| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Room | Title | Description | Speaker 1 | Speaker 2 | Audience | Track |
2 | 10:15 AM | ||||||
3 | Auditorium I | Looking at Scripture Through the Lens of Land | The location of the biblical story matters. They always refer to others stories that have taken place on the land before. In this interactive seminar, we'll look at gospel stories and their locations, and listen for what deeper meanings might be present in the story, given their locations. | Amy Yoder McGloughlin | Youth | Mind | |
4 | Auditorium II | Re-imagining Peacemaking through Poetry | Activism is more than marching and writing letters. The arts have been an integral part of key revolutions as a way of storytelling that engages both hearts and minds. When the Israel-Gaza conflict escalated in October 2023, spoken word poet and social worker J.E. Misz began writing weekly poems reflecting on the conflict as a spiritual exercise of wrestling with the realities of violence in the Middle East. In this seminar, you will hear some of this poetry performed, learn of the power of poetry and the arts to promote peacemaking, and engage in exercises to write your own reflective and resistance poetry. | J.E. Misz | Youth | Heart | |
5 | Auditorium III | Making Friends with Missional | Being missional seems like a big commitment. I mean, you have to travel to another country, quit your job, and make sure everything you do is about Jesus, right? What if we told you that isn't what being missional means. What if being missional is more tangible than you ever thought possible? Michele Hershberger and Rylee Weishaupt will explore what it really means to be missional, how biblical being missional is, and provide strategies to help you be missional in your own community. | Michele Hershberger | Credentialed Leaders | Heart | |
6 | Auditorium IV | Would Jesus Go to College? | This seminar will be devoted to exploring the question of whether Jesus would go to college. To answer this question, this seminar will begin by exploring some relevant parts of Jesus's own teaching. From there, seminar participants will have the opportunity to consider possible motivations for attending college and how those motivations align (or not!) with Jesus's teachings. Finally, the seminar will explore some of the challenges and opportunities that today's aspiring college students should consider when making decisions about college. | Melanie Howard | Youth | Mind | |
7 | Augusta | A Study Bible 500 Years in the Making | The Anabaptist movement was sparked by a group of young people gathering to explore Scripture and ask new questions about its relevance for their day. Over the past 500 years, the Bible has continued to sustain and renew Anabaptist faith communities. Rooted in this tradition, the newly-issued Anabaptist Community Bible invites us to read Scripture together, with fresh eyes, as a living text that continues to transform our lives. This interactive workshop will introduce the Anabaptist Community Bible and invite us to fresh engagement with Scripture. Participants will gain new ideas for integrating artwork, essays, and devotional suggestions into congregational worship and Sunday school. | John D. Roth | Adult | Spirit | |
8 | Blue Ashe | Stories from International Alumni | Drawing on interviews with Bluffton College and University alumni who came to Bluffton from different parts of the world, this seminar explores how Mennonite higher education has shaped and been shaped by the lives of international students. | Paul Neufeld Weaver | Intergenerational | Heart | |
9 | Grandover East | The Promise & Challenge of Restorative Justice | Restorative justice is a transformative approach to addressing both harm and conflict. Practices are rooted in community and accountability rather than alienation and punishment. Join us to explore the principles and values as well restorative practices that can strengthen us. Together we'll talk about both the strengths and the challenges as we discuss real-world applications. | Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz | Michelle E. Armster | Adult | Mind |
10 | Grandover West | Climate Resilience: The Future of Local Ministry | Climate change is reshaping the context of local church ministry, increasing community needs through challenges like food insecurity, water access, violence during heatwaves, displacement, housing crises, and power outages. This seminar will help participants recognize local climate impacts, explore tools for understanding disaster risks, and learn how to use building-scale climate models. Attendees will leave with practical strategies their church can use to support the community during climate disruptions, along with a holistic understanding of how to faithfully respond to these emerging challenges. | Josh Richardson | Adult | Heart | |
11 | Pebble Beach | Imagining a World Beyond Green Growth | Many climate solutions rely on the same systems that caused the crisis—technological fixes that demand further resource extraction. Instead of pursuing “green growth,” we must reimagine climate justice through decolonized systems rooted in ecological balance and Indigenous wisdom. In this seminar, Sarah Augustine and Sheri Hostetler build on their 2023 book, “So We and Our Children May Live,” by engaging Indigenous thought leaders in a conversation about what truly sustainable systems look like. Together, we’ll explore how following Jesus calls us to confront the climate crisis through deep listening, justice and imagination. | Sarah Augustine | Sheri Hostetler | Intergenerational | Heart |
