Stutzman taught at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS) as associate professor of church ministries starting in 1998, and served as academic dean of the seminary from July 2000 to December 2009. He then led Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) as executive director from 2010 until his retirement in 2018. 

He was known by many as a master woodworker, skilled handyman, prolific author, disciplined goal-setter and writer of life-purpose statements, problem solver and mentor, teacher and preacher, and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is also remembered for his seemingly limitless reserve of energy, his deep commitment to Christ and the church, and the close relationships he formed with those he worked with and served. 

Stutzman died on June 3, 2025, at age 72 from complications following a five-year battle with cancer. A memorial service was held on June 8 at Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, where he was an active member. View a recording of the service, along with the full obituary, on the church’s website here:

“Ervin was deeply committed to the church and to preparing seminary students to serve and lead in pastoral and other roles,” said Dr. Loren Swartzendruber, president of EMU from 2003 to 2016. “He was a gifted administrator who contributed wisdom and energy to the entire university while serving as dean of the seminary. He was also a much-loved professor and mentor to many students.”

Professor Emeritus Lonnie Yoder, who was on the seminary faculty from 1991 to 2021, described Stutzman as a caring administrator and “very supportive dean.” “He was incredibly committed to his role and to the relationships he had with faculty and students,” Yoder said. “He was very purpose-driven. He believed we should all develop life-purpose statements and encouraged all of us to work on them.”

Stutzman himself had written a life-purpose statement that he often referenced, Yoder said. According to an by MC USA, part of Stutzman’s statement read: “In response to God’s love expressed in Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I purpose to follow after God with all my heart … so that God may be glorified in my life at all times and in every way.”

“He was one of the most highly disciplined people I think I’ve ever met,” Yoder said. “I was always amazed at his capacity to do everything that he did.”

Among Stutzman’s contributions to EMS was a $2 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to develop the LEAP (Learning, Experiencing, And Participating) Program. The initiative, which began in 2003, aimed to help high school students hone their leadership skills, explore Christ-centered theological studies and pastoral ministry, and engage in intercultural learning experiences (with travels to countries including Zimbabwe, Jamaica, and Colombia).

“The key was that Ervin, and it was a stroke of genius by him, wanted the program to be characterized by diversity,” Yoder said. “It allowed high school-age youth to get outside their comfort zone and engage with other talented and committed youth. In that sense, I think Ervin was ahead of his time.”

Stutzman was born on April 27, 1953, in an Amish home in Kalona, Iowa, to Emma and Tobias Stutzman. He grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas, where his family moved after his father’s death when Stutzman and his twin, Erma, were just three years old. He was the only one in his family to graduate from high school.

Stutzman received his PhD in rhetoric and communication from Temple University (1993), MA degrees in religion from EMS (1999) and communications from the University of Cincinnati (1979), and a BA in Christian ministries from Cincinnati Bible College (1978).

He wrote several historical novelizations of true Amish stories, including those of his parents’ lives, Emma: A Widow Among the Amish and Tobias of the Amish, and Return to Northkill, a three-book series on the life of his ancestor, Jacob Hochstedler. He also wrote several other books about Mennonite history, life, and thought.

Professor Emeritus Dorothy Jean Weaver, who joined the seminary faculty in 1984 and retired in 2018, noted Stutzman’s productive nature. “The fact that, in the midst of everything else he was doing, he wrote all those books, shows some real commitment and focus,” she said. 

Weaver co-led a 2007 study tour to the Holy Land that Stutzman and his wife, Bonnie, joined and recalled that the couple were part of a small group that climbed the steep slopes of Mount Tabor on foot. “I was always a little worried that Ervin would assume the rest of us had the same level of energy he had,” she said. 

Another vivid memory Weaver has of the former EMS dean is of the beautifully handmade wooden crafts that Ervin and Bonnie gifted seminary faculty and staff each Christmas. One of those gifts, a domed wooden paperweight inscribed with the EMS motif and initialed “ERS ’06,” remains on some office desks in the Seminary Building today nearly 19 years after being given. 

“I think of him being well-placed in this seminary because he was naturally gifted as a strong administrator and he cared ever so deeply about the church,” Weaver said. “He was the right person at the right place.” 

