Ervin Stutzman

“In response to God’s love expressed in Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I purpose to follow after God with all my heart, and to serve as a faithful steward of all the resources he has generously entrusted to me, so that God may be glorified in my life at all times and in every way. Since God has called me to be a leader in the church, I shall give priority to: a. the cultivation of a meaningful personal walk with God b. the proclamation and demonstration of the kingdom of God c. the equipping of faithful men and women for ministry.”

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.

• M.A.R., Eastern Mennonite Seminary, 1999
• Ph.D., Temple University, 1993
• M.A., University of Cincinnati, 1979
• B.A., Cincinnati Christian University, 1978

• Balancing Academic and Ecclesiastical Goals, in C(H)AOS THEORY: A Handbook for Chief Academic Officers: Contexts, Commitment, Competencies, Choices,” Kadi Billman and Bruce Birch, eds. ATS (in press)
• Emma: A Widow Among the Amish (Herald Press, 2007)
• “A Preacher’s Calling: For John Ruth, it Meant a Lot,” in The Measure of My Days, Reuben Z. Miller and Joseph S. Miller, Eds. Cascadia Publishing House, 2004
• “Preaching Grace to Hard-working people” in Anabaptist Preaching: A Conversation Between Pulpit, Pew, and Bible, David B. Greiser and Michael King, Eds. Cascadia Publishing House, 2003.
• “Researching and Writing Tobias of the Amish,” Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage, Vol. 25, no. 3 (July 2002), pp. 2-5.
• Tobias of the Amish: A true story of tangled strands in faith, family and community (Herald Press, 2001)
• “A Brief History of Peace Doctrine and Practice in the (Old) Mennonite Church in the Twentieth Century,” Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage, Vol. 23, no. 2, (April 2000), pp. 2-13.
• Being God’s People:Embracing Christian Faith from a Mennonite Perspective (Herald Press, 1998) (new edition)
• Welcome!:A Biblical and Practical Guide to Receiving New Members (Herald Press, 1990)
• Creating Communities of the Kingdom:New Testament Models of Church Planting (co-authored with David W. Shenk, Herald Press, 1988)
  *Being God’s People:Studies for Christian Growth (Mennonite Publishing House, 1985)

• Paper; Preaching in the Missional Church, presented at the Evangelical Homiletics Society in their annual conference, Biola University, La Mirada, CA., October 18-20, 2007.
• Paper; Toward Excellence in Equipping Preachers: Four Foci for Classroom Instruction, presented at the Evangelical Homiletics Society in their annual conference entitled Toward Excellence in Equipping Preachers: A Future Focus and a Backward Glance, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA, October 12-14, 2006
• Paper; Five Professorial Practices that Enhance Effectiveness in the Preaching Classroom, presented at the annual conference of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, * Show Me the Truth: Illustration, Metaphor and Example in Preaching, Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO, October 13-15, 2005
• Workshop; Developing New Networks for Financial Resources, Lilly Forum on youth ministry, Indianapolis, Indiana, January 26-28, 2005
• Presentation; Church Partnerships philosophy and vision and EMS’s Masterplan, presented at a conference entitled Partners in the Call, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, VA, January 20-21, 2005
• Workshop; Steps to Sermon Preparation, presented at the School for Leadership Training, Eastern Mennonite Seminary January 19-22, 2004
• Workshop; The Dean as Pastor, presented at the Chief Academic Officers Society, Albuquerque, NM, 2002.
• Paper; Cultivating a Culture of Call in a Changing Milieu, presented at the conference on Cultivating a Culture of Calling: Mennonite Perspectives on Vocation, Goshen College, Goshen, IN, October 20-22, 2005
• Workshop; Training that Transforms, 2004 Virginia Conference Ministers’ Convocation, Forming Leaders for the 21st Century: The Culture of the Called, , Blackstone, VA, January 5-8, 2004
• Served as chair of the Listening Committee at the conference entitled The Church Meets the Muslim Community, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, October 23-26, 2003
• Served as chair of the Listening and Visioning Panel for the April 3-5 conference entitled Philadelphia Stories: Kingdom Building in the City.
• Paper; Calling the Called: An Exploration of Pastoral Vocation from an Anabaptist Perspective. Written by invitation of the Fund for Theological Education for discussion in a forum on the topic of the call to pastoral ministry. Presented for discussion on January 8, 2003.
• Workshop: Creating a Culture of Call in the Congregation, presented at the School for Leadership Training, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, January 20-23, 2003
• Workshop: Preaching as Pastoral Care, presented at the School for Leadership Training, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, January 22-25, 2001
• Workshop: Discerning Biblical Truth Through the Gathered Faith Community, presented at the School for Leadership Training, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, January 18-21, 1999