12 | Sandpiper | Dementia and Congregational Care | Faith strengthens us as we cope with challenges, providing support and a sense of self. How can we help members of our congregations with dementia stay engaged and connected to their faith? How can we support their caregivers? Many times, we want to offer support, but we do not know where to start. This seminar will help you understand basics of dementia and learn how to reach out. It will offer communication tips and practical ways to stay connected. When we include our members with dementia and their families, the whole congregation benefits. | Heddie Sumner, RN, BSN | Adult | Heart | |
13 | Tidewater | The Secret Sauce | Join Comedian Mike Goodwin for this interactive workshop that will assist you in discovering how you can effectively partner with laughter to enliven and captivate your audience. Let him be your guide as you learn how to think like a comedian and transform an ordinary speech, training or presentation to something extraordinary. | Mike Goodwin | Intergenerational | Mind | |
14 | 11:15 AM | ||||||
15 | Auditorium I | What is the Church, and Why Does It Matter? | This seminar will explore an Anabaptist theological understanding of the purpose and mission of the local congregation, including a discussion on the church's importance as a means of transformation in the world. | Michael Danner | Adult | Mind | |
16 | Auditorium II | Arms 2 Art: Collage-Making with Recycled Gun Cases | This seminar seeks to encourage participants to reimagine discarded materials, specifically old gun cases, as tools for artistic expression. By creatively repurposing these objects, the workshop will promote themes of nonviolence, peacebuilding and environmental stewardship, providing a hands-on experience that combines art, faith, and advocacy. | Lisa Longacher | Youth | Heart | |
17 | Auditorium III | Shutting up to Hear God: The Why and How of Silence | You could almost call this seminar Silence for Dummies (extroverts). Why are the disciplines of silence and solitude so important in today's world? And how do you start? Join extroverts Rylee Weishaupt and Michele Hershberger as they share their experience with a 20-hour retreat that featured silence and interacting with nature. They'll also explore how to do silence in the middle of an ordinary day. | Michele Hershberger | Youth | Spirit | |
18 | Augusta | Facilitation Skills for Leaders | We believe that God speaks through the gathered community. How can conversations be structured in a way that the process itself pro-actively builds peace by allowing each voice to be heard? In this workshop, participants will take away at least four new ideas to try when facilitating large or small group discussions. | Jeanne Zimmerly Jantzi | Intergenerational | Body | |
19 | Blue Ashe | Our Whole Lives (OWL) : Human Sexuality Curriculum | Are you looking for resources to provide meaningful sexuality education in your congregation? Join us for this seminar in which we introduce participants to "Our Whole Lives" (OWL) and invite folks to join our network of congregations sharing their "Anabaptized" OWL materials and collaborating on an Anabaptist-Mennonite companion for OWL. OWL is a secular lifespan sexuality education curriculum created by the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association, who encourage faith-based groups to create curriculum supplements that reflect their particular theological grounding and denominational context. | Phil Yoder | Georgia Metz | Adult | Mind |
20 | Grandover East | Deconstructing Patriarchy through the Power Cube | We will use the Power Cube framework to analyze how patriarchy operates across different forms, spaces, and levels of power. | Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz | Abby Endashaw & Sue Park-Hur | Adult | Heart |
21 | Grandover West | Co-Creation with our Immigrant Neighbors | Learn about how our church, Roca de Refugio, frames our work with immigrants, how we have built our program, and what we have accomplished. We will also share about how we are approaching our service and advocacy work in a time when immigrants are being attacked and dehumanized. We will provide time for questions and discussion as we navigate these difficult times together and wonder about how we can all better support our new neighbors. | Dianne Garcia | Intergenerational | Heart | |
22 | Heritage | Cozying Up to Conflict | Conflict is natural, inevitable, and impartial—often feeling wild, threatening and polarizing. In churches shaped by values like nonviolence, pacifism, and gelassenheit (yieldedness), conflict can leave us disillusioned. This seminar explores common church conflicts, typical reactions, and approaches that foster understanding and hope. While conflicts may not fully resolve, they can be managed—personally and structurally—so the church can continue its mission. Participants will learn four typical responses to conflict, six common areas where it arises, and four concepts to help faith communities navigate it, along with additional resources that can help us cozy up to conflict. | Doug Luginbill | Adult | Body | |
