USMB Gathering 2024 marked significant staff transitions with the commissioning of a new national director and three staff retirements.
Aaron Box, a USMB pastor from Eugene, Oregon, was commissioned as national director during Saturday’s closing session.
“What a privilege it is for me to be able to hand the baton, so to speak, to Aaron,” said retiring national director Don Morris. “We’ve spent quite a bit of time together, praying together, hearing his heart for the future, and I think we’re in good hands.”
Incoming Leadership Board chair Dave Thiessen prayed as Morris laid hands on Box and the audience stretched their hands toward the stage.
In addition, three retiring staff members were honored during the convention.
Morris serves with grace, wisdom and patience
Earlier Saturday, outgoing Leadership Board chair Luke Haidle led a time of recognition for Morris’ leadership. Morris has served as national director since August 2016.
“This is a very taxing job,” Haidle said. “There’s this expectation to fix all these problems and yet surprisingly little authority or power. To really enact change is based almost entirely upon your relationship credentials. To be able to maneuver our surprisingly diverse denomination and maintain those relationship credentials while working to implement new ideas and change can be incredibly difficult. In my observation, Don has done that with a lot of grace and wisdom and patience.”
Prior to serving as national director, Morris served from 2004 to 2016 as director of Mission USA, USMB’s church planting ministry. Before that, he served 13 years as a USMB pastor.
Morris thanked pastors, boards and the USMB staff before becoming emotional when thanking his wife, Janna. Thiessen offered a prayer, and the audience responded with applause and a standing ovation.
Staff members honored for service
Friday evening, Lori Taylor, USMB webmaster, was recognized for 16 years of service, including as part-time administrative assistant to executive director Ed Boschman and to national director Don Morris. She concluded her administrative assistant duties in 2020 but stayed on as webmaster. She retired July 31.
“We’re grateful for Lori’s ministry and her service these many years to all of us,” Thiessen said.
Board members Staci Janzen and Thiessen prayed for Taylor.
Saturday morning, Donna Sullivan, USMB administrative secretary, bookkeeper and event planner, was recognized for 40 years of service to the Mennonite Brethren family, specifically her administrative roles with USMB since Sept. 1, 1990. She assumed event-planning responsibilities in 2008. Sullivan retired July 31.
“There is something deeply profound and spiritual about how she has facilitated the unity that we enjoy and has really in a rather deep and profound way served our conference well,” Haidle said.
Board member Joan Warkentin prayed for Sullivan, then Morris offered closing remarks.
“Donna, thank you for investing in kingdom work,” Morris said. “The way that you did it is more important than all the things that you did, which were many.”
All three retiring staff members received custom cutting boards and a financial gift.
J.L. Martin has joined the USMB staff full-time to do USMB bookkeeping and event planning. Desirae Rolen has been hired to cover the administrative assistant area of Sullivan’s work and Taylor’s webmaster duties.
Janae Rempel Shafer is the Christian Leader associate editor. She joined the CL staff in September 2017 with six years of experience as a professional journalist. Shafer is an award-winning writer, having received three 2016 Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence and an Evangelical Press Association Higher Goals award in 2022. Shafer graduated from Tabor College in 2010 with a bachelor of arts in Communications/Journalism and Biblical/Religious Studies. She and her husband, Austin, attend Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kansas.
