Leader Selection Form 2026

Please complete this form by March 1, 2026.

Phone

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INSTRUCTIONS

Please complete the entire form on behalf of your small group. The form is due March 1, 2026.

The printable version of the form is here.

You may leave positions blank if your small group does not have any recommendations/nominations for that position. If your group does recommend someone, please briefly share why you would recommend them.

You are welcome to volunteer yourself/someone in your group, or to recommend someone outside of your group.

Questions? Contact scottc@assemblymennonite.org.

Your Small Group(Required)

Name of the Person Completing this Form(Required)

Your Email Address(Required)

Leadership Group (Elder Selection)

BEFORE MARCH 1, Each small group is asked to nominate at least two (2) candidates for Leadership Group.
You may also volunteer yourself to be considered as a candidate for Leadership Group.

AFTER MARCH 1, Every person nominated by a small group, and every volunteer, will be contacted by the Leader Selection Committee and invited to be put forward for consideration by all the small groups.

AFTER MARCH 15, Small groups will be asked to discern for each candidate: (1) Is this person well-qualified to serve on Leadership Group? (2) Is this person a good fit for this Leadership Group at this time? Small Groups' responses to these questions will be held confidentially by the Pastor of Small Groups and the Chair of Leader Selection Committee.

Leadership Group: Tom Kauffman (chair, 2024-2027), John Blosser (2024-2027), Lisa Kauffman (2025-2028), Kathy Meyer Reimer (2025-2028), Pastors: Anna Yoder Schlabach, Moriah Hurst, Scott Coulter, Karl Shelly

These elders have ended their term: Trevor Daugherty (2023-2026), Ben Sywulka (2023-2026)

1. Nomination for Chair Elect of Leadership Group

The chair-elect will serve a three-year term on Leadership Group beginning in September 2026. They will serve as chair in their 2nd & 3rd years: from 2027-2029.

Current Leadership Group members identified these desirable qualities in candidates for the chair-elect:

Time to give, good listener, facilitator skills, not conflict-averse, willing to take initiative, experience in finance & policy, leadership experience, not brand-new in the church.

1a. Briefly share why your group recommends this candidate for this role.

Do you want to name a second nominee for **Chair-Elect** of Leadership Group?

check this box to add a second nominee

2. Nomination for Chair Elect of Leadership Group

2a. Briefly share why your group recommends this candidate for this role.

3. Nomination for Elder (not chair-elect)

Elders chosen this year will serve a three-year term on Leadership Group beginning in September 2026.

Current Leadership Group members identified these desirable qualities in candidates for a new elder:

younger person, parent of young children or MYF, LGBTQ+.

3a. Briefly share why your group recommends this candidate for this role.

Do you want to name a second nominee for Elder (not chair-elect)?

check this box to add a second nominee

4. Nomination for Elder (not chair-elect)

4a. Briefly share why your group recommends this candidate for this role.

5. Recommendation for Apprentice Elder

Apprentice elders serve one year on Leadership Group. An apprentice elder should be someone interested in learning more about how decisions are made at Assembly, and in developing leadership experience. They are usually young adults.

5a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

Recommendations for Other Leadership Roles in the Congregation

Please continue to complete the rest of this form, to recommend others or volunteer yourself / someone in your own small group to be considered for another leadership role at Assembly.

If you recommend someone, please briefly state why you would recommend them.

Facility and Financial Stewardship

Please check the box for any role/position/committee for which you wish to make a recommendation (or volunteer).

6. Recommendation for: Landscaping Committee CHAIR

(3 year term)

Landscaping Committee: Jerry Lapp (2023-26), John Nafziger (2023-26), Patricia Nuyken (2024-27), Mary Roth (2014-27), Jonathon Schramm (2021-27), Meribeth Shank (2021-27)

6a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

7. Recommendation for: Landscaping Committee

(3 year term)

Landscaping Committee: Jerry Lapp (2023-26), John Nafziger (2023-26), Patricia Nuyken (2024-27), Mary Roth (2014-27), Jonathon Schramm (2021-27), Meribeth Shank (2021-27)

7a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

8. Recommendation for: Buliding Committee APPRENTICE CO-CHAIR

(3 year term)

Building Committee: Dana Miller (chair, ??-current), Glenn Gilbert (??-current), Steve Shantz (??-current), Adam Graber Roth (2019-current), Chris Klassen (2021-current), Daniel Mast (2021-current), Lynn Diener (staff), Scott Coulter (pastor)

8a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

9. Recommendation for: Buliding Committee

9a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

10. Recommendation for: Treasurer

(for 2026-2029)

Finance Committee: Anne Horst Hanby (chair, 2025-27), Elaine Martin (2024-2028), Aaron Shenk (2024-2027), Dennis Landis (2025-2027), Bill Mateer (2024-2026), John Nafziger (offering manager, 2022-2027; treasurer 2013?-2022).

