Seminary

Mark Thiessen Nation graduated with a Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary (2000) with a major in Christian Ethics and a minor in Philosophy of Religion. He earned an M.Div. from Christian Theological Seminary (1991), an M.A. in peace studies from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries (1981), and a B.A. from Sangamon State University (1975). Dr. Nation, a former pastor, was director of the London Mennonite Centre (1996-2002) and founding Director of the Champaign-Urbana Peace Initiative (1981-1986). He has edited or co-edited five books and published more than two dozen articles and more than a dozen book reviews. He is generally acknowledged to be one of the foremost authorities on the theology and ethics of John Howard Yoder. His most recent book is John Howard Yoder: Mennonite Patience, Evangelical Witness, Catholic Convictions.
(Courses Offered)

Gerald Shenk studied in California, Chicago and Eastern Europe, with a focus on religion and conflict in society. Since moving to Virginia in 1989, he has frequently returned to the Balkans for peace and theological education efforts. In a cover article for “Christianity Today” (December 2000), he reviewed 100 years of Nobel Peace Prizes, finding much unsung work by Christian activists often remaining behind the scenes. His research includes generosity, social transformation, Christian peacemaking and the dramas of religious pluralism. His 2003 sabbatical in Jerusalem focused on civic dimensions of inter-faith encounters. A recent journey to Iran brought him into contact with top theological and political leaders there. Gerald was the founding board president of the Roberta Webb Child Care Center in Harrisonburg (est. 1994). Now he chairs the board for People Helping People, a downtown crisis ministry of churches in Harrisonburg. He is also involved with a team guiding the emerging congregation called “The Table” in Harrisonburg.

Dr. Lawrence M. Yoder graduated from college in 1966 and seminary in 1969, and then spent a year taking courses in Islam, Indonesian language, Asian Historiography and Asian and Indonesian church history in preparation for a nine-year assignment teaching church history and Anabaptist studies at Wiyata Wacana Mennonite Seminary in Pati, Indonesia, where he served one year as rektor (president/dean). He also served four and a half years in Indonesia as country administrator for Mennonite Central Committee and two years as researcher and writer for the histories of the Muria Javanese Mennonite Church (GITJ) and the Muria Mennonite Church (GKMI) in both Indonesian and English languages. Earning Th.M. and Ph.D. degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary School of Intercultural Studies further prepared him for teaching mission studies at Eastern Mennonite Seminary since 1983 while remaining involved in Indonesia through frequent teaching, writing, peace building and consulting assignments. In the spring semester of 2008 he taught in the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Before coming to EMS in 1984 Jim taught for five years in Freeman, S.D. He holds a Ph.D. in Religion from the University of Pittsburgh/ Pittsburgh Theological Seminary with special attention to Old Testament and archaeology. Jim’s primary attention is given to teaching the Old Testament, but he admits an on-going enchantment with archaeology.
He has participated in several digs in the Holy Land. A Google search on “pillar figurines, Engle” or “Engle, Asherah” will bring up references to a particular area of Jim’s interest. Jim has written a number of Adult Bible Study Guides following the International Uniform Lesson Series for Sunday School use. Jim, together with his wife Peg, has spent two sabbaticals in Ethiopia and one in Jerusalem. They have co-led an EMU cross-cultural tour to the Middle East, and an alumni tour to Ethiopia.

Wendy earned her B.A. from Iowa Wesleyan College, an M.A. in church leadership from EMS, and studied at the Shalem Institute of Spiritual Formation and did further work at General Theological Seminary. She has taught at EMS since 1991, and her previous experience includes serving as a chaplain at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community and as associate pastor of Bethlehem (Pa.) Mennonite Church. Alongside writing articles and books, Wendy serves as a retreat leader and spiritual director.

Lonnie Yoder is a native of a rural Mennonite community in southeast Iowa where he lived for most of the first forty years of his life. He served as youth minister and assistant pastor in his home congregation, East Union Mennonite Church, for twelve years. He married Teresa Boshart in 1980 and they are the parents of two daughters, Shannon and Nicole. After completing doctoral studies at the University of Iowa, Yoder has served as a professor at Eastern Mennonite since 1991.

Kenton T. Derstine, M. Div., is a certified ACPE Supervisor with over eighteen years of experience in congregational and hospital ministry and pastoral supervision. Prior to coming to EMS Kenton served as CPE Program Manager at St. Vincent Hospitals in Indianapolis, Indiana. He studied briefly under Dr. Edwin Friedman and subsequently completed two years of the post-graduate program in Bowen Family Systems Theory and its applications at the Georgetown Family Center. Kenton has also been trained by Dr. Peter Steinke as a presenter and trainer of presenters of the Healthy Congregations workshop, which is based on Bowen Family Systems Theory.

