“A gold medal is a wonderful thing,” the coach says. “But if you’re not enough without one, you’ll never be enough with one.”

In church, lessons like these are often taught about all sorts of worldly accomplishments: the dream job, the big raise, the right friends. This week at EMU, an influential theological writer in the emergent church movement, Peter Rollins, delivered a similar message about God, who, Rollins argued, is too often (and falsely) imagined as an idol capable of providing true wholeness and fulfillment.

Sin – from denying pain of life?

Rollins, originally from Northern Ireland and now living in New York, argued that sin is the result of everyone’s relentless drive to escape the pain of being alive, regardless of whether relief is sought in drink, in friends or in the church. Salvation, then, doesn’t come from attaining closeness to God and relief from pain, but rather by embracing that pain of being alive and letting go of our drive to heal it.

“Religion helps us avoid facing up to our brokenness and troubles … [and] that is devastating,” said Rollins, during his chapel presentation. “We need to have spaces where we can be open about the places where we’re suffering.”

Rollins, whose most recent book is titled The Idolatry of God: Breaking Our Addiction to Certainty and Satisfaction, also hosted a “talk back” at the , spoke at the year’s first University Colloquium, visited classes and led an evening conversation hosted by EMU’s Freethought Coalition.

At the colloquium, Rollins criticized contemporary religion’s tendency to place itself right beside competing products in a “vending machine” that purports to offer people various paths to fulfill our primal desire for wholeness. What the church should be doing, he said, is taking a sledgehammer to that vending machine and disabusing us of the idea that we’ll ever be whole. (During chapel, Rollins criticized the church for getting people “drunk on sermons” and on God to distract them from the reality that everyone “will die and never be again” and everyone we love “will die a cold death.”)

Community based on love

During his coffeehouse talk, Rollins said he finds hope in building a community in the present – not in some next world or afterlife – where love exists among people who embrace their collective and individual hurts.

Rollins’ ideas have become influential in the emergent church movement, which offers critiques of religious institutions and traditions that cut across denominational and ideological lines. This criticism can be as applicable to seemingly counter-cultural religious institutions like EMU as they are to mainstream Christianity.

, professor of , noted that Rollins’ “version of being counter-cultural would be different from the ones we are most used to hearing.”

While Anabaptist traditions may emphasize alternative ways of living and thinking about God, they often still reinforce the notion of longing for wholeness.

“Rollins argues that you instead learn to live with being human, being broken, being, in a sense, unfulfilled. And in the shared humanity of that, you find true fulfillment,” said Early. “The move that needs to happen is not that you abandon being a Mennonite or being an Anabaptist, but that you hold it differently…. It’s something that’s really important for us to wrestle with.”

The value of the “light of inquiry”

Thomas Millary, a junior and co-president of the Freethought Coalition, said he admires Rollins’ call to embrace, rather than trying to escape, the brokenness that everyone experiences in life, and hopes Rollins’ visit will spark wider conversation on campus about finding joy and community in the midst of pain.

“This campus could really benefit from dialogue about faith and [Christianity] from a perspective like Peter’s,” said Millary, who founded the Freethought Coalition to provide a space for honest exploration and discussion of difficult or controversial topics.

When introducing Rollins at the University Colloquium, said that inviting Rollins to present his provocative ideas at EMU offered the university the opportunity for self-reflection.

“It’s important that our basic assumptions are not just taken for granted, but that they are held up to the light of inquiry, that they are examined,” Kniss said.

All of EMU’s ODAC-sponsored sports were represented on the All-Academic Team.  Men’s volleyball competes in the Continental Volleyball Conference and is not eligible for the ODAC team.

The ODAC All-Academic Team eclipsed 1,000 student-athletes for the seventh consecutive year and set a new high-water mark for conference honorees for the fourth year in a row.  With representatives from each of the 17 ODAC institutions (including Catholic University for football only and Greensboro College and Notre Dame of Maryland University for swimming only), 1,459 student-athletes earned recognition on the 2012-13 ODAC All-Academic Team.