• Living Under the Government of God, Hopewell Mennonite Church, Reading, PA, October 26, 2008.
• Gifts and Grace for God’s Kingdom in the World, Jubilee Mennonite Church, Meridian, MS, October 19, 2008.
• Weaving the Warp and Woof of a Faith Story, a series of four presentations for Aging with Spirit retreat, Laurelville Church Center, October 5-7, 2008
• Table Grace, Scottdale Mennonite Church, Scottdale, PA, October 5, 2008
• Serendipity, Sweat, and the Sweat Taste of Telling a Family Story, Writers Read, EMU, September 18, 2008, (and other locations)
• Anointed with Grace for God’s Mission in the World, Deep Run East Mennonite Church, Perkasie, PA, September 14, 2008
  Living into God’s Grand Purpose, First Mennonite Church, Iowa City, IA, July 27, 2008
  La Gracia para Seguir a Jesus, (Grace to Follow Jesus), SEMILLA Chapel, Guatemala City, Guatemala, July 15, 2008
• Asheville Mennonite Church, Asheville, NC, Growing in the Grace of Relationship with our Mother, May 11, 2008
  *An Anointing of Grace for God’s Mission in the World, East Petersburg Mennonite Church, East Petersburg, PA, May 4, 2008
• Elizabethtown Mennonite Church, Elizabethtown, PA, May 4, 2008; Life Purpose and Calling (Sunday School); An Anointing of Grace for God’s Mission in the World (sermon)
• Willow Street Mennonite Church, Willow Street, PA, April 6, 2008; Grace for the Growing Edges (Sunday School), An Anointing of Grace (sermon)
• (Renewal series) Mount Clinton Mennonite Church, February 10; am/pm, 17; am/pm
  Grace for Hardworking People
  Grace for the Growing Edges
  Grace for a Lifetime
  Channels of God’s Grace
• It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Coming, Good Friday evening service, Keezletown United Methodist Church, Keezletown, VA, March 21, 2008
• Series on Faith: Growth Through Failure and Success, MEDA, Mennonite Entrepreneurs Conference, Palm Springs, CA. February 28- March 2 2008
  Searching the Scriptures: Godly Perspectives on Failure and Success
  Running through the Thistles: Paradoxes of Failure and Success
  Failing Forward—Practicing the Art of Learning from Your Mistakes
  Growing in Grace: Redemptive Failure and Humble Success
• A Culture of Generosity and Grace, Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, January 27, 2008
• Blessing Those who Serve, Franconia Conference/Eastern District Annual Appreciation Breakfast for pastors/chaplains and their spouses, Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, December 4, 2007.
• Living in Expectant Hope, Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, PA, December 2, 2007
• Series sponsored by Franklin Mennonite Conference Leadership Commission, Grace-Filled Leadership Transitions, November 11, 2007
  Passing the Torch – Principles for transferring leadership to a successor
  Climbing Down the Ladder—Deliberative steps toward a grace-filled retirement
  Running Through the Thistles—Enabling Congregations to negotiate the hazards
• Christian Baptism: A Pledge of Allegiance to Jesus Christ, Chambersburg Mennonite Church, Chambersburg, PA, November 11, 2007
• (Renewal series), Growing in Grace as Disciples of Jesus Christ, Weaverland Mennonite Church, East Earl, PA, October 28-31, 2007
  Grace for hardworking people
  Grace for the growing edges
  Channels of God’s grace
  Living with grace as fathers and grandfathers (Men’s early morning prayer gathering)
  Lessons I’ve learned in grace by writing about my parents (breakfast at Yoder’s Restaurant)
  Grace for a lifetime
  Redeeming Grace: Turning failures into successes (for Weaverland NE leadership)
  My observations of the broader Mennonite church(for Weaverland NE leadership)
  Grace for the graying years
• (Series on missional church), Zion Mennonite Church, September 16, (S.S & worship), 22, 3-session workshop
• Mennonite Church USA’s commitment to become a missional church
  God’s Mission Needs a Church
  Envisioning a missional future
  Setting missional goals
  Leading with missional purpose
• Empowering Leaders, West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship, Philadelphia, PA, September 9, 2007
• Empowered with knowledge, wisdom and grace, Convocation, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, August 30, 2007
• Empower our Leaders, Landisville Mennonite Church, Landisville, PA, August 19, 2007
• Communicating the Gospel through Story, workshop, Lancaster Conference Annual Meeting, March 18, 2007
• God Reaches Out with Open Arms, Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church, Lancaster, PA, March 18, 2007

• 2008, Overseer of the Leadership/Administration cluster, Virginia Mennonite Conference
• 2008, Member of Church Council, Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA
• 2007 to present, Executive Committee, Evangelical Homiletics Society
• 2006 to present, Missional Church Strategic Planning Group, Mennonite Church USA (Chair)
• 2002-2003, Mennonite Publishing House Board (Vice-Chair)
• 1999-2003, Council of Moderators and Secretaries (Chair 2001-2003)
• 1999-2005, Executive Board, Mennonite Church USA (Moderator from 2001-2003)
• 1998-99, U.S. Country Structure Committee, (for Integration Process of the Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church)
• 1996-2000, Overseas Consultative Committee, Eastern Mennonite Missions
• 1996-2001, Council on Faith, Life, and Strategy, Mennonite Church
• 1995-1999, Mennonite Church General Board
• 1992-2001, Board of Trustees, Mennonite Christian Leadership Foundation (Vice President from 1994-2001)
• 1992-97, Constituent Conferences Committee, EMU
• 1988-2000, Inter-conference Pastoral Training Program Board, Mennonite Church (several years as secretary)
• 1988-91, Long-term Planning Committee, Lancaster Mennonite Conference (LMC)
• 1987-2000, Leadership Council, (LMC)
• 1987-92, Renewal Committee (LMC)(chair)
• 1986-88, Board of Congregational Resources, (LMC)
• 1986-88, Worship and Creative Expression Commission, (LMC) (member; then chair)
• 1984-2000, Board of Bishops (LMC)(Moderator 1991-2000)
• 1983-88, Evangelism Commission (LMC)

