鈥淭here are more options out there for today鈥檚 students,鈥� says Dula. 鈥淩ather than joining a traditional church structure, they sometimes choose to search for something even more Anabaptist.鈥�

The emerging church movement and New Monasticism have created alternatives to traditional church that draw from and can inform an Anabaptist perspective, says Dula, a 1992 graduate.

鈥淣ew Monasticism focuses on prayer, communal life and reaching out to the poor… Ideas that are rooted in the Christian tradition, but in a way Anabaptists can recognize as their own. It is an interesting time to teach and think about Anabaptism.鈥�

Embracing the change

Instead of resisting alternatives to traditional worship, Dula and , a 1981 EMU graduate and Bible and religion instructor, see an opportunity to embrace alternatives and use them to engage and inform students.

鈥淥ur goal is to equip students to engage in shaping the future of the church,鈥� said Schrock-Hurst, who also serves as co-pastor at Immanuel Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va. 鈥淎ll these ideas are available to this generation and we can create space for them to explore and figure out what works in their faith journeys.鈥�

贰惭鲍鈥檚 Bible and religion department tries to continually learn from students, says Dula. 鈥淢any of them are way out ahead of us as teachers.鈥� We want to be a 鈥渕eeting place,鈥� he notes, where Mennonite and students from diverse backgrounds can share ideas on faith and God鈥檚 calling in their lives.

鈥淪ome of our best students enter EMU without a background in Anabaptism or the Mennonite church,鈥� said Dula. 鈥淭hey find here, however, a space to own, appropriate and transform what they learn in our classrooms in ways that manage to be thoroughly Anabaptist.鈥�

, professor of Bible and religion added, 鈥淚 find that sometimes the students who are not from Mennonite backgrounds add a kind of new-discovery freshness when they embrace the peace position. Other times, we get challenges to pacifist assumptions born out of different ways of thinking about the Bible and Christianity.鈥�

More than a classroom

贰惭鲍鈥檚 provides an alternative classroom for many Bible and religion students with profound results. The experience, led by , professor of culture and mission and his wife, , showcases the history of the Bible while exploring current conflicts. Students are immersed in language and cultural studies while living in Palestine and Jerusalem.

After spending a semester in the Middle East, senior Jamie Hiner, from Culpeper, Va., observed, 鈥淚 can connect to the stories [of the Bible] on a completely different level. I understand who Jesus was on a human level, and I have a connection to the land, people and cultures.鈥�

In addition to the Middle East cross-cultural program, EMU is the only higher-education institution offering a major in . , associate professor of , says that while Catholics and Protestants have a long academic tradition in philosophy, Anabaptists are important contributors 鈥渂ecause our own history of having been marginalized, our understanding of concrete embodied community, and our commitment to peace and reconciliation.鈥�

Senior Ben Bailey, from Simsbury, Conn., found his knowledge of the Bible to be 鈥渓imited compared to my peers at EMU.鈥� A double-major in and , Bailey says his studies have provided him with a 鈥渃omprehensive base knowledge to build upon.

鈥淚 continually feel the need to understand and question the Bible and theology on a deeper level.鈥�

Hiner, a major with a minor in , added, 鈥淚鈥檝e learned so much from personal relationships with my professors. I love having real conversations with them outside the classroom.鈥�

Looking ahead

Bible and religion department faculty envision their department鈥檚 influence expanding across campus and in the community through dialogue with campus ministries and local churches. Interest in the department鈥檚 is growing as opportunities to explore internships outside of 鈥渢raditional鈥� pastoring arise. The very definition of 鈥減astor鈥� and 鈥渃hurch鈥� is changing; students are interested in how they intersect with these concepts.

“Students have an advantage with on campus, in addition to and numerous Mennonite churches nearby to integrate and connect with pastors, leaders and teachers,” Schrock-Hurst says.