*(Dancy Hirschler was Treasurer 2022-Dec 2025)

10a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

11. Recommendation for: Finance Committee

(2-3 year term)

Finance Committee: Anne Horst Hanby (chair, 2025-27), Elaine Martin (2024-2028), Aaron Shenk (2024-2027), Dennis Landis (2025-2027), Bill Mateer (2024-2026), John Nafziger (offering manager, 2022-2027; treasurer 2013?-2022).

*(Dancy Hirschler was Treasurer 2022-Dec 2025)

11a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

12. Recommendation for: Student Aid Committee

(2-3 year term)

Student Aid Committee: Cheryl Mast (2018-2026), Paul Meyer Reimer (2020-2026)

12a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

13. Recommendation for: Fair Giving Committee*

(2-3 year term)

Fair Giving Committee*: Glenn Gilbert (2020-2026), Barb Hassan (2022-2026), Marshall King (2022-2028)

*formerly known as "2% Committee" - the renaming of this committee is in progress

13a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

14. Recommendation for: Everence Stewardship Advocate (Apprentice)

Everence Stewardship Advocate: John Nafziger (2023-present)

14a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

15. Recommendation for: My Coins Count Coordinator

15a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

16. Recommendation for: Goshen Montessori Preschool Board -- **someone with finances-related background/expertise**

This does not have to be someone who attends Assembly.

16a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

Sunday School / Children & Youth

Please check the box for any role/position/committee for which you wish to make a recommendation (or volunteer).

17. Recommendation for: Early Childhood Education Coordinator

(2 year term on Sunday School Committee)

Sunday School Committee: Abby Nafziger (chair, 2025-2028), Patricia Ebersole Zwier (Early Child Coord., 2024-2026), Rachel Hostetler (Children & Worship Coord., 2024-2026), Karen Graber Roth (Elem & Jr Youth Coord., 2025-2027), Moriah Hurst (Pastor of Faith Formation)

17a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

18. Recommendation for: Children and Worship Coordinator

18a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

19. Recommendation for: Elementary & Jr. Youth Coordinator

19a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

20. Recommendation for: MYF Coordinators*

(renewable 1 year term)

*MYF Coordinators are part-time staff chosen by a separate search committee. (Karissa Miller & Wendel Landes have been MYF coordinators in 2024-2026)

20a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

21. Recommendation for: JYF Coordinators

(2 year term)

(Janie Beck Kreider & Dale Klassen have been JYF coordinators in 2024-2026)

21a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

22. Recommendation for: Sunday School Teachers / Assistants

(1 or more quarters)

22a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

23. Recommendation for: Nursery Coordinator

(1-2 year term)

(This task has most recently been done by Scott Coulter, Lynn Diener, and Patricia Ebersole Zwier).

23a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

24. Recommendation for: Small Group Child Care Coordinator

(1-2 year term)

(This task has most recently been done by Scott Coulter).

24a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

25. Recommendation for: Rep for Summer 2027 Inter-Church VBS

(Jan/February-July/Aug 2027)

VBS Inter-Church Planning Group Re: Lisa Kauffman (for spring-summer 2025), Natalie Hooley (for spring-summer 2026).

25a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

26. Recommendation for: Library Committee
(2 year term)

Library Committee: Maria Wenger (chair, 2017-2028), Deb Bloom (2024-2028), Lisa Rose Martin (2025-2027), Maynard Miller (2025-2027)

26a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

Community Life

Please check the box for any role/position/committee for which you wish to make a recommendation (or volunteer).
Hospitality Committee
Retreat Committee
Small Group Committee
Safe Church Committee
Lunch Bunch Coordinators

27. Recommendation for: Hospitality Committee
(3 year term)

Hospitality Committee: Emily Miller (2024-2027) & Michael Miller (2017?-2026) – co-chairs, Julia Gautsche (2017?-2026), Ally Mast (2025-2028), Mary Roth (2024-2027), Chris Stump (2023-2026), Char Yutzy (2025-2028)

27a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

28. Recommendation for: Retreat Committee
(3 year term)

Retreat Committee: Rod Hanby (chair, 2025-2027), Becky Smuts (2025-2027), Eric Yordy (2025-2027, 2017-2021, 2014-2016 [chair]), Emily Stuckey Weber (2023-2027), Betsy McCanse (2016-2026), Paul Horst (2016-2026), Scott Coulter (pastor)

28a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

29. Recommendation for: Small Groups Committee
(3 year term)

Small Groups Committee: Rod Horst Hanby (2024-2027), Mary Lehman Yoder (2024-2026), Joel Zwier (2024-2026), Moriah Hurst (pastor)

