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2009-06-16 issue:

Waltner completes her two-year term as Mennonite Church USA moderator

South Dakota farmer and health-care educator reflects on Mennonite Church USA's changes to 'current relationships, behaviors and organization.'

by Everett J. Thomas

Print Article

The moderator of Mennonite Church USA has many tasks, but this leader’s last week of service is the most public: moderating the biennial Delegate Assembly. Sharon Waltner will be doing that June 30-July 5, during Mennonite Church USA Convention 2009 in Columbus, Ohio. To mark the end of her two-year tenure, I interviewed Waltner by email.—Everett J. Thomas

In addition to her work as a health-care educator, Mennonite Church USA moderator Sharon Waltner farms with her husband, Keith, near Parker, S.D. Adolph, the family’s friendly Rottweiler, is her constant companion on the farm. Photo by Jeremy Waltner/KALEIDSCOPE







1. Editor: During your biennium as moderator, Mennonite Church USA evaluated the denominational structure put in place in 2001. As a result of this Six-Year Review, will there be significant changes to Mennonite Church USA?

I trust Mennonite Church USA will stand unwaveringly on issues that are central to following Jesus within the framework of our Anabaptist theology. Of course, a dynamic, missional church will indeed make changes to join in God’s efforts. Three specific areas of significant change that have resulted from our review are these:

• The first annual all boards meeting: This biennium was the first time all board members from our agency and constituency groups met together face-to-face at round tables. Meeting together is the first step toward building trust within our denomination. This meeting provided an opportunity to worship together, share our passions about our various missions and learn how to better collaborate as we seek to fulfill the mission and vision of Mennonite Church USA.

• Revitalization of our stated vision: A Vision of Healing and Hope. During this biennium, it became clear to me that our Healing and Hope vision statement captures the energy and identity of our constituency. God calls us to be agents of healing and hope in this world, and we as Mennonite Church USA continue to strive to meet this daunting yet crucial mandate.

• Empowerment of Governance Council: The Governance Council, composed of our agency directors and board chairs, has reached a new level of trust and, consequently, a new level of efficiency. The agency executives are meeting regularly with the executive director of Mennonite Church USA as well. I sense a deepened commitment to work together in innovative ways to reduce redundancy and to streamline efforts and resources.

2. In March 2008, the Executive Board under your leadership said that our denomination’s vision and call “is not adequately supported by our current relationships, behaviors and organization.” Have there been significant changes in relationships, behaviors and organization in the past year?

Yes. Some specific examples of these changes are these:

• Agency directors and our executive staff are not only meeting together regularly but planning together and setting goals for our churchwide work. Previously this group only met sporadically.

• Under Marty Lehman’s leadership, many communications and development functions are being reviewed and addressed from a shared, churchwide point of view to determine where we have duplication and how we can better share resources.

• We agreed to hire a consultant for better alignment of churchwide operations. Our goal is to present recommendations for change from an objective, impartial process of listening and discernment.

• The Executive Director search is driven by a desire for the whole church to be consulted and involved. We’ve expended significant effort to gain input from minority groups, emerging fellowships and traditional congregations.

3. In June 2008, the Executive Board announced its plan to form one board to lead all Mennonite Church USA agencies. But that plan is now on hold and appears unlikely to become reality. As you reflect on 2008, would you do anything differently with regard to this proposal and the way the Executive Board led the discussion?

Hindsight always offers new insights. I regret the confusion and frustration encountered as we proposed the Executive Board initiatives. The initiative to form one board is under continued discernment. Although some segments of the original initiatives may not be implemented, the proposals were critical to facilitate needed change. Much progress has come as a result of the initiatives. Mennonite Church USA is a treasure. To effectively share this treasure, we need to be both prudent and nimble with our resources.

4. What are the things about Mennonite Church USA that give you the most hope?

My belief in and hope for the vision of Mennonite Church USA is renewed through each phone conference, face-to-face meeting and discernment process we engage in. I’m continually reminded that God’s plan is so much broader and richer than any of us can fathom. A few reasons to celebrate:

• Others outside our traditional circles are finding Anabaptism for the first time, and their enthusiasm and fervor is contagious.

• New racial-ethnic congregations are finding more support and resources within Mennonite Church USA.

• We observe our traditional congregations finding new energy and creativity as they embrace the missional church vision.

This past biennium has been an extraordinary opportunity for me to experience the commitment and passion of our diverse constituency as it seeks to join in God’s work. For me, this is the quintessence of hope. 

5. What are the things about Mennonite Church USA that give you the most concern?

Though I firmly believe that Mennonite Church USA is on the right path, it’s important for us to keep ourselves open to new directions God may take us. May we choose with urgency to be proactive rather than reactive. That said, three areas we must address are these:

• Our capacity to clearly hear God’s voice is curtailed as we become too comfortable in our busy and overcommitted lifestyles. Often the dominant culture insidiously pervades our worldview and champions complacency.

• Many of our young adults are choosing to leave the church or are not finding meaningful congregations in the cities where they move.

• Often we appear more interested in arguing about peripheral issues such as homosexuality, worship music styles, health-care priorities, etc. and are less interested in responding together to God’s call for us to become a growing, faithful and effective church.


Mennonite Church USA moderator Sharon Waltner is a health-care educator and farms with her husband Keith near Parker, S.D. This includes cleaning out cattle lots. Photo by Jeremy Waltner/KALEIDSCOPE.

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