Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference

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Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference

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An area conference of Mennonite Church USA Who are we? We are a diverse body, gathering for worship in many languages and coming from all corners of the globe.

The Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference is a community of forty member congregations and a number of emerging congregations located across California, Arizona, and Nevada. We are Anabaptist Christians who embrace various expressions of worship and theological points of view – evangelical, charismatic, progressive, liturgical, and pentecostal, among others. What are we called to do? Following Jesus, our mission is to create Spirit-filled healing community across boundaries, sharing God’s love, justice, and peace with each other and with our local and global neighbors.

09/05/2026

Last weekend Stanley W Green, Executive Conference Minister visited the Fresno area to consult about the recently initiated Spanish-speaking church plant as well to say farewell to the pastor-leaders he has worked with in Fresno-Clovis-Reedley area churches. Time was spent with David and Marina Murgas-Bonilla who are settling in well and beginning to make connections in the Fresno community that might lead to the church plant. There was also a brunch meeting with the Reedley pastors focused on partner in the church plant. In addition the Fresno-Reedley-Clovis area pastor met for a dinner meeting during which Stanley expressed his gratitude to the pastor-leaders for their contributions to the life of the conference, thanked them for their companionship in service and began the process of saying farewell.

PS. During his daylong visit with David and Marina at their new home, they taught Stanley how to make tostones which we later enjoyed at lunch.

08/11/2026

The Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference is pleased to announce an opening for its next Executive Conference Minister. This half-time role serves as the primary spiritual, pastoral, and administrative leader of the regional body, providing vision for this diverse community of congregations, fostering unity among differing expressions of ministry, and strengthening the leadership and mission of conference congregations in their distinct cultural contexts.

Priority application deadline is September 15, 2026. Please visit our website to view the complete job description.

03/24/2026

Eight Wonderful Days

There are those windows of time we experience as extraordinarily meaningful and memorable. Such were the last eight days. I was invited to speak at the JKI Imanuel, Indonesian-speaking church in Downey, California. The Sunday before last Ursula and I were welcomed at Imanuel and I was given the honor of sharing from God's Word. It was heartwarmingly special to participate in worship that was inspired and so moving that God felt near and then seemed graciously present in the fellowship we enjoyed around the delicious food we shared (I remember thinking if it weren't so far from us, I'd love to go every week for the wonderful food, and count as a bonus the worship and fellowship which fed our souls).

On the Saturday that followed we welcomed Glen Guyton, Executive Director of Mennonite Church USA (MC USA). Sue Park Hur (Director for Racial/Ethnic Engagement with MC USA) and I joined him in meeting with representatives of the Asian community who worship in Pacific Southwest Mennonite Churches in southern California. At Sanamluang Restaurant in Claremont, we enjoyed an amazing Thai meal before sharing our stories with each other. One of the highlights was hearing from Bro. Ferdi who was detained by ICE (and for whom we were praying) and who was recently released after 8-months in detention.

Then this past Sunday I joined Glen to introduce him as he spoke at JKI Imanuel. Again, we were transported into the very presence of God by worship that was both rousing and sublime. Glen challenged us to "read the times" and to let our light shine during the dark days that are upon us. Then Sue (who grew up in Los Angeles) led us on an enlightening tour of what she calls "Hidden LA."

03/03/2026

An Upside Down Sunday in Tucson

Yesterday it was my joy to participate in worship with the Shalom Mennonite Fellowship, Tucson, AZ. I was asked to speak on a Lenten theme of the towel and the basin as the Lord of all, Jesus, washes the feet of his disciples, turning their world upside down, teaching them that true greatness lies in service and humility rather than power and domination. The singing was wonderful (led by Lisa Showalter and the Congolese Choir). Our time together was rich and made more meaningful as we celebrated communion together, led by Pastor Pedro Goycolea. I was thrilled to be there with a good friend, Isaac Villegas, and to witness how Shalom’s new pastor, Pedro and his spouse Alejandra are being embraced by the congregation, along with their family.

