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Rosa, Joe (d. 2009)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Apr 12 p. 1, 2
Birth date:
text of obituary:
By Celeste Kennel-Shank
Mennonite Weekly Review
Joe Rosa, a former pastor and church planter who had been missing for more than 10 months and charged with several crimes was found dead April 1 in White Deer Township, Pa.
Rosa hanged himself in a wooded are several miles from his home in Lewisburg, Pa., from which he had been missing since May 21, Pennsylvania State Police said.
Pennsylvania State Police had charged Rosa June 9 with indecent assault, recklessly endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors related to incidents between 2005 and 2009, according to their report.
Rosa founded Congregación Menonita Shalom (Shalom Mennonite Congregation) in New Columbia, Pa., with his wife, Maggie, in 2002. He left his role as pastor in a transition planned prior to his disappearance.
He had also been on the executive board of Iglesia Menonita Hispana (Hispanic Mennonite Church), a Mennonite Church USA organization, and represented IMH at the Constituency Leaders Council, a body of elders advising MC USA. He had ended both those roles April1, 2009.
Eastern Mennonite Missions hired Rosa in 2007 as church planting consultant for Lancaster Conference of MC USA, which suspended his credentials in May pending the investigation result.
"There are no words to adequately express the sadness so many have experienced through this situation," Joanne Dietzel of Lancaster Conference wrote in a statement. "While this news represents much pain and sadness, we rejoice in the resurrection power of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Dietzel asked for prayers for Rosa's family and for Congregación Shalom and Spanish Mennonite Council of Lancaster Conference, as they care for them.
Samuel López of IMH had informed state police May 23 of possible misconduct by Rosa after receiving a letter from a young man who had attended Rosa's church. Church leaders asked Rosa to resign, López told police.