Canadian MB Churches ordain first two women
Two British Columbia pastors, Grace Kim and Bev Peters, this spring became the first women ordained for pastoral ministry by the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. READ

April 14
Hopi school in Arizona inspires its workers
Teachers at Hopi Mission School in northeast Arizona, seek to model a Christian commitment that is compatible with Hopi values. READ

Conference leaders express views on denominational changes
About 80 leaders from churchwide agencies and 21 conferences gathered from March 31 to April 2 to share concerns with denomination leaders, especially concerning the Executive Board action to streamline Mennonite Church USA. READ

April 7
Idaho relief sale in urban area has challenges and advantages
First, the venue that housed the relief sale in the past was booked. Then, a fire damaged the venue where the sale moved. The Idaho Mennonite World Relief Festival has had a challenging year but plans to go forward, holding the event May 17 at College Church of the Nazarene in Nampa. READ

March 31
Board seeks to simplify MC USA’s organization
Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board is calling for changes to streamline communications, funding and board leadership. Moderator Sharon Waltner of Parker, S.D., and moderator-elect Ed Diller of Cincinnati, Ohio, shared the idea in a meeting March 16-17 with the executive directors and board chairs of MC USA’s churchwide agencies. READ

Jury acquits driver of truck for deaths of five Mennonite children
A jury in Washington state found Clifford Helm not guilty for the deaths of five children, ages 2 to 12, who were killed when Helm crashed his pickup into their family's on Nov. 1, 2005. When it was over, Helm and his wife left the courtroom with the children’s parents, who had not wanted Helm to be charged. READ

March 24
War objectors tell of moving from protest to civil disobedience
Four Mennonites arrested in Washington, D.C., March 7 as part of the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq said The experience expressed their objection to the war while inviting conversation with neighbors, church members and even the police. READ

Prayers uphold Zimbabweans as elections approach
A group of Anabaptists in Illinois called for prayer and fasting and gathered at 10 a.m. March 29 at Christ Community Mennonite Church in Schaumburg, Ill., as polls closed in the ZImbabwe presidential election. READ

Bluffton remembers, dedicates memorial
The Bluffton University community gathered March 12 to remember five student-athletes killed a year ago in a bus accident on their way to a game. READ

March 17
At Capitol, prayers for war’s end
Several hundred activists joined the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq in Washington, D.C. March 7, to advocate ending the Iraq war, stopping torture and healing war wounds. READ

Music with many currents
Carrie Newcomer, Indiana-based singer-songwriter who attended Goshen College for two years, seeks to balance the sacred and secular, art and activism. »» READ

Hesston’s new organ serves college and church
Once opposed to musical instruments in church, Hesston College and Hesston Mennonite Church dedicated a new organ on March 2. »» READ

March 10
Day to remember and begin again
As the Bluffton (Ohio) University baseball team gathered at home plate before taking the field March 2, a crowd of 200 cheered as the team began a new season, hoping that a year after a tragic bus crash the young men can move forward. »» READ

Bluffton remembers bus crash victims
Bluffton University will hold a service of remembrance March 12 to reflect on last year’s baseball team and remember the five student-athletes who died in the March 2, 2007, bus crash. »» READ

Revelation shows who merits allegiance, AMBS president says
Full of angels, beasts and dragons, the Book of Revelation can be confusing. Yet, it contains important lessons for church life today, argues J. Nelson Kraybill, president of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind. »» READ

‘The Mennonite’ to publish ‘OurFaith Digest’
The Mennonite, the official magazine of Mennonite Church USA, will publish the OurFaith Digest, which collects writings from other Mennonite periodicals. »» READ

March 3
Sports obsession draws a sportsman’s critique
David A. King, athletic director at Eastern Mennonite University, is concerned that sports has become an obsession in American culture. »» READ

Feb. 25
Chicago school to close for a year
Chicago Mennonite Learning Center, one of the first urban Mennonite schools, will close in September for a year due to lack of funds. Supporters hope it will reopen with renewed vitality. »» READ

Lancaster chooses discussion over discipline after ordination
The Bishop Board of Lancaster Mennonite Conference decided Feb. 15 to have more discussion rather than disciplining a bishop who ordained two women. »» READ

Church enlarges its vision after Hurricane Katrina
Instead of leaving Gulfport, Miss., after Hurricane Katrina, Gulfhaven Mennonite Church’s members engaged in an all-out relief-and-rebuild ministry. »» READ

Temporary pastors, long-term impact
Two Hillsboro, Kan., congregations hired intentional interim pastors last year, saying the purpose is to help the churches move forward. »» READ

Feb. 18
U.S. presidential campaign energizes political action
As presidential candidates battle through the primaries, Mennonites can be found among those wearing campaign buttons, attending caucuses and casting ballots. Their involvement mirrors high voter turnouts nationally and follows a decades-long trend of increasing political action by Mennonites. »» READ

Party crosses party lines at Bluffton
To increase interest in the presidential race and encourage dialogue across the political spectrum, Bluffton (Ohio) University's College Republicans and Young Democrats hosted a Super Tuesday election returns party. »» READ

Feb. 11
MVS strives to build diversity
Mennonite Voluntary Service leaders and volunteers reflect on the challenges the organization faces as it seeks to increase diversity. »» READ

Africa worker urges relations with Muslims at home
When 120 people gathered Jan. 19 to learn about Senegal, they were also to cultivate friendships with their Muslim neighbors close to home. »» READ

‘Visual poems’ tell of black peoples globally
Julio Cesar Montaño Montenegro uses images instead of words to tell stories of the African diaspora and the violence that caused him to leave Colombia. »» READ

Feb. 4
Fire destroys Kansas church
Fire destroyed the building of Emmaus Mennonite Church in Whitewater, Kan., during the early hours of Jan. 29. »» READ

MB leader stood out as preacher
Marvin Hein, considered one of the greatest Mennonite Brethren preachers of his generation, died Jan. 5 in Fresno, Calif., at age 82. »» READ

OurFaith Digest ceases printing, looks for new publisher
OurFaith Digest, a magazine bringing together writings from other Mennonite periodicals, suspended publication because of lack of funding. »» READ

Jan. 28
Second Lancaster woman ordained
Janet Breneman on Jan. 20 was ordained in a Lancaster Mennonite Conference church, though the conference does not ordain women. Jan. 28 »» READ

Churches campaign to reduce oil during Lent
Members of several Mennonite churches in Harrisonburg, Va., are reducing their oil use during Lent, and are encouraging other churches to join them. Jan. 28 »» READ

Jan. 21
Third Way Café answers queries on cats, sacraments
Mennonite Media staff recently selected the top seven questions from the 208 inquirers to Third Way Café or Mennonite Media in 2007. »» READ

Jan. 14
MWR gains Chicago-based editor
Celeste Kennel-Shank began Jan. 7 as assistant editor, while associate editor Robert Rhodes moved to Good Books. »» READ

Dec. 24
‘Preaching Peace’ spreads nonviolent message
Lutheran pastor Rolf Olson was challenged to use some of the lessons he had learned after his daughter was murdered while hearing retired Bluffton (Ohio) University professor J. Denny Weaver a peacemaking conference. »» READ

Dec. 10
Mennonite’s research contributed to Nobel award
When former Vice President Al Gore and a U.N. environmental panel received the Nobel Peace Prize on Dec. 10, an ecologist who is a member of Fort Collins (Colo.) Mennonite Church had a hand in the research. Dec. 10 »» READ

Dec. 3
Long-running radio ministry to end
The final broadcast of The Calvary Hour, a radio program founded by Mennonite evangelist William Detweiler in 1936, will be heard Dec. 30. »» READ

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