Dula agrees, adding, 鈥淭he goal is to make the discussion and debates that occur in our classrooms become the heart and soul of campus. This will encourage growth not only in the department and across campus, but in the broader church.鈥�

Daryl Bert, vice president for finance, opened chapel by praising the tireless efforts of Bruce Emmerson, food services director for Pioneer Catering, which operates 52 kitchens nationwide.聽 Emmerson, who was named Pioneer鈥檚 “rookie of the year,” in 2007 and “director of the year,” in 2011, has continuously improved the quality of services that are offered to the students, faculty, staff and visitors of EMU, said Bert.

“I have appreciated how seriously Bruce takes feedback from our community by personally, wittily and publicly responding to feedback cards in the cafeteria,” said Bert. “I am always amazed at how quickly Bruce implements themes from the survey forms into the food service experience in the cafeteria…

鈥淚 believe this attention to quality is validated by the large number of faculty and staff that join students in the cafeteria for lunch on a daily basis.”

Byron Peachey, associate campus pastor, said: “Anytime I’ve needed to work with Bruce or Ramona [Lantz] with special catering needs or events, they are adaptable and easy to work with, willing to take on special events such as the Late Night Breakfast鈥� The food is always consistently delicious and varied.”

EMU routinely hosts outside groups, conferences and youth camps over the summer which adds to Emmerson’s schedule. LeDayne McLeese Polaski, program coordinator for the Baptist Peace Fellowship also praised the work of Emmerson and Matthew Hunsberger, Lehman Auditorium facility technician, in a written statement to Bert.

After stating that her Fellowship puts EMU at the top of the list, Polaski added: “I would be remiss if I did not mention the excellent work of Matt Hunsberger and Bruce Emmerson… They are true professionals who go above and beyond the call of duty to provide excellent service.”

Below is a list of students who were honored at the chapel ceremony for academics, athletics and community service.

Fall Season

Men鈥檚 Cross Country:

Dan Nafziger:聽ODAC Athlete of the Week (Sept. 1-5), All-ODAC Second Team, All-South/Southeast Region First Team, NCAA National Championships participant

Field Hockey:

Nicole Bencsik: All-ODAC Second Team

Jenessa Derstine: All-ODAC Third Team

Valerie Landis: ODAC All-Tournament Team, All-ODAC First Team

Adriana Santiago: ODAC All-Tournament Team, All-ODAC First Team

Men鈥檚 Soccer:

Barkot Akalu: All-ODAC Third Team

Kevin Chico: ODAC All-Tournament Team, All-ODAC First Team

Ryan Eshleman: ODAC All-Tournament Team, CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District Team, All-ODAC First Team

Mitchell Leap:聽ODAC Player of the Week (Sept. 19-25), ODAC Player of the Week (Oct. 3-9), ODAC Player of the Week (Oct. 24-30), All-ODAC First Team

Brent Yoder:聽聽聽 All-ODAC Third Team

Women鈥檚 Cross Country:

Katie Eckman: All-ODAC Second Team

Women鈥檚 Volleyball:

Tabitha Bowman: CUA Guetle All-Invitational Team

Brittany Childress: EMU Hampton Inn & Sleep Inn All-Invitational Team

Winter Season

Men鈥檚 Basketball:

Owen Longacre: Marymount Tip-Off Tournament All-Tournament Team

Women鈥檚 Basketball:

Raiven Patterson: EMU Tip-Off Classic Most Outstanding Player

Kala Yoders: All-EMU Tip-Off Classic Team

Intensive English Program

Fanty Polanco

Maria Pena

Jihoo Park

Academic Support Center-Tutors

Stacy Kinkaid

Haleigh Hershberger

Lyubov Slashcheva

Kennedy Center/American College Theater Festival nominations

Elizabeth Gannaway

Julia King

Justin Rittenhouse (alternate)

Jamie Hiner (stage manager)

Pastoral Assistant Recognition

Mitchell Stutzman 鈥� 1.5 years as pastoral assistant

Nursing Department Outstanding Service Award

Rebekah [last name omitted on request]

Student Government Association

Hannah Patterson, Senator

Joel Choi, Senator

Louise Babikow, Senator

Brittney Wenger, Senator

Katrina Goering, Senator

Daniel Sigmans, Treasurer

Nels 脜kerson, c0-President