Eric Massanari shares about Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference’s annual Conference Communicator Council meeting, featuring a presentation by MC USA Archives Coordinator Olivia Krall.
Eric Massanari serves as the executive conference minister for the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA. He is also a trained spiritual director and is currently serving on the board for Spiritual Directors International (SDI). Eric lives in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife, Yolanda Kauffman, and he actively participates in the Seattle (Washington) Mennonite Church and Community of Hope, Bellingham, Washington, congregations.
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On Saturday, Feb. 1, more than 70 people representing 21 of our 24 congregations in PNMC joined on Zoom for our annual Conference Communications Council (CCC). It was a rich and inspiring time of worship, learning, resourcing and reflecting.
Worship included a readers’ theater, written by Stephen Penner of Salem (Oregon) Mennonite Church, reflecting on how we remember our history and practice our faith today as Anabaptist Christians. Roger Piper-Ruth of Hyde Park Mennonite Fellowship, Boise, Idaho, led us in an original song from a musical he composed on the roots of Anabaptism.
PNMC Conference Communicators Council Zoom meeting.
MC USA Archives Coordinator Olivia Krall.
Our presenters offered challenging insights on what it means to connect with the fullness of our story as a people of faith, and how we are together called to be a vital and creative expression of the Body of Christ today. Olivia Krall, Mennonite Church USA Archives coordinator, shared the stories of two mid-20th century Mennonite women, Mary Emma Showalter and Rowena Lark (see photos below), who helped shape the rapidly changing church of their times.
Historian and author, John D. Roth, shared about the making of the recently published Anabaptist Community Bible, and other resources available from MennoMedia in commemoration of the 500th anniversary. Finally, Lin Rush, current board president for the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Historical Society, offered valuable insights about ways our congregations can retain our records and contribute to gathering the stories of today’s church for the sake of future generations. Our final hour was led by Chris Nord, PNMC Moderator, and members of the PNMC Board.
I am grateful for the way the Holy Spirit lives, moves and connects us across time and place. Even a virtual meeting like we held on Saturday is no barrier!
Camp Ebenezer (Holmes Co., Ohio): Rowena Lark with church and automobiles, circa 1950. Citation: Rowena Lark at Camp Ebenezer, circa 1950. Box 1. Camp Ebenezer (Holmes Co., Ohio) Photograph Collection. HM4-110. Mennonite Church USA Archives. Elkhart, Indiana.
Mary Emma Showalter Eby Citation: Image Courtesy of Eastern Mennonite University Archives.