• Teaching assistantship, University of Cincinnati, 1978
• Delta Chi Tau Award for scholarship, granted for highest grade average in graduating class, Cincinnati Christian University (CCU), 1978
• Old Testament Award, for highest school marks in study of Old Testament, CCU, 1978
• Named in Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges, 1977
• Homiletics Award, for highest school marks in Homiletics classes, CCU, 1977
• Greek Award, for highest class marks in study of Biblical Greek, CBU, 1976

Ministerial ordination credentials from the Virginia Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA

• American Academy of Homiletics
  2006, West Palm Beach, FL
  2005, Williamsburg, VA
• Anabaptist-Mennonite Scholars Network
• Association of Theological Schools (Biennial meetings)
  2006, Chicago, IL
  2004, Garden Grove, CA
  2002, Pittsburgh, PA
• Chief Academic Officers Society of the Association of Theological Schools
  2006, Chicago, IL
  2005, Savannah, GA
  2003, Albuquerque, NM
  2002, Pittsburgh, PA
  2001, Pittsburgh, PA
• Evangelical Homiletics Society,
  2007, La Mirada, CA
  2006, South Hamilton, ME
  2005, St. Louis, IL
• Guild for Anabaptist Preaching Instructors (now called Anabaptist Teachers of Preaching. I was a co-founder with June Alliman Yoder of this group.)
  2005, Elkhart, IN, October
  2005, Elkhart, IN, January
  2004, Harrisonburg, VA,
• Marpeck Deans
  2008, Eastern Mennonite University
  2006, Bluffton University
  2005, Goshen College
  2004, Hesston College/Bethel College
  2003, Eastern Mennonite University
  2002, Canadian Mennonite University

• Mennonite University Faculty Conference, Theme: Creation, Christ, and the Classroom, EMU, August 7-9, 2008.
• Lexington Seminar, Bar Harbor, Maine, June 12-17, 2008 Mennonite University Faculty Conference, Theme: Higher Learning and the Wisdom of the Cross, Bluffton University, Bluffton, OH, August 8-10, 2006
• Aspiration and Accountability: Accreditation in Theological Education, Biennial meeting of the Association of Theological Schools, Chicago, IL, June 24-26, 2006
• Management, Methods, and Models, Chief Academic Officers Society, Chicago, IL, June 23-24, 2006
• Lexington Seminar, Bar Harbor, Maine, June 9-14, 2005
• CAOS and SPAN Together: Focusing on Practice and Research, Joint Meeting of the Chief Academic Officers and Student Personnel Administrators Network, Savannah, GA, March 31-April 2, 2005
• Denominational Partners Meeting, The Fund for Theological Education, Atlanta, GA, March 22, 2006
• Educating Clergy, Wabash Center Conference on Theological Teaching and Learning, Chicago, IL, March 9-10, 2006
• Allelon Missional Leadership Network, a conference of theological schools on training for the missional church, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, February 14-15, 2006
• God, Democracy and U.S. Power: believers church perspectives, Eastern Mennonite Seminary and Bridgewater College, Harrisonburg, VA, September 23-25, 2004
• Theological Schools and the Church: Finding a Future Together, Biennial meeting of the Association of Theological Schools, Garden Grove, CA, June 26-28, 2004
• Ethics of Biotechnology: Viewing New Creations with Anabaptist Eyes, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA, November 13-15, 2003
• Conversation, Consultation, Cultivation and Care, Chief Academic Officers Society, Albuquerque, NM, March 27-29, 2003
• Context and Culture: The Public Character of Theological Schools, Biennial meeting of the Association of Theological Schools, Pittsburgh, PA, June 22-25, 2002
• Conference for Chief Academic Officers, Pittsburgh, PA, March 29-31, 2001
• Technology consultation on asynchronous/synchronous content delivery systems and their implications for distance education, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN, October 26-28, 2000

• Anabaptist Leadership, Polity, and Effectiveness (a Gateway course offered by EMS Lancaster), spring semester, 2008.

• I regularly travel and speak in churches at the request of the Church Relations Department of EMU
• I have served on many committees as part of my role at EMU. Some of them are part of my role as Vice President of EMU and Dean of the Seminary. The following roles may well be considered exceptions.
• 2004-05 I served as Vice Chair of the Prioritization Steering Committee
• 2004-08 I served each year a judge for the C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest on the EMU campus
• 2001-04 I served on the Distance Education Committee, which met occasionally.
• 1998-9 I served on the Enrollment Strategy Committee for the seminary.
• 1998 I served on the curriculum committee of the seminary faculty in preparation for the ATS re-accreditation visit.