org/background-checks) for church employees and volunteers through an agreement with Safe Hiring Solutions.  “Background checks are important and necessary to protect our faith communities, especially children, youth and vulnerable adults,” said Nancy Kauffmann, interim director of Church Safety at MC USA. “They allow the church community to move forward with more confidence, confirming that their employees and volunteers do n ..read more

By Jessica Griggs for Mennonite Church USA ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Church USA) — For the months of April and May, Mennonite Church USA will focus on addressing climate justice concerns, through the “Learn, Pray, Join: Climate Justice: Seeking Shalom” initiative. This campaign seeks to bring awareness to intertwining climate and social concerns, such as extreme weather events, agricultural challenges, species extinction and human suffering, while offering hope and ways to join in the efforts to bring about climate justice. “Our vision, as Mennonite Church USA, is to be vessels of healing and h ..read more

In a new letter released during Holy Week ahead of Easter, more than 140 Bishops and executive leaders from churches, denominations, and church-based organizations in the US and around the world call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, urge the US and other world powers to halt additional arms sales to Israel, and make clear that Israel, the US, and all countries must abide by Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The letters’ signers include a U.S. Catholic Bishop, a Catholic Cardinal, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the presi ..read more

The MC USA Executive Board, meeting via Zoom on March 15-16, 2024, affirmed a clean audit and a new strategic plan that seeks to reimagine church in new ways. Executive Director Glen Guyton presented the strategic plan, which calls the leadership to “[define] and [operationalize] the key practices of Anabaptism [to] ensure that our guiding framework is not just theoretical but lived out in tangible ways across all levels of MC USA.” Objectives of the plan include identifying and leaning into the key markers and practices of the Anabaptist faith community, communicating in new ways and through ..read more

By Jessica Griggs for Mennonite Church USA ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Church USA) — Mennonite Church USA is pleased to announce that the 2025 MC USA biennial national gathering and leading faith formation event, Follow Jesus ‘25, will take place July 8-12, 2025, at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. Follow Jesus ’25 will be held in a smaller, more intimate setting, so as to provide a more convenient and economical location for convention-goers. Despite the change of venue, the schedule of events during the four-night convention will remain largely the same as previous ..read more

ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Church USA) — Mennonite Church USA is seeking award nominations for its 2024 Bring the Peace initiative. The denomination gives the award to a Legacy Peacemaker and a Young Peacemaker each year. A Legacy Peacemaker is someone who has devoted their life to peace and justice work, whereas a Young Peacemaker is a young adult or teenager who has just begun their peacemaking journey, and is making an impact through their contributions. Submit your recommendations for nominees by completing this form before April 19: https://mcusa.formstack.com/forms/btp_award_nomina ..read more

The Schowalter Foundation, North Newton, Kansas, has provided $10,000 to fund up to four semester-long internships at the MC USA Archives and to help digitize fragile resources in 2024. “J.A. Schowalter wanted his legacy to continue beyond his lifetime, supporting the missional work of Mennonite churches and organizations with similar faith and values,” said Schowalter Foundation President Diane Yoder. “We are pleased to support the efforts of MC USA Archives through his vision and generosity.” Oscar J. Murguia, Goshen College student and spring 2024 MC USA Archives intern. Oscar J. Murguia ..read more

Hope for the Future 2024 attendees. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World. Used with permission. Learn more about the Hope for the Future 2024 honorees here. See the online photo album here.  Joanne Gallardo. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World. Used with permission. “Do we know what it means to remove chains?” asked Joanne Gallardo, co-conference minister for Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference at MC USA’s 11th Hope for the Future conference on Feb. 9-11. Gathering in Dallas, Texas, 70 Black, Indigenous and people of color considered the theme, “Breaking Chains, Mending Walls,” whi ..read more

It is with sadness that MC USA announces the passing of Anthonia Chibuzo Onye (May 18, 1971 to Jan. 12, 2024), regional minister for Southern California for Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference (PSMC), recently appointed member of the Mennonite Mission Network board of directors, and associate pastor at Wholicare Community Missionary Church in Los Angeles. She also was the founder and vision bearer of “In the Loving Arms Ministries,” “Groaners, and Overcomers Prayer Group,” and “In the Loving Arms Lending Hands,” ministries which serve communities by bringing peace, hope, joy, comf ..read more