A Sketched Portrait

Charlottesville Mennonite Church emerges from a rich Anabaptist heritage where community, peace-building, and Christ-centeredness prevail. Read about our basic beliefs in the Mennonite Confession of Faith.

Founded in 1958, CMC has been shaped by committed leaders and fellow worshippers for almost a half-century. Among its historical highlights, CMC was instrumental in forming a bi-national Mennonite mission service for women (Women’s Missionary and Service Commission). Charlottesville Mennonite is part of a larger denominational structure. For more on the broader Mennonite Church USA, people and history, visit www.mennonitechurchusa.org.

If you're interested in learning about the strong tradition of volunteerism among Mennonites, visit www.mcc.org. Finally, Third Way Café is an online source for current perspectives and topics in the Mennonite community around the world -- click on www.thirdway.com.

Ken and Ruth Heatwole

Ken and Ruth Heatwole were instrumental in the formation of Charlottesville Mennonite Church--first as a small group meeting in private homes, then moving to several rental properties, and finally church ownership in our present location. Ken and Ruth anchored our church family for many years, in many ways. They both taught Sunday School, Ruth led singing, and Ken was affectionately known as "The Candy Man" by children. Most visitors and newcomers to church were welcomed into the Heatwoles' home for a meal. They graciously provided lodging and meals for many out-of-town travelers, as well as family and friends of patients in UVA Hospital.

Ken and Ruth were active in community work. Ruth read regularly for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, and Ken spent countless hours volunteering for Love, INC, both as a Board member and as the contact person for our church. We miss their leadership and friendship, but wish them well as they enjoy their retirement at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, VA.

Here and Now

Charlottesville Mennonite folks, in several respects, are a motley crew. While we're rooted in a city context, many members come from the surrounding countryside. While the University of Virginia has drawn many academic and professional types, we are also comprised of business people, social workers, artists and teachers. We also come from diverse backgrounds: rich and poor, conservative and liberal, Mennonite and other denominational traditions, and we are from the U.S. and abroad. All of this and more provides for spicy conversation around the uniting power of Christ.

Our Fearless Leaders

With the arrival of our current co-pastors in 1999, we celebrate the strength of shared leadership. Together, Roy and Maren bring a persuasive sermon style, a knack for nurture, and generous invitations to dinner around their table. (Tip: Hold out for the Indian food.)

Roy and Maren lived in Syria and Iran during the 1990s. From their experiences there they bring powerful messages of hope, healing and transformations through God's love. The following are links to available writings by Roy in which he shares reflections relevant to the current crisis in the Middle East.

A Word from the Pastors

Are you looking for Christian community? Support in a new setting? In our family of faith we are drawn together in Christian worship, study, fellowship and service to the community.

As a Christian community we strive to realize God's vision, healing and hope for our lives, our community and the world. We seek this vision together through support for each other, acts of witness and service in our community and calls for more peaceable and just ways of relating in our world.

We welcome you to join us in the joy of being a community with a vision of healing and hope.

- Roy Hange and Maren Tyedmers Hange
Co-Pastors, Charlottesville Mennonite Church

Roots and Rising

Ken and Ruth Heatwole

Here and Now

Our Fearless Leaders

A Word from the Pastors