On my way in, I passed through the Tucson airport, which is a treasure trove of great art that changes regularly (I posted other pictures from when I was here last September). I captured here one-tenth of the fine art they have displayed. Beautiful.

02/23/2026

Never say never to God…

"Never say never to God." Growing up in a family where her grandfather and father were pastors, Melissa recounted that she had determined that she would never want to become a pastor. This remained a firm commitment for her through her young adult and later adult years. That is, until her father died and the congregation turned to her for leadership. She experienced this as a call and had to deal with her earlier resistance. God prevailed and today she stood before the congregation, having been prevailed upon by God and having said "yes" to God's call. The end of a 46-tenure in ministry by Al Whaley brought great sadness and distress to the congregation he pastored, First Mennonite Church, Phoenix, AZ. Who could replace such a beloved and well-respected pastor who had shepherded several generations of congregants.

God called someone close to him who had intimate observance of all that her father had done and meant to people who came. Melissa was selected and interviewed by the Pastoral Leadership Committee who approved her for licensing. Today, joined by family, including her mother who had served alongside her dad Al (and who played the piano today) her son and daughter (and daugher-in-law), friends and members of the congregation, Melissa was licensed for her role as the new pastor of the church.

After her words of submission to God's call upon her life, and her affirmative response to a commitment to serve God's people at First and in the community, many of those present gathered around her with laying on of hands as she was consecrated in her new role with prayers for God's special anointing on her life. Melissa's favorite scripture text was read and some of her favorite songs and hymns were included in the service. Afterward the congregations shared a celebration cake and pizza along with other refreshments while fellowshipping together. Thanks be to God for another leader who said "yes" to God's call upon her life.

02/17/2026

Yesterday in Reedley, CA, Ursula and I joined the First Mennonite Church and Primera Iglesia Mennonita to celebrate and consecrate Caley Ortman as their new lead pastor. The English-speaking and Spanish-speaking congregations joined in their excitement and enthusiasm for this transition. With worship, prayers, applause and a word from Caley the community expressed their joyous reception of Caley in this new role. It is such a blessing to be a part of an event where a pastor is received and welcomed with such generosity and delight!!!

We also worshipped with the Spanish-speaking congregation and visited the town of Kingsburg, CA which was settled by Swedish migrants. The orchards were in bloom holding the promise of another season of delicious peaches, nectarines and almonds!!

10/21/2025

Love was in the Air

Love was in the air yesterday when Karen McKeever, Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference's Conference Administrator, was ordained as co-pastor at Mennonite Community Church in Fresno CA. Karen preached and her message was about the solidarity, care and presence of God in the lives of every person inviting us to relax into that extravagant and undeserved love. Following her ordination, when most everyone in the congregation, as well as guests and friends who came from near and far, laid hands of blessings on Karen as she was consecrated into ordained ministry in the Mennonite Church USA, there were generous and heartfelt expressions of love for Karen, accompanied by gifts that were shared with her, often through tears of joy and appreciation.

That love allowed all of us present to enjoy refreshments afterward that were lovingly prepared and enjoyed with delight. Ursula and I were so thrilled to be there and I relished the joy of participating in this significant moment in the life of the person I have the honor working with most closely in the conference.

Photo assistance by Andrew Sensenig, Duane Ruth Heffelbower and Ursula Green

10/16/2025

Following Jesus: Yesterday and Today

With the theme, "500 Years of Following Jesus: The Nonconforming Third Way, Then and Now,” the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference (PSMC) met at the Upland Peace Church in Upland, CA on 10-11 October 2025. Participants came from northern, central and southern California as well as Arizona and several churchwide agency representatives, joined in a celebration of our coming together, in person, for fellowship and mutual encouragement during these days. Immersed in worship, bathed in prayer, ministered to through the proclaimed, those gathered shared in an uplifting time of being renewed by the vision of those in the Radical Reformation that birthed the community who came to be known as Anabaptists marked by their passion to follow Jesus whatever the cost. Micheal Danner, Minister of Church Vitality at Mennonite Church USA, who was our guest speaker, presented powerful messages that challenged the participants to reflect on what were the core convictions of early Anabaptists forebears that are worth keeping and worth spreading.

