Ross Penner, of Winnipeg, recently accepted the role of director of Region V operations and will begin work at the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) office in Winnipeg on Nov. 9, 2015. Penner most recently spent two years in Bangladesh, where he worked with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and then World Vision. He had been lead pastor at Vineland United Mennonite Church, Ont., and prior to that served as lead pastor at Glencairn Mennonite Brethren Church, Kitchener, Ont., and Hepburn Mennonite Brethren Church, Sask. “The chance to be part of a grassroots organization that is seeking to live out our Anabaptist, service-oriented roots is exciting and a great honour,” Penner says. “I look forward to being one of the servant-leaders in this extended community of compassionate and hardworking people.” Penner succeeds Janet Plenert who, with her husband Steve, has accepted a service assignment with MCC in Bolivia beginning in 2016. Plenert will continue her work with MDS through March 2016. She is currently on extended medical leave following a cycling accident. —Mennonite Disaster Service
