As many of you are now aware, Mennonite Church USA and PNMC have been in conversation regarding the calling of Iris de León-Hartshorn to an MC USA Cabinet-level position as director for transformative peacemaking. Iris will begin working part-time with MC USA effective May 15th and will be part-time for PNMC from that date until August 31st. As of September 1, Iris will be full-time with MC USA.
The Board has met to discuss the transition process and we are in communication and working closely with Nancy Kauffmann, our Denomination Minister. As we begin the search process for another Executive Conference Minister, Nancy has given her assurance that she will be available to the Board and the Search Committee as needed. We are in the process of establishing a Search Committee at this time.
The Board is deeply grateful that Iris is able to transition over the summer. We are equally grateful for MC USA’s willingness to work with us in this transition. Iris will be present for the Annual Meeting in June at Western Mennonite Campus. In addition, at our last conference Board meeting, Iris provided the Board with a list of planned tasks to complete prior to the end of August. This transition has come earlier to PNMC than expected, but it is our privilege to have had Iris in the Executive Conference Minister role. She capably brought some order to the final stages of structural change that were envisioned back in 2006 and 2007.
Lastly, Iris and her husband, Leo, are intending to continue living in the Portland area. Their gifts and awareness of the broader Mennonite community (nationally and internationally) will continue to be a resource to us. As we offer Iris’ gifts back to the denomination, you are invited to pray for Iris and her new role as well as for our conference as we enter this time of transition. Regular updates during this time of transition will be posted here as well as shared via the e-bulletin.
Sincerely,
Linda Dibble
Conference Moderator
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