Kenton Derstine

“My calling in the area of experience-based learning is to guide a process whereby students may translate their clearest biblical vision and sense of call into wise and fruitful acts of ministry. This learning process requires the courage to risk new steps in ministry along with disciplined reflection. It is gratifying when students make discoveries about their relationship to self, others and God and are transformed through an awareness of being called and fruitful instruments for God’s purposes. "

How might someone be truly helpful to another as they face the humdrum or the crisis of their life’s journey? How is it that some of the most well-intentioned efforts at “help” turn out not to be helpful—even hurtful? How is it that a congregation of committed people can become so hurtful to each other? And, how is it that despite one’s best efforts one behaves in ways that seem abhorrent when observed in others? Exploring these and similar questions have challenged and energized Kenton’s journey as a member, pastor, chaplain, leader and pastoral educator—-and his students.

As Director of EMS’s Mentored Ministry programs Kenton is dedicated to an experiential learning process whereby participants have opportunity through a cycle of practice and reflection to explore their questions and convictions regarding what it means to minister as a follower of Jesus Christ. This learning process is informed by the conviction that learning is established when new insight informs new behaviors practiced again and again—when “practice” establishes a “practice.” My hope is that each student will be sufficiently challenged by some experience of ministry during their study at EMS that they will be thrust into new levels of theological reflection, self-examination and the experience of God’s love and grace.

Kenton is the eleventh of twelve children born to Abram and Ruth Derstine, life-long members of Souderton Mennonite church in Southeastern Pennsylvania. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite College—after a stint at the U. of Colorado. Active in the anti-Vietman War movement through much of his college years Kenton reneged on his acceptance into graduate school to study political science after spending a semester in Europe studying Anabaptist origins. He came to share the conviction of these spiritual forebears that the meaning of history and societal transformation lay more in the church than in political processes. Therefore, he entered the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and with his wife joined the Fellowship of Hope Church and Community in Elkhart, IN. Commitment to the church as “community,” as a “demonstration plot” of the Kingdom of God has energized and focused his teaching and has been a point of connection with current emergent forms of the church.

Following graduating seminary Kenton entered Clinical Pastoral Education and served Chaplain Internships and Residencies in three different hospitals, eventually gaining certification as a CPE Supervisor. Included in his experience was his service as chaplain on the Critical Care units of Methodist Hospital of Indiana, home of the treatment team for drivers injured on the IndyCar racing circuit. Kenton came to EMS after serving for seven years as CPE Supervisor and CPE Program Manager at St. Vincent Hospitals, Indianapolis. Kenton and Rhoda are the parents of three adult children. Kenton has been a beekeeper for over forty years and is intrigued by the message that the world-wide die-off of honeybees has posed to modern life.

D.Min. Wesley Theological Seminary – Spirituality for Transforming Communities
Certified Supervisor, Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
M.Div., Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
B.A., Eastern Mennonite College

=March 2, 2012 Formation For a Faithful Ministry: Theology and Theory Informing Ministry. “Mennonite Chaplains Association: Mennonite Health Assembly Annual Meeting,” Louisville, KY.
=November 30, 2011 Wisdom Care: Attending to the Openings In the Last Passage of Life. “Overflow: Revitalizing Pastors and Chaplains,” Garden Spot Village, New Holland, PA
= March 1, 2011 The ‘Presence’ of the Pastor in Preaching (March 1, 2011) Extraordinary Leadership Seminar, Winchester, VA
“A Functioning Position: One Person’s Account” Extraordinary Leadership Seminar, February 12, 2011.
Worshop Presentation: “Attachment Through the Lens of Bowen Family Systems Theory” EMU Conference: Conversations on Attachment.

President-elect, Mennonite Chaplains Association

Certified Supervisor, Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
Ordained as a minister in Mennonite Church USA by the Virginia Conference of the Mennonite Church

Mennonite Chaplains Association
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
Association for Theological Field Educators
The Voyagers Group

= March 1-3, 2012 Mennonite Chaplains Association: Mennonite Health Assembly, Louisville, Kentucky.
= February 9-10, 2012 Annual Conference of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., Arlington, VA
= November 10, 2011 Clergy Voyagers Conference: Adventure in Differentiation: Bowen, Friedman, Congregations and Clergy. Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington D.C.
= September 26-27, 2011 Mid-Atlantic Region of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond, Va.
= April 5-7, 2011 Annual Conference of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT
= March 10-12, 2011 Mennonite Chaplains Association: Mennonite Health Assembly, Salt Lake City, UT.
= October 11-12, 2010 Mid-Atlantic Region of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (MARACPE) Annual Meeting. Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond, VA
= March 4-6, 2010, Mennonite Health Assembly, Norfolk, VA
= Mid-Atlantic Region of ACPE, Inc. (September 28, 2009)
= “Parenting in Chaotic Times” Dr. Roberta Gilbert (Oct. 9, 2009)
= Healthy Congregations National Conference, (Oct. 14-15)
= EMS School for Leadership Training (January 18-21, 2009)
= Extraordinary Leadership Seminar, (Feb. 9-11, 2010)
= Clergy Voyagers Conference, (April 14-15, 2010)

2012 Faculty Advisor: EMU Sustainable Food Initiative – Beekeeping Project

2010 – 2012 EMS Professor Search Committee

2010 – 2011 Seminary Academic Committee

2009 – 2010 Program Committee: Conversations on Attachment Conference

September 2009 – February 2010 EMS Dean Search Committee

CPE Advisory Group (staff)
SASS Steering Committee