Eligibility for the ODAC All-Academic Team is open to any student-athlete that competes in a conference-sponsored sport, regardless of academic class.  He or she must achieve at least a 3.25 grade point average for the year to be considered for an ODAC All-Academic Award.

The entire list of Royals named to the ODAC All-Academic Team is listed below.

Nels Akerson – Cross Country, Track & Field
Elizabeth Alderfer – Cross Country, Track & Field
Sonja Anderson – Field Hockey
Kayley Argenbright – Women’s Basketball
Trey Barrett – Men’s Basketball
Ruthie Beck – Softball
Jennifer Blankenship – Women’s Basketball
Jessica Blanks – Field Hockey
Carol Brinkley – Field Hockey
Jonathan Bush – Men’s Soccer, Track & Field
Hannah Chappell-Dick – Cross Country, Track & Field
Hannah Clemmer – Cross Country, Track & Field
Melissa Cox – Field Hockey
Nicolette Cuevas – Softball
Mary Beth Danaher – Field Hockey
Patty Danaher – Cross Country, Track & Field
Jenessa Derstine – Field Hockey
Alli Eanes – Cross Country, Track & Field
Katie Eckman – Cross Country
Ryan Eshleman – Men’s Soccer
Jonathan Estrada – Baseball
Daniel Friesen – Men’s Soccer
Chantelle Garber – Field Hockey
Jessica Goertzen – Women’s Volleyball
Naomi Good – Women’s Soccer
Patrick Graber – Cross Country, Track & Field
Derek Harnish – Men’s Soccer
Bethany Hench – Field Hockey
Ryan Henschel – Baseball
Brooke Hensley – Softball
Jordan Hollinger – Men’s Soccer
David Hooley – Men’s Soccer
Holly Jensen – Women’s Soccer
Brianna Kauffman – Field Hockey
Janna Kaufman – Women’s Soccer
Rachel Kennel – Women’s Volleyball
Lanae Kreider – Cross Country, Track & Field
Jonathan Leaman – Men’s Golf
Parker Leap – Men’s Soccer
Mattie Lehman – Women’s Volleyball
Mollie Lehman – Field Hockey
Rachel Lehman – Women’s Volleyball
Lexi Link – Women’s Volleyball
Owen Longacre – Men’s Basketball
Karla Martin – Women’s Volleyball
Katie Martin – Women’s Volleyball
Phillip Martin – Track & Field
Ian Mast – Men’s Soccer
Mark Mast – Men’s Soccer
Saralyn Mast – Cross Country, Track & Field
Brittany McDonaldson – Women’s Golf
Thomas Millary – Cross Country
Katie Miller – Women’s Volleyball
Michelle Miller – Women’s Volleyball
Kaitlyn Morris – Softball
Austin Mumaw – Men’s Soccer
Joel Murray – Men’s Golf
Dan Nafziger – Cross Country, Track & Field
Jolee Paden – Cross Country, Track & Field
Jesse Parker – Cross Country, Track & Field
Hannah Patterson – Track & Field
Alicia Poplett – Women’s Soccer
Jess Rheinheimer – Women’s Basketball
Steph Rheinheimer – Women’s Basketball
Sara Ritchie – Women’s Volleyball
Krista Rittenhouse – Cross Country, Track & Field
Adriana Santiago – Field Hockey
Meghan Schaefer – Cross Country
Juni Schirch – Cross Country, Track & Field
Jacob Shank – Men’s Soccer
Aaron Sloan – Track & Field
Kayla Smeltzer – Women’s Volleyball
Aaron Springer – Cross Country, Track & Field
Andre Swartzentruber – Men’s Golf
John Toney – Men’s Golf
Alena Yoder – Women’s Volleyball
Andrew Yoder – Men’s Soccer
Kegan Yoder – Men’s Soccer
Tyler Yoder – Men’s Soccer
Michelle Zook – Field Hockey

Each of EMU’s sports was represented on the ODAC All-Academic Team except for men’s volleyball, which competes in the Continental Volleyball Conference.  The CVC will also release an all-academic team later this summer.

