U.S. Mennonite Brethren boards convened Oct. 1-4, 2025, in Hillsboro, Kansas, hosted at the MB Foundation headquarters, to hear ministry reports, address agenda items and discuss ministries related to core commitments.
The schedule of meetings included:
- Oct. 1: Board of Faith and Life
- Oct. 2: National Strategy Team
- Oct. 3: Leadership Board and Council
- Oct. 4: Leadership Board
In a conversation after the meetings, USMB Leadership Board chair Dave Thiessen says the board talked extensively about the three core commitments of disciple-making, leadership development and church multiplication. This included personal testimonies from Leadership Board members on individuals they disciple.
Approved 2026 budget
The Leadership Board approved a 2026 budget of $933,550, a 5% increase from the 2025 budget ($892,725). The increase included funds for staff changes as well as additional travel costs, which occur during the year of a national convention (USMB Gathering 2026).
Reversion clause
An amended version of the reversion clause, which addresses what should happen to church property when a congregation is no longer part of a district, was sent to the U.S. Board of Faith and Life for comment and will be sent to district Boards of Faith and Life for their input as well.
The clause has been a point of discussion in previous meetings and conventions for years, including USMB Gatherings in 2022 and 2024.
Explanations regarding changes to the amendment may be shared at USMB Gathering 2026, including a workshop before the business session for those who want further clarification about the revision.
Church planting memo of understanding with The Network
The Leadership Board approved a memo of understanding between itself and The Network, a group of MB churches who have desired to collaborate to plant new churches the last few years post-COVID.
The MOU defines the partnership between the Leadership Board and The Network and provides a pathway for groups that want to plant churches.
In the MOU, The Network is committed to collaborating with the Leadership Board in planting MB churches and is a relationally based group with no closed membership. While The Network seeks to be a vehicle of church planting, it is understood that it is not the vehicle of church planting among MB churches.
In the MOU, the Leadership Board committed to affirm the work of The Network and that the USMB national director would be a part of the leadership structure of the group.
When speaking with Leadership Board chair Dave Thiessen after the meeting, he affirmed that the goal is to have additional networks of churches planting churches using models that fit their context.
National director report
In his report to the Leadership Board and Council on Oct. 3, Aaron Box, USMB national director, reported on a proposal to update and clarify the USMB mission statement to clearly communicate the organization’s three core commitments: disciple-making, leadership development and church multiplication. Box shared goals for the next three to five years and reported on progress regarding core commitments.
Box also addressed the current financial reality of the U.S. Conference. USMB has experienced multiple years of deficit budgeting, limited reach in fundraising, low online giving and a steady decline in church giving. While 2024 ended in a better position financially than anticipated, Box shared plans to increase both church and individual giving, identify new donors and engage the Leadership Board in fundraising activities. Designated giving has increased to projects such as residencies and church-planting activities.
Box also reported on communications efforts by USMB, including the hire of Lacey Scully as the new editor of the Christian Leader and a planned redesign of the USMB website in 2026.
Reports
Financial
Gaven Banik, Leadership Board treasurer, and J.L. Martin, USMB bookkeeper, provided financial reports. As USMB event planner, Martin also shared an update on USMB Gathering 2026, which will be in Salt Lake City, Utah. The theme will be “Cultivate: Living on mission with Jesus.”
Board of Faith and Life
In his update, Board of Faith and Life chair Jesse Swiers reported on plans for a Study Conference in 2027 themed “Hearing the voice of God” or “How does God speak?”
In addition, Swiers reported that the book “Power of the Lamb” will move to suggested reading for the ordination process. The board is exploring a replacement suggestion for required reading and has a vision to create a resource on MB distinctives that would be written by authors with the USMB community.
National Strategy Team
The National Strategy Team, whose role is to carry out the vision that is stewarded by the Leadership Board, is developing metrics to track progress on the three core commitments and seeking to promote a more effective culture of discipleship.
The team hopes to have a LEAD One event to bring church planting boards together with the National Strategy Team for a one-day meeting to discuss a strategy map.
Additional reports
The Leadership Board and Council heard reports from Jon Wiebe, MB Foundation president and CEO; and district ministers Jordan Ringhofer (Pacific), Daniel Rodriguez (Central), James Moore (Eastern) and Brian Harris (Southern).
Kyle Goings, USMB NextGen director; Xavier Piña, Hispanic Council chair; Terry Hunt, CORD Committee chair (the USMB ministry with immigrant churches); and Aaron Hernandez (LAMB district minister) provided written reports.
In other business, Tim Geddert has taken a six-year appointment as chair of the Mennonite World Conference Faith and Life Commission.
USMB board leaders
Leadership Board members include: Dave Thiessen, chair; Jared Pulliam, vice chair; Joan Warkentin, secretary; Gaven Banik, treasurer; and members at large Ross Bentley, Samuel Hailemariam, Amy Jackson-Kincaid, Staci Janzen, Jason Quiring and Moises Tagle Jr. The Leadership Board serves as the U.S. Conference decision-making entity between biennial conventions and holds two annual in-person meetings.
Leadership Council members do not vote and are part of the council by virtue of their ministry assignment. Council members include the five district ministers, Board of Faith and Life chair, USMB NextGen director, the Pacific District Conference Hispanic Council chair, MB Foundation president and CEO and the Multiply general director.
The National Strategy Team members include the USMB national director, the five district ministers, Multiply general director and MB Foundation president and CEO.
The Board of Faith and Life members include the USMB national director, the five district ministers, four members at large and one appointed member.
Lacey joined the Christian Leader staff as editor in July 2025. She has more than two decades of experience in editorial writing and strategic communications, creating and editing content for newspaper, magazines, websites and email campaigns. With a background working with government and faith-based organizations, Lacey is passionate about creating engaging stories which inspire and support readers. A native Kansan, she graduated from Kansas State University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications. Lacey, her husband and their two girls live in Wichita, Kansas, and attend Ridgepoint Church.
