“She had a presence and an authority that made her quiet words deeply significant wherever she spoke them,” said Professor Emerita Dorothy Jean Weaver, who taught Miller at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS) and worked alongside her on faculty for 19 years. “In her own way, she was a giant. She had a huge impact wherever she was, and certainly here at EMS.”

Miller served the seminary from 1991 to 2010 in roles including campus pastor and assistant professor of spiritual formation. She was committed to helping people discover their story within “God’s great story,” establishing EMS’ spiritual formation program, and founding training programs for spiritual directors within Mennonite Church USA and The United Methodist Church.

At EMS, she led the Summer Institute for Spiritual Formation and developed “Soul Space,” an online guide for scripture reading and prayer. Many of her lasting contributions, through the gifts she shared and the lives she touched, endure today.

In addition to her two decades on seminary faculty, she was an ordained minister in Mennonite Church USA’s Virginia Conference and was a leading author. Among her writings, Invitation to Presence: A Guide to Spiritual Disciplines (Upper Room Books, 1995) was translated into several languages. She maintained a private spiritual direction practice until entering hospice care last summer.

Formerly of Broadway, Virginia, Miller was living in West Chicago, Illinois, when she passed away on Oct. 8, 2025. She was 87. A memorial service celebrating her life, held on Dec. 6, can be viewed on YouTube . A full obituary is available at .

Her husband and partner in ministry of 65 years, the Rev. Edmond F. Miller, died in October 2024.

‘Her imprint remains’

Because of Miller’s “gentle and steady efforts” beginning when she joined the seminary faculty in 1991, said the Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler, dean of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, EMS centered spiritual formation in its curriculum “long before theological schools in general and Anabaptist schools in particular caught on to the importance of tending the inner life of ministerial leaders.”

“Today, hundreds of EMS graduates have been sustained in their ministerial vocations because of the ‘invitation to presence’ Rev. Miller modeled and extended to them,” wrote Bixler. “Her imprint remains on the EMS curriculum, and students today cite the contemplative attentiveness cultivated by EMS as a distinctive and transformative aspect of their theological education. They are more compassionate, discerning, and resilient because of Rev. Miller’s influence.”

Her influence also lives on in the touches and traditions that have become part of the fabric of the seminary.

As reported in a in the Daily News-Record, Miller was “the driving force behind getting the (prayer) labyrinth installed” on the 91����Ƶ Hill above the Seminary Building. Dedicated in 2007, the labyrinth offers a unique way to connect with God.

Visitors to the Seminary Building might be familiar with the rectangular wooden “free table” just outside the second floor kitchen. It displays food and other items that people can leave or take. “That was Wendy’s idea,” said Weaver. “That’s how tangible and simple her ideas could be. She had a deep heart for the collective community.”

Another contribution she made to the seminary was the awareness that its faculty retreats should be held away from campus, Weaver said. For several decades, those retreats were held at Camp Overlook, a nearby United Methodist camp and retreat center. “She was someone who looked around and dreamed of things that could be,” Weaver said.

‘She saw potential in (us)’

One of Miller’s first students in the spiritual formation program, the Rev. Dr. Kevin Clark MA ’96 (church leadership) was trained and trusted to lead the program when she retired in 2010. “She was my teacher, my professor, my mentor, my friend, my spiritual director, and my colleague, all wrapped up in one relationship,” said Clark, a former campus pastor and retired assistant professor of spiritual formation at EMS.

“Wendy had this wisdom and insight into others that was unique,” he said. “Part of it was just rooted in who she was, as someone who paid attention to how God’s spirit was at work within others, and offering and evoking that in her quiet, questioning way. I was always amazed at how she would be in a classroom, we’d be in conversation, and she would have these wonderful little pauses, then come back with a question that was profound for a student to begin to think about. It opened up the whole classroom to a deeper understanding and awareness of their own spirituality.”

Les Horning ’86, MDiv ’98, director of admissions for EMS from 2012-18, also had Miller as a professor. He described her as “one of the most formative presences” of his MDiv experience.

“She saw potential in folks and would find ways to let them know,” he said. “Suddenly, you realized, Oh, she’s seeing my heart. I think that was one of her gifts, helping people dig beneath the surface and find out who they were.”

Horning graduated from 91����Ƶ with bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry and worked as a research chemist for five years before feeling a call for ministry and enrolling at EMS. “For me to come to seminary was a huge change and Wendy was a key part of helping me see that it was a good and right thing,” said Horning, pastor at Stephens City Mennonite Church. “She was very good at pulling out folks’ unique contributions to the community and making people feel valued and accepted and wanted.”