The full ODAC All-Academic Team eclipsed 1,000 student-athletes for the sixth consecutive year and set a new high-water mark for conference honorees for the third year in a row.  With representatives from each of the 17 ODAC institutions (including Catholic University for football only, Greensboro College and Notre Dame of Maryland University for swimming only, and Shenandoah University for field hockey and track & field only), 1,350 student-athletes earned recognition on the 2011-12 ODAC All-Academic Team.

Eligibility for the ODAC All-Academic Team is open to any student-athlete that competes in a conference-sponsored sport, regardless of academic class.  He or she must achieve at least a 3.25 grade point average for the year to be considered for an ODAC All-Academic Award.

For more information, visit the ODAC’s home on the Internet at .  Don’t forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook (click ) and follow  on Twitter.

The entire list of Royals named to the ODAC All-Academic Team is listed below.  to see the full list of the ODAC All-Academic Team.

Nels Akerson – Cross Country
Elizabeth Alderfer – Cross Country
Laura Beckler – Women’s Soccer
Bradley Billings – Baseball
Jennifer Blankenship – Women’s Basketball
Rachel Breeden – Softball
Carol Brinkley – Field Hockey
Bethany Crouse – Women’s Soccer
Mary Beth Danaher – Field Hockey
Jenessa Derstine – Field Hockey
Erica Detweiler – Women’s Soccer
Allison Eanes – Cross Country
Katie Eckman – Cross Country
Ryan Eshleman – Men’s Soccer
Jonathan Estrada – Baseball
Daniel Friesen – Men’s Soccer
Lynae Fry – Women’s Volleyball
Jessica Goertzen – Women’s Volleyball
Naomi Good – Women’s Soccer
Bethany Hench – Field Hockey
Brooke Hensley – Softball
Jordan Hollinger – Men’s Soccer
David Hooley – Men’s Soccer
Phillip Jordan – Baseball
Rachel Kennel – Women’s Soccer
Justin King – Baseball
Lanae Kreider – Women’s Soccer
Valerie Landis – Field Hockey
Mattie Lehman – Women’s Volleyball, Softball
Owen Longacre – Men’s Basketball
Jenna Longenecker – Field Hockey
Becca Longenecker – Field Hockey
Mark Mast – Men’s Soccer
Thomas Millary – Cross Country, Track & Field
Michelle Miller – Women’s Soccer
Katarina Napfel – Softball
Peter Nelson – Cross Country
Cara Paden – Women’s Soccer, Track & Field
Jesse Parker – Cross Country, Track & Field
Stephanie Rheinheimer – Women’s Basketball
Andy Richter – Baseball
Sara Ritchie – Women’s Volleyball
Bryce Shank – Men’s Soccer
Jacob Shank – Men’s Soccer
Amber Shelly – Women’s Soccer
Aaron Sloan – Track & Field
Kayla Smeltzer – Women’s Volleyball
Raquel Stoltzfus – Women’s Soccer
Scotty Tiosso – Men’s Soccer
Jon Trice – Baseball
Keri Weaver – Cross Country
Kori Wenger – Women’s Soccer
Taylor Wenger – Women’s Soccer
Camille Williams – Field Hockey
Roberto Wingfield – Cross Country
Bianca Ygarza – Women’s Basketball
Andrew Yoder – Men’s Soccer
Marla Young – Women’s Basketball
Kelsey Zook – Women’s Soccer
Michelle Zook – Field Hockey
Marla zumFelde – Women’s Basketball

Rose Byler, a senior major from Goshen, Ind., won first place with her speech, “Living into the Tension: Social Services and Systemic Change.” Byler discussed how her profession can both empower individuals and tackle systemic issues.

