Mennonite Church USA Equipping now online

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Mennonite Church USA pastors and lay leaders no longer have to wait for the mail to get the latest information on churchwide resources. The Equipping resource packet is now available online at www.MennoniteUSA.org/equipping.

Equipping is a resource packet including information on resources and events from Mennonite Church USA agencies and other organizations. It includes specific information in the areas of Christian education, mission, peacemaking and stewardship. The free publication, which originally was mailed 10 times per year, is targeted toward Mennonite Church USA pastors and lay leaders.

The online publication went live in June and regular updates will be available online before the traditional print publication reaches mailboxes. The last print publication, a November/December issue, was mailed in early November. It already has been posted online.

In an effort to be better stewards of financial, human and natural resources, Mennonite Church USA Executive Leadership will emphasize the electronic version of Equipping beginning in 2009. A quarterly print version will include one cover letter and resource samples, such as brochures and catalogs. Regular monthly issues will be delivered electronically via e-mail.

“By delivering the same content electronically, we not only help reduce clutter in church offices across the country, but we also reduce our impact on forests and fossil fuel consumption that mail trucks would use delivering the printed version,” said Chris Rahe, Web content manager for Mennonite Church USA Executive Leadership.

Marathana Prothro, Communications director for Mennonite Church USA Executive Leadership, said the transition is based on feedback from Mennonite Church USA pastors and leaders requesting that the resource go online.

“Our primary goal is to meet the needs of pastors and lay leaders,” Prothro said. “We realize that church offices juggle a lot of information, and we’re working with churchwide agencies to make life easier for pastors and church secretaries.”

The online version of Equipping includes features that allow recipients to easily print or e-mail specific articles that are most relevant within their context.

“We realize that not everything in Equipping will be helpful to everyone,” Rahe said. “Our hope is that people will be able to find the nuggets that are meaningful to them as quickly and easily as possible.”

Mennonite Church USA pastors who already receive the printed version of Equipping and whose e-mail addresses are current in the churchwide directory will automatically receive reminders when new content is available online.

Others should visit www.MennoniteUSA.org/equipping to subscribe.

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