Interviewed in their living room, the Riehls speak of drones that conduct surveillance and drop bombs, of military bases, activist contacts across the country, disseminating information, warfare. An eavesdropper picking up snippets of their thoughts might peg them as spies or covert military operators, or perhaps violent revolutionaries or dangerous criminals.

But this couple, both in their early 80s, are peace activists utterly committed to nonviolence.

“What can I do to stop our wars?” says Daniel, a retired physician. He has hope, though: “If people get information, they might do something about it.”

In the late 1950s, at what was then Eastern Mennonite College, Marie Keener studied before graduating with a ; E. (for Evan) Daniel Riehl was a major. Raised in opposite corners of Lancaster County, Pa., they re-settled in southeastern Pennsylvania as a married couple. He worked with the state public health department for many years, then as a medical consultant for . She mainly focused on their home and raising their three children, Jan Marcia Orndorf  ’85 (now a teacher and pastor), Eric (computer professional) and Carl (lawyer). The Riehls have two grandchildren.

Hundreds of hours protesting wars

In recent years Daniel and Marie spend much of their time as enthusiastically engaged activists, going to places near and far from home to communicate their anti-war messages. “I’ve spent hundreds of hours on street corners protesting wars,” Daniel says.

Among other activities, they frequently borrow the model drone from its owners, the Wilmington, Del., chapter of Pacem in Terris, and haul it around in an effort to inform folks. It’s a 1:5 scale model of a Reaper—an unmanned, remote-controlled aircraft that the U.S. Air Force and CIA use for reconnaissance and for launching missile strikes in places like Yemen and Pakistan.

“The first time we hauled the drone,” Daniel recounts, “we had it in the wrong way, with the back end in front. I could hardly see over the top.”

The duo has since learned that the drone fits into their car better with the front end facing towards the windshield. And it still only just fits. When in place, the fuselage protrudes through the gap between the front seats of their 2006 Toyota Prius Hybrid, occupying the space between the driver’s and passenger’s heads.

For in November 2013, the Riehls transported the drone nearly three hours from its storage place in Delaware to Harrisonburg, where it was positioned by the main-floor picture windows in the Campus Center. The exhibit was organized after a mutual acquaintance put the Riehls in touch with campus pastor , who helped round up students to hand out flyers about the child victims of drone attacks.

The Riehls also do street vigils, screen films, join demonstrations, and write articles and letters to the editor. Daniel is the author of a piece in Mennonite World Review, “,” and one on the web site of The Mennonite, “.” The pair’s annual calendar includes a trip to Georgia to join the . They are also involved with various organizations and groups near their residence in the in Lititz, Pa.

‘Killing Muslim civilians is savagery’

For the last three years, the Riehls have played leadership roles in a small group called 1040 for Peace, which aims to create a national movement of taxpayers who withhold $10.40 each year from their federal tax payments as a symbolic gesture against military spending. The pair first used the drone replica as part of their work with 1040, taking it on a tour of six venues in Pennsylvania. The model drone also makes frequent appearances at monthly protests in Horsham, Pa., where a command center for drone operations is planned.

“The purpose of our wars is to make the rich people richer. And the rich people – the defense companies – put the people in Congress who they want,” Daniel says. “The military-industrial complex rules our nation for the good of the very wealthy at the expense of the poor.

“Killing civilians in Muslim countries like Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen is savagery,” he continues. “The war in Waziristan, the drones are flying 24/7. One person said he saw nine drones at once flying around. And they are very scary because you don’t know when they’re going to shoot you.”

Daniel is the more vocal of the pair, a fount of ideas and energy. Marie seems to provide the moral and grounded direction for the pair. ”My wife got me started. She advised that I take a course on Latin American cultures,” Daniel says. ”It made me realize what was really going on.”

The Riehls seem determined to continue to educate themselves so they can continue to educate others. ”I don’t think any of the churches are doing their jobs,” says Daniel. “The churches, including the Mennonite church, facilitate the crimes of our government. I think we should talk about these things a little bit more.” The Riehls offer their criticisms as devoted Mennonites – they are active members of in Akron, Pa.

During their times of relaxation, Daniel and Marie enjoy exercising and taking in the tranquil views of farmland surrounding their community of retirees.

Asked about possible downsides of the couple’s golden-years activism, Daniel offers two responses. ”Marie gets tired of driving,” and “we used to go on vacations.”

In action taken during an executive session the morning of Nov. 16, the board authorized, DMin, and his cabinet “to design and oversee a six-month listening process (beginning January 2014) with EMU’s multiple constituencies.”

The recommendation issued by the board said, “The purpose of the listening process is to review current hiring policies and practices with respect to individuals in same-sex relationships.”

“As a Christian university it is our responsibility to engage in community discussion and discernment over issues that Mennonite congregations – indeed almost all denominations in the United States today – are wrestling with,” Swartzendruber told faculty and staff during a 90-minute “University Forum” on the morning of Nov. 18. He noted that the board made this recommendation unanimously and stressed that the outcome of the “listening process” cannot be predicted in advance of holding it.

In its official statement, the board “reaffirms EMU’s relationship with and its practice of biblical discernment in community.” It also reaffirmed ‘’EMU’s Academic Freedom policy,” which upholds the right of staff, faculty and administrators “to articulate their personal beliefs and values.”