“I challenge us to use our gifts to empower individuals, communities and policy making bodies in ways that confront systemic injustice and shift toward sustainable change. We must not forget the end goal,” Byler said.

As first-place winner, Byler receives a cash prize and entry in the bi-national competition with winners from other Mennonite-rooted colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. The bi-national winner will be announced in the fall.

Julia Schmidt, a junior from Pandora, Ohio, who is majoring in in addition to , was first runner-up with her speech, “Holding Dignity in the Community of Faith.” Her speech focused on responses to difference and conflict in the church, articulating “how the concept of dignity can transform the way we live in relationship as a community of faith.”

“Looking back on my two experiences [in Ohio and Texas], I believe that dignity was the difference,” said Schmidt. “Now, I don’t think people in (my first church example) were bad people, or they meant to harm each other in the way they did. However, the church did not understand dignity, and how dignity is essential to all humans, and especially when attempting to be a community of Christ.”

Taylor Weidman, a junior from Chambersburg, Pa., who is triple-majoring in , and , was second runner-up with his speech, “Dissimilarity is Hope.” Weidman spoke about his story of dyslexia and the recognition of dissimilarities in the world.

“As a community dedicated to peace, we must not use or internalize the methods of measurement or conformity,” Weidman said. “As a community of learners and teachers, we cannot let ourselves become reduced to merely cogs in a system of compulsion…”

The annual oratorical event, open to students in Mennonite and Brethren in Christ universities and colleges in Canada and the United States, is administered by Peace and Justice Ministries of U.S.

Each speaker applied the Christian peace position to a contemporary concern in an 8-10 minute address.

The contest was established in 1974 in honor of the late C. Henry Smith, a Mennonite historian and professor at Goshen College and Bluffton University.

Other 2012 contestants

• Thomas Millary, “A Pluralistic Realm: Towards a Theology of Peace”
• Joel Nofziger, “Confession as a Restorative Practice in the Church”
• Sarah Schoenhals, “Justice from Generation to Generation”
• Jamila Witmer, “His Dream is our Command: Breaking Stereotypes through Integration”

(Harrisonburg, VA/Harrisonburg) broke the school record in the 3000m steeplechase, crossing in 9:55.04, just ahead of an Emory runner in a photo finish.  Nafziger also edged Lynn Stoltzfus’ EMU mark of 9:55.26 by a fraction of a second.

(Dillsburg, PA/Homeschool) crossed in 18:16.83 in the 5000m run.

In the shot put, (Boyce, VA/Clarke County) was one of the top D-III finishers with a distance of 13.22m (43-04.50ft).  (Ooltewah, TN/McCallie School) landed at 10.83m (35-06.50ft), a season best for him.

In the discus, Morgan’s best throw was 30.95m (101-06ft).

(Baltimore, MD/Paul Lawrence Dunbar) had a good showing in the hammer throw, getting a throw of 32.57m (106-10ft).

Sloan landed at 39.72m (130-04ft) in the javelin.

On the women’s side, Sophia Holmes (Berryville, VA/Clarke County) crossed in 2:27.86 in the 800m run and Hannah Patterson (Puyallup, WA/Mountainview International) timed at 2:43.85.

Lanae Kreider (Harrisonburg, VA/Broadway) tried the 3000m steeplechase and had a solid finish in 12:56.91.  She also stepped into third on EMU’s all-time list in the event.

In the field events, Jenni Beck (Archbold, OH/Archbold) landed the shot put at 8.58m (28-01.75ft).  She also threw the javelin 17.30m (56-09ft).

Eastern Mennonite now gets ready for the ODAC Championships, which are this Friday and Saturday in Salem.

On Friday a trio of Royals ran in packed fields of the 5000m.  For the women, Alli Eanes (Harrisonburg, VA/Westmont Hilltop) and Lanae Kreider (Harrisonburg, VA/Broadway) took 19th and 20th, respectively, out of 39 D-I, D-II and D-III runners.  Eanes crossed in 19:46.72, with Kreider just a couple of steps behind in 19:53.70.

