FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2013 For more information, contact: Everett Thomas, editor, The Mennonite;

media contact for convention; 574-596-2987 (cell), EverettT@TheMennonite.org Marty Lehman, director of churchwide operations for Mennonite Church USA, 574-238-4697 (cell), MartyL@MennoniteUSA.org

More than 4,500 Mennonites to gather in Phoenix July 16

ELKHART, Ind.More than 4,500 Mennonites of all ages will attend Phoenix 2013, the biennial convention of Mennonite Church USA, to be held July 16 in the Phoenix Convention Center. The conventions theme, Citizens of Gods Kingdom: Healed in Hope (Ciudadanos del Reino de Dios: Sanados por la Esperanza), is inspired by Psalm 24:1, Philippians 3:20-21, Romans 5:1-5 and Ephesians 2:14-22. The theme points toward an allegiance to God that goes beyond national borders and racial divides. The last convention was held in July 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pa. The total number of convention participants represents approximately 1,600 adults, 2,750 youth and youth sponsors, 80 junior youth and sponsors, and 100 children. Mennonite Church USA is the largest Anabaptist denomination in North America, with more than 100,000 adult members in about 900 congregations in 44 states. The denomination has national offices in Newton, Kan.; Elkhart, Ind.; and Harrisonburg, Va. Arizona is home to seven congregations that are part of Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference, one of 21 regional conferences of Mennonite Church USA. Phoenix-area Mennonite congregations include Christ Life Chapel, First Mennonite Church of Phoenix, Sunnyslope Mennonite Church, Koinonia Mennonite Church (Chandler), Life House Community (Surprise) and Trinity Mennonite Church (Glendale). The convention will include time for worship, fellowship, seminars, concerts, performances, workshops and meetings of the Mennonite Church USA Delegate Assembly, the denominations primary decision-making body. Delegates plan to discuss two resolutions: one focusing on creation care and environmental degradation, and one addressing child abuse and neglect and encouraging the adoption of policies and practices to protect children and youth. Worship speakers

Speakers at the adult worship services include Cheryl Bear (July 1, 7 p.m.) of the Nadleh Whuten First Nation (Bear Clan) in the Carrier Nation in northern British Columbia, Canada; Bishop Minerva G. Carcao (July 2, 8:30 a.m.), president of the College of Bishops of the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church; Meghan Good (July 4, 7:30 p.m.), pastor of Albany (Ore.) Mennonite Church; and Elizabeth Soto Albrecht (July 5, 6:30 p.m.), moderator-elect of Mennonite Church USA and an ordained pastor. At 8:45 a.m. on July 3, Mennonite Church USA Executive Director Ervin Stutzman will speak at a joint adult/youth worship service. Youth worship speakers include, among others, Hal L. Shrader (July 1, 7 p.m.), lead pastor of Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, Ariz.; and Isabel Castillo (July 2, 8:45 a.m.), the founder of DREAM Activist Virginia and co-founder of the National Immigrant Youth Alliance. Focus on undoing racism and advancing intercultural transformation Immigration and anti-racism will be topics at the forefront of many activities and discussions that will take place at Phoenix 2013. After Arizona SB1070 was passed in April 2010, the Executive Board (EB) of Mennonite Church USA began an eight-month process of discerning whether to continue to hold the Mennonite Church USA convention in Phoenix as had been decided in 2009. This process arose out of concern that the setting would not be welcoming to all potential convention participantsespecially Latinosdue to the possibility of increased racial profiling by law enforcement officers. As a result of the discernment process, the EB committed to require that 40 percent of the seminars, worship services and service activities at Phoenix 2013 be focused on the churchwide priority of undoing racism and advancing intercultural transformation. Additionally, 50 percent of the individuals serving on planning committees for the convention are people of color. Some Mennonite congregations across the U.S. have chosen not to attend Phoenix 2013 because of the increased possibility of racial profiling by law enforcement officers, or in solidarity with others who do not feel safe traveling to Phoenix. Prior to and immediately following the convention, Mennonite Church USA Moderator-Elect Elizabeth Soto Albrechtwho on July 5 will become the first Latina to lead the denominations Executive Boardwill travel around the country to visit and listen to stories from some of the congregations most impacted by the decision to hold the convention in Phoenix. Features of the Phoenix convention New at Phoenix 2013 are learning experiences, two- and four-hour seminars designed to offer participants an extended time for participatory and experiential learning to deepen faith and discipleship. The learning experiences will focus on topics such as immigration, undoing racism, Christian formation, peace-building and church planting. They will be led using a variety of formats, including a cross-cultural simulation game, a salsa dancing workshop, a mixed martial arts training session that focuses on conflict transformation, a discussion with undocumented youth, a film festival, and a lecture about the history of the border between the United States and Mexico, among others. Throughout the week, convention-goers will have opportunities to gather in the conversation room, a safe space for mediated dialogue on issues such as climate change, sexuality, racism, biblical interpretation and authority, the church and Israel/Palestine, and immigration. Conversation room discussions are not open to the press.

Mennonite Church USA Phoenix 2013 Convention News release

From July 2 through 5, more than 150 total convention-goers will participate in a daylong learning tour of the Arizona-Mexico border through the BorderLinks organization. On Wednesday, July 3, in the afternoon, a traveling choir of convention participants will travel to the Durango Jail, Central Arizona Shelter Services, and Glencroft Retirement Community. After singing for 30 minutes at each location, the choir will facilitate sharing and conversation. As a way of thanking the city of Phoenix, just under 2,200 youth and adults will participate in service projects alongside 42 organizations throughout the city, helping with tasks from sorting and organizing to painting to recreational activities with youth. These projects are a way to see how God is already at work and present in the city. The projects are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 1, and 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily July 2 through 5. Convention-goers also are invited to take part in a blood drive administered by United Blood Services on July 2 and 3 in the Exhibit Hall. At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, a musical extravaganza will be held at the convention center. Performers will include international convention speaker and award-nominated recording artist Cheryl Bear from the Carrier Nation in northern British Columbia, Canada; Jacqueline Rozier, spiritual care coordinator with Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland, who will be singing gospel music; and Mariell, who is known internationally for her ability to effortlessly fuse opera, jazz, gospel and country music. Two special offerings will be received at the convention: one for the DREAMer Fund (July 2), which helps young Mennonites who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) pay the application fee of $465; and one to support the development of MennoMedia and the Brethren Press new Sunday school curriculum, titled Shine: Living in Gods Light (July 3). Interchurch guests at Phoenix 2013 will include representatives from Christian Churches Together in the USA, the Church of GodCleveland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, the Brethren in Christ Church in the U.S., Mennonite Church Canada, Mennonite Church Nigeria, and a Conservative Mennonite Conference (CMC) congregation in Phoenix. Following the conventions final worship session on Friday, July 5, a prayer walk will be held in downtown Phoenix. The walk will conclude in Civic Space Park after passing locations such as St. Marys Basilica, Encanto Justice Court, the Maricopa County Attorneys office, the Maricopa County Sheriffs office and the Phoenix City Hall. ### Mennonite Church USA staff Mennonite Church USA National Offices Toll-free: 1-866-866-2872 www.MennoniteUSA.org Elkhart office: 3145 Benham Ave., Suite 1, Elkhart, IN 46517 Newton office: 718 N. Main St., Newton, KS 67114-1703 Harrisonburg office: 1251 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg VA 22802

Mennonite Church USA Phoenix 2013 Convention News release