“That,” he said, pointing at the banners proclaiming the purpose and mission of EMU, “is our vocation. I came in here and I read that banner and I thought, ‘Yes, yes, yes.’ This is the outward-facing project. This is not extra to being saved. This is what you’re saved for – to be part of God’s creative purposes in the world.”

Wright drew standing-room-only crowds at several events during his two-day visit to Harrisonburg. In a service at Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s Martin Chapel, even the organ bench was occupied, and a breakfast lecture drew area church leaders from various denominations representing a wide spectrum of conservative and progressive perspectives.

The coalition that invited Wright was ecumenical: the included Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Park View Mennonite Church, Virginia Mennonite Conference and Virginia Mennonite Missions, and the Church of the Incarnation, Anglican Church of North America. ��ݮ���� was represented in the partnership through campus ministries, the Bible, religion and theology department and the Augsburger Lectureship.

“We were delighted with the community response stemming from an ecumenical planning partnership,” said Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder. “This approach supported and connected the lecture series in meaningful ways and certainly broadened our reach.”

Wright, a research professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and former Bishop of Durham, developed the broad theme of “Discerning the Dawn” over five lectures. At James Madison University’s Memorial Hall the first evening, all 1,045 seats were filled, and many turned away at the door. The Augsburger Lecture the next evening at EMU was the most highly attended in many years that he could recall, said Burkholder.

The “dawn” of Wright’s thematic focus refers in part to the Kingdom here on earth and to humans’ role as God’s “image-bearers” and “god-reflectors,” he said in an early lecture.

“When the spirit comes, the spirit will enable us – you – to speak and live the truth, that Jesus is Lord, and that there is a new way to be human, that there is a true justice and that arrogant power has already been judged,” he said. “This vision is at the heart of the genuine Christian spiritual experience. The new day has already dawned and a new way of being human has been launched upon the world.”

Wright’s lecture series drew audience members from as far away as California and Colorado.

David Works, who both corresponds with Wright regularly and has long and deep connections to EMU, flew from Denver to attend all of the lectures. A descendant of Thomas Jefferson, Works is member of , and has participated in Strategies for Trauma and Resilience (STAR) trainings and restorative justice as a survivor of violent crime.

For Works, the opportunity to see and hear Wright speak at EMU – where he knew Wright’s message would surely resonate – was irresistible.

“I said, ‘I need to be there.’ EMU has played such an important role in my own life, and here is this other person who has as well,” Works said. “His message of faith in action that he talked about today interfaces with EMU almost uniquely.”

Podcasts

• Nov. 13, Seminary Chapel: “The Spirit and the Church’s Task (John 16:4b–15)” with Q&A beginning at 51:20.
• Nov. 14, Campus Worship: “The Day the Revolution Began: Atonement the Right Way” with Q&A beginning at 54:40.
• Nov. 14, Augsburger Lecture: Promised Glory: Straightforth Thinking About God and the World” with Q&A beginning at 1:05:05.

Lewis and Mary Coss receive the annual Gehman Philanthropic Award from EMU President Loren Swartzendruber and named for faculty emerita member and long-time benefactor Margaret Martin Gehman (at left). Photo by Jim Bishop

EMU has named a Hagerstown, Md., couple its 2007 recipient of the Margaret Martin Gehman "philanthropist of the year" award in recognition of their generous support of EMU.

Lewis and Mary Coss were recognized at an Oct. 12 donor appreciation banquet on campus "for exemplifying the spirit of generous [financial, prayer and moral] support of the university for many years."

The award, in its second year, is named for Dr. Margaret Martin Gehman, who taught art and physical education at EMU from 1944 until her retirement in 1987. She continues to serve regularly as a volunteer on campus and with other local organizations and has been a long-time strong financial supporter of the university.

The couple established the Lewis M. and Mary L. Coss church leadership endowed scholarship in 1994 to assist seminary students preparing for pastoral ministry. To date, $28,500 has been awarded from this fund.

They have contributed to the seminary annual fund and to the Augsburger Chair, named for EMU president emeritus Myron S. Augsburger, and have given to several capital projects, including sponsorship of a room in the seminary building and the Northlawn dormitory renovation.

They have also designated EMU as the recipient of a charitable remainder unitrust.

Lewis and Mary have also supported EMU through leadership voluntarism as members of the President’s Partnership Council, 1992-2001.

They have attended the past 16 donor appreciation events on campus and a similar number of the annual School for Leadership Training programs held in January at Eastern Mennonite Seminary.

Lewis is retired after pastoring at Community Mennonite Church in Hagerstown where he and Mary have been involved for 35 years. They owned and operated a furniture and appliance store in Hagerstown 17 years.

They have attended Mennonite World Conference four times, most biennial general assemblies of the Mennonite Church and have participated in more than 20 annual meetings of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA).

The couple celebrated 55 years of marriage in March this year. They have four children – Cheryl and Nelson Lehman, Twila and Darrel Eberly, Dwayne and Christa Coss, Dwight (deceased) and six grandchildren.

"We are grateful for the many ways in which Lewis and Mary Coss exemplify the spirit of generous, cheerful philanthrophy through their generous support of EMU," President Swartzendruber said.