The project is being funded through Lilly Endowment鈥檚 Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative, which aims to help parents and caregivers share their faith and values with their children. Conectere will join parents and caregivers around shared concerns about their children鈥檚 faith and values, linking religious practices with psychological insights to support secure bonds between caregivers and their children. Based on cutting-edge research and practice, the initiative will foster increased effectiveness in the transmission of faith and values to children. 

Hosted by 91短视频, Conectere brings together the expertise of professors in theology and psychology to support Christian communities in faith formation and attachment security with children. Sarah Ann Bixler, assistant professor of formation and practical theology and associate dean of the seminary at 91短视频, and Almeda Wright, associate professor of religious education at Yale Divinity School, will serve as co-principal investigators and develop resources for congregational leaders and faith communities. Greg Czyszczon, assistant professor of counseling at 91短视频, will direct the Restoring Connections Lab where cohorts of 15-20 caregivers will meet with trained facilitators to listen, share, build trust and learn about growing children in faith and the practices of secure attachment. 

Conectere investigates a critical factor that affects the outcome of sharing faith and values: attachment, the relational connection between caregivers and children. By understanding how attachment security impacts the transmission of faith and values in particular contexts, Conectere will train caregivers in culturally appropriate practices of attunement and flexibility, partnering with them to adapt their faith formation practices to serve the faith outcomes they deeply desire for their children.

鈥淢any faith communities in the U.S. wonder how to stem the tide of young people leaving,鈥� Bixler observed. 鈥淏y bringing together theology and psychology, we find that sharing faith and building secure relationships have to go hand in hand. If you have one without the other, faith probably won鈥檛 stick in the next generation. I鈥檓 eager to work with my wise colleagues at Yale and 91短视频 to understand this better and to support parents, caregivers and faith leaders in passing on faith and values to their children.鈥�

Taking its name from the Latin word meaning join, link, bond, and lead to, Conectere has three components: research, practices and resources. The initiative will conduct research with caregivers and children to understand how faith formation works in particular Christian subcultures. Through a practice lab, Conectere will explore contextualized practices of secure attachment and faith sharing with parents and caregivers. Finally, it will develop resources to provide education about attachment and faith formation through curriculum, presentations, workshops and practice-based networks of parents, caregivers and ministry leaders.

Passing on faith in diverse communities

91短视频 is one of 77 organizations that are receiving grants through this competitive round of the Christian Parenting initiative. Reflecting the diversity of Christianity in the United States, the organizations are affiliated with mainline Protestant, evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox Christian and Pentecostal faith communities. Many of the organizations are rooted in Black church, Hispanic and Asian Christian traditions.

Conectere centers caregivers located at the margins of dominant American Christianity. Within African American, recent immigrant and Mennonite Christian communities, adults often seek to protect their children from external cultural threats, whether perceived or real. Bixler, Czyszczon and Wright proposed Conectere in response to concerns they heard from parents and caregivers in these communities. Adults鈥� fear that children will assimilate to American culture sometimes leads to a caregiving posture of rigidity and control, which young people say pushes them further away from the community鈥檚 shared faith and values. Conectere will resource parents and caregivers in culturally-attentive ways of relating with children, so that the sharing of faith and values is complemented by secure relational practices – a combination shown by research to make faith transmission across generations most effective. 

鈥淲e鈥檝e heard from many parents who are seeking to nurture the spiritual lives of their children, especially in their daily activities, and looking to churches and other faith-based organizations for support,鈥� said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment鈥檚 vice president for religion. 鈥淭hese thoughtful, creative and collaborative organizations embrace the important role that families have in shaping the religious development of children and are launching programs to assist parents and caregivers with this task.鈥� 

Lilly Endowment Inc. launched the Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative in 2022 because of its interest in supporting efforts to help individuals and families from diverse Christian communities draw more fully on the wisdom of Christian practices to live out their faith fully and well,聽passing on a vibrant faith to a new generation.聽聽

91短视频 91短视频 and Lilly Endowment Inc.

91短视频, founded in 1917 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, is an educational institution of Mennonite Church USA, serving students of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. 91短视频 confers undergraduate, graduate, and seminary degrees in the liberal arts, applied sciences, and professions. 

