Mennonite Health Journal

Mennonite Health Journal, Vol. 16, No. 3 – August 2014

Paul D. Leichty, editor

PDF Format: Mennonite Health Journal 2014-08

This issue of Mennonite Health Journal explores various aspects of the theme of this year’s Annual Gathering: Faith at Work: Practicing our Profession.

A summary article on Annual Gathering 2014 by Kayla Berkey (supplemented by the editor) explores how, over the course of the weekend, participants shared with each other the ways in which they work out their faith in their professional life.

Among the most stirring presentations was that of Tim and Jen Leaman from Philadelphia who shared on the theme, “Our Faith Moves Us.” Mennonite Health Journal appreciates the gracious sharing of their inspiring presentation in this wider setting. Article. Sidebar.

One of the sub-themes lifted up by the Leamans was how to relinquish our need to control the outcomes of our work and instead allow God to work in our lives and the lives of others. Editor Paul Leichty reflects on this theme further in relationship to his own need for healthcare.

Turning to the international scene, Winona Houser shares from her recent Student Elective Term (SET) experience on learning to flow with different norms in a Tanzanian hospital setting and what that says about her own future as a physician.

Even as we wrap up Annual Gathering 2014, we are excited to announce plans for Annual Gathering 2015, July 19-21, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Please check out the article for more details! Plan to join us for this historic Annual Gathering!

Speaking of giving up control over our lives, we ultimately all do it as we enter the stages of dying and death. Mennonite Chaplains Association President, Kenton Derstine, reflects on the role of chaplains working alongside of other healthcare professionals in helping our patients and clients come to terms with their own mortality and grieving the death of loved ones.

At each stage in our journey of faith, it is good to stop and reflect both on where we have been and where we are going. Joe Longacher has been President of the Board for more than half of MHF’s existence. As he steps down from his presidential role and assumes a supportive role with the Board, his wisdom encourages us to both look to the past and forge ahead into the future. MHF also congratulates Joe on his new role as the first “scholar-in-residence” for the biomedicine graduate program at Eastern Mennonite University.

Paul Leichty, MHF Executive Director

About the author

Paul D. Leichty, M.Div. was the first Executive Director of Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship (MHF), serving from Sept. 2011 through May 2020.  Paul has served as a pastor, church musician, computer support person, disabilities advocate, and administrator/organizer of a number of church-related ministries. In addition to responsibilities at MHF, Paul is Executive Director of Congregational Accessibility Network and was formerly Director of User Services at Mennonite.net.  He is a member of Agape Fellowship of the Mennonite Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania where he lives with his wife, Twila Charles Leichty.