29a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

30. Recommendation for: Safe Church Committee
(2-3 year term)

Safe Church Committee: Patricia Ebersole-Zwier, Moriah Hurst, Eric Good Kaufmann, Joel Kern, Beck Unternahrer

30a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

31. Recommendation for: Lunch Bunch Coordinators
(1-2 year term)

Lunch Bunch Coordinators: Amy Kauffman (2020-2026), Deb Johnston (2023-2026)

31a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

Worship (First & Second Hour)

Please check the box for any role/position/committee for which you wish to make a recommendation (or volunteer).
Worship Committee CHAIR
Worship Committee
Summer Worship Committee CHAIR
Summer Worship Committee
Summer Worship Committee (youth member)
Sound / AV Tech Committee
Electives Committee CHAIR

32. Recommendation for: Worship Committee CHAIR
(3 year term)

Worship Committee: Neil Amstutz (2025-2027), Bev Lapp (2024-2026), Randy Roth (2025-2027), Michael Miller (2025-2027), Becky Smuts (2025-2027), Anna Yoder Schlabach (pastor) - Outgoing: Brian Roots (outgoing chair, 2022-2026), Jeannette Hughes (2022-2026)

32a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

33. Recommendation for: Worship Committee
(3 year term)

Worship Committee: Neil Amstutz (2025-2027), Bev Lapp (2024-2026), Randy Roth (2025-2027), Michael Miller (2025-2027), Becky Smuts (2025-2027), Anna Yoder Schlabach (pastor) - Outgoing: Brian Roots (outgoing chair, 2022-2026), Jeannette Hughes (2022-2026)

33a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

34. Recommendation for: CHAIR of Summer Worship Committee for 2026
(serves April-August)

34a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

35. Recommendation for: Summer Worship Committee for 2026
(serves April-August)

35a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

36. Recommendation for: Summer Worship Committee for 2026 (YOUTH MEMBER)
(serves April-August, usually a rising 7th-12th grader or recent high school graduate)

36a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

37. Recommendation for: Sound / AV Tech Committee
Sound / AV Tech Committee: Ben Good-Elliott, Hannah Friesen, Nate Osborne, Glenn Gilbert, Phil Good-Elliott, Eric Kaufmann (coordinator), Marshall King, Jep Hostetler, Logan Swartzendruber, Sean Smuts

37a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

38. Recommendation for: Electives Committee CHAIR
(2-3 year term)

Electives Committee: Jon Zirkle (chair, 2025-2027), Abby Nafziger (2026-2028), worship comm. rep, Moriah Hurst (pastor)

38a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

Section Break

Please check the box for any role/position/committee for which you wish to make a recommendation (or volunteer).
Leader Selection Committee
Congregational Meeting Facilitator ELECT
Minute Takers for Congregational Meetings
Delegate to Central District Conference
Delegate to Mennonite Church USA Convention
Goshen Montessori Preschool (GMP) Board

Leader Selection Committee

39. Recommendation for: Leader Selection Committee*
(for 2026-2029; chair in 2029)

* Must be a covenanted member of Assembly

Leader Selection Committee: Sarah Horst (2025-2027: chair in 2027); Adam Graber Roth (2025-2028: chair in 2028); -- outgoing: Tristan Beechy-King (2023-2026: chair in 2026)

39a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

Congregational Meetings

40. Recommendation for: Congregational Meeting Facilitator *Elect*
Facilitators: Cheryl Shreiner (for 2026-2027); Eric Good Kaufmann (for 2025-2026)

40a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

41. Recommendation for: Minute Takers for Congregational Meetings
Minute Takers: Jeannette Hughes, Marshall King, Maria Wenger, Judith Davis, Barb Swartley, Wendel Landes

41a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

Wider Church

42. Recommendation for: Central District Conference Delegates
(for Harrisonburg, Virginia annual meeting, June 2026)

42a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

43. Recommendation for: Mennonite Church USA Convention Delegates
(for Cincinatti, Ohio biennial meeting, July 2027)

43a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

Goshen Montessori Preschool Board

44. Recommendation for: Goshen Montessori Preschool Board -- **someone with legal/organization policy experience**
(GMP Board Members do not have to attend Assembly)

44a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

45. Recommendation for: Goshen Montessori Preschool Board -- **someone with strong organizational leadership skills**
(GMP Board Members do not have to attend Assembly)

45a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.

46. Recommendation for: Goshen Montessori Preschool Board -- **someone with early childhood education background/experience**
(GMP Board Members do not have to attend Assembly)

46a. Briefly share why your group recommends this person for this role.