(Harrisonburg, VA/Harrisonburg) was one of 50 runners on the men’s side, taking 30th with a time of 16:10.33.

The rest of the EMU track team took part in Saturday’s smaller Jopson Invitational on a day mixed with sprinkles and sun.  Freshman (Boyce, VA/Clarke County) made a splash in his first outdoor meet, grabbing second in the shot put.  He was also the top school-affiliated participant with a heave of 13.82m (45-04.25ft) and firmly planted himself third on the EMU All-Time list.  (Ooltewah, TN/McCallie School) was 13th with a top put of 10.40m (34-01.50ft).

(Baltimore, MD/Paul Lawrence Dunbar) nearly won the hammer throw, taking second at 34.03m (111-08ft).  Roanoke’s Paul LaPradd won with 34.96m (114-08ft).

Morgan was seventh in the discus, landing at 33.50m (109-11ft).  Sloan took sixth in the javelin, with a best throw of 39.14m (128-05ft).

In the 1500m run, (Bluffton, OH/Bluffton) crossed in 4:30.87, less than a second behind 11th place.  (Dillsburg, PA/Homeschool) was fifth in the small field of the 5000m with a time of 18:44.02.

Junior Sophia Holmes (Berryville, VA/Clarke County) highlighted the day by taking third in the 800m run, crossing in 2:26.56 and also moving into third on the EMU All-Time list.  Malika Davis was 15th in 2:42.24 with Hannah Patterson (Puyallup, WA/Mountainview International) 16th in 2:44.95.

Naomi Good (Columbia, PA/Lancaster Mennonite) ran in the 400m and took third in 1:05.98.

In the field events, Jenni Beck (Archbold, OH/Archbold) finished in the middle of the pack in the shot put, taking seventh with a distance of 8.76m (28-09.00ft).  Alyssa Bane (Strasburg, VA/Strasburg) came in ninth in the discus at 27.18m (89-02ft).

Beck and Bethany Hench (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) also participated in the javelin.  Beck had a best throw of 19.05m (62-06ft) while Hench was just short of her with 18.77m (61-07ft).  Bane was fifth out of nine participants in the hammer throw at 31.40m (103-00ft), with Hench landing at 24.76m (81-03ft).

Next up for the Eastern Mennonite athletes is the Towson Invitational in Towson, MD, next Saturday.

Nafziger shaved 15 seconds off his time from the ODAC Championships two weeks ago and to cross fourth Saturday at the meet hosted by Texas Lutheran in Sequin, TX.  With his time of 26:26.7, he was just 22 seconds behind winner John Kieffer on Centre College.

The finish also earned Nafziger All-South/Southeast Region First Team honors and he beat six runners who crossed in front of him at the ODAC meet.  He will now race on Saturday, Nov. 19, at the National Meet hosted by UW-Oshkosh.  Seniors Tim Smith of Roanoke and Sean Whitson of Virginia Wesleyan were second and third, respectively.

Coach Jason Lewkowicz said Nafziger is regaining his form after struggling with a midseason illness.

“I am thrilled for Dan,” said Lewkowicz.  “He has been through a lot this season and to put it all together on the big stage shows his toughness and determination.  He will represent EMU very well next week in Wisconsin.”

was EMU’s next runner at the regional meet, taking 89^th in 29:02.1.

The Royals’ young core provided the rest of the team scoring, headed by freshman who was 126^th in 30:40.2.  Classmate was 156^th in 32:14.4 followed two spots later by in 32:18.9.  crossed in another ten spots with a time of 34:37.8.

As a team, Eastern Mennonite took 19^th out of 23 teams.  The men had 480 points ahead of Southwestern (TX) at 526 and behind Birmingham-Southern, which had 465.  ODAC opponent Lynchburg took the team title by a single point over Centre, 112 to 113.