News Release

Jolene VonGunten

ELKHART — Mennonite Church USA administration has named Jolene VonGunten as executive administrative assistant, effective Nov. 27.

VonGunten serves the executive board and staff, the Constituency Leaders Council, the Governance Council, the Joint Executive Committee and human resources. VonGunten works out of the Elkhart office and reports to Executive Director Glen Guyton and Associate Executive Director Iris de León-Hartshorn.

In addition to her new part-time role, VonGunten also continues to serve part time as executive assistant and communications coordinator for Mennonite Education Agency, the education agency of Mennonite Church USA, where she has worked for the past four years.

“MC USA’s executive board staff is excited to have Jolene VonGunten join us. Jolene comes with a wealth of experience,” said de León-Hartshorn. “This position will be a partnership with MEA and MC USA and will help to continue to move toward better alignment of our values and goals.”

Prior to joining Mennonite Education Agency, VonGunten provided administrative support for Mennonite Mission Network’s Christian service and human resources for programs for six years. VonGunten has a background in restorative justice and victim-offender mediation and volunteers for the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery and on the board of Anabaptist Communicators. VonGunten holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Indiana University South Bend.

“I am grateful to serve Mennonite Church USA and work with the denominational leaders, Glen Guyton, Iris de-León Hartshorn, Michael Danner, and the rest of the executive board staff. The opportunity to work with people I respect deeply is truly an honor,” said VonGunten. “Shelley Buller has set a high standard, and I am excited and committed to learning everything I can from her in the coming weeks before her well-deserved retirement.” Shelley Buller, executive assistant to the Mennonite Church USA executive board, is retiring at the end of 2023, after 46 years of service to the denomination.

“I am also pleased to continue serving Mennonite Education Agency, a role I have enjoyed over the last four years. I appreciate this creative staffing agreement and look forward to supporting the mission and work of both MEA and MC USA,” said VonGunten.

VonGunten currently holds a membership at Walnut Hill Mennonite Church, Goshen, in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference.