Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference
We are a community of Mennonite congregations across Arizona and California. We are a diverse body, gathering for worship in many languages and coming from all corners of the globe. We are Anabaptist Christians who embrace various expressions of worship and theological points of view - charismatic, evangelical, liturgical, pentecostal and progressive, among others.
Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference Moderator Melanie Howard Announces New Executive Conference Minister
As the moderator of the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference, it is my delight to announce on behalf of the PSMC Board of Directors that Rev. Olufemi “Femi” Fatunmbi has accepted the call to serve as our next Executive Conference Minister.
Pastor Femi brings extensive pastoral and denominational leadership experience to this role. He has significant roots in the PSMC, having served the conference from 1998 to 2017 in numerous leadership roles, including as the Southern California Board Representative, chair of the Pastoral Leadership Committee, Assistant Moderator, and Moderator. He has also represented PSMC with the African, Belizean, and Caribbean Mennonite Mission Association.
Since 2017, Pastor Femi has served as Senior Pastor of Royal Dominion International Ministries, where his ministry has included spiritual leadership, preaching and teaching, organizational leadership, and mentoring emerging leaders.
As Executive Conference Minister, Pastor Femi will provide pastoral and spiritual leadership to our congregations and pastors, strengthen relationships across our diverse conference, support churches through times of transition, and help PSMC pursue its shared mission and Anabaptist commitments.
We are grateful for God’s guidance throughout the search process and excited to welcome Pastor Femi into this new season of leadership beginning December 1. Please join us in welcoming him and in praying for Pastor Femi at the start of this exciting new chapter for the PSMC.
--Banner designed by Mennonite Action
Statements on Current Events
A prayer for peace in response to the Iran war:
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are deeply saddened by the violence and destruction unfolding in our world. The bombing of Iran and the escalating tensions in the region remind us of the fragile nature of peace and the immense cost of war.
We affirm the sacred dignity of every human life.
We reject hatred and dehumanization that occurs in the name of seeking peace.
We grieve every life lost.
We pray for families who are mourning.
We ask you to protect civilians, children and all who are most vulnerable from further harm.
While nations wrestle with complex political and security concerns, we believe Christ calls us to be agents of reconciliation, truth and peace.
We commit ourselves to pray for wisdom for leaders, protection for the innocent, comfort for those who grieve, and restraint that prevents further bloodshed. May God’s justice and mercy guide all nations toward lasting peace.
Holy Spirit, bring comfort where there is fear, courage where there is despair, and hope where darkness feels overwhelming. Amen.
--A prayer by Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, Mennonite Church USA's denominational minister for Peace and Justice.
--A photo of the sculpture Non-Violence, created by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reutersward and located at the UN headquarters in NYC.