church Archives - EMU News

Seminary Alums Launch Blog for Young Adults

Jim Bishop — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0000

Where do young adults go to discuss what’s right with the church, not just what’s wrong with it?

Two Eastern Mennonite Seminary alumni have created a blog and web magazine to provide a forum for young adults who are committed to staying in the institutional church but want to discuss what that means.

"Work and Hope: Finding Christ in the Church" was created by Jeremy Yoder, a 2010 graduate currently living in Baltimore, Md., and Laura Lehman Amstutz, a 2006 alumna, a Harrisonburg resident. Both completed the three-year master of divinity degree program.

Perspectives on faith, heritage and more

Their blog and quarterly online magazine will attempt to bring together various young adult perspectives about the church.

The first issue of the magazine was launched July 20 and focused on the theme, "Why am I [still] Mennonite" or in the case of one writer "Why am I [still] Brethren."

Six contributors address this question, citing family connections, ethical understandings and a commitment to a heritage and theology that makes sense to them.

Work and Hope

"We chose ‘Work and Hope’ for the blog’s title because are the words in the inscription on many editions of the ‘Martyrs Mirror,’ the historical account of Anabaptist martyrs," said Yoder. "It also signifies the perseverance we believe the church needs to survive."

"We feel like there’s been much emphasis on that segment of our generation who is leaving the church," Amstutz added. "We wanted to create a place for those of us who are staying to discuss what that means for us."

About the editors

Amstutz and Yoder are hoping to attract a wide cross-section of writers for the quarterly magazine from across the Anabaptist-Mennonite faith tradition and perspective.

The editors, Yoder and Amstutz, will also be blogging regularly about other topics related and tangential to their commitment to the church.

Yoder is currently looking for a ministry position within a Mennonite congregation. Amstutz is admissions associate and communication coordinator for Eastern Mennonite Seminary.

Theologian Greg Boyd Headlines Packed-Out Leadership Training

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

‘We need to distinguish the kingdom of the world from the kingdom of God,’ said Dr. Greg Boyd, an internationally known speaker and author, throughout the seminary’s annual School for Leadership Training.

Seminary Course Promotes Inter-faith Dialogue

Laura Amstutz — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0000

Young Adults Wrestle with Visions for the Church

Lora Steiner — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0000

Seminary Announces 58th Annual Graduation

Laura Lehman Amstutz — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0000

New Church Encourages ‘Table Talk’

Laura Lehman Amstutz — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0000

Small groups, reflection, interaction, and artistic expression are usually words that describe a Sunday school class, not a church worship service. But at The Table, a new church located on EMU

Church Works With with Young Life to reach local youth

Laura Lehman Amstutz — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0000

‘LEAP’ Students Explore Latin Church and Culture

Laura Lehman Amstutz — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0000

Seminary Student does AIDS Work in Swaziland

Laura Lehman Amstutz — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0000

Becoming a U.S. Citizen

Laura Lehman Amstutz — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0000

Distance Learning Program Celebrates 10 Years

Laura Lehman Amstutz — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0000

Ten years ago this month, EMS embarked on a new educational path

Javanese Mennonites Challenge EMS Students and Faculty

Laura Lehman Amstutz — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 05:00:00 +0000

West Augusta Church Blesses Hunters

Laura Lehman Amstutz — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 05:00:00 +0000

Seminary Students Run the (Marathon) Race

Laura Lehman Amstutz — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 05:00:00 +0000

Seminary Offers Training in Congregational Conflict Mediation

Laura Lehman Amstutz — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 05:00:00 +0000

Many dynamics are at work when a church experiences major conflict – leadership is undermined, people take sides and become polarized, and in a worst case scenario, the congregation can split apart.