Mary Ann Weber (on left), managing curriculum editor for MennoMedia, and Marty Lehman, director of churchwide operations for Mennonite Church USA, cut the ribbon as fellow employees look on. At right is Ervin Stutzman, executive director of Mennonite Church USA. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Church USA)—The new building for Mennonite Church USA’s Elkhart offices was dedicated Saturday afternoon, April 14, with around 325 people in attendance. The building is located at 3145 Benham Avenue, adjacent to the campus of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS).
Among those present at the dedication service at the AMBS Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount were Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore, Mennonite Church USA Executive Board members, the board chairs and chief executive officers of Mennonite Church USA agencies, board members and area conference leaders from across the church, leaders and members of the AMBS community, donors, fundraising campaign cabinet members, staff members of Mennonite Church USA, and members of local congregations.
Following the dedication service, Mennonite Mission Network’s “Work in Progress” musical group led a procession to the Mennonite Church USA offices for the ribbon cuttings—one in each wing of the building—and an open house.
The new building is one of several Mennonite Church USA centers for
About 325 people participated in the April 14 building dedication service for Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices. David Fisher Fast’s sculpture (pictured above), inspired by the Acts 2 Pentecost text, was installed in time for the dedication. (Photo by Ken Gingerich)
creative work, training, global communication, and logistical support for the mission of the church; other denominational offices are located in Newton, Kan., and Harrisonburg, Va.
The building brings together 70 staff members of Mennonite Church USA agencies and ministries, including Executive Board, Mennonite Education Agency, MennoMedia, Mennonite Mission Network, and The Mennonite—all who were previously housed in various locations in northern Indiana. There is room for 10-12 additional staff members in the currently finished space, which measures 35,000 square feet. Staff moved into the building in December and January.
The building is a LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green facility, designed and constructed using the U.S. Green Building Council standards for sustainable building. The local hardwood trim, doors and interior glass throughout the building were provided by a number of constituents who donated the trees, the harvesting, the rough sawing and drying facilities, the milling and manufacture of the doors and
Mennonite Mission Network's “Work in Progress” choir set the tone for the April 14 building dedication service for Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices. The building dedication service was held in the Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, just next door to the new office building. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
trim, the finishing and the hardware. A portion of the cabinet work also was donated.
Green features of the building include the use of many windows and skylights for natural light, digital heating and lighting systems, bicycle storage, rain gardens, and catchment areas for rainwater to be filtered and absorbed into the ground. Part of the meeting space can be closed off from the offices for other uses on evenings and weekends.
DJ Construction Co. of Goshen, Ind., served as the building contractor, and numerous local businesses were employed for the construction work. Four hundred volunteer hours were recorded in the construction process.
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—Annette Brill Bergstresser for Mennonite Church USA
See Mennonite Church USA’s Facebook page for more photos: www.facebook.com/MennoniteChurchUSA?sk=photos
Around 325 people attended the April 14 building dedication service for Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
Images available:
ftp://ftp.e.mennonites.org/public/NewsPhotos/BldgDed_ribboncutting_1058.JPG
Mary Ann Weber (on left), managing curriculum editor for MennoMedia, and Marty Lehman, director of churchwide operations for Mennonite Church USA, cut the ribbon as fellow employees look on. At right is Ervin Stutzman, executive director of Mennonite Church USA. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
ftp://ftp.e.mennonites.org/public/NewsPhotos/BldgDed_foyer_KenG_0128.JPG
Around 325 people attended the April 14 building dedication service for Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices. David Fisher Fast’s sculpture (pictured above), inspired by the Acts 2 Pentecost text, was installed in time for the dedication. (Photo by Ken Gingerich)
ftp://ftp.e.mennonites.org/public/NewsPhotos/BldgDed_WIP_0939.JPG
(l. to r.) Stanley Green executive director for Mennonite Mission Network; Russ Eanes, executive director for MennoMedia; Marty Lehman, director of churchwide operations for Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board; Carlos Romero, executive director for Mennonite Education Agency; Everett Thomas, editor and chief executive officer for The Mennonite, Inc., read Scripture during the April 14 building dedication service for Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
Mennonite Mission Network’s “Work in Progress” choir set the tone for the April 14 building dedication service for Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices. The building dedication service was held in the Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, just next door to the new office building. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
ftp://ftp.e.mennonites.org/public/NewsPhotos/BldgDed_Service_0953.JPG
Around 325 people attended the April 14 building dedication service for Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
ftp://ftp.e.mennonites.org/public/NewsPhotos/BldgDed_Litany_0996.JPG
(l. to r.) Stanley Green executive director for Mennonite Mission Network; Russ Eanes, executive director for MennoMedia; Marty Lehman, director of churchwide operations for Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board; Carlos Romero, executive director for Mennonite Education Agency; Everett Thomas, editor and chief executive officer for The Mennonite, Inc., read Scripture during the April 14 building dedication service for Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
Wilbur Bontrager (at left), chair and chief executive officer of Jayco, Inc., and vice-chair of the building campaign; and Peter Wiebe, long-time pastor and administrator in the Mennonite Church and chair of the campaign, recognized those who contributed to the Joining Together, Investing in Hope campaign during the April 14 building dedication service for Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
ftp://ftp.e.mennonites.org/public/NewsPhotos/BldgDed_WilburBontrager_PeterWiebe_0985.JPG
Wilbur Bontrager (at left), chair and chief executive officer of Jayco, Inc., and vice-chair of the building campaign; and Peter Wiebe, long-time pastor and administrator in the Mennonite Church and chair of the campaign, recognized those who contributed to the Joining Together, Investing in Hope campaign during the April 14 building dedication service for Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
ftp://ftp.e.mennonites.org/public/NewsPhotos/BldgDed_ElizabethSotoAlbrecht_1015.JPG
Elizabeth Soto Albrecht, moderator-elect of Mennonite Church USA, prays for God’s mission to be carried out in Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices building during the April 14 building dedication service. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
ftp://ftp.e.mennonites.org/public/NewsPhotos/BldgDed_MaryOyer_RobinaSommers_1017.JPG
Mary Oyer led singing and Robina Sommers played piano for the April 14 building dedication service for Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
Elizabeth Soto Albrecht, moderator-elect of Mennonite Church USA, prays for God’s mission to be carried out in Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices building during the April 14 building dedication service. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
ftp://ftp.e.mennonites.org/public/NewsPhotos/BldgDed_PeterGraber_1048.JPG
Peter Graber, director of the fundraising campaign that included the new building, welcomes people to the new building. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
ftp://ftp.e.mennonites.org/public/NewsPhotos/BldgDed_sign_1047.JPG
The building dedication sign features the many regional businesses that were part of constructing the new Mennonite Church USA office building. DJ Construction Co. of Goshen, Ind., served as the building contractor. Peter Wiebe, long-time pastor and administrator in the Mennonite Church, and Wilbur Bontrager, chair and chief executive officer of Jayco, Inc., served as chair and vice-chair of the building campaign, respectively. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
Peter Graber, director of the fundraising campaign that included the new building, welcomes people to the new building. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
The building dedication sign features the many regional businesses that were part of constructing the new Mennonite Church USA office building. DJ Construction Co. of Goshen, Ind., served as the building contractor. Peter Wiebe, long-time pastor and administrator in the Mennonite Church, and Wilbur Bontrager, chair and chief executive officer of Jayco, Inc., served as chair and vice-chair of the building campaign, respectively. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)
Mary Oyer led singing and Robina Sommers played piano for the April 14 building dedication service for Mennonite Church USA’s new Elkhart offices. (Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser)