All authors were present for the unveiling (standing, l. to r.): Paul Peachey, John R. Martin, Gerald R. Brunk, Calvin E. Shenk, Nancy V. Lee, Robert Lee (co-editor), Calvin W. Redekop, Myron S. Augsburger, Esther K. Augsburger, Edward. B. Stoltzfus. (Seated, l. to r.): James R. Bomberger, Albert N. Keim, Samuel L. Horst, Titus W. Bender, Harold D. Lehman, C. Norman Kraus and Ray Gingerich. Nearly all have been faculty members at one time or other at Eastern Mennonite University or Eastern Mennonite Seminary. (Photo by Jim Bishop)
They were born in the Depression, grew up during World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War and Vietnam. All moved from more rural to professional settings and made major impacts on the Mennonite Church, its institutions and the larger society.
Reflections and stories from these 16 educators and church leaders form the basis of "Making Sense of the Journey: The Geography of Our Faith," a 350-page paperback.
The volume, with a foreward by EMU President Loren Swartzendruber, is edited by Mennonite educators and church leaders Robert and Nancy V. Lee.
The book, published by the Anabaptist Center for Religion and Society (ACRS) at EMU and distributed by Herald Press of Scottdale, Pa., was released at a book signing and celebration held Dec. 6 in Martin Chapel of the seminary building. The authors all were present at the unveiling.
The book was written by 16 scholars, nearly all of whom were EMU or EMS faculty at one time.
ACRS is a recently-formed group affiliated with EMU that embodies the growing realization that retirement from the classroom offers new and ongoing possibilities for creative intellectual interaction and support of the larger university, church and society.
The writers are:
- Esther K. and Myron S. Augsburger
- Titus W. Bender
- James R. Bomberger
- Gerald R. Brunk
- Ray Gingerich
- Samuel L. Horst
- Albert N. Keim
- C. Norman Kraus
- Nancy V. Lee
- Harold D. Lehman
- John R. Martin
- Paul Peachey
- Calvin W. Redekop
- Calvin E. Shenk
- Edward B. Stoltzfus
Nearly all have been faculty members at one time or other at Eastern Mennonite University or Eastern Mennonite Seminary.
According to Dr. Keim, professor emeritus of history, "These remarkable accounts reflect the experiences and stories similar to hundreds of other Mennonites whose lives were changed during this disruptive era. By confronting their own beliefs and faith practices, they gradually transformed the Mennonite Church."
The book is available at the University Bookstore, other area bookstore outlets and at www.amazon.com.