Along with Clark and Horning, Weaver traveled on an overnight train to Chicago last month to attend the memorial service. She remembers Miller for her love of Winnie the Pooh, her delightful laugh, and whimsical sense of humor. 

“She was a blessed woman who shared blessing with everyone she came in contact with,” Weaver said. “I consider it a major gift of my life to have been a friend of hers.”

She grew up in England

The following is from an obituary printed in the :

Born in 1938 in Westham, England, Miller was a child in London during World War II and later lived in Eastbourne, East Sussex. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1959, settling in Chicago with her husband. They served as missionaries in Frankfurt, Germany, and pastored churches including Woodland (Basye) Mennonite, as well as across the Midwest and eastern U.S. Following retirement, they lived in Virginia, Texas, and North Carolina before returning to Illinois.

Rev. Miller earned a bachelor’s degree from Iowa Wesleyan University, a master’s degree in church leadership with a concentration in pastoral care and counseling from EMS, and a master of sacred theology in spiritual theology and spiritual direction from General Theological Seminary in New York City.

She leaves five children, Paul (David Selmer) of Maine, David (Julie) of Georgia, Mark (Wendy) of Kansas, Scott (Laura) of Illinois, and Heidi (Gary MacDonald) of Georgia; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, three brothers, and four sisters-in-law.

Two deans with extensive leadership experience have been appointed to lead the academic divisions, with both officially beginning their roles on July 1, 2025. The Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler, former associate dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, serves as dean for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences division. Dr. Michael Horst, former interim associate dean, former director of 91����Ƶ’s counseling program, and current director of its psychology program, serves as dean for the Health, Behavioral, and Natural Sciences division. The two divisional deans work closely with Dr. Tara Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success, and Jonathan Swartz, dean of students, and report to the provost.

Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler, dean for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences division

Education
BA, 91����Ƶ (English)
MDiv, Princeton Theological Seminary (Divinity)
PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary (Practical Theology/Christian Education)

Tell us a little about yourself
I started teaching at 91����Ƶ as an adjunct instructor in 2018 at the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, campus. In 2019 I was hired for a continuing faculty position, teaching primarily in the seminary graduate program with an occasional undergraduate theology and religion course. In 2021, I took on administrative responsibilities as associate dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary. Before teaching, I had many other roles at 91����Ƶ at various points in my adult life. I facilitated community as a residence director in Elmwood, served as president of the Alumni Association, cleaned rooms in the 91����Ƶ Guest House, hosted summer groups with conferences and events, and waited tables for banquets. In 2002, I earned my undergraduate degree at 91����Ƶ in English and secondary education with minors in mathematics and music.

I enjoy traveling, hiking, flower gardening, and playing piano. My spouse, three children, in-laws and I farm at the historic Lincoln Homestead in Linville with goats, chickens, cats, and big fruit and vegetable gardens.

What will you be doing in this new divisional dean role?
I give leadership to 91����Ƶ’s academic programs in the humanities, arts and social sciences at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The value of these important areas of study is under threat right now, and I take my responsibility seriously to promote and position these programs for a strong future. I want to be sure dynamic and expert faculty will teach 91����Ƶ students for decades to come, so 91����Ƶ graduates will be equipped with the practical skills, creativity and critical thinking that these areas of study offer.

What excites you most about the year(s) ahead?
Higher education is entering a new way of being. Students expect to engage technology in their learning, while also longing for human engagement in the process. We learn the most when we interact with others who bring different experiences and perspectives that open new ways for us to understand ourselves and the world. I’m excited about how technology is expanding our classrooms with new ways of communicating and interacting, and how our 91����Ƶ learning community has the opportunity to grow more than ever before.

What is your favorite 91����Ƶ memory?
Earlier this spring, I had the privilege of taking 12 students on an intercultural learning experience to Europe along with Dr. Heike Peckruhn. My favorite 91����Ƶ memory is sitting together in reverent silence in a dark cave in the wooded hills of Switzerland, where Anabaptists met together in secret 500 years ago. The early Anabaptists went there to encourage one another in resisting the state and religious authorities that forbade their radical beliefs and practices of nonviolent community. So did we.

What object can you not live without?
I need a navigational tool. I like to drive to new places or go for walks in unfamiliar settings, but I get turned around and can’t find my way home. Before I had a cellphone, I carried a book of road maps in my car. Now the Google Maps app on my phone serves me well. A knowledgeable friend is even better. I love exploring new towns and cities or wandering around paths in rural areas, but I can only enjoy myself if I know I can end up back where I belong.