At EMS, Stutzman succeeded George Brunk III ’61, SEM ’64 as dean. He was followed by Dr. Michael King ’76, who became dean in July 2010 after a six-month interim term by Sara Wenger Shenk. Before becoming dean, King, as owner of Cascadia Publishing House, had worked with Stutzman to prepare his book, Tobias of the Amish, for publication. “In that sense, I had a lot of opportunity to get to know him,” King said.

“He was a very hard worker,” King said. “He was passionate about fulfilling his assignments as a leader.”

One of the most challenging roles of the dean’s job is to maintain accreditation with the Association of Theological Schools (EMS has been an accredited member since 1986), as well as the support of the United Methodist Church for training its Methodist students. Both of those accreditations were key to maintaining a student body in numbers high enough for EMS to remain successful and viable.

“During my tenure, I worked closely on both accreditations, always building on the work Ervin had done,” said King, dean of EMS from 2010 to 2017. “I always knew I owed a tremendous debt to the very careful work Ervin had done in setting the stage in prior accreditations.”

While dean, King was an advisory council member of the seminary’s Preaching Institute, a program Stutzman established and chaired that provides pastors and lay leaders with an opportunity to develop their preaching skills. “That was an excellent experience,” King said. “I believe it may be on hiatus at this point, but it was a very valuable program in its day.”

Ervin married Bonita “Bonnie” Lee Haldeman MA ’05 (church leadership) of Manheim, Pennsylvania, in 1974. Together, they served as volunteers for Rosedale Mennonite Missions in Cincinnati for five years.

In 1982, at age 29, Ervin moved with his young family to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and became associate pastor of Mount Joy Mennonite Church, while also serving as the associate director for Home Ministries at Eastern Mennonite Missions. Just 18 months later, he began a half-time role as district overseer for Lancaster Mennonite Conference, and from 1991 to 2000, he served as their conference moderator.

“As I recall, he once joked that he lived his adult life in decades,” Yoder said. “He was involved in Lancaster Mennonite Conference for a decade, and then EMS for a decade, and then MC USA for a decade, approximately.”

Bonnie, who supported Ervin as his wife for 51 years, described him as “everyone’s dream of a husband—he would do whatever needed to get done.” At their home just a handful of blocks from campus, Ervin built all the cabinets, countertops, bookshelves, and furniture. She said he spent six months creating a 290-page, leather-bound book of journal entries, photos, and reflections as a gift for their 50th anniversary. “He was always teaching himself new skills,” she said.

“He was a visionary,” she said, “a big-picture person.”

In their retirement, Ervin and Bonnie biked thousands of miles on their e-bikes and traveled the country in their RV. Before he died, he wrote a yet-unpublished memoir.

“He was nourished by being outdoors, eating good food, regular church attendance, a spiritual life of prayer and contemplation, and keeping peace with fellow people,” Bonnie said. “He was a man of integrity.”

Ervin was preceded in death by his son Daniel Tobias Stutzman. His beloved spouse Bonita survives, as do two children: Emma Ruth (Stutzman) Dawson (Iowa City, Iowa), along with her sons Felix Tobias Dawson and Caius Lysander Dawson, and Benjamin Lee Stutzman and his wife Andrea Joy (Kniss) Stutzman (Harrisonburg, VA), along with their children Eva René Stutzman and Evan Rafael Stutzman. His twin Erma Mae (Stutzman) Yoder (Ephrata, PA) is his only surviving sibling.

Portions of this article are from the on Ervin Stutzman. 

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 EMU’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, ˛ÝÝ®ÉçÇř (English)
MDiv, Princeton Theological Seminary (Divinity)
PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary (Practical Theology/Christian Education)

Tell us a little about yourself
I started teaching at EMU 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 EMU 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 EMU Guest House, hosted summer groups with conferences and events, and waited tables for banquets. In 2002, I earned my undergraduate degree at EMU 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 EMU’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 EMU students for decades to come, so EMU 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 EMU learning community has the opportunity to grow more than ever before.

What is your favorite EMU 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 EMU 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, ˛ÝÝ®ÉçÇř (Psychology)
MA, ˛ÝÝ®ÉçÇř (Counseling)
PhD, James Madison University (Counselor Education & Supervision)

Tell us a little about yourself
I’ve been a part of EMU 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 EMU 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 EMU over the years, but it’s safe to say that I’ve seen EMU from many different angles. EMU is a special place, and I’m grateful to be part of its story.

When I’m not at EMU, 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 EMU, and I want EMU 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 EMU?
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. EMU 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 EMU, 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.