2025 Assembly Workshops

In-Person – Saturday, Aug 9 – 2:00pm-2:50pm

1. Exploring Children’s Spirituality – Grace Parker Sutter, Kids Meet Christ Program Director

In this workshop, we will explore the nature of children’s spirituality and how we can nurture it in our worshipping communities. We will spend time creatively reflecting on our own spiritual experiences when we were children and discussing what it would mean for our congregations to become truly intergenerational. How do we honor and make space for children’s unique experiences of God in our communities?

Location: Education Hall C

2. Generosity as Ministry – Options for giving now and giving later to support your congregation and the conference. – Lyle Miller, M.Div., CGPA, Everence Financial, Stewardship Consultant & Mike Lamb, EMBA, CFRE (ret.)  WDC Fund Development Coordinator

In a relaxed and easy-to-follow format, Lyle and Mike will share options for expressing our generosity to the causes we support. Both Lyle and Mike bring many years of experience and expertise to this important topic. Program content will include the Biblical foundations for financial stewardship, the legacy we create through our generosity, opportunities for lifetime giving and options for leveraging resources in our estate planning. Attendees will receive practical counsel on how to make a difference in the lives of the people and programs they value.

Location: Education Hall B

3. What Happened on January 21, 1525 and Why Is It Important? – John Sharp – Hybrid

How did we get here?  An exploration of the events and movements that shaped Anabaptists and continue to shape us today. Remember Perry Yoder’s adage: “Any text without a context is a pretext?” Both cute and profound, the same can be said for historical influences and events.

Location: Hybrid, Sanctuary/YouTube Live

4. Rooted in Faith, Growing in Mission: Stories of Church Planting in WDC from Guatemala to Houston Texas – Sandra Montes-Martinez

Come and be inspired by powerful stories of church planting from Iglesia Arca de Salvación in Guatemala and Casa de Restauración in Houston, Texas. These vibrant, emerging congregations embody the beauty of cultural diversity, resilient faith, and a deep commitment to loving and serving their communities. Through their journeys, we’ll explore the real-life joys, struggles, and transformative power of joining God’s mission in contextually rich and challenging environments. This workshop will not only celebrate what God is doing in these places—it will also invite us to reimagine what faithful Anabaptist church planting looks like today.

Location: Hybrid, Community Center/Zoom

5. Accessible * Relevant * Anabaptist: How the Resource Library Can Help You! – Jennie Wintermote

Join WDC Resource Library Director, Jennie Wintermote, to explore all the library has to offer both local and distance users. Check out ebook, audiobook, and physical book resources, games, worship banners, hands on Bible story sets, digital streaming options and more! Learn how to reserve items online and search for materials from anywhere.

Location: WDC Resource Library – 2517 N Main St, North Newton, KS 67117

6. What Murder Victim Family Members Really Need – Celeste Dixon

Family members of murder victims have two things to deal with: grieving for the loss of their loved one, and dealing with the legal system. These two things are often combined in the minds of the public, as in, punishment for the murderer equals closure for the family, but they’re really two separate processes. While catching and punishing the perpetrator is obviously important, family members need help and guidance dealing with their grief and coming to terms with their loss outside those legal proceedings.  Representing Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty, Celeste Dixon will recount her experience as the family member of a murder victim, the ways in which the legal system often fails victims, and what they really need to heal. Supported by the WDC Resource Commission.

Location: Education Hall D


In-Person – Saturday, Aug 9 – 3:30pm-4:20pm

1. Listening Process – Heidi Regier Kreider & Wendy Funk Schrag

Two years ago, WDC launched the Listening Process with a goal to discover common themes among conference congregations and to animate hope, joy and shared vision in the months and years ahead. Listening teams visited 32 WDC congregations through June 2025. This workshop will discuss the main themes listening teams heard at their visits with an emphasis on hopes for the future and ways WDC can support congregations through its current resources and programs as well as new ventures. The workshop will include time to listen and invite continued dialogue as we support, evolve and grow together.

Location: Education Hall A

2. Prevention and Accountability – Michael Danner, Hybrid

Join MC USA’s Associate Executive Director for Church Vitality as he outlines the new Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) Prevention and Accountability Policy. This updated policy provides updated guidelines for MC USA congregations and conferences as they seek to prevent abuse in the church and to respond effectively in the event abuse does occur.

Location: Hybrid, Community Center/Zoom

3. Mennonite World Conference “Transmission”– Absalon Calix

– In Spanish, English interpretation provided

Documentary presentation, discussion, and best practice recommendations for the Anabaptist faith through modern media. At the workshop, we will be presenting the documentary: Broadcast: 2022 Latin America. The video includes stories from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Honduras about creation care.

Location: Education Hall C

4. What Murder Victim Family Members Really Need -Celeste Dixon

Family members of murder victims have two things to deal with: grieving for the loss of their loved one, and dealing with the legal system. These two things are often combined in the minds of the public, as in, punishment for the murderer equals closure for the family, but they’re really two separate processes. While catching and punishing the perpetrator is obviously important, family members need help and guidance dealing with their grief and coming to terms with their loss outside those legal proceedings.  Representing Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty, Celeste Dixon will recount her experience as the family member of a murder victim, the ways in which the legal system often fails victims, and what they really need to heal. Supported by the WDC Resource Commission.