On the day prior to the weekend Gathering events, the Board visited our Full Circle Thrift Store, sharing lunch with our staff whose life was disrupted by the fires in early January which resulted in the store being shut down for almost six months. The Board also acted to identify the PSMC as an "Apartheid Free" Conference framing their commitment thus: "We affirm our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people and all people. We oppose all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression; and we declare ourselves an apartheid-free community and to that end, we pledge to join others in working to end all support to apartheid regimes, settler colonialism, and military occupation to Israel and all places."

The celebration was blessed by the warm and generous hospitality of Upland Peace Church whose catering team provided us with delicious, sumptuous meals, as well as the input of Workshops leaders who shared on a variety of topics designed to expand and deepen our witness to God's way in the world. Those present participated together in prayers for our leaders, congregations and our congregational mission projects before sharing communion at the closing of the weekend. We traveled back to our various contexts of life and ministry energized and renewed in our commitment to emulate our early forebears in the Radical Reformation who gave us birth and inspired us by their costly discipleship as they sought to follow Jesus to whom alone they pledged their allegiance.

Thanks be to God for a wonderful weekend!!

10/01/2025

During the early months of this year Tina Schlabach and Carol Rose, beloved pastors at Shalom Mennonite Church ended their pastoral tenure of almost ten years. The congregation lamented their departure and were apprehensive about whether a successor could be found who would bring such valuable pastoral sensitivities and amazing gifts as their departing pastors had shared with the congregation. Then, after several months of prayer and discernment, the Search Committee advanced a name, Pedro Ramos Goycolea. When he was presented to the congregation, Pedro received overwhelming affirmation to become their next pastor.

This past Sunday (28 September 2025) members of the congregation joined in celebration with Pedro and Alejandra 's (Pedro's spouse) families to install Pedro as the new pastor at Shalom and to recognize his ordination in the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference. Stanley Green, Executive Conference Minister, for Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference officiated at the installation, while Pedro shared with the children the pastor's equipping for the role of shepherd in the congregation. The event was enlivened by rousing music and dance, prayer and applause. A rich potluck lunch was shared under a new shaded pavilion that the congregation inaugurated that very day. Gratitude was shared with, and gifts were given to the Interim Pastoral Leadership Team along with words of gratitude and appreciation were shared with them for their pastoral roles for over half of the year.

Still praising God for raising up new leaders to lead the people of God and grateful for a momentous event in the life of Pedro and in that of the Shalom Mennonite Church.

09/22/2025

Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, Arizona met today (21 September 2025) to worship God and to bless and consecrate on their pastoral ministry team, Chris Reuwer, through ordination in the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference and in the Mennonite Church USA. With vibrant and lively song through a Congolese group (African Outreach MInistry) which has emerged as part of the congregation; through a powerful and dynamic message by Chris on being the church, and through passionate worship led by the worship team, the congregation united to offer their benediction and affirmation for the ordination of their pastor, Chris. At various points, in expression of their joy in receiving and embracing Chris in ministry to the community the congregation offered enthusiastic applause. After Jenni Shera, congregational moderator, offered affirmation for Chris' ordination on behalf of the congregation, the congregation gathered around Chris as we offered Chris to God for use as a servant in the Body of Christ. It was a blessed day as we celebrated another committed servant to shepherd the people of God as they seek to minister God's good news through Jesus Christ in the community where God has called them to be agents of healing and hope.

PS Pictures with assistance from Andrew Harshman and Josh Garber.

Address

Upland, CA
91786

Telephone

+19092435003

Website

http://www.pacificsouthwest.org/

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