As a Christian university with vigorous interdisciplinary inquiry, 91短视频 is a world leader in developing theory and practice of restoring relationships. This makes 91短视频 an ideal home for Conectere, grounded in an Anabaptist tradition that emphasizes critical reflection, countercultural community and theology understood in practice. The added strength of a partnership with Yale Divinity School faculty makes Conectere a promising initiative to develop contextually-attentive, psychologically-sound, theologically- robust resources for caregivers and ministry leaders in particular Christian communities.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders鈥� wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment鈥檚 religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.

He will lead the development of programming funded by a ., grant of $998,606. The award is part of Lilly鈥檚 Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, designed to help theological schools across the United States and Canada respond to the most pressing challenges they face in preparing pastoral leaders for today and the future.

The new pastoral leadership program will integrate personal spiritual formation, biblical and theological frameworks and conflict transformation skills. Training will become available in a variety of formats: online digital content, regional on-site trainings, workshops, and new seminary courses and programs. Work is already underway to develop training events for faith community leaders in trauma response and restorative justice for congregations.聽

The grant builds on momentum from the graduate certificate in faith-based peacebuilding, a new seminary program offered in cooperation with the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding.

Cook joins 91短视频 after working on a Lilly-funded 鈥淭hriving Congregations鈥� grant at Wake Forest that similarly focused on equipping ministry and lay leaders. 

鈥淒r. Jake Cook brings academic theological training in peace and ethics and an ecumenical background and experience resourcing congregations,,鈥� said The Rev. Dr. Sarah Bixler, associate dean of the seminary. 鈥淭hese experiences will serve him well in implementing EMS’s vision to support ministry leaders and faith communities to understand conflict and develop wise responses.鈥�

Bixler also pointed out that Cook鈥檚 expertise in leading integrated programs will strengthen initial development and implementation. 鈥�Our program is situated at a unique intersection that brings together distinctive strengths of 91短视频 and EMS: exploring theory and embodying skills in peacebuilding and conflict transformation, undergirded by biblical and theological reflection, and sustained by spiritual formation practices,鈥� she said. 鈥淒r. Cook has expertise in these areas, and he understands the challenges and opportunities congregational leaders are facing. He will be a dynamic and effective leader to develop these program resources.鈥� 

Cook holds a PhD from Fuller Seminary in Christian ethics; a Master of Divinity degree from McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University; and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in religion and philosophy from Friends University.

Prior to his appointment at Wake Forest, Cook taught for two years at Friends University and also served in administrative roles at both that university and Fuller Theological Seminary.

Cook has published widely on peacemaking and non-violence, and issues of justice and sustainability. In 2021, he published his first book, Worldview Theory, Whiteness, and the Future of Evangelical Faith (Lexington Books/Fortress Academic).

An award-winning scholar, teacher, and preacher, he has presented at the International Conference on Religion and Film, the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion, the American Academy of Religion, and the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, and the Conference on Spirituality, Emergent Creativity and Reconciliation, among other engagements. Cook has also developed and taught courses and workshops in the church setting.

The Pathways Initiative is part of Lilly Endowment鈥檚 wider efforts to strengthen theological schools and other religious institutions and networks that prepare pastoral leaders to ensure that a diverse array of Christian congregations are guided by a steady stream of wise, faithful and well-prepared leaders.

91短视频 is one of 105 theological schools receiving these grants. Together the schools represent the broad diversity of Christianity in the U.S. and Canada, with affiliations to evangelical, mainline Protestant, nondenominational, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Catholic, Black church, Latino, Asian-American and historic peace church traditions (e.g., Church of the Brethren, Mennonite, Quakers).

Spory, who graduated from 91短视频 with degrees in and , will enroll in a dual degree master of architecture and master of community and regional planning program at the College of Design at Iowa State University in the fall of 2012.

鈥淎lthough I am still very new to the field, I am interested in looking at design as a tool for economic and community development, rural architecture, and international and socially conscious environmental design,鈥� Spory said.

Spory was selected from among 61 students nominated from the 95 schools that are members of the of church-related colleges and universities.

As a Lilly Fellow, Spory will attend four conferences over the next three years to collaborate with other fellows, senior scholars and luminaries who integrate research, teaching, vocation and an interest in church-related higher education. He will receive three annual $3,000 stipends for use as needed.

The current program will end in the fall of 2015, with the graduate fellows being introduced to representatives of the Lilly Fellows Program National Network at the network鈥檚 annual national conference.

While at 91短视频, Spory was co-president of the for two years and was involved in and . He was also an intern with 91短视频’s . He was a recipient of one of 91短视频鈥檚 highest awards, the 鈥溾�� as a graduating senior.

