On Saturday, April 25, he made one final trip to campus for the seminary鈥檚 commencement ceremony to celebrate the earning of two degrees: a master of divinity and a .

In contrast, Seth Miller, also a new seminary graduate, simply walked up the hill from the Maplewood Residence Hall, where he is residence director for 91短视频 undergraduate students. Miller came to the seminary after several years as a teacher at Lancaster Mennonite School and in public educational settings in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

And then there鈥檚 Kathryn Fenton, of Harrisonburg, who created聽seven mixed media paintings based on the principles of Mennonite faith to partially fulfill thesis requirements for a . And Misty Wintsch, a Church of the Brethren pastor from Pennsylvania, whose ministry specialization project for her included studying about and performing funerals for the 鈥渦nchurched.鈥�

These are a fraction of the various stories that could be shared about this year鈥檚 graduating class of 33, the largest since 1988.

鈥淭here is sorrow in letting go of such a large and gifted class of graduates,鈥� said , vice president and seminary dean. 鈥淵et the very qualities that make it hard to see them go underscore the great gifts of ministry, leadership, and authentic relating they鈥檙e primed to share with the world.鈥�

Twenty-five students received master of divinity degrees, with five of these also receiving dual master鈥檚 degrees in conflict transformation or . Four students received a master鈥榮 degree in church leadership and four students received a master鈥榮 degree in religion.

Additionally, nine students received .

Religious backgrounds and affiliations varied, including Mennonite, United Methodist, Church of the Brethren, Presbyterian, and non-denominational. The class includes students from India, Honduras, and Chile.

鈥淚t is challenging to do what you are going forth to do,鈥� said L. Gregory Jones, PhD, professor of theology and Christian ministry at Duke Divinity School. His commencement address, 鈥淔or Such a Time as This,鈥� was based around the Biblical book of Esther and suggested that perhaps these graduates were prepared for just this moment in the church.

鈥淕od raises up people like you in order to do things you would never have done,鈥� he said. Jones encouraged graduates to practice fasting and spiritual disciplines, hospitality and peacemaking 鈥� practices that will provide spiritual sustenance in challenging times.

鈥淲e have a responsibility to God who calls us to become what we are not yet,鈥� said Lizzette Hernandez, class president, speaking to the ongoing journey that continues after commencement. 鈥淲e respond to God so that we can minister, not to the church that is, but to the church that will be.鈥�

Two schools, one a Bible school in the eastern Caribbean and the other a university in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, joined hands and hearts in an experiment that could develop into something more permanent.

Moira R. Rogers, an associate professor of Spanish at 91短视频, taught an "Introduction to Anabaptist Theology" class the week of Nov. 22-26 at the Seminario Anabautista del Caribe in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The seminar discussed the distinctive elements of an Anabaptist approach to theological reflection. Although recognizing the broad range of radical movements that the term "Anabaptist" refers to in 16th century Europe, the emphasis was on a critical reflection on what it means to respond to the current contextual challenges facing the participants from the perspective of Anabaptist emphases to Christian faith. The week-long class included dialogue with other contemporary Latin American theological traditions that seek to respond to local challenges.

"Laboring in the heat forced me to seek strength, patience and imagination to design and facilitate each evening in a creative, challenging way," Dr. Rogers said. "I am grateful for the students’ openness to the reading,
reflection, writing, and discussion assignments.

Moira Rogers enjoys a discussion with class members.

"I’m refreshed to have witnessed the Spirit empowering students to engage their ministries with new strength and vision," Rogers said. "Many in the group expressed appreciation for the experience and said that they gained renewed possibilities for their work and ministries."

Ervin R. Stutzman, academic dean at , spent Thanksgiving weekend visiting the class and talking with students at the seminary in Santo Domingo. He came away impressed, almost overwhelmed, with what he saw and heard.

Dr. Stutzman noted that the seminar class "had a rich mixture of ethnicities that is typical in the Dominican Republic," with nearly an equal number of men and women. Several students are bi-vocational pastors, he said, and nearly all are lay leaders and teachers in local churches representing two Mennonite conferences and the Church of the Brethren.

"Most of the students are professionals who have had no Anabaptist education or pastoral training," Stutzman added. "They are highly motivated learners." Students will earn one hour of academic credit from EMS if they fulfill all the assignments satisfactorily.

Class members continue theological discussions during a break in study.

"From my observation, the course was characterized by vigorous participation, both as a full group and in small group discussion," he said. Early in the week, Moira proposed a break time in the midst of the three-hour class, but the students preferred to use the time for discussion each evening."

"I listened as the students and two board members poured out their hearts to me," Stutzman said. "They deeply desire and are praying that we will offer an entire course of study in several cohorts of up to 25 students each. I

The at 91短视频 will host Peggy Gish, an Athens, Ohio, native who recently returned from her fourth trip to Iraq, working with .

She will speak about her experiences 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, in the Coffeehouse located on ground floor of the University Commons.

Gish, 63, has been in Iraq for a total of 13 months in the past two years. The CPT team in Iraq has worked to reduce violence, promote fair treatment of Iraqi detainees and to witness the conditions of life under the U.S. occupation.

Gish