What song has been on repeat for you lately?
This question made me realize how infrequently I choose my own music in this season of my life. My 12- and 15-year-old daughters are my constant DJs, whether we’re riding in the car together, working in the kitchen, or doing yard work. When the voices of Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato aren’t in my ears, my fingers will find their way to the keys and play “Draw the Circle Wide.” Mark A. Miller’s powerful hymns are my go-to songs right now.

What quote or saying keeps you going?
Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky wrote, “People don’t resist change, they resist loss.” With an administrative leadership role in higher education in the social sciences, arts and humanities, I’ll have to lead people through a lot of change. This quote keeps me curious about what people need and value in the midst of change, and reminds me to be sensitive because change inevitably brings loss.

What hobby, skill or topic are you learning right now?
When I visited Europe for the first time in 2017, I was astounded by the large stone walls everywhere. I came home and told my spouse I wanted to learn stonemasonry. I was completely serious. He chuckled and replied, “I think you’ll have to choose between finishing your PhD and becoming a stonemason.” After I completed my doctorate, he prepared the base and then my daughter and I successfully built a small limestone retaining wall on our farm. Now I have a few more masonry projects in mind.

Dr. Michael Horst, dean for the Health, Behavioral, and Natural Sciences division

Education
BS, 91����Ƶ (Psychology)
MA, 91����Ƶ (Counseling)
PhD, James Madison University (Counselor Education & Supervision)

Tell us a little about yourself
I’ve been a part of 91����Ƶ in many ways over the years. I’ve been a custodian, exterior window washer, floor cleaner (shampooing carpets and waxing tile floors), I’ve arranged seating in classrooms and larger venues like Martin Chapel and Yoder Arena, I’ve been an apartment manager, undergraduate student, graduate student, clinical mental health counselor with our 91����Ƶ Counseling Services, adjunct instructor, full-time instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, grant project director, program director (undergraduate and graduate), interim associate dean, and now I serve as dean of the division of Health, Behavioral, and Natural Sciences [HBNS]. I may have missed a few roles I’ve held at 91����Ƶ over the years, but it’s safe to say that I’ve seen 91����Ƶ from many different angles. 91����Ƶ is a special place, and I’m grateful to be part of its story.

When I’m not at 91����Ƶ, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Simone, and our children. I also enjoy weightlifting, tinkering with computers, watching movies, listening to podcasts, and reading. 

What will you be doing in this new divisional dean role?
In collaboration with HBNS program directors and the provost, I’ll provide leadership and support to our academic programs in the health, behavioral, and natural sciences [HBNS] division. I hope to help build relationships with community partners and support the enhancement of our innovative, timely, and mission-aligned curricula in the HBNS division. We have outstanding faculty and staff at 91����Ƶ, and I want 91����Ƶ to be a place where they can thrive as they engage with students. I hope to support that thriving through this new divisional dean role. 

What excites you most about the year(s) ahead?
You don’t have to look far to see a great number of issues that need to be addressed, and I’m a staunch believer that education and knowledge generation are some of our greatest tools to solve these issues. Courses of study in the HBNS division prepare students to lead on the cutting edge of innovation in science, technology, healthcare, and more. I’m excited to be part of that work.

What object can you not live without?
When leaving a visit with my in-laws, my father in-law will sometimes say, “If you forgot anything, just give us a call…and we’ll tell you how to live without it!” I try to cultivate this sort of non-attachment to material objects and recognize that I can be content with a great deal less than I have. That said, I sure would miss my cellphone and computers. 

What quote or saying keeps you going?
Two quotes spring to mind. These quotes help me remember to always imagine other people complexly and to hold the same space for myself. 

From Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” in Leaves of Grass:

“Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)”

And from Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler), author of The Grim Grotto, the eleventh novel in A Series of Unfortunate Events:

“People aren’t either wicked or noble. They’re like chef’s salads, with good things and bad things chopped and mixed together in a vinaigrette of confusion and conflict.”

What’s your favorite spot on campus?
I think I’ve taught a class in the Discipleship Center every week of the academic year for at least the past 10 years (excluding COVID, when we were all online). I love the views, especially early in the morning as the sun comes up. I have many special memories in that building. Before I had children, I used to get to the Discipleship Center as the sun was rising so that I could set up the space and prepare for my morning class. Those contemplative and deliberate moments always left me centered and grounded for the day. 

