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The Back Page: On Site at
Atlanta 2003
The Historical Committee was an active part of Atlanta 2003, the
Mennonite Church USA Assembly, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta,
Georgia, July 3-8.
In addition to sponsoring a dinner featuring the Philadelphia Stories
conference, the director led two seminars—Gathering at the Hearth to Tell Our Story,
and “Humor Is a Saving Thing After
All”: Stories of Humor, Faith and Humility. The second seminar,
presented in tandem with well-known humorist Jep Hostetler and offered
to youth and adults, was very well attended. It seems humor has become
a valued commodity these days. And I suspect this was one of the less
demanding seminars for youth—an easy way to make the required quota of
seminars!
The Historical Committee also sponsored a coordinated exhibit with
eight regional historical societies and interpretive centers. The
participating organizations were: Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center,
Berlin, Ohio; Kauffman Museum, North Newton, Kan.; Martyr’s Mirror
Trust, North Newton, Kan.; Menno-Hof, Shipshewana, Ind.; Mennonite
Heritage Center, Harleysville, Pa.; Mennonite Historical Society,
Goshen, Ind.; Mennonite Library and Archives, North Newton, Kan.; and
Valley Brethren Mennonite Heritage Center, Harrisonburg, Va.
This attractive exhibit was designed and built by Chuck Regier, curator
of exhibits, Kauffman Museum. We anticipate that additional
organizations will participate in a similar exhibit at Charlotte 2005,
the next Mennonite Church USA Assembly.
We continue to value our link to interpretive centers and regional
heritage organizations, even as we seek to serve the denomination. We
are all about the business of “Minding Mennonite Memory.” Our mission
statement is ever before us:
God calls us to
preserve our heritage, interpret our faith stories, and proclaim God’s
work among us.
We invite you to support our mission with your generous contributions.
The challenge to expand our network of support continues to grow.
Nurturing and expanding that network will require much of my energy in
the coming months. You can make it easier by being generous with your
contributions! And thank you!
John E. Sharp, editor
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Mennonite Historical
Bulletin
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Mission
Statement:
"God calls us to preserve our faith heritage, to interpret our stories,
and to proclaim God's work among us."
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