This article is from the EMU News Archive. Current EMU new is available at www.emu.edu/news
Seminary Grads Receive 'Divine' Education
By Heather Bowser, Daily News-Record
Basil Marin has a divine education — literally.
After 11 years and 60 credit hours, the Harrisonburg resident received his master’s of divinity degree from Eastern Mennonite Seminary on Saturday.
EMS graduate Basil MarinPhoto by Jim Bishop
While more than 400 Eastern Mennonite University students wrapped up math, French and biology courses last weekend, Marin and 29 others said "amen" to exams on the Old Testament, Hebrew and Christian tradition.
On Saturday, the school graduated its youngest seminary class in nearly a decade. With an average age of 35, the graduates reflect a growing national trend in which the majority of seminary students fall into two age groups — between 20 and 30 years old, and between 40 and 50.
"It was definitely hard," said Marin, 46, "but I feel called to the ministry, so it was worth it."
Younger Students
For the last two decades, the number of students between 20 and 30 years old has grown significantly, says Seminary Dean Ervin Stutzman.
Out of the 133 students enrolled last year, one-third were younger than 30, records show. The average age of this year’s graduating class is 4.2 years younger than it was in 2000.
Jason Gerlach, 27, of Harrisonburg, is one such graduate.
Gerlach attended EMU for his undergraduate degree, worked construction for a while and enrolled in the seminary program.
EMS graduate Jason GerlachPhoto by Jim Bishop
"For a long time, I felt like I wanted to help people," he said. "I knew that I wanted to do something in the religious field."
Gerlach will be a part-time youth pastor at Community Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg and also will work part time in construction at Tom Oberholtzer Construction Inc. in Harrisonburg.
"Personally, I really enjoy the balance," he said.
Older Students
Although the under-30 students dominate the school’s population, the second-largest age group (26 percent) is students in their 40s, records say.
The trend, Stutzman said, has occurred for two main reasons — more pastors are "bi-vocational," which means they have a second job, and more pastors choose ministry as their second career.
Marin used to be an accountant when he lived in Los Angeles, and became a part-time minister in 1980.
He and his wife, Diane, moved to Harrisonburg in 1995 so he could be the minister of Immanuel Mennonite Church and attend the seminary at the same time.
He said he took two to three classes each semester for the last 11 years.
"When we left California, my wife said to me, ‘We’re going from Los Angeles to Harrisonburg to heaven," recalled Marin. "We hope to be here for a long while."
