Participants include聽, emeritus professor of peace theology; , now vice president of and the School of Graduate and Professional Studies;聽 history professor and department chair; archivist and seminary professor ; and , executive director of the .

The film gives a historical account of reformer Martin Luther’s life, the revolutionary act of his 95 theses, and the theological impact on Christianity. Key questions raised by the filmmakers are 鈥淒id the Reformation go too far?鈥� and 鈥淐an the unity Jesus called for ever be achieved?鈥�

鈥淚t gives a good overview of the 16th century Reformation in an interesting and engaging way,鈥� says Grimsrud. 鈥淭here is helpful attention paid to present-day relevance of that event.鈥�

The 91短视频 representatives primarily speak on Anabaptist history, specifically its role in and reaction to the Reformation. Other featured experts include university and seminary faculty, theologians and clergymen.

鈥淐ertainly, and appropriately, the bulk of the film focuses on the mainline Reformation 鈥� Lutherans and Reformed 鈥� and the Catholic response. But the Anabaptists do get lengthy and respectful attention,鈥� says Grimsrud.

Byler was tapped primarily to talk about 鈥渢he Center for Justice and Peacebuilding as a contemporary Anabaptist expression of engaging the world,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ohan’s emphasis on the tendency of denominational bodies to stress their differences rather than commonalities is an important challenge in this new season of polarization.鈥�

91短视频鈥檚 featured experts and their talking points

• Grimsrud gives an introduction Anabaptist history, including Menno Simons’ early life as a Catholic priest and brother’s involvement in the small, violent 鈥淢unsterite鈥� faction of Anabaptism.
• Sprunger explains historical context as to the political subversion of adult baptism. 鈥淚t was a movement of the people,鈥� she says in the film, peasants and artisans forming separate congregations with distinct personalities.
• Byler and King round out Anabaptist perspectives on nonviolence, a literal interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount and humanization of 鈥渢he enemy.鈥�
• Yoder contributes bonus material to the film about conscientious objectors in World War I and intra-church dynamics among early Anabaptists. He explains that the Anabaptist’s Reformation was 鈥渞adical鈥� in the sense that it was 鈥済oing back to the root,鈥� both to emulate the purity of early Christianity, and to excise the corruption resulting from the conflation of church and state.

The three-hour series is available on DVD and online streaming at

Though icons are a tradition of the Orthodox Church, Fenton has transplanted this genre into the context of Mennonite theology. The seven abstract paintings represent the Trinity, the dual nature of Christ, Scripture, Salvation, the Sacraments, Discipleship, and Nonviolence, respectively.

鈥淲e have been really blessed by Kathryn’s artwork,鈥� says the church鈥檚 associate pastor, Jake Lee. 鈥淭o have her portrayals adds another level of both attention to the divine and diversified expression of worship.鈥�

One of Fenton’s goals is to continue finding new spaces in which to share her art. Beginning Aug. 30, the icons can be viewed in the sanctuary at (see below for more information).

Urges acceptance of art

Fenton specifically sought an enriching foundation of religious history and theology at the seminary. This foundation in turn informed her project: the exploration and creation of art and iconography, in the context of Mennonite history and theology. The use of art in Mennonite worship or religious activity has historically been negatively viewed, yet this view has shifted in the 20th century.

鈥淎rt, like music, dance, and the spoken word, is a form of expression and worship that embraces our embodied nature, glorifying God’s creation,鈥� says Fenton. 鈥淭he Mennonite church needs to recognize the benefits of bringing art back into the church, using the gift of creativity to profess the word of God, instead of fearing the gift of creativity.鈥�

That fear has never prevented Fenton from making art, from her childhood love of her Lite Brite toy to enrolling in Messiah College, and then transferring to 91短视频, to study fine art.

Advisor: 鈥楢rt can give expression to Christian faith鈥�

Through acrylic paint, a shattered mirror, symbolic color schemes, and intensive study of various Anabaptist confessions of faith, Fenton illustrates her interpretation of the 鈥渟even pillars of Mennonite theology.鈥�

Each of these tenets focuses on the Christian’s interaction with God and active spirituality: scripture is authoritative directly to readers without clergy’s intermediation; salvation is a light universally available; discipleship is an active, collaborative effort to model the Messiah. Fenton’s theology, much like her views on worship, emphasizes hands-on participation.

鈥淪he sketched her intended study as building on the understanding of the incarnation as an important tenet of Christian faith,鈥� says her advisor, professor of church history . 鈥淜athryn works from the premise that art can give expression to Christian faith in ways that echo the meaning of the Word becoming flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.鈥�

Integrating legacies of art and expression

Wood panels serve as canvases, a symbolic nod to the Mennonite folk art of woodworking. Her aesthetic inspirations 鈥� Barnett Newman and Mark Rothko 鈥� are echoed in bold, expressionistic style.

鈥淚 chose abstract instead of the traditional style of icons to honor our tradition of prohibiting representational religious images based on Exodus 20:4,鈥� says Fenton.