, chair of at 91短视频, said Spory is “an integrative thinker, drawing connections between his courses, cross-cultural experiences and extracurricular activities. His work consistently demonstrated creativity, attention to detail and strong design skills.”

A native of Boswell, Pennsylvania, Spory has been a marketing and sales associate with since June 2011. He attends Zion Mennonite Church in Broadway.

A 2008 91短视频 honors graduate has received a major fellowship award for graduate study.

Donovan E. Tann, an English major with minor in church music from East Petersburg, Pa., was one of 15 students nationwide accepted into the Lilly Graduate Fellows Program operated by Valparaiso (Ind.) University.

He was selected from among 67 students nominated from the 89 schools that are members of the Lilly Fellows Program National Network of church-related colleges and universities.

The Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts seeks to renew and enhance the connections between Christianity and the academic vocation at church-related colleges and universities.

Nominees must intend to enter a PhD, MFA, ThD or equivalent program at the school of their choice in fall, 2008. Nominees "should also demonstrate a desire to explore the connections between Christianity and higher education and entertain the possibility of teaching at a church-related college or university."

Tann, who graduated summa cum laude from 91短视频 Apr. 27, plans to enroll in a combined MA and PhD English literature program at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. He has also received an assistantship there.

‘One of the Brightest’

"Donovan was one of the brightest students I’ve ever taught," said Martha G. (Marti) Eads, professor of language and literature at 91短视频. "He was thoughtful, an excellent writer, eloquent in classroom conversation.

"Donovan is a witness to the power of literature and faith in God and will one day make an excellent English teacher," Dr. Eads added.

Over a three-year period, these fellows, along with two senior mentors, will communicate and collaborate with each other in areas of research, teaching, and professional development.

The current program will end in the fall, 2011, with the Graduate Fellows being introduced to representatives of the Lilly Fellows Program National Network at the network’s annual national conference.

As a Lilly fellow, Tann will also attend four conferences over the next three years to collaborate with each other and with senior scholars and luminaries who integrate research, teaching, vocation and an interest in church-related higher education. He will receive three annual $3,000 stipends for use as needed.

While at 91短视频, Tann was involved in several musical ensembles and released two compact disc recordings of his original music.

He is a member of Bossler Mennonite Church, Elizabethtown, Pa.

Lara L. Scott, associate professor of at 91短视频, has been accepted into a summer seminar, “Biblical Studies Across the Curriculum: Discerning Scripture for the Disciplines,” to be held July 9-27, 2007, at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Scott was among a small group of applicants accepted into the prestigious program that seeks to provide opportunities to learn how to read Scripture well and how to read it as scholars.

James K.A. Smith, associate professor of philosophy at Calvin College and J. Richard Middleton of Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, N.Y., will direct a team of 12 scholars from across the disciplines in utilizing the best of critical, confessional scholarship on Scripture with a view to strengthening its impact for thinking across the curriculum.

Seminar participants will receive a stipend and travel, meals and lodging assistance. Funds are provided by the Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts at Valparaiso (Ind.) University.

Scott, who joined the 91短视频 faculty in 2006, earned a BA in art from Yale University and a MFA from the University of Pennsylvania. She previously taught from Greenville (Ill.) College where she taught digital video, graphic design, digital imaging, digital photography and painting at Greenville (Ill.) College.

It seemed an appropriate symbol for the day, Sept. 11, 2006, exactly five years after terrorists’ attacks on U.S. soil.

"Hope" was also the theme of the public presentation held that evening in Lehman Auditorium at 91短视频 that explored ways people respond to daily acts of violence.

Renowned trauma expert Kathe Weingarten spoke on this complex issue in offering a "compassionate response to violence in a post-September 11 world."

Dr. Kathe Weingarten offers "a compassionate response to violence" in a Sept. 11 address at 91短视频.
Photo by Jim Bishop

Dr. Weingarten, a clinical psychologist and Harvard Medical School faculty member, recalled the "beautiful morning of September 11, 2001" as she began the day at her home in Massachusetts.

Two hours later, she watched the unfolding drama on television as the flaming twin towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan collapsed – "an unthinkable event."

"These years later, the challenge remains to take the kind of effective actions that make the world a safer place for everyone," she said. "That includes addressing the root causes of terrorism and reducing the level of fear that inhibits us from compassionate action."

Weingarten discussed the phenomenon of what she calls "common shock" that occurs when persons witness violence or are personally violated – in such everyday situations as road rage, altercations in public places, parents screaming at their children.