Swartzendruber said he would draw on university resources to help him organize a listening process that will encourage all views and voices to be shared widely, with attention “given to relationships and prayer throughout the process.”

Citing the thoughts of one board member, Swartzendruber said, “Unilateral decision-making leads to broken relationships and rogue actions. Collaborative decision-making means that a community is functioning well. This board’s decision and this process will, I think, show how well our community functions. God is giving us the opportunity to model respect for each other, honesty and integrity.”

The listening process is expected to wrap up in time for a report to be delivered to the board of trustees during its June 2014 meeting.

In his Nov. 18 remarks to faculty and staff, Swartzendruber recalled accepting a call in 1978 to be the pastor of a Mennonite congregation in eastern Pennsylvania. He was 28 years old, fresh from . Upon arriving, he found a letter on his desk from a gay member, who was now living in an urban area but who welcomed Swartzendruber to the church. In his pastoral role, Swartzendruber recalled trying to help this gay man and his parents have a healthy familial relationship, but feeling unprepared for this role from his seminary training in that era.

Swartzendruber offered this example in support of  “the reality” that discussions within the broader Mennonite church on non-majority sexual orientations have been occurring for decades, including in such publications as the and and in Mennonite Church USA forums such as delegate sessions and district conference meetings.

“One responsibility of leadership is to help define reality,” said Swartzendruber.

By Lisa Schirch for The Mennonite

Lisa Schirch is a professor of peacebuilding and program director of the 3D Security Initiative () at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at EMU. She is a member of Shalom Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va.

It’s a long way from my grocery store to West Point Military Academy. But I’ve come to see my time at both stops as experiments in peacebuilding, as places where I attempt to follow the way of Jesus.

When I taught a course on peacebuilding at West Point Military Academy in 2005, I found their cadets are a lot like my undergraduate students at ��ݮ���� in Harrisonburg, Va. They are hardworking, responsible, smart, optimistic, interested in foreign travel, motivated to serve others and ready to make sacrifices.

And when I stood at the airport in long wet goodbyes with my family as I departed to travel to Iraq to work with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in 2005, I imagined many military personnel similarly embracing their families as they departed for Iraq that hot August day. I’ve learned that entering into conversations and relationships with military personnel isn’t the same as being co-opted or agreeing with them.

State Department staff George Kennan once noted that the United States is 6 percent of the world’s population and owns half the world’s wealth. He claimed that maintaining this disparity of consumption

A widely-known pastor, prolific author and speaker on marriage and family life issues was cited Wednesday, Jan. 19, at for 50 years of ministry.

John M. Drescher, now residing in Quakertown, Pa., received a plaque and a letter of commendation during the annual banquet held during the annual School for Leadership Training.

Ervin R. Stutzman, dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, made the presentation at the recognition ceremony. In giving the award, Dr. Stutzman read an open letter noting Drescher’s work accomplishments over the past 50 years.

“I appreciate the confidence and affirmation this recognition gives to me and to my ministry in the larger church,” Drescher said. “I couldn’t have fulfilled this without my wife Betty with her gifts of helps and hospitality. We took the ordination vows together and we’ve worked in partnership all these years,” he added.

Drescher has served as pastor of four Mennonite congregations, as bishop or overseer in three district conferences, as editor of the former “Gospel Herald” magazine, 1962-73 (now “The Mennonite”) and was “churchman-in- residence” at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, 1979-83. In this role, he taught “Spiritual Disciplines” (later called “Formation of Personhood”) and the preaching courses and served as seminary pastor.

A 1951 EMU graduate, he received a Th.B. degree from the seminary two years later.

Drescher was ordained to the ministry May 2, 1954 at the Crown Hill Mennonite Church, Rittman, Ohio, where he pastored 1954-61. He was pastor at Scottdale (Pa.) Mennonite Church, 1973-78 and at Zion Mennonite Church, Broadway, Va., 1989-92. He served as bishop-overseer in Ohio, Allegheny and Virginia Mennonite conferences.

He was moderator of the Mennonite Church, 1969-71, and presided over the transition from the former Mennonite General Conference to the Mennonite General Assembly. He was a member of the first General Board of the denomination following the implementation of the new church structure.

Drescher completed his last interim pastor assignment on Aug. 31, 2004, at Swamp Mennonite Church, Quakertown, and continues part time as a resource to Franconia (Pa.) Mennonite Church, where he also preaches on fifth Sundays and teaches in their winter and spring Bible studies series.

Drescher has written 37 books, more than a dozen dealing with husband and wife and parent-child relationships. Many others address spiritual renewal and growth issues.

Numerous of his works have been published in other languages; “Seven Things Children Need” has been printed in 20 languages. Another, “If I Were Starting My Family Again,” was condensed in “Readers Digest” and at least 70 other magazines worldwide.

The veteran churchman has spoken or provided other leadership roles in conventions, marriage, parent-child and pastor retreats, seminars and in spiritual renewal meetings across North America and in eight other countries.

Drescher’s brother-in-law, Paul Gingrich, noted: “John Drescher is a churchman, not in the usual sense of the word. His heart is with the local congregation and with individuals in the congregation. He pastored pastors with vision and creativity, always aware of the people. He . . .sought to speak and act prophetically to all.”

The Dreschers have five adult children, 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.