Color holds as much if not more significance than form in these paintings 鈥� gold representing holiness, white the transfigured Christ, red the body and blood of Christ, and blue heaven and cleansing water. Fenton explains that her 鈥渃olor choices are inspired by the tradition of symbolism in religious images throughout history.鈥�

鈥淗er exploration of icons from traditions associated with Eastern Orthodoxy was particularly poignant as it grounded her own artistic expression in a deep tradition rooted in centuries of development,鈥� explains Yoder.

Artwork and education continues

When not working at the Dayton office of Park View Federal Credit Union, Fenton is in the midst of several new art projects.

She鈥檇 like 鈥渢o continue working with local churches on bringing art and theology together,鈥� and would like to see her icons continue to tour area Mennonite churches.

Fenton is still exploring how to best use her art to supplement the church’s repertoire of spiritual expression.

鈥淢y hope is to be able to serve the church as an artist by creating art and creating a space for art to be valued and to enrich the life of the church,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 believe it is my duty to serve the church with the gift God has given me.鈥�

From Aug. 30-Nov. 22, the icons will be displayed in the sanctuary of Community Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Churches interested in exhibiting Fenton’s work can contact the artist at lkathrynfenton@gmail.com.

鈥淵ou can ask me questions later,鈥� she called as she climbed into her friend Robin Lyttle鈥檚 car. 鈥淟et鈥檚 go!鈥�

Allen, who last year published a memoir 鈥淭he Way It Was, Not the Way It Is鈥� about her experiences in the Newtown area during the 1930s and ’40s, spent the evening with 28 students teaching, sharing and interpreting African American history, culture and experience.

Why a cross-cultural course in Harrisonburg, Virginia?

The 鈥淟ocal Context鈥� cross-cultural course is just one way 91短视频 students can fulfill the university鈥檚 . While many students choose the traditional semester-long international travel, other students find that a semester living at the (WCSC) and interning in Washington D.C. fits their needs. There are also shorter trips that work better for students with less flexible schedules, including and the local cross-cultural experience.

鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for the program, there鈥檚 no way I could have completed the requirement,鈥� said Kristy Wertz as the group left the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center. A nursing student, full-time patient care technician at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, wife and mother, Wertz noted the impracticality of leaving her family and job behind for a full semester, or even three weeks.

鈥淗ere I鈥檓 learning about the wide variety of populations that live in Harrisonburg, and the resources available to them. As a nurse, it鈥檚 crucial that I know how to best serve my patients. Like the parenting program we just saw,鈥� she said, pointing back at the Simms Center. 鈥淗ow great was that?鈥�

Outside Broad Street Mennonite Church, one of several historic Mennonite church plants in the northeast neighborhood, the group was greeted by Harold Huber. Huber, who began attending Broad Street in 1968 and at various times has served as administrator, secretary, trustee and historian to the congregation, passed around photos of the congregation鈥檚 early years. Allen hooted when she spotted her ten-year-old self in one of the pictures. A clutch of students gathered about her as she pointed out the bright-faced young girl.

, assistant professor of applied social sciences, and her husband are teaching the course this summer. The group is divided into two sections for classroom discussions and folded into one group for field trips. Durham first led a local cross-cultural in 2007; this is her fifth time teaching the course.

Like all cross-cultural trip leaders who escort students on trips, the couple are experienced inter-cultural navigators. Before coming to 91短视频, they spent years living and working in inner-city Washington D.C. as well as four years with Mennonite Central Committee in El Salvador. Peachey has led several cross-cultural trips to Guatemala, Cuba and Mexico, including one during the previous spring semester.

The most transformative aspect of the course, Durham says, is that students living in the Shenandoah Valley begin to think of their home differently. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 tell you how many times I鈥檝e had students say, 鈥業 had no idea this place, this community, this challenge鈥xisted right here!鈥欌�� she said, gesturing at the front of First Baptist Church, where the group had just listened to Judge Anthony Bailey give an impromptu talk on his role in the local justice system. 鈥淚n some ways, the students in the Local Context course have a more difficult time settling back into a comfort zone once finished with their cross-cultural because it鈥檚 right in their face every day.鈥�

Reflecting on the difference between groups that go abroad and those that stay close to home, Peachey pointed out that there are many benefits in the experience of global travel. 鈥淗owever,鈥� he added, 鈥渢here is great value in deeper learning about the people and places that surround you on a daily basis. Becoming familiar with various immigrant populations, learning about how Harrisonburg has grown and changed over the past half-century, these are experiences that will help these students greatly post-graduation, in their work, and how they approach interacting and engaging with the communities they are a part of.鈥�

Peachey also noted that students on the recent Guatemala trip, which started on the U.S.-Mexico border, learned about the political clashes of immigration policy and reform and explored the personal struggles of those affected by immigration. 鈥淭hose same struggles are happening right here in Harrisonburg,鈥� said Peachey. 鈥淲e just need to be willing to see them.鈥�

A rich and surprising diversity

Additional field trips bring students on explorations into the rich diversity of the Shenandoah Valley. The African-American focus continues with trips to Zenda, a community started by former slaves in Rockingham County, and to the Franklin Street African-American Art Gallery. The gallery visit is hosted by owner , founder and director of the at James Madison University. (Luminaries in the African-American poetry world flock to conferences and poetry summits hosted by Furious Flower, and the center offers a slate of workshops, readings, slams and lectures.)

