Sarah Bixler

DEPARTMENT: Seminary

POSITION: Assistant Professor and Associate Seminary Dean

LOCATION: Main Campus, Harrisonburg | SB 223

PHONE: (540) 432-4264

Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler teaches courses in formation and practical theology at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and courses in youth ministry and congregational ministry in EMU's undergraduate Bible, Religion and Theology program. She holds a PhD in practical theology from Princeton Theological Seminary with an emphasis on Christian education and formation. Her dissertation, advised by Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean, explored adolescent belonging in Mennonite congregations through the perspectives of attachment theory and spiritual friendship. While at Princeton Seminary, she worked in administrative roles with Princeton's Center for Church Planting and Revitalization and the Iron Sharpening Iron: Leadership Education for Women Clergy project.

She is deeply committed to both robust scholarship and the ongoing formation of faith communities, with more than a decade of ministry and teaching experience. Her background includes work as a youth minister at Zion Mennonite Church (Broadway, VA), teacher at Eastern Mennonite Middle School and administrator and youth minister for Virginia Mennonite Conference, and she serves in Virginia Mennonite Conference and Mennonite Church USA roles. She and her spouse, Benjamin Bixler, enjoy parenting their three school-aged children, are stewarding the historic Lincoln Homestead in Linville, VA and are active members of Park View Mennonite Church.

Education

BA, Eastern Mennonite University (English)
MDIV, Princeton Theological Seminary
PHD, Princeton Theological Seminary (Practical Theology/Christian Education)

Publications
“Reframing the Self(ie).” Journal of Youth and Theology 16, No. 1 (2017): 25-45.
“Searching for Self: Community as a Conduit for God’s Deepest Transformation,” in Education with the Grain of the Universe: A Nonviolent Program for the Future of Mennonite Schools, Colleges, and Universities, ed. J. Denny Weaver, 194-207. Telford, PA: Cascadia, 2017.
“The Violent Shadow: Considering John Howard Yoder’s Sexual Misconduct from a Jungian Psychological Perspective.” Princeton Theological Review 19, No. 1 (Spring 2016): 5-19.
Scholarly Presentations and Abstracts
“Reimagining Youth Ministry through an Attachment Ecclesiology." April 21, 2021. Institute for Youth Ministry Research Gathering, Princeton Theological Seminary.

"'Musing on Cicero’s Thoughts': Methodology in Aelred of Rievaulx’s Practical Theology of Spiritual Friendship." December 10, 2020. American Academy of Religion annual meeting.

"A Great Co-mission: Heeding Women’s Problematization of 'Teaching Them.'" December 1, 2020. Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting.

"Attachment and Spiritual Friendship: An Interdisciplinary Exploration." November 25, 2019. American Academy of Religion annual meeting, San Diego, CA.

"Congregation as Safe Haven and Secure Base? Youth Ministry from An Attachment Perspective." January 3, 2019. International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry conference, Durham, UK.

"Attachment to Religious Group: A New Interdisciplinary Conception of Adolescents in Congregations." August 12, 2018. Association for the Sociology of Religion annual conference, Philadelphia, PA.
Other Presentations
"From Servant to Friends." February 6, 2021. Virginia Mennonite Conference winter delegate session, Harrisonburg, VA.

"Christian Formation throughout the Life Course." July 19, 2019. Virginia Mennonite Conference Assembly, Harrisonburg, VA.

"Unexpected Encounters: God Surprises." February 1-3, 2018. Mennonite Educators Conference, Leesburg, VA.

"Youth Attachment to God and the Church: Should the Church Act Like Fly Paper?" May 17, 2017. The Gathering Place, Mennonite Church USA, Elkhart, IN.
Church, Community and Professional Service
Oversight Leader of the Teaching Cluster and Faith and Life Commission member. 2021-present. Virginia Mennonite Conference, Harrisonburg, VA.

Resolutions Committee. 2020-present. Mennonite Church USA, Elkhart, IN.

Membership Guidelines Advisory Group. 2019. Mennonite Church USA, Elkhart IN.

Prayer Coordinator. 2019. Mennonite Church USA biennial convention, Kansas City, MO.

Missional Formation Cohort Co-Convener, with Dr. Lisa Bowens. 2018-19. Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ.

Journey Forward: Embracing God’s Hope Writing Team. 2017-19. Mennonite Church USA, Elkhart, IN.

Educational Standards Working Group. 2017-18. Association of Theological Schools Accreditation, Princeton Theological Seminary.

Pastoral Transition Team. 2017. Oxford Circle Mennonite Church, Philadelphia, PA.

Adult Worship Planning Committee Chair. 2015-17. Mennonite Church USA biennial convention, Orlando, FL.

Alumni Association President. 2011-13. Eastern Mennonite University.
Honors, Awards and Grants
Research Grant in Anabaptist-Mennonite Studies. July 2020. Mennonite Historical Society, Goshen, IN.

Princeton Theological Seminary Doctoral Fellowship and Ph.D. Merit Tuition Scholarship. 2016-21. Fully funded program with tuition and stipend for 5 years, awarded to 10 students annually.

Louisville Institute Doctoral Fellowship. 2017-19. Two-year fellowship awarded annually to 10 doctoral students showing promise for teaching and scholarship in theological education.

Arthur Paul Rech Memorial Award in Theology and Pastoral Ministry. 2016. Awarded annually to one Princeton Seminary senior demonstrating academic excellence in practical theology and a personal commitment to the practice of ministry in the church.

William Tennent Scholarship. 2015. Awarded annually to one rising senior at Princeton Seminary showing special interest and ability in the teaching aspects of the work of the church.

Marguerite Young Endowment Fund Scholarship. 2015. Scholarship for select Master of Divinity students, granted by the Pittsburgh Foundation.
Courses Taught
Seminar in Youth Ministry

Formation in God's Story I and II

Formation in Missional Leadership I and II

Teaching for Christian Community

Pastoral Care

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Sarah Bixler

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