Other than the people, what do you like most about 91����Ƶ?
I’ll say the people anyway! The community and culture of this place makes it special. Additionally, our mission and values are needed more than ever. 91����Ƶ is excellently positioned to empower students with resilience, agency, knowledge, and skills to address the major issues of our day and days to come. Our Anabaptist values of simplicity, justice and mercy, environmental stewardship, care for the oppressed and impoverished, and our central devotion to nonviolence and peacemaking infuse a transformative curriculum. At 91����Ƶ, we can train peacemakers and revolutionary systems thinkers, technological innovators of clean energy solutions and computational ethics, inspirational educators who embody and implement restorative justice and inclusivity in school systems, business leaders who prioritize the needs of workers and the environment, and health care workers who care for patients above profit. As I said earlier, we are well-positioned to prepare students to work to create a more just, sustainable, and peace-driven world.

Sarah Ann Bixler has been named associate dean of . She begins administrative duties July 1, 2021, and will continue teaching responsibilities as a faculty member of the seminary. 

She moves into a role previously held by Professor Nancy Heisey, who has served as associate dean since 2016.

Bixler will oversee the seminary’s graduate degree programs, guide the development of new programs for pastors and laypersons involved in a wide range of ministries, and serve as director of the seminary’s formation program. She will also serve on the faculty as assistant professor of formation and practical theology, beginning this fall.

“Sarah’s enthusiasm for serving the needs of seminary students and pastors in this difficult time is inspiring,” said Sue Cockley, dean of the seminary. “I’m confident her leadership will strengthen the seminary in the coming years and serve the church both locally and nationally.”

Bixler has been an instructor with the seminary for two years while finishing her PhD in practical theology with a specialization in Christian education and formation from Princeton Theological Seminary. 

In October 2020, Bixler was ordained into the ministry of Virginia Mennonite Conference. 

In addition to her doctorate, she holds a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from 91����Ƶ.

“I welcome this role as a sense of call to serve the church through theological education,” Bixler said. “I am honored to help lead the seminary into a new season of faithfulness during this dynamic time of change. Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s firm grounding in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition and desire to expand its educational offerings align with my passion: finding innovative ways for more people to join communities where we are formed together to participate in God’s reconciling mission in the world.”

Bixler spent a decade in ministry in the Shenandoah Valley, including working on Virginia Mennonite Conference staff, before beginning studies at Princeton Theological Seminary. At Princeton, she was instrumental in launching new programs in church planting and revitalization and women clergy leadership education. 

Her dissertation was titled “Networks of Belonging: Envisioning Adolescent Attachment in Congregations.” Bixler notes she had “the honor of having the first all-female dissertation committee in Princeton Theological Seminary’s history,”  with her advisor Professor Kenda Creasy Dean, and committee members, professors Bo Karen Lee and Sonia Waters. 

She and her husband Benjamin and their three children are renovating the historic Lincoln Homestead in Linville, Virginia. The Bixlers have hosted open house events to share the site’s history, including Juneteenth and Lincoln’s birthday events, as well as, most recently, during Black History Month, honoring the known and unknown enslaved people who lived and worked at the site.

Sarah Ann Bixler will join the seminary as an instructor. She is completing her PhD in practical theology with an emphasis on Christian education and formation at Princeton Theological Seminary, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2021. 

At the seminary, where she also earned a Master of Divinity degree, she has worked in administrative roles with Princeton’s Center for Church Planting and Revitalization and Iron Sharpening Iron: Leadership Education for Women Clergy project.

Bixler earned her BA in English (secondary education) at 91����Ƶ. After graduation, she taught at Eastern Mennonite School from 2002-07 and served as a youth minister at Zion Mennonite Church from 2001-2009. She has also been a curriculum writer with Brethren Press and served Virginia Mennonite Conference as an interim youth minister (2006-07) and as a conference coordinator (2011-13).

“Sarah has served as part of the ‘Journey Forward’ team of Mennonite Church USA for the past two years,” Heisey said. “We’re thrilled to have this denominational leader and scholar bringing her gifts into our community.” 

Academic areas of interest include Christian education and formation, youth and young adult ministry, missional theology and innovation, Anabaptist theology and ecclesiology, organizational leadership and attachment theory.

Penny Driediger will be assistant professor of clinical pastoral education (CPE). She has taught CPE and ministry formation, and has directed mentored ministry at EMS since 2008.

Driediger has a BA in social work from 91����Ƶ and an MDiv from Eastern Mennonite Seminary with a concentration in pastoral care. She is ordained for ministry with Virginia Mennonite Conference and most recently received supervisor status through the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. 

“Penny’s deep roots in chaplaincy and urban ministry offer rich wisdom to seminarians who are deepening their own practice in these areas,” said Heisey.  

A full list of new faculty for both the seminary and the university can be viewed here.