Seminary Students Cited for Research Work
Left to right: Aram DiGennaro, Linden M. Wenger, seminary dean Ervin R. Stutzman and Annie Lengacher.
Photo by Phil Helmuth
EMS has announced the winners of the Linden M. Wenger Anabaptist Studies Award.
EMS students Aram L. DiGennaro and Andrea N. (Annie) Lengacher received first and second prize, respectively, in the contest that honors Linden M. Wenger, the first acting dean of the seminary.
DiGennaro’s essay, titled "Anabaptist Restitutionism: Narrating the Tradition of Apostolic Un-Succession," received a $400 first prize, and Lengacher’s paper, titled "Gelassenheit: Understanding Authentic Yieldedness through the Perspectives of Carlstadt and Denck" won the $200 second prize.
DiGennaro’s paper discusses restitutionism, the idea that there are models of Christian life and practice from earlier times that Anabaptists and others should return to. His paper develops and defends the Anabaptist theme of restitution as a valid practice for the church today.
Lengacher’s paper compared the Gelassenheit of a follower of Martin Luther with the Anabaptist form. Gelassenheit is a mystical term meaning "yieldedness or submission to God." Lengacher discussed how Anabaptist discipleship was an outward form of an inward submission to God.
The Linden M. Wenger Anabaptist Studies Award recognizes outstanding student papers integrating biblical and historical scholarship with pastoral implication from an Anabaptist believer's church perspective. The award is given every year to a degree-seeking student at EMS.
The contest began in 2002 with one prize of $500. Due to the number of entries, the donors for the prize, and Nathan E. (Nate) Yoder, associate professor of church history at the seminary and coordinator of the competition, decided to increase the prize money and the number of winners.
Dr. Yoder said that the contest provides motivation for students and honors student’s good work. "It also focuses attention on Anabaptist heritage and thought as a resource for ministry today," said Yoder, "which is part of the intent for the contest."
The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, were friends of the Wengers. Linden Wenger’s kindness, humility and storytelling made an impression on the donors, and they wished to honor him with a research award.
According to Samuel O. Weaver, associate in seminary development, "The donor’s concern is that the church in some places is losing its Anabaptist heritage. The donor wants seminary students to continue researching and talking about Anabaptist history."
Wenger was professor of philosophy at EMU from 1955 to 1978. In 1965, he became the first acting dean of the seminary and served as dean until 1967. Wenger was also a bishop for Northern District, Virginia Mennonite Conference, 1959-1985.
Author Laura B. Amstutz, from Dalton, Ohio, is a student in the master of divinity program at Eastern Mennonite Seminary.