Students also discuss immigration issues with Harrisonburg resident 鈥�07, a nationally-known activist for DREAM Act immigration reform who founded the youth-led National Immigrant Youth Alliance.

One Friday, the students meet with Dr. Mohamed 91短视频abl at the mosque, the only place in the region for Muslims to worship. Friday prayers draw a diverse group of Muslims from around the world, with Sunni and Shia participating together.

Students also delve into the Old Order Mennonite culture, with a visit to a home for meal, accompanied by professor and Mennonite historian Nate Yoder.

At the end of the tour, the group enjoyed a meal of barbecue and deviled eggs prepared by the congregation of John Wesley Methodist Church. Allen stood in the center of the room and fielded questions from the students. They listened attentively as she described growing up in Newtown and her involvement in the civil rights movement, and how she found herself just feet away from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 1963 March on Washington as he delivered his famous words.

鈥淗aving Doris talk to us was one of the best parts of the night,鈥� said student Kaitlin Roadcap. 鈥淭his program is teaching me to be more culturally receptive, and has really opened my eyes to the diversity in this area. I have lived here my entire life and am finally realizing just how much I didn鈥檛 know.鈥�

Sims, a part-time student, looks comfortable jotting down notes and engaging her professors and classmates, even if some are less than half her age.

The 65-year-old social worker from Sugar Grove, W.Va., humbly acknowledges that the classroom is not easy after more than 40 years away, but she isn’t alone. Sims is among the 20 percent of American seminary students older than 50, according to the Association of Theological Schools.

“Seminary’s hard. It’s really hard,” Sims said Tuesday following her Christian Traditions II course. “When you’re older and haven’t been in a study mode for many, many years it complicates it.

“I’m here and still here, clearly, because God called me.”

Don Yoder, EMS co-director of admissions, wasn’t surprised by the 2009 ATS findings, an 8 percent increase from 1995.

Last year, EMS had 47 students 50 and older – accounting for 35 percent of the 132 students in the program.

Yoder noted the significant growth among that demographic in the last decade, as only 20 percent of the students in 2004 were at least 50 years old.

“What I hear from people is everything from, 鈥楳y Sunday school teacher or my religion teacher told me when I was 12 [that] I should be a preacher, and I’ve been running from it ever since,'” he said. “Then at age 52, they say, 鈥楳aybe, I should go into a ministry.'”

Yoder believes other key motivations for older students include career changes and “simply looking for a place to exercise the brain in an academic setting again.”

Generations Embrace

At 50, Karen Kiel is a tail-end baby boomer with grown children and more time to focus on her calling to the ministry. Kiel lives in Drake Branch, about three hours south of Harrisonburg, but rents an apartment near campus to use during the week.

“I felt a real call in my life to be a part of ministry,” she said. “God is the center of my life and it’s what gives me strength and it’s what gives me purpose.”

Kiel believes it’s good for her to be around the younger students because of the different perspectives they bring.

“The dynamic is healthy,” she said. “They grew up in different ways and different places, maybe even different cultures some of them, and it gives me a different lens to peer through.”

Randy Keener, 26, is a classmate of Kiel and Sims and also enjoys learning with people of different ages for the first time.

“It was actually a surprise for me coming in,” Keener said. “I was actually expecting it to be more younger people, but through just my first year here I’ve already seen the rich benefits in an older generation that brings experiences.

“I’m also a firm believer in inter-generational growth and learning from each other and I’m a strong advocate for mentoring.”

EMS professor Nate Yoder (no relation to Don Yoder) values discussion from the older students as a way to enhance the learning of younger students. Yoder, 55, also focuses on making sure older students are comfortable.

“Sometimes, older students can feel intimidated, especially when it comes to the strictly academic part of the work,” he said. “I try to channel it to what my goal is for my students’ learning. What is it that assists and enhances their learning?”

‘I heard a lot of good things

By Heather Bowser, Daily News-Record

On Sunday, Mark Risser will graduate from 91短视频.

His cousin, Elisabeth Barthlow, 22, of Cleveland, Tenn., officially received her diploma in December, but will walk across the stage this weekend with him.

Touching, but there

EMS has announced the winners of the Linden M. Wenger Anabaptist Studies Award.

EMS students Aram L. DiGennaro and Andrea N. (Annie) Lengacher received first and second prize, respectively, in the contest that honors Linden M. Wenger, the first acting dean of the seminary.

DiGennaro