23 | Pebble Beach | Mindsight: Compassionate Pastoral Attention | Pastoral ministry requires consistent presence. As pastors, we sometimes feel burned out and overwhelmed, and we lose touch with the compassion and empathy that are essential for pastoral ministry. If we have lost awareness of ourselves in God's presence, we cannot be present to others. This seminar introduces pastors and lay leaders to signs of losing our capacity for mindsight and skills to refocus our attention. First, we focus on our inner experience, then on our interactions with other people, and finally on the integration of our full self with compassionate presence to others. | Sarah Bixler | Credentialed Leaders | Mind | |
24 | Sandpiper | Trauma-Informed Congregations | The work of community mental health transformation is complex and requires partnership with Anabaptist faith communities by increasing their knowledge and understanding of: Impact of trauma on individuals, groups, and communities Acknowledging the vast scope of adverse experiences common to persons today in our congregations Bringing the wisdom of our anabaptist faith community to build resilience. Relationships are key to healing from trauma. Creating brave spaces in our spiritual practices that foster empowerment, voice and choice. | Laurel Neufeld Weaver MSW LISW-S | Intergenerational | Heart | |
25 | Tidewater | Peacemaking With Muslims through Art | This seminar explores how Christians can work for peace by engaging in interfaith projects with their Muslim neighbors, starting with art. Mel Lehman, director of Common Humanity and deacon at Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship, will interview two Iraqi-born artists, Shahad Adnan Amdeen and Khalid Alaani, about how their journeys and creative work break down barriers between faith communities. Participants will view artwork and hear stories of cross-cultural friendship, then be invited to imagine ways to collaborate locally, through art, cooking, music, volunteering and more, to foster mutual understanding and solidarity with Muslim neighbors. | Mel Lehman | Shahad Adnan Amdeen | Adult | Heart |
26 | Lunch Break - 12:15 - 2:15 PM (Imperial Ballroom, Overflow in Guilford Ballroom & Joseph's Restaurant) | ||||||
27 | 2:30 PM | ||||||
28 | Auditorium I | A King for Our Times | Much of what we know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr—comes from his famous speeches, particularly the “I Have A Dream” address at the March on Washington and his emphasis on service. This popular narrow depiction erases King’s radicalism and his contemporary relevance for global society. Studying the historical King and his words offers us a King for our times—“a modern conversation partner” that can help us chart a better future. | Dr. Lerone Martin | Intergenerational | Heart | |
29 | Auditorium II | Sparking Peace- New Children's Book - Herald Press | From Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Hannah Rose Martin, "Sparking Peace" is a book that explores the impact of gun violence on our communities from the perspective of a child. Written in a way that allows caretakers to find the language appropriate to address the issue of gun violence in their own way, "Sparking Peace" is a starting place for these conversations. We'll explore some of these approaches and also hear about actual stories that inspired the book from actual RAWtools events where guns were transformed into garden tools. | Hannah Rose Martin | Mike Martin | Intergenerational | Heart |
30 | Auditorium III | Broad Spectrum Peacemaking | Casa Grande is a Mennonite Mission Network ministry partner in Benin. Begun as an orphanage funded by Spanish Mennonites, it has grown to include a regional school supported by Mission Network, a farm seeded by donations from German Mennonites, and a for-profit recycling program funded by European grants. Casa Grande addresses justice issues across the life cycle of its community and hopes to offer job training and mentorship for new entrepreneurial ventures. Casa Grande partners with the Evangelical Communications Training Center for Africa (CEFCA) to teach leadership and communication. Discover how these global Mennonite projects live out the gospel in their contexts. | Bienvenu Kadja | Germain Coulibaly | Adult | Heart |
31 | Auditorium IV | Sports as a Spiritual Discipline | This seminar is for high school athletes who spend time and energy—physical, relational, and emotional—in their commitment to their sport(s). Is it also possible to leverage aspects of being an athlete for spiritual growth? This seminar explores how to use the lessons learned in athletic training and competition to grow in your faith. This seminar is relevant for those who play sports for fun and connection and/or those who are highly competitive. | Michael Danner | Youth | Spirit | |
32 | Augusta | Don't Read like Columbus: Decolonizing the Bible | From political campaigns to Christian college classrooms, the Bible has been used to support positions as varied as opposition to abortion to the relevance of John 4 in teaching health sciences. Yet, while this ancient book continues to offer wisdom to modern readers, do such applications of its text represent the most ethical or faithful ways of reading? Many Christians today would decry the abusive use of colonial power against powerless populations, but what if those same Christians have demonstrated similar tendencies in their interpretation of the Bible? | Melanie Howard | Adult | Mind | |
