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2007-05-15 issue:

Get ready for San José

Mennonite Church USA members will come

by Gordon Houser

Print Article

When around 6,000 members gather in San José, Calif., July 2-6, it will be the first time Mennonite Church USA has held its Delegate Assembly and convention on the West Coast. Not since 1991 for the former Mennonite Church (in Eugene, Ore.) and 1971 for the former General Conference Mennonite Church (Fresno, Calif.) has there been a major meeting of our members on the West Coast.

According to Conrad Kanagy’s Church Member Profile (see Feb. 6 issue), only about 6 percent of Mennonite Church USA members live in the West. Nevertheless, a plethora of vibrant congregations are living out their faith in that region. Southern California alone includes congregations representing at least a half-dozen language groups.

Closer to San José are congregations in Fresno, Reedley, Paso Robles and, closest of all, San Francisco. All are part of Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference, official hosts for the event, which also includes Mennonite Church USA congregations in Arizona and Nevada.

San José 2007’s theme, “Live the Call,” is based on Ephesians 4:1-6, which explores multiple themes relevant to members of Mennonite Church USA and the call to joyfully follow Jesus into the world.

An important part of every convention is worshiping together. Adult worship leaders for San José 2007 will be Maribeth Troyer of Phoenix, Ariz., and Rod Stafford of Portland, Ore. Youth worship leaders will be Ben Bolanos of San Francisco and Rachel Gerber of Denver.

Music leaders for the adult worship services will be Tom Harder of Wichita, Kan.; Helen Hudgens of Evanston, Ill.; and Brother George Makinto of Palos Verdes, Calif. Jeremy Kempf of Goshen, Ind., will lead music for youth worship services.

Delegates to San José 2007 will look at several issues. Perhaps the most high-profile issue will be a resolution to work toward a plan for providing health insurance for Mennonite Church USA pastors (see April 3, page 20).

Health-care access: Delegates at Charlotte 2005 discussed a health-care access statement that came to delegates with specific actions removed, following feedback from a study process before the assembly. Out of the discussion at Charlotte came a list of three priorities.

The top priority was for Mennonite Church USA members to be “better stewards of our own health.” The second priority was for health-care access for pastors and church workers. Third was advocating for public policy changes.

That second priority is a focus of the resolution coming to delegates this year from Mennonite Church USA’s health-care access program. Glen Miller, the director of that program, told members of the denomination’s Executive Board and the Constituency Leaders Council in March that “70 to 100 of our pastors are uninsured.” He went on to ask, addressing the third priority: “How can we advocate for change unless we take care of our own?”

The resolution coming to San José 2007, which is subject to change, states, in part: “That as a denomination, we are committed to providing basic health insurance for all eligible pastors. That we request the Executive Board to oversee the development and implementation of a plan whereby all congregations of Mennonite Church USA participate together in an arrangement that covers all of our pastors with basic health insurance.” Added are “Special instructions: The role of the Executive Board will be to oversee a collaborative process including area conferences, churchwide agencies and related institutions and local congregations. This process is expected to result in a plan design and funding mechanism that will be owned by all parts of the church.”

As in past assemblies, delegates will meet in table groups to discuss this and other resolutions and statements.

Other business: July 3, the first full day of the Delegate Assembly, will include a Bible study on the statement Agreeing and Disagreeing in Love, adopted in 1995 alongside the Vision: Healing and Hope statement and the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective.

Another resolution coming to delegates is to join Christian Churches Together (see April 3, page 23). Delegates will also hear a report on the church member profile, the Executive Board’s six-year review and a presentation on our lifestyle and related issues of sustainability from a Mennonite perspective. This is a carry-over request from the Charlotte Assembly.

On July 5, following a churchwide financial report, delegates will discuss how to regard the place of congregational discernment amid other forms of discernment in conferences and denominational statements.

Later that day are scheduled discussions with youth, antiracism and new global relationships with Congolese Mennonites.

Youth: The largest group at Mennonite conventions includes those taking part in the Youth Convention. As at previous conventions, youth will participate in worship, their own track of seminars and service projects. Speakers include Michele Hershberger, John D. Roth, Rudy Carrasco, Jason Evans, Paul Alexander at joint worship session July 4 (see page 14), Jim Brenneman, Brenda Matthews and Luke Hartman.

Young adults: For San José 2007, Jess Roth of Nebraska, Bess Moser of Ohio and Rachel Swartzendruber, associate director of convention planning, are coordinating the young adult activities. The priority for the young adult activities in San José is to create a space for young adults to connect on a regular basis. Each night at 9:30 there will be music, discussion, concerts, humor or some other activity planned for young adults ages 18 to 30.

Conventions will also be held for junior high and children.

Gordon Houser is associate editor of The Mennonite.

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