Location: Education Hall D


Virtual – Saturday, Aug 9 – 2:00pm-2:50pm

1. Why Biblical Interpretation Matters for Challenging Christian Nationalism – Host: Drew Strait  – Virtual

The Bible is a shared sacred text for adherents and rejecters of Christian nationalism. This is an uncomfortable reality for Christians challenging Christian nationalism, especially as the Bible is wielded by Christian nationalists as a bludgeoning tool to lord power over others, legitimize conspiracy theories, and imbue Donald Trump with a messianic or divine warrior king status. According to the Public Religion Research Institute, among Americans who report reading the Bible weekly or more, 55% are Christian nationalist adherents or sympathizers. This is a troubling reminder that particular ways of using, abusing, and reading the Bible are radicalizing Americans. This seminar engages this fraught space through two angles. First, we will unpack how the Bible is used, read, and publicly interpreted among adherents and sympathizers of white Christian nationalism. Second, the seminar will pivot to offer several suggestions for how Anabaptists can leverage public biblical interpretation for common good, including the work of peace building, countering extremist narratives, and correcting power worship.

Location: Virtual

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/94677915936?pwd=D0JXmiLS42AodFR2Nmb5ejF02kRDTF.1

Meeting ID: 946 7791 5936   Passcode: 589864

2. Protest as Worship: Caring for Ourselves in Movement Work – Host: Amy Yoder McGloughlin – Virtual

I want to think about our protests not as something we do on our own, but we do as co-creators with God.  I’ll give some spiritual practices, some grounding exercises, ways of framing protest that keep us sustained in the work rather than burned out.

Location: Virtual

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84836128572?pwd=rPz3toipZl8NnUCX1cLekZjwDrPoZM.1

Meeting ID: 848 3612 8572    Passcode: 582431

3. What Happened on January 21, 1525 and Why Is It Important? – John Sharp, Hybrid

How did we get here?  An exploration of the events and movements that shaped Anabaptists and continue to shape us today. Remember Perry Yoder’s adage: “Any text without a context is a pretext?” Both cute and profound, the same can be said for historical influences and events.

Location: Hybrid, Sanctuary/Hesston MC YouTube Live

YouTube Live Link: https://www.youtube.com/@hesstonmennonitechurch8043/streams

4. Rooted in Faith, Growing in Mission: Stories of Church Planting in WDC from Guatemala to Houston Texas – Host: Sandra Montes Martinez – Hybrid

Come and be inspired by powerful stories of church planting from Iglesia Arca de Salvación in Guatemala and Casa de Restauración in Houston, Texas. These vibrant, emerging congregations embody the beauty of cultural diversity, resilient faith, and a deep commitment to loving and serving their communities. Through their journeys, we’ll explore the real-life joys, struggles, and transformative power of joining God’s mission in contextually rich and challenging environments. This workshop will not only celebrate what God is doing in these places—it will also invite us to reimagine what faithful Anabaptist church planting looks like today.

Location: Hybrid, Community Center/Zoom

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82131001697?pwd=bC8sE5nDvuR3Cl6syHfHD2ePq1iqX3.1

Meeting ID: 821 3100 1697   Passcode: 775725


Virtual – Saturday, Aug 9 – 3:30pm-4:20pm

1. Prevention and Accountability – Michael Danner, Hybrid

Join MC USA’s Associate Executive Director for Church Vitality as he outlines the new Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) Prevention and Accountability Policy. This updated policy provides updated guidelines for MC USA congregations and conferences as they seek to prevent abuse in the church and to respond effectively in the event abuse does occur.

Location: Hybrid, Community Center/Zoom

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/94869506072?pwd=Xa4KDFqXc5ildPbS0kLl3yHVFQSaG2.1

Meeting ID: 948 6950 6072   Passcode: 843257

2. Accessible * Relevant * Anabaptist: How the Resource Library Can Help You! – Jennie Wintermote – Virtual

Join WDC Resource Library Director, Jennie Wintermote, to explore all the library has to offer both local and distance users. Check out ebook, audiobook, and physical book resources, games, worship banners, hands on Bible story sets, digital streaming options and more! Learn how to reserve items online and search for materials from anywhere.

Location: Virtual

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88523792768?pwd=Qks4R1ZWSk1YRHpvS0hsMjFvS3J5dz09

Meeting ID: 885 2379 2768    Passcode: 295705

3.  Welcoming the Stranger: Opportunities for Advocacy– Galen Fitzkee – Virtual

How are Anabaptists answering Jesus’ call to welcome the stranger at our border and within the U.S.? What are we as individuals called to do as our next faithful step? Galen Fitzkee, Legislative Associate with MCC U.S., will highlight ongoing efforts of Mennonite Central Committee and partner organizations to support immigrants and refugees with material aid, legal services, and advocacy. This workshop will delve into the current realities facing immigrants of various statuses and highlight the ways we can accompany affected communities. Participants will gain particular insights into recent policy changes, systemic challenges, and opportunities to engage in legislative advocacy.

Location: Virtual

Zoom Link: https://mcc.zoom.us/j/86217514003?pwd=oYOwmEmKi2BJSPYyYotDlE9WAXu5Cq.1

Password: 774451