33 | Blue Ashe | The Resiliency Resolution | Let’s face it—life can be tough. In this empowering seminar, Summer Owens shows students how to shift their mindset with two simple words: So what. Through “The Resiliency Resolution,” students will explore how to face challenges head-on and win with whatever cards they’re dealt. With practical tools for building confidence, embracing their strengths and focusing on solutions over problems, students will learn how to lead with courage and turn obstacles into opportunities. | Summer Owens | Youth | Heart | |
34 | Grandover East | 7 Things to Unveil about Revelation | The book of Revelation is one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible, yet it has a deep influence on our society today. We latch onto the fear, but miss the hope of this book. We fixate on the gore, but miss the nonviolence. Join Rylee Weishaupt and Michele Hershberger as they unveil seven key theological points of Revelation that you may not have thought of before. | Michele Hershberger | Youth | Mind | |
35 | Grandover West | War Tax Resistance as Public Witness | As pacifists and conscientious objectors, Mennonites have a long history of saying no to war and militarism. Our tax money is now a key way we support war. In a time when the military needs our money even more than our bodies, how can Mennonites claim war tax resistance as a vehicle for public peace action beyond individuals who choose to withhold and redirect their taxes? Join Mennonite Action and H.A. Penner (long time war tax redirector) to discuss how the history of Mennonite war tax resistance positions us for a national organizing effort, as we seek to disrupt the U.S. war machine. | Jay Bergen | H.A. Penner | Adult | Heart |
36 | Heritage | Entertaining Angels: Asylum Seeker Hospitality | Join us for an inspiring workshop showcasing radical hospitality in action as fellow Mennonites share their experiences welcoming asylum seekers and other vulnerable immigrants into their homes and communities. Hear powerful stories from Casa Alterna, Reservoir Hill House of Peace, and families living out our call to follow Jesus through compassion and inclusivity. Gain practical tools and resources to implement hospitality for vulnerable immigrants in your church community. Together, we'll reflect on scripture reminding us that entertaining strangers is vital to our faith journey. | Anton Flores-Maisonet | Ruth Keidel Clemens | Adult | Heart |
37 | Pebble Beach | What Can We Do? Stories of climate action | Congregations of MC USA care about our planet's well-being and are taking climate action! Come hear stories from four congregations who have worked to heal our climate through actions like: improving the energy efficiency of their facilities; shifting to renewable energy like solar; restoring native habitats that support greater biodiversity; working to repair relationships with Indigenous neighbors; and engaging in climate advocacy. Learn how your congregation can find support for renewable energy projects through MC USA's Pam De Young Net Zero energy grant. Leave with a plan for the next step toward climate action in your congregation! | Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz | Karla Stoltzfus Detweiler | Intergenerational | Heart |
38 | Sandpiper | Pastor finances: The now and not yet | Every pastor hopes to approach their finances with a focus on good stewardship now and as they look to the future. We'll explore tools to help pastors work at organizing their personal financial cash flow and discuss questions about retirement, housing allowances and how to be as charitable as you want to be, both now and into the future. | Kent Miller | Credentialed Leaders | Body | |
39 | 3:30 PM | ||||||
40 | Auditorium I | Find the joy: A generosity journey | "God loves a joyful giver," but what should we do when the joy is a little hard to come by? We save and manage our money and try to be good stewards, but we often fail to get real about how we feel about it all. What happens when we are giving more out of obligation? Where is the joy in it? This seminar will review Scripture and provide examples and ideas about how you might unlock the joy within your generosity. Join us and FIND THE JOY! | Rachel Swartzendruber Miller | Youth | Spirit | |
41 | Auditorium II | Getting to Know the Prevention & Accountability Resource | This seminar is an orientation to the new Prevention & Accountability Resource, the abuse prevention and accountability resource for MC USA. This newly released resource provides resources for abuse prevention, pastoral ethics, definitions of abuse, and the process for responding to ministerial misconduct complaints. This seminar will introduce the resource and the new misconduct response structure for MC USA congregations and conferences. | Michael Danner | Adult | Mind | |
42 | Auditorium III | "What are we doing here anyway??" | Spend any time online, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by climate change, systemic failure, and rising violence. This seminar acknowledges the real challenges facing our world and the sense of hopelessness they can bring. But it also offers a path forward. Together, we’ll explore how joining in God’s mission can ground us in purpose, action, and love—even in the midst of uncertainty. Without minimizing the weight of the world’s struggles, we’ll ask how faith invites us to respond with courage and hope. | Eric Frey Martin | Youth | Heart | |
