March 3, 2024
Joanna Harader

Dear, dear church:

I was installed as pastor of Peace Mennonite Church on Pentecost of 2006. For those of you who struggle with math like I do, that’s 18 years I have had the joy and privilege to serve as your pastor. After much prayerful discernment, I have decided that it is time for me to move into a new season of ministry and step down from my pastoral role at Peace.

We have had a long and good season together as pastor and congregation. I could not have asked for a more gracious or loving community. I could not have hoped for better partners in the work of justice God called us to within MC USA and in Lawrence over these past years. God spoke through this congregation to call me into the Mennonite church and into pastoral ministry. I will be forever grateful for this call and for our time together.

The wisdom I received from a pastoral mentor many years ago is that if I, as a pastor, thought I should leave a church before I had been there ten years, I should ask myself why. And if I felt like I wanted to stay beyond ten years, I should ask myself why. I will admit, at ten years into my time at Peace, I didn’t even consider leaving. I know a good thing when I have it. But I have kept this advice in mind and tried to keep my heart and mind open to God’s call. I always wanted to make sure I was staying because this was where God wanted me to be and not because it was the easiest thing to do—or because you are some of my absolute favorite people to be with.

After a few years of wondering and paying attention and a few intense months of reading, prayer, and spiritual conversations, I have come to believe that now is the time God is calling me into a new season of ministry. And I have a feeling—you’ll have to discern this for yourselves, of course, but I have a feeling—that God is calling you into a new season as well.

As part of my discernment, I read a book called When to Leave by Wade Hodges, and he says, “If the prospect of leaving your church is breaking your heart, even though it appears to be what God wants you to do, this is a wicked-good thing.” And, dear ones, we indeed have a wicked-good thing here.

Considering the Western District Conference guidance and my Covenant of Understanding requirement that I give at least 90 days notice, the Coordinating Committee has decided that my final Sunday as pastor will be June 9, which is a Gracious Space service.

In the meantime, church leadership and I will be working on the many necessary pieces of transition—practical, spiritual, and emotional. There is a lot of grief for me in this process, as I expect there will be for you as well. My prayer is that we can share in both the grief of one season ending and the excitement about what new season God may be leading us into. I have some sense of what is next for me, and I expect to be able to share more about that with you in a few weeks.

For now I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. For being who you are. For loving how you love. Thank you for walking so faithfully with me and with each other through the difficulties of the past and through this time of hard and hopeful transition.

Love,
Joanna

*The information below was shared during Zoom and in-person worship at Peace Mennonite on March 24.

Dear Church,

First, I want to thank you all for the support, encouragement, and expressions of gratitude and love you have offered me since I announced my resignation three weeks ago. Many of you have told me that you are excited to hear what is next for me, and I am excited to share this morning that I have accepted an invitation to candidate at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton. This information is being shared at Bethel this morning, so the news is now public.

Being a candidate means that their search committee is recommending me to the congregation as the new full time co-pastor at Bethel College church. I will go for a candidating visit the first weekend in May, when I will meet with people and preach in worship. Two weeks later, on May 19, the congregation will vote on whether or not to call me as their pastor.

If the vote is positive, I expect to begin in that position later in the summer. I would relocate to Newton while Ryan (along with James, Jasmine, Camilla, Mom, and Dave) would remain in Lawrence for the time being–meaning Ryan and I will maintain two households and be making lots of trips back and forth. 

I am excited about the opportunity for this new ministry challenge and I trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit for Bethel College Mennonite and for myself as we consider this possibility of ministry together. I am also excited to see the faithful work of Peace Mennonite leaders in this time of transition and look forward to seeing what God has in store for you as well! There are many changes ahead.

In the meantime, I will continue to serve Peace with all of you until my final Sunday on June 9. We will have many opportunities for celebration and conversation in the weeks ahead. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to schedule a time to talk.

Love, Pastor Joanna