Library staff hosted an afternoon celebration with ice cream and a display of photos, floor plans, and blue prints. Surplus books, library t-shirts and some of the original library chairs.

June 30, 1971 鈥� the day that the new library opened 鈥� was an historic day on the Eastern Mennonite College campus. The building was completed only with the help of a last-minute during which students raised the final $111,000 needed to secure a matching grant. Construction began through the 1970-71 school year. Faculty, staff, students, and community members helped to move each book from the Administration Building.

Enjoy a few photos from the EMU Archives capturing the campus’s second librarian Margaret Shenk, President Myron Augsburger, the big book move, and historical records. For more detail, check out a library timeline we published during our Centennial celebration in 2017.

Doug Graber Neufeld, professor of biology at 草莓社区 and director of the , has been appointed the chair of the Mennonite World Conference鈥檚 new Creation Care Task Force.

The task force was convened with the goal of helping 鈥渢he global Anabaptist communion understand our responsibility and take action in the global climate crisis.鈥� A core question is: 鈥淲hat does it mean to follow Jesus into this crisis?鈥�

The will explore the diverse ways in which members are affected by the climate crisis, assess practical ways to encourage ecologically faithful living, encourage the development of biblical and theological capacity relevant to the climate crisis, and formulate both short-term practical responses and a comprehensive plan for MWC ecological commitment.

“I am honored to work with sisters and brothers from around the planet on this task force, and to provide a connection between Mennonite World Conference and institutions here in North America that have been working with creation care,鈥� Graber Neufeld said. “We hope that this task force can give voice and leadership for the many people in churches around the world who passionately believe that being a disciple of Christ means we should care about all of creation.  

鈥淚t has become clear that taking care of our planet is one of the major challenges of our time, and that Anabaptists around the world have something important to contribute,鈥� he added. 鈥淭his is a global challenge, and the solutions are also global. As faithful followers of Christ, we are called to work together to care for creation, and Mennonite World Conference is positioned to bring together Mennonite voices from around the world on this issue.”  

The volunteer task force includes representation from MWC鈥檚 five regions, Mennonite Creation Care Network and Mennonite Central Committee, according to a . The group was organized by the Faith and Life Commission and will report to the MWC Executive Committee. Funding will come in part from MWC鈥檚 carbon offset account,, an initiative started in 2010 that sets aside $50 for every 1,000 kilograms of carbon burned as a result of official MWC travel. 

鈥淲e celebrate the emergence of this task force. Central to our mission is to respond faithfully to God鈥檚 renewal of his creation 鈥� which is one of the works of the Holy Spirit,鈥� says MWC general secretary C茅sar Garc铆a. 鈥淭his contrasts with the world鈥檚 practices of domination, exploitation and accumulation.鈥�

Although the global pandemic seems like the priority for this time, the drop in air pollution and the emergence of wildlife in regions under lockdown has demonstrated the interconnectedness of humans and their environment. 鈥淐OVID-19 shines a spotlight on the way that our well-being depends on a healthy relationship with God鈥檚 creation,鈥� said Graber Neufeld.

鈥淭he impacts we are feeling from the pandemic show more clearly similar challenges that will occur if climate change continues unmitigated,鈥� he says. 鈥淗owever, we also see more clearly how we can change to live in better relationship with creation.鈥�

In addition to Graber Neufeld, other members of the task force include:

Europe: Rebecca Froese, PhD candidate in Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany; associate fellow, Research Group Climate Change and Security, University of Hamburg, Germany. Home church: Mennonite Church Hamburg-Altona, Germany.

Africa: Sibonokuhle Ncube, national coordinator of compassionate development service, Brethren in Christ Church, Zimbabwe; MDiv (candidate), Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana

Latin America: Juliana Morillo, missionary in Peru and now in Colombia, with the Mennonite Teusaquillo Church in Bogot谩. MSc development and environmental management; Latin America Facilitator for the Lausanne/WEA Creation Care Network.

Asia: Nindyo Sasongko, PhD (candidate), systematic theology, Fordham University, minister, GKMI Mennonite church, Indonesia.

North America: Jennifer Schrock, MDiv, Chicago Theological Seminary; director, Mennonite Creation Care Network, Goshen, Indiana. 

MCC: Anna Vogt, director of MCC Ottawa, formerly of MCC SEED and Justapaz in Colombia.

More reading

Readers may also be interested in Professor Graber Neufeld’s work on sand dams in Kenya. Read more and visit an

This award, the highest honor given by the organization, was conferred because of Nafziger鈥檚 work as a conductor, educator, hymnal editor and practitioner of church music, according to a press release.

In addition to a long teaching and conducting career, Nafziger has been active animating congregational singing and song leadership through workshops, writing, and hymn editing. He was music editor of Hymnal: A Worship Book (1992), editor of its accompaniment handbook and assistant to the editor of its two supplements, Sing the Journey (2005) and Sing the Story (2007). These Mennonite collections are well-known for their accessibility and celebration of music from around the world. He co-authored Singing, a Mennonite Voice with Marlene Kropf (Herald Press, 2001).

Speaking of his friend and colleague, hymnwriter Adam Tice said that his support for recent Mennonite hymnal projects 鈥渉as meant the world to us.鈥�

鈥淜en鈥檚 contributions as an educator, editor and scholar have been wide-reaching ecumenically, as well as transformational within the Mennonite Church,” said Benjamin Bergey, music editor of the upcoming Mennonite hymnal and music professor at EMU. “More than that, Ken鈥檚 heart for congregational song has brought so many people closer to God, and he has been one of my most important and influential mentors.鈥�

At EMU, Nafziger led the Chamber Singers and taught courses in conducting, world music, worship and music, and interdisciplinary humanities studies. In 2015, he earned the Circle of Excellence in the Arts Award, 鈥渇or outstanding accomplishments and sustained contributions in the arts, improving the cultural vitality of the Shenandoah Valley.鈥� The award was given by the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, the Valley Arts Council, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts at James Madison University.

He is artistic director and conductor of Winchester Musica Viva, a chamber choir in Winchester, Virginia.

Founded in 1922, The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada is an ecumenical organization of people who are passionate about hymns and congregational song. We recognize the importance of the people鈥檚 song in worship and want to assure its vitality in the future.

The Hymn Society community, open to all, is made up of scholars, church musicians, poets, composers, choir directors, choir members, clergy, worship planners, song leaders, music publishers, music educators, and people who love to sing. We believe that the holy act of singing together shapes faith, heals brokenness, transforms lives, and renews peace. Our mission, therefore, is to encourage, promote, and enliven congregational song.