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Merle G. and Beulah Cordell
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Eastern Mennonite Seminary has recognized two persons for 50 years in church-related ministry.
Merle G. Cordell and Paul G. Leaman were cited Jan. 21 during the annual School for Leadership Training held at Eastern Mennonite Seminary.
Cordell, of Chambersburg, Pa., was ordained to the ministry in 1954 and to the office of bishop in 1971. During this tenure he has performed 30 weddings and more than 300 baptisms.
A 1965 EMU graduate, Cordell served 31 years as secretary of Franklin (PA) Mennonite Conference and six years as secretary of the Franklin Conference Mission Board. A public school teacher for 14 years, he continues as chair
of the Historical Association of Cumberland Valley. He led a campaign to finance a history of the Mennonites in Cumberland Valley; the book will be released this summer by Herald Press.
Cordell has actively guided congregations for many years in their move to salaried pastors and for encouraging young persons to prepare for the pastoral ministry.
He has served 30 years on the board of directors and currently is a member of the executive committee of Menno-Haven, Inc., a continuing care retirement community in Chambersburg. He is currently a member of the Menno-Haven executive committee and chaired a committee process for accreditation in the national Continuing Care Accreditation Commission.
Leaman, of Lancaster, Pa., was chief executive officer of Mennonite Home, Inc., a retirement community of 248 health care and 235 personal care and assisted living facilities and Woodcrest Villa, a new start-up independent living community of 211 apartments. He managed and developed a $15 million operating budget and a capital fund portfolio of $12.5 million. He retired from that position in 1997. He was administrator and then executive director of the facility before being named CEO in 1992.
Before that, Leaman was director of development four years at Eastern Mennonite High School. He earned a B.A. degree in Bible and psychology from EMU in 1972 and a master of divinity degree from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 1976. He was an interim pastor at the former Mt. Jackson Mennonite Church.
Earlier pastoral assignments included Creek Indian Christian Fellowship, Atmore, Ala., and Oakwood Mennonite Church, Conowingo, Md.
Eastern Mennonite Seminary dean Ervin R. Stutzman presented the honorees with engraved plaques and a letter of commendation during the recognition ceremony. Leaman was unable to attend; sons Jay, Steve and Paul accepted the award on his behalf.