Reflections

Dr. Loren Swartzendruber, the eighth president of EMU, took office on Jan. 1, 2004. A 1976 liberal arts EMU grad, Swartzendruber went on to earn a master of divinity degree in 1979 from Eastern Mennonite Seminary and a doctor of ministry degree in church leadership from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2000.

He became president of Hesston College in 1994 after serving 10 years as associate executive secretary of the former Mennonite Board of Education in Elkhart, Ind. Swartzendruber was ordained to the Christian ministry in 1975 at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church near his birthplace of Kalona, Iowa, and was pastor at Salford Mennonite Church, Harleysville, Pa., 1978-83.

Below is a small selection of Loren’s recent addresses, presented as written word and via podcast. You may also read his frequent ‘Presidential Updates’ to the EMU community.

Title	Details
Spring 2010 convocation: ’Don’t Stop Asking Questions’	Loren addresses the campus community at the beginning of the spring semester, encouraging students never to lose their curiosity. “Education is an opportunity to continue asking questions about the world around us.”
Fall 2009 convocation: ‘Prepare to Serve and Lead’ (podcast)	Loren addresses the campus community. His message is followed by a sending blessing for the South Africa Cross Cultural group.
2009 orientation worship service podcast: ‘The Fullness of Welcome’	Loren delivers the morning sermon for new students and their parents during orientation. Pastoral assistants also share some reflections.
Global Warming – An Anabaptist Responds in Sermon (PDF)	Loren’s article was published in Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, the journal of the American Scientific Affiliation
“I Believe” university chapel series: written word / podcast	Loren speaks during a chapel series focused on belief and faith throughout life
Response to Tragedy at Virginia Tech	Letter to President Steger of Virginia Tech
Creation Care from an Anabaptist Perspective	Remarks during British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) visit / interview
Message on Bluffton College bus tragedy	Sermon at Bay Shore Mennonite Church in Sarasota, Fla.
Loren asks: Liberal or Conservative?	Crossroads article
Eyes on the Goal	Fall Convocation Address
Community of Hope	Spring Convocation Address
Thoughts on ‘Democracy Now’!	Presidential Statement
Loving God with Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength	Fall Convocation Address
President’s Message to Faculty and Staff	Faculty/Staff Conference Address
(Opening Remarks)	EMU Open Forum
Tough Minds, Tender Hearts	Spring Convocation Address
A Job for Parents and Student Together	Published in Hesston College Today
Farewell, and Continue to Support This Ministry	Published in Hesston College Today
An Opportunity to Serve	Acceptance Speech at EMU Chapel
Help Our Youth Choose Their Colleges	Published in the Mennonite
What Kind of Higher Education Shall We Choose?	Published in Gospel Herald
What Should a Christian School Do?	Published in Gospel Herald
The College Choice	Published in Gospel Herald