A member of the EMS faculty since 1984, Dr. Weaver teaches courses in New Testament and Greek language. She also leads study tours to the Middle East (“Places, People & Prayers”) through EMS and work groups to Nazareth and Bethlehem through the Partners in Mission program of Virginia Mennonite Missions. Dorothy Jean is Co-Chair of the Matthew Section of the Society of Biblical Literature and serves on the Advisory Board of Friends of Sabeel, North America. She is a frequent speaker and writer outside the classroom and has taught New Testament courses in Beirut, Lebanon, Bethlehem, Palestine and Cairo, Egypt. Dorothy Jean sings regularly with the Shenandoah Valley Choral Society and the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival. She is a member of Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA.

Kevin holds a B.A. in Theology and Biblical Studies from Eastern Mennonite University, an MA in Church Leadership from Eastern Mennonite Seminary, with concentrations in Pastoral Counseling and Christian Spiritual Formation and a D.Min in Spiritual Direction through Graduate Theological Foundation, South Bend, IN.

Kevin is a pastor at heart, ordained by the Virginia Mennonite Conference in 1996 and was recently the pastor of Big Spring Mennonite Church, Luray VA from 1996 to 2004. He has 21 years pastoral experience, serving within several Christian denominations. Kevin has been an adjunct instructor at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (1996-present) in the area of Christian Spiritual Formation. He is a spiritual director, retreat leader and board member of Blue Ridge Ministries, Inc. an interdenominational retreat ministry located in the Shenandoah Valley.

Kevin has been involved with Dorothy Jean Weaver in the on-going personal connections and involvement in the Israel/Palestine. This includes a Seminary study tour program “Places, People, & Prayers and a Middle East work group through the Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions, – Partners in Mission program.

Alongside his teaching and administrative responsibilities, Dr. Yoder continues work on a history of the Conservative Mennonite Conference, often better known by her Bible college and missions program, both named for the village of Rosedale, Ohio, where they are located. He is particularly interested in how this group, which is hardly distinctive by way of outward cultural markers, has interfaced Anabaptism and Evangelicalism. An ordained minister, he brings both pastoral and historical perspectives to that question.

Ervin joined the seminary faculty in 1998 as an associate professor of church ministries, with a particular passion for preaching and biblical interpretation. Two years later, in 2000, he took on the role as Dean of the Seminary.

Ervin was born in Iowa, grew up in Kansas, and served the Mennonite Church as a pastor in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He came to the seminary after leading the Mennonite Church as a pastor, district overseer, and conference moderator. He served the newly formed Mennonite Church USA as its moderator from 2001-2003. He enjoys woodworking and has built or restored much of the furniture in his house. He likes to explore new ideas for ministry.

Laura Lehman Amstutz graduated from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 2006. She has always loved listening to and telling the stories of others. In both her roles, she sees herself as a communication bridge between the seminary and other people and organizations.

Sara Wenger Shenk’s varied career includes a study/service assignment in Bosnia and Croatia for nine years, pastoral ministry for four years, extensive speaking in academic and church venues, the writing of six books as well as many articles and chapters in various publications, and leadership in a new, experimental community of worship called The Table. Dr. Wenger Shenk served as interim dean of the seminary 1999-2000.

Joanna taught computer, accounting and keyboarding classes at Eastern Mennonite High School (EMHS) for five years and an additional 13 years at Massanutten Technical Center and EMU. For eight years she was the bookkeeper at Rockingham Eye Physicians. In 1999 she began as the assistant for seminary development at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and in 2001 became the administrative assistant to the seminary dean.

Linda has been continuously employed in the Registrar’s Office (1990-91), Student Life Division (1991-2005) and Seminary Division (2005-present) at the university. During her undergraduate work here (1969-73) she began working in the Financial Assistance Office and continued employment for a year after graduation.

In the interim between 1974-1990, she and her husband Robert (seminary graduate – 1972) served Churches of the Brethren in Martinsburg WV and Everett PA. They are presently at Bridgewater VA CoB.

All three of the Alley children and their spouses are current students at the university/seminary or graduates of EMU.

Linda completed a Masters in Church Leadership with a focus on spiritual formation and direction at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in April 2008. She is a spiritual director for a number of individuals and does group retreat work as well.

After 20 years of youth ministry in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, Don and his family spent four years in East Africa. He moved to Harrisonburg in 1994 from western Pennsylvania where he worked as program director for Laurelville Mennonite Church Center. He began as director of admissions at EMS in June of 1995. Don enjoys the rivers and streams of the Shenandoah Valley as well as working with wood and glass.