(Mennonite Church USA) — Following its first face-to-face meeting in Orlando, Florida on July 5, the Mennonite Church USA executive director search committee has issued a churchwide invitation to prayer for the calling of the denomination’s next executive director.
The committee members — Joy Sutter (chair, Franconia Conference), Joyce Kusuma (Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference), Sandra Martinez (Western District Conference), Phil Rich (Ohio Mennonite Conference), Zenobia Sowell-Bianchi (Illinois Mennonite Conference), Samuel Voth Schrag (Illinois Mennonite Conference) and Dick Thomas (Atlantic Coast Conference ) — report that they have established a positive working rhythm through weekly videoconference calls and are making progress in outlining a process for their work.
Initially, the committee will be seeking input from across the denomination with a variety of denominational stakeholders as well as a more broadly circulated survey that will help hone essential qualities to prioritize, and inform any updates made to the next executive director’s job description.
“We are laying the groundwork to listen deeply to each other and the Spirit” says Sutter, who also serves as the moderator-elect for the denomination. “As we all work together in this important task, I believe the bonds that bind us together in the church will be strengthened.”
The search committee members report their gratitude for those expressing interest in their work across the denomination, for the nominations already received and for those who are committing this process to prayer.
Nominations will be received at any point during the search process until a new executive director has been named. Please send any direct correspondence or nominations to EDSearch@MennoniteUSA.org. Persons interested in applying for the position should request application materials from Joy Sutter, committee chair, at JoyS@MennoniteUSA.org.
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