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Overview
Urban ministry directors are part-time people, appointed by Mennonite Mission Network and their area conferences, to carry a full-time vision for what God is doing through Mennonite Church USA in their metropolitan areas. In partnership with area conferences, the Mission Network has appointed numerous urban ministry directors across the country. These urban ministry directors work to develop a network of local leadership, start new churches and ministries, and create a visible Anabaptist presence. An urban ministry director’s primary strategy is to identify, empower and release local leaders in ministry in their congregations and communities.
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Wes Boshart
St. Louis, Mo.
Wesley Boshart works with the St. Louis City on a Hill Committee to identify and support leaders, ministries and churches in the St. Louis metropolitan area that will lead to new communities of worship. He also works with the area's existing Mennonite churches and Plowsharing Crafts to develop cooperative ministries like the St. Louis Mennonite Peace Center. He promotes church-planting visions and mission development in congregations. New ministries may include mediation, anti-racism and immigration programs. In partnership with Illinois Mennonite Conference.
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Mauricio Chenlo
Raleigh area, N.C.
Mauricio Chenlo focuses on church planting and multicultural urban ministries. He works in Eastern North Carolina, which includes the Triad (Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem) and Triangle (Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill). Two specific projects include: "Building Together Ministries," an outreach to the Hispanic community, and a Family Peace Clinic. These groups seek to develop a partnership that will identify and provide resources to leaders, ministries and churches in the major metropolitan areas leading to new communities of worship. In partnership with Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions and the Eastern Carolina District.
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Jeff Delp
Atlanta, GA
Jeff helps to coordinate ministry efforts for the Atlanta Anabaptist Network. (See their newsletter at: http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-aan). The network was formed a few years ago so that the Anabaptist community in Atlanta could begin to work more closely together with one another on collaborative ministry projects across social, cultural, and ethnic lines. The network consists of 4 churches and several organizations that are either connected to MC USA or have strong Anabaptist ties. He also works as the City Director for the DOOR (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection) Atlanta program. The UMD position is in partnership with Central District Conference and Southeast Mennonite Conference.
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Leslie Francisco
Hampton, Va.
As senior pastor of the predominantly African-American Calvary Community Church in Hampton, Va., Bishop Leslie Francisco III leads one of the largest Mennonite congregations in the United States, which has a vision for "enlarging our coast for Christ." Francisco helps refine a strategy for planting 20 congregations by 2020 in the metropolitan region, which extends from Norfolk to Virginia Beach. In partnership with Virginia Mennonite Conference and Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions.
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Chuck Goertz
Miami area, Fla.
When he became pastor of Homestead (Fla.) Mennonite Church, Chuck Goertz inherited a host of community-based ministries growing out of Mennonite response to the 1992 Hurricane Andrew disaster. As urban ministry director for South Florida (Miami/Dade County), Goertz has seen the development of new initiatives. He coordinates common efforts by area Mennonite congregations through the Associated Mennonite Ministries, which in 2001 began DOOR Miami (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection). In partnership with Southeast Mennonite Conference.
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Marco Guete
Texas,
Marco Güete works to coordinate the church-planting and holistic-ministry initiatives in the state of Texas, including the four Mennonite congregations in Dallas. Güete was the first urban ministry director appointed to represent both the former General Conference Mennonite Church and the former Mennonite Church. He continues that work of Mennonite integration in his other assignment as conference minister for South Central Mennonite Conference and associate conference minister for Western District Conference. In partnership with South Central Mennonite Conference and Western District Conference.
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Robin Miller
Cleveland, Ohio
As pastor of Lee Heights Community Church of Cleveland, Robin Miller personifies the integral connection between peace, evangelism and congregation-based ministry in his urban ministry director assignment. Miller leads the development of a strategy for church planting and evangelism in Cuyahoga County (greater Cleveland) and focuses on strengthening existing Anabaptist congregations and their leaders. In partnership with Ohio Mennonite Conference.
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Virgil Vogt
Chicago, Ill.
Virgil Vogt works with twenty-three Mennonite churches and organizations in the metro area, seeking to enhance the missional effectiveness of each congregation and each organization. Being alert to opportunities for planting new congregations is an important part of the task. Chicago Mennonites are also looking for ways to work together more effectively; this involves re-building the infrastructure of inter-congregational activity along more missional lines. In partnership with Illinois Mennonite Conference.
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Jeff Wright
Los Angeles Metro area, Calif.
Jeff Wright is an urban Anabaptist mission strategist serving metropolitan Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, San Diego, and Imperial Counties of California. Jeff also works with emerging Mennonite churches in Las Vegas, and across the border in the cities of Mexicali and Tijuana. Wright provides resources for urban congregations to be agents of God's transforming work. In partnership with Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference.
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