April 2025

Spring Summits Feature Civil Rights Storytelling

  

The Spring Summits are always a highlight in the conference year. These events are a time to connect with our community of congregations, to share what we have been working on in the conference office and in leadership teams, and to discern together where the Spirit is leading. Perhaps it’s the fact that it is less about decision-making and more about learning that give these gatherings their unique flavor, or perhaps it is because it is, for many of us, the first time that we have interacted since the previous June. For whatever reason it is often a meaningful time, and this year was no exception.

The theme for this year in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (IMMC) is “Love has no borders,” echoing our desire to find ways to transcend not only the political borders we have established, but also the cultural borders that often separate us. Since 2022, we have been intentionally seeking ways in which we might grow our intercultural competency. When the opportunity came to sponsor a Civil Rights Pilgrimage with Mennonite Mission Network (MMN), we jumped at the opportunity.

The Civil Rights Pilgrimage conveniently took place just weeks before the first Spring Summit on March 15. As has been our tradition over the past few years, this first Summit was held in-person. This year, we hosted it at Belmont Mennonite Church (Elkhart, IN) and there we heard stories from 7 of the 12 participants: Joanne Gallardo (IMMC Conference Co-Minister; Kern Road), David Janzen (Fellowship of Hope), Leighton Miller (Sunnyside), Elizabeth Gingerich (Waterford), Sandy Hostetler (Sunnyside), Mary Kauffmann Kennel (Sunnyside), Rolando Sosa (Piedra Viva). Their story-telling featured there, and in a recording of their sharing during the virtual Spring Summit on March 22, helped bring attenders along on their journey.

The Civil Rights Pilgrimage itself took participants into the Deep South where they heard, saw, and touched the history of the struggle for civil rights for black folks and people of color in the United States. This 7-day tour included a curated journey of visiting people, historic sites, and museums dedicated to telling the stories of those harmed and hailed during and following the struggle for civil rights. These encounters challenged and moved the participants, inspiring them to continue the work of education and repair.

Those who attended the Spring Summits were given time to reflect on what they had heard in small groups, either around tables or in break-out rooms. Several reflected on how these stories brought the fight for (and against) civil rights in this country closer to home as a story from a museum visit included plaques commemorating lynchings perpetrated in Indiana, Ohio, and other neighboring states. They also noted that while steps have been taken to move forward, there is still work to be done.

Following the discussions around the Civil Rights Pilgrimage, focus was shifted to working with Youth and Young Adult Delegates. Last year, the delegates of IMMC approved making space for young people, aged 16-25, to join the discernment and work of official delegates. While we continue to live into this decision, the Missional Leadership Team (MLT) thought it would be helpful to give more information on what this means for IMMC and seek to clarify with delegates what their role in this will be. It was also a helpful time for leadership to receive feedback on how we can continue to grow in our support of young people at the conference level. For more information, visit https://im.mennonite.net/yyad.

The Spring Summits concluded with a presentation of the Spending Plan for fiscal year 2025-2026 (July to June). As in years past, there was a recognition that congregational giving has been declining slightly, increasing the need for cultivating individual giving as we seek to use investment income discerningly. The Stewardship Team and conference staff are already making and enacting plans to encourage individuals and congregations to partner with IMMC as sustaining weGive donors. For more information on weGive, visit https://im.mennonite.net/give

After just a few hours, the work was done and it was time to disperse. We hope and pray that our delegates and attenders left these gatherings enriched and encouraged to continue the work at the congregational as well as at the conference level. We were blessed to have over 75 individuals join us, ranging in age from teenagers to 70-somethings, and representing 22 different congregations. We will now begin to shift gears to planning for Summer Fest (June 13-14) but will not soon forget what we heard and learned from this experience at the Spring Summits of 2025.

Submitted by Clayton Gladish.


Why I Give to IMMC

I appreciate the way IMMC supports me and other chaplains in serving and living out our callings. The conference provided the endorsement for my licensing and ordination through Mennonite Church USA, which is necessary to be board certified as a chaplain. IMMC also organizes quarterly meetings for chaplains, and Sharon brings an understanding of the chaplain world from her own work.

I also value that the conference offers opportunities to learn and grow, like the recent Civil Rights Pilgrimage. I was moved by the sharing at Spring Summit from those who participated, and challenged by their experiences.

CarolSue Borkholder, Kalamazoo Mennonite Fellowship

Ministry Transitions

Peter Martin began as interim pastor at Fellowship of Hope on January 1, 2025.
Sean Swanson moved from interim pastor to settled co-pastor at Kern Road on January 1, 2025.
Teresa Dutchersmith began as co-pastor at Kern Road on January 5, 2025.
Ursula Hess’s license toward ordination for chaplaincy was celebrated at Waterford on January 26, 2025.
Quinn Brenneke was ordained at Prairie Street Mennonite on March 2.

  

Joanne Gallardo, IMMC Conference Co-Minister, reflects on the Civil Rights Pilgrimage in February.

A lot of our energy this spring has gone to our Spring Summits. Our in-person and Zoom options happened in March. One of the highlights was being able have a group of us who went on a Civil Rights Pilgrimage share our experiences. We were able to do this thanks to Mennonite Mission Network, and the trip was able to be sponsored by IMMC.

During the worship time, we reflected on our thoughts, learnings, and emotions. Our trip included visiting many important sites that were a part of the Civil Rights movement, including Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, and Memphis. We had tour guides who were full of knowledge, many of whom participated in the Civil Rights movement. It was an honor to bear witness to their stories. The repeated theme we heard throughout was BIPOC resilience, which is something I will carry with me for a long time.

What excited me in the time leading up to this trip was the way this ties in so nicely with our mission of growing our intercultural witness. While our Intercultural Working Group did an excellent job of making recommendations to IMMC, it’s opportunities like this that provide tangible and experiential ways we can approach interculturalism. While study and conversations are important, there’s no substitution with hearing personal stories and being in the place where powerful movements happened.

It is my hope that we can continue to find ways to tangibly grow our intercultural witness.

Financial Report

Your donations make a difference!

Visit im.mennonite.net/give to find out how you can contribute to the work and ministry of Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference.

Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (IMMC) is a conference of Mennonite Church USA.

Gospel Evangel Editor: Andrea Dean, Interim Administrative Coordinator.

Contant Information: PO Box 702, Goshen, IN 46526; imoffice@im.mennonite.net; (574) 534-4006.

Missional Leadership Team: Steve Slagel, moderator; Rebecca Helmuth, moderator-elect; Duane Yoder, treasurer; Naomi Yoder, secretary; Jeshua Franklin; Meredith Sommers; Rolando Sosa Granados.

Do you have a story to tell?

Contact the Conference Office with your idea or article.