"Responding to violent acts with compassion is not an easy road," she said. "Good-hearted people often feel disempowered. They turn off the television, become numb, feel saturated or even act prematurely without having the facts."

Biggest Obstacle, Fear

The biggest obstacle in moving from passive witness to effective action is fear, the speaker said, a tenacious emotion that isn’t healthy on the individual or corporate level." She cited parents who sheltered their children from the reality of 9-11 or government leaders who use fear to advance a particular agenda or to wield power over the disenfranchised.

"A compassionate act often begins slowly and ripples out in unexpected ways," Weingarten said. As first steps, she advocated "using the gifts you already have, select an individual focus to keep from becoming overwhelmed, and participate in activities of remembrance and celebration along the way."

She noted that the emotions associated with pain and with empathy both originate in the same region of the human brain.

"We are wired to care, for that is the hope of this planet," Weingarten told the audience. "It is up to us to preserve our home. We wouldn’t even be here [in this setting] this evening if we didn’t care, so get busy for the sake of us all."

The speaker closed by affirming the 91短视频 mission statement that includes a commitment to "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God."

Weingarten continued the "hope in a world of despair" theme in a chapel talk Tuesday, Sept. 12 at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, interacted with 91短视频 faculty at a luncheon meeting and led a workshop for student leaders on practical steps to enhance resilience and sustain hope.

Weingarten’s visit was supported by a Lilly Endowment grant and sponsored by 91短视频’s and .

How do people process such violent acts, whether victims themselves or onlookers from a distance?

Kaethe Weingarten, a renowned trauma expert, psychologist and Harvard Medical School faculty member, will give several presentations on the theme, “A Compassionate Response to Violence, September 11 and Beyond,” on Sept. 11 and 12 at 91短视频.

“People are inundated with images of others experiencing various levels of trauma, from observing gruff interactions in the grocery store to televised news reports from Lebanon,” noted Ken L. Nafziger, vice president for at 91短视频.

On the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11, “We wanted to provide some tools and learning opportunities for people – especially students – to figure out what to do with the intensity of feelings and other reactions they have as witnesses of trauma,” Dr. Nafziger explained.

Weingarten’s presentations at 91短视频 are funded by a grant and will aim to “give participants realistic hope in light of the plight of others,” he added.

In addition to her work as associate clinical professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Weingarten is founder and director of the Witnessing Project – an organization that helps people move from passive witness to effective action () and teaches at the Family Institute in Cambridge.

Weingarten will speak 7 p.m. Sept. 11 in Lehman Auditorium on “From Fear to Hope: Individual and Collective Contributions to a Post-September 11 World.” Her presentation is open to the public and will link with 91短视频’s vision statement from Micah 6:8 to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.”

An opportunity for dialog with the speaker will immediately follow in the Common Grounds coffee house on ground floor of the University Commons.

Weingarten will speak 9:30 a.m. Sept. 12 on “Hope in a Time of Global Despair,” in Martin Chapel of the seminary building at 91短视频. She will present seven actions that “make doing realistic hope easier, assisting us in sustaining a compassionate and affirmative life amidst the pain and suffering we hear about every day.” Seminary chapel is open to everyone.

91短视频 faculty and staff will attend a luncheon talk noon-1 p.m. Sept. 12 in the west dining room titled “Extending the Circle of Compassionate Care to the Caregivers.” While noting that caregivers choose to expose themselves to the pain of others, Weingarten will offer suggestions on how caregivers can include themselves in the circle of care.

A central component of Weingarten’s time on campus will be an afternoon workshop 2-5 p.m. Sept. 12 in room 211-212 of the University Commons for student leaders, “Practical Steps to Enhance Resilience and Sustain Hope.” Participants will identify their unique “resilience profile,” learn how those strengths can be used in a team approach to healing and hope, and learn ways to sustain hopefulness over the long haul.

Weingarten’s most recent book “Common Shock, Witnessing Violence Every Day,” received the 2004 Nautilus book award for social change ().

A reception and book signing for the speaker will be held 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12 in the Brunk-Maust lounge on the ground floor of 91短视频’s Campus Center.

For more information, contact the student life office at 540-432-4135.

A noted Christian activist gave an “altar call” at 91短视频 Tuesday night, Feb. 21, for persons to bring a heightened moral sensitivity to the social and political arena.

In an address at 91短视频, Jim Wallis of Washington, D.C., drew from ideas in his latest book, “God’s Politics,” in calling persons to “get involved and make a difference where you are” because of their faith commitments.

