Eastern Mennonite Seminary

Jonny Rashid is pursuing his Doctor of Ministry in Peacemaking and Social Change at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and this week Mennonite Church USA named him a recipient of their 2026-27 Scholarship for BIPOC Students.

The scholarship supports students who are members or active participants of an MC USA congregation and are attending an MC USA-affiliated school. Jonny, who serves as pastor at West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship, was recognized for his commitment to deepening his understanding of peacemaking and social change.

We are grateful for Jonny and proud to walk alongside him in this work. Congratulations!

Read the full announcement:
https://www.mennoniteusa.org/news/five-receive-bipoc-scholarships/

Congregations don't just need a warm body in the pulpit during seasons of transition. They need someone who understands grief, conflict, systems, and the slow work of discernment.

That kind of ministry takes formation.

Eastern Mennonite Seminary is partnering with Union Presbyterian Seminary's Leadership Institute on the Ecumenical Transitional Leadership Training, a hybrid program for pastors and lay leaders navigating the complex, sacred work of interim ministry.

The program covers conflict transformation, trauma-informed congregational care, systems thinking, and spiritual resilience, everything the seminary catalogue prepares you for in theory, made practical and cohort-based.

Online modules begin May 17. An optional in-person gathering follows June 3-4 in Richmond, VA.

Registration closes May 8.

Learn more and register:
https://www.upsem.edu/event/ecumenical-transitional-leadership-trainings26/

Leading through change takes courage, clarity, and community - and the right companions. Join the UPSem Leadership Institute and Eastern Mennonite Seminary for a virtual peer cohort grounded in systems thinking, healthy communication, and spiritual formation, designed for leaders navigating transition. May 18–June 1, online with optional in-person gatherings. Learn more and register at the link below to secure early bird pricing.

https://www.upsem.edu/event/ecumenical-transitional-leadership-trainings26/