We've been around for 40+ years.
In the 1970s and early '80s a group of Mennonite agencies involved in radio and television production worked cooperatively to produce national media campaigns. Known as the Inter-Mennonite Media Group (IMMG), the organization worked successfully for many years.
With the deregulation of radio and television in the U.S. as well as reduced church media budgets, interest in IMMG waned. By 1984, IMMG members considered a new organization with a new mandate, serving a much wider range of communication professionals. In December of that year, the Council on Church and Media (CCM) was created as a non-profit, church-related organization. In October of 2007, the organization changed its name to Anabaptist Communicators.
Today, Anabaptist Communicators continues to serve broadcasters, writers, editors, filmmakers, videographers, artists, graphic designers, journalists, web designers, marketers, publishers, educators, pastors, administrators, and others interested in media. Members include professionals who work in church, para-church and non-church communications.
2023 Board Members
With the deregulation of radio and television in the U.S. as well as reduced church media budgets, interest in IMMG waned. By 1984, IMMG members considered a new organization with a new mandate, serving a much wider range of communication professionals. In December of that year, the Council on Church and Media (CCM) was created as a non-profit, church-related organization. In October of 2007, the organization changed its name to Anabaptist Communicators.
Today, Anabaptist Communicators continues to serve broadcasters, writers, editors, filmmakers, videographers, artists, graphic designers, journalists, web designers, marketers, publishers, educators, pastors, administrators, and others interested in media. Members include professionals who work in church, para-church and non-church communications.
2023 Board Members
- Jen Steiner (Chair), Mennonite Central Committee Great Lakes
- Melissa Beidler (Vice Chair), Hinkletown Mennonite School
- John Longhurst (Secretary), Mennonite Disaster Service
- Annette Brill Bergstresser (Treasurer), Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
- Dani Klotz, Anabaptist World
- Jolene VonGunten, Mennonite Education Agency
- Caleb Gingerich, Mennonite Disaster Service
We love to gather together, eat delicious food and share about the work we do in communications.
Anabaptist Communicators meets annually for a conference in the fall. These conferences may include a plenary session(s) with a member or non-member keynote speaker, professional round table discussions, visits to local communications offices and an annual business meeting.
During the conference, members value opportunities to meet and discuss communications with others in their field.
A local conference planning committee organizes the annual conference in consultation with the Anabaptist Communicators board. Meeting locations take into account the geographic composition of the membership.
Past Conference Locations
During the conference, members value opportunities to meet and discuss communications with others in their field.
A local conference planning committee organizes the annual conference in consultation with the Anabaptist Communicators board. Meeting locations take into account the geographic composition of the membership.
Past Conference Locations
- 2022 - Virtual
- 2021 - Virtual
- 2020—Virtual
- 2019 Harrisonburg, Virginia—Massanetta Springs Camp & Conference Center
- 2018 Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania—Laurelville Mennonite Church Center
- 2017 Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania—Laurelville Mennonite Church Center
- 2016 North Newton, Kansas—Bethel College
- 2015 Elkhart, Indiana—AMBS & Mennonite Church USA offices
- 2014 Akron, Pennsylvania—Mennonite Central Committee
- 2013 Bluffton, Ohio—Bluffton University
- 2012 Waterloo, Ontario—Conrad Grebel University College
- 2011 Harrisonburg, Virginia—Eastern Mennonite University
- 2010 Goshen, Indiana—Goshen College
- 2009 Akron, Pennsylvania—Mennonite Central Committee
- 2008 Wichita, Kansas
- 2007 Winnipeg, Manitoba—Canadian Mennonite University
