Jon Carlson, a Master of Divinity candidate at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, was nominated March 12 as moderator-elect of Mennonite Church USA (MC USA). He also holds a Certificate in Ministry Studies from the seminary.
Carlson is a MC USA Executive Board member, assistant moderator of Atlantic Coast Conference, and the lead pastor of Forest Hills Mennonite Church in Leola, Pennsylvania.
His nomination was announced in a March 12 MC USA press release.
Pending affirmation by delegates at the online MennoCon21 Delegate Assembly, Carlson will serve two years as moderator-elect and then two years as moderator and chair of the Executive Board, presiding over the 2025 MC USA Convention and Delegate Assembly.
Stan Shantz, chair of MC USA’s Leadership Discernment Committee, described Carlson in the release as having a firm focus on the vision, mission and goals of the denomination, as well as the gifts needed to lead in this role.
“There’s a graciousness about the way Jon leads,” said Shantz. “He does well at inviting others’ perspective into the discussion. Jon builds bridges between people.”
“It’s an honor to be considered for a role like this,” said Carlson. “I love the Mennonite Church dearly and believe that God is at work in our world through the Mennonite Church in unique and valuable ways.”
After working in creative services and media production for 10 years, Carlson was called to ministry in 2010 as a part-time, interim pastor at Oley Valley (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Church. In 2014, Carlson followed his wife’s career path to Lancaster and accepted the position as lead pastor of Forest Hills Mennonite Church.
Carlson joined MC USA’s Executive Board in 2019 and is in his second term as assistant moderator for Atlantic Coast Conference, a position he will leave if affirmed as moderator-elect at the 2021 MC USA Delegate Assembly. He also serves as the MC USA Executive Board representative on the Mennonite Education Agency executive director search committee and on the board of directors of Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Schools. He has previously served as a delegate, member at large and co-chair of the youth committee for the conference.
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