43 | Auditorium IV | GunsToGardens-Gun Disposal & Transformation How To | Do you know how hard it is to get rid of an unwanted firearm? Do you want to get rid of a gun that you inherited, but not resell it? RAWtools’ Guns to Gardens program helps churches become a community space to safely dispose of firearms and to connect folks to alternative means of conflict resolution and resources. We can address the U.S. gun violence epidemic by moving beyond advocacy and legislative outreach to create safe and supportive places for those in our churches and communities who have been affected by gun violence. | Mike Martin | Intergenerational | Heart | |
44 | Blue Ashe | The Resiliency Resolution | Let’s face it—life can be tough. In this empowering seminar, Summer Owens shows students how to shift their mindset with two simple words: So what. Through “The Resiliency Resolution,” students will explore how to face challenges head-on and win with whatever cards they’re dealt. With practical tools for building confidence, embracing their strengths and focusing on solutions over problems, students will learn how to lead with courage and turn obstacles into opportunities. | Summer Owens | Youth | Heart | |
45 | Grandover East | Imagining an Economy of LIFE | Communities all over the world are connected through a global economy that depends on extraction of fossil fuels and minerals to support constant growth. This economic model is pushing our planet beyond its own capacities to regulate and repair damage. Climate change is one symptom of this problem. What does it mean to live in right relationship with Creation? Could it mean shifting AWAY from an extractive economy TO a living economy that is rooted in dignity, repair and transformation of our relations with all forms of life? Anabaptiss have a long history of nonconformity, simplicity and rootedness with the land. We take seriously Jesus' teachings in the sermon on the mount, including, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). How might Anabaptist theology and values support us in imagining and embodying an economy of LIFE? What can we learn from Indigenous thought-leaders' perspectives on what might comprise ecologically successful systems? In this 90 minute session, joing the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Church USA in a guided dialogue on this topic. Come to listen to each other's perspectives, identify common Anabaptist values, and explore alternatives that are life-giving and sustainable for our shared home. | Kirstin DeMello | Sheri Hostetler | Adult | Heart |
46 | Grandover West | What does reconciliation look like? | This seminar introduces a reconciliation approach developed by Mennonite Central Committee partners, including the Great Lakes Initiative (East Africa), Northeast Asia Reconciliation Institute, and Americas Initiative for Transformation and Reconciliation. Rooted in Paul’s call to a “ministry of reconciliation,” this method engages simple yet powerful questions – such as “What is going on?” and “What does hope look like?” – through a “word made flesh” lens that is Biblical, contextual and practical. Through shared reflection, lament and pilgrimage, participants explore how these practices create space for transformation. Learn from Christian leaders working for healing across deep divides in diverse global contexts. | Anne Marie Stoner-Eby | Nina Balmaceda | Adult | Mind |
47 | Heritage | Repentance and Transformation: A Resolution Update | The MC USA Resolution for Repentance and Transformation was approved by MC USA delegates in 2022. What has happened since then? What steps has the church taken to address the commitments expressed in the resolution? What are the challenges that remain? Churchwide resolutions give direction for faithfulness. Our denomination has officially affirmed LGBTQIA persons as beloved by God. How are we faithfully embodying, in word and action, a theology that honors LGBTQIA people and queer relationships? Facilitators include leaders and representatives with the Queer Leadership Coalition, Inclusive Pastors, and the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests. | Randy Spaulding | Credentialed Leaders | Heart | |
48 | Pebble Beach | Do something: disaster response as holy space | Natural disasters are happening at an increasing rate. As we face this reality, regardless of your stage in life or circumstances, Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) offers opportunities for "faith expressing itself in love" (Galations 5.6b). Through MDS, you can work on behalf of disaster survivors to bring them home, to help make them whole. Come to this seminar to learn how you can join with others in the good, joyful and holy work of rebuilding hope! | Lawrence Matthews | Terry Zehr | Intergenerational | Heart |
49 | Sandpiper | Resilient Roots: Nurturing a Faith That Lasts | Children of all ages have spiritual lives and a growing awareness and understanding of God. How can we best walk alongside them as their faith grows and matures, both at church and at home? What in our Anabaptist tradition informs how we nurture faith in children? In this workshop, we will share what we are learning from research about faith formation of children and youth and will provide opportunities for participants to share and exchange ideas. Whether you are a teacher, parent, pastor or grandparent, you'll leave with ideas and resources to share with the children and youth in your life. | Joyce Peachey Lind | Adult | Mind | |