Wallis is the founder and long-time editor of “Sojourners” magazine that covers issues of faith, politics and culture. In 1995, he was instrumental in forming “Call to Renewal,” a national federation of churches, denominations and faith-based organizations from across the theological and political spectrum working to overcome poverty.

“It’s easy to be confused about what it means to be a Christian these days,” Wallis said. “Being a Christian doesn’t automatically put you in a certain political camp. God is a public God. God is neither Republican nor Democrat. To be a Christian means to stand for what Jesus stood for.

“I’ve got some good news for you,” Wallis told his audience of 91短视频 students, faculty and community persons. “I believe that the monologue of the Religious Right is fading in this country and a new dialog has begun. I sense a new hunger for finding a moral center that wants to dig deeper, to view what lies beneath our current social and political order.”

“Faith can’t and shouldn’t be narrowed down to addressing just two issues – abortion and gay marriage – as many are wont to do,” Wallis said. “I find more than 2,000 scripture verses in my Bible that convince me that poverty is a moral issue too.

“Nuclear weapons, AIDS, concern for the environment and the ethics of war are also moral issues,” he added.

In contrast to emphases on abortion or gay marriage, Wallis said in his travels and conversations he is meeting more people with “a desire to find common ground on the sacredness of life and the integrity of the family.”

The speaker said he is encountering “a new generation of young people who have been turned off by religion but are asking “what can I do,” and responding to a new altar call to “make a difference” in the world right where they are.

“What the world is waiting for is spiritual integrity and social justice, for people to come to Christ and to enlist in His program in the world,” Wallis said. “Discipleship follows conversion.

“People of faith have to make a choice between hope and cynicism. Cynicism is a buffer against commitment and leads to despair,” he said. “Rather, rise to the challenge of using your God-given gifts in the crushing needs around you – that’s what changes history.”

Wallis’s remarks were frequently interrupted by “amens” and audience applause in the nearly-full Lehman Auditorium (the facility seats around 1,000). He received a standing ovation at the close.

Wallis’ appearance at 91短视频 was made possible by The Student Lecture Series, a student-initiated endeavor to bring well-known speakers on campus to address socially relevant issues. Sponsorship for this event comes in part from , and the .

A noted Christian leader for social change will speak 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in Lehman Auditorium.

Jim Wallis, founder and editor of “” magazine, activist and international commentator on ethics and public life, will address issues of social justice and moral politics espoused in his latest book, “God’s Politics.”

Wallis was a founder of “Sojourners” – Christians for justice and peace – more than 30 years ago and continues to edit the magazine, covering faith, politics and culture, with a combined print and electronic media readership of more than 100,000 people.

In 1995, Wallis was instrumental in forming “Call to Renewal,” a national federation of churches, denominations and faith-based organizations from across the theological and political spectrum working to overcome poverty.

Wallis speaks at more than 200 events a year, and his columns appear in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and other major newspapers.

His most recent book, “God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It” (Harper Collins, 2005), debuted at No. 4 on the New York Times’ best-sellers list and remained there for 16 weeks. He offers regular commentary and analysis for radio and television and teaches a course at Harvard University on “Faith, Politics and Society.”

Wallis lives in inner-city Washington, D.C., with his wife, Joy, and their sons, Luke and Jack.

The is a student-initiated endeavor to bring well- known speakers on campus to address socially relevant issues. Sponsorship for this event comes in part from , and the .

A $5 donation is suggested at the door.

On the hillside a short walk up from , people of all ages and walks of life may soon be seen walking in quiet circles.

A stone labyrinth, now under construction, will facilitate students, faculty, conference attendees and visitors from the surrounding community who seek a setting for prayer and meditation.

With a $15,000 grant from the

Teatro Chirmol, a Latino theater workshop at 91短视频, will present "Bajo un Mismo Techo II" ("Under the Same Roof II"), 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 9-10, in 91短视频

A new research project that Eastern Mennonite Seminary professor Lawrence M. Yoder is undertaking should provide some answers.

As part of that research, Dr. Yoder, professor of missiology at EMS, will conduct a study of "pastoral habits" in an attempt to identify the factors that make some pastors "excellent."

Yoder and a yet unidentified research partner will seek to learn from 25 pastors who have been identified by their conference ministers and the office of Congregational and Ministerial Leadership of Mennonite Church USA as fruitful and effective leaders. Then, using a model created to identify skills and habits needed for church planting, Yoder will begin a series of in-depth interviews.

"The idea is that you talk to a person and you ask them to describe what they do in all different aspects of their work," said Yoder, "not to give you their theory, but to describe what they do from day to day, from week to week, over the range of their ministry.

"We will approach all the interviews in the same way. We will ask the pastors to tell us what they give their time and energy to," said Yoder. "We will get them to tell stories, so that for each person we end up with what we could call a ‘thick description’ of their ministry."

This information will then be compiled and Yoder and his colleague will use it to develop a profile of excellent Mennonite pastoral leadership.

"Our Mennonite seminaries will then review the information and decide if there are gaps in their programs, consider what happens in seminary education and discern to what degree seminaries form, teach and train people in the skills and habits that have been identified as necessary for excellent pastors," Yoder noted.

Through a cycle of colloquies and other exchanges, professors and pastors will create a feedback loop that strengthens the effectiveness of both groups.

Yoder’s research, part of a $1.6 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded to Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary of Elkhart, Ind., has practical implications for both teaching organizations and individual pastors and other church leaders.

"We owe our congratulations to Lawrence for his leadership in designing a piece of the research," said Eastern Mennonite Seminary Dean Ervin R. Stutzman. "This project will help us unlock the secrets of pastoral excellence for seminaries, students and pastors themselves, and in the process help EMS become even more effective in training church leaders."

A program at aimed at helping persons to explore their potential and gifts for pastoral ministry is moving ahead.

A "Culture of Call" initiative at the seminary, being funded by a Lilly Endowment grant, is helping congregations who have agreed to participate in the ministry effort to in turn tap potential participants for the program.

In stage two of the three-stage effort, leaders in pilot congregations are identifying young people or those in mid-career who have pastoral leadership gifts and inviting them to serve as ‘interns’ on their leadership team.

The initial stage involved holding a series of vocations banquets and a "Ministry Sunday" emphasis in several Mennonite district conference settings.

The seminary also held a two-day retreat/workshop in December 2003, at Laurelville (Pa.) Mennonite Church Center that involved 45 church leaders representing 15 "pilot congregations" from the four cooperating Mennonite conferences – Franconia, Lancaster, Ohio and Virginia.

Merlin L. Miller, pastor, Landstown Community Church, Virginia Beach; Randy Coblentz, pastor, Williamsburg (Va.) Mennonite Church; Harry Jarrett, associate pastor, Harrisonburg Mennonite Church; and Ed Heatwole, pastor, New Beginnings, Bridgewater, Va., interact at the gathering of current and prospective "pilot congregations" in the "Culture of Call" program.
Photo by Jim Bishop

Owen Burkholder, conference minister for Virginia Mennonite Conference, met at the seminary on Dec. 10, 2004, with representatives of five of the six pilot congregations that had attended the Laurelville meeting. Also present were three more congregations who are considering getting involved in the program.

Participating Virginia Conference congregations represented at the meeting were: Harrisonburg Mennonite; Landstown Community, Virginia Beach; Park View Mennonite, Springdale Mennonite, Waynesboro; Williamsburg Mennonite and Zion Mennonite, Broadway. Congregations present that are exploring mentor/intern relationships were: New Beginnings Mennonite, Bridgewater; Charlottesville Mennonite and Stephens City Mennonite.

According to Del Glick, director of church partnerships at EMS, a major portion of the time together was spent hearing reports from those congregations who have an internship plan in place. The group also discussed key ingredients of planning and implementing a congregational intern plan and listened to concerns and ideas from those considering taking part, he noted.

Randy Coblentz, pastor at Williamsburg Mennonite, shared his congregation’s experience in identifying an intern from within the congregation. This person will serve an eight-month internship in a variety of roles – preaching, visitation and outreach and administration.

"I see this pilot program being a discernment tool – is this person being called to the ministry," Coblentz said. "We need a fresh approach to identifying pastoral leaders and assisting them in spiritual formation and equipping for leadership before the need arises for a new pastor."

"The next step is to bring together participants in the 2003 events as cohorts for a training process," Dr. Glick said. "We also plan to invite more congregations to join this three-year commitment of calling forth persons from their congregations to serve as interns on the leadership teams and to train them accordingly.

"The resources and training are not programs imposed on them by the seminary," Glick noted. "Rather, what emerges will be based on mutual partnerships driven by needs identified by the conferences and congregations."

For more information on the "Culture of Call" program, please call (540) 432-4698 or email churchpartnerships@emu.edu.