DownloadFeb. 1 issue
EMU commends servant leaders
Eastern Mennonite University staffHARRISONBURG, Va. — Eastern Mennonite University recognized two couples Jan. 20 for their many years of servant leadership.
From left, Calvin and Marie Shenk and Gerald and Sara Wenger Shenk received awards Jan. 20 from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., during its School for Leadership Training. — Photo by Jim Bishop/EMU
The couples received plaques and letters of commendation during a banquet in Martin Chapel during the School for Leadership Training.
Calvin E. and Marie Shenk were honored for 50 years of church ministry. Calvin Shenk is professor emeritus of religion at EMU, having served on the Bible and religion faculty from 1976 to 2002. He was named department chair in 1983.
Before this, the Shenks served with Eastern Mennonite Missions in Ethiopia from 1961 to 1971. Calvin was principal of Nazareth Bible Academy and chair of the Mennonite Board of Education in Ethiopia, among other roles. He was a member of the overseas committee of the former Mennonite Board of Missions, 1977-1990.
Shenk has written several books, including Who Do You Say That I Am? Christians Encounter Other Religions (Herald Press, 1997), and dozens of articles.
Marie Shenk was bookkeeper at the Bible academy and taught bookkeeping and typing. She was administrative assistant to the EMU academic dean from 1976 to 1990.
N. Gerald Shenk and Sara Wenger Shenk were the first recipients of the Missional Leadership Award, which will be given annually to people demonstrating innovative and effective approaches to pursuing God’s mission.
Shenk and Wenger Shenk came to Harrisonburg in 1989 for Gerald to join the faculty at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, where he has been professor of church and society. He currently serves as director of Abraham’s Tent, a vision EMU is pursuing to bring Jews, Muslims and Christians into conversation.
Sara Wenger Shenk joined the seminary faculty in 1992, currently serving as associate professor of Christian education and acting dean.
During the height of the Cold War, the Shenks worked with churches in communist Europe through Eastern Mennonite Missions and Mennonite Central Committee. From 1978 to 1989, Gerald studied in Yugoslav universities and taught in Protestant pastoral training schools.
For two of those years, the couple lived in Sarajevo in what is now Bosnia, helping Yugoslav Protestant groups, mostly in the north, to build relationships with their Muslim neighbors toward the south. More than a dozen new churches grew out of that initiative.
After moving to Harrisonburg, the couple were leaders with an effort that became Immanuel Mennonite Church. Recently, the Shenks joined with others to start The Table Mennonite Church, which emphasizes spiritual renewal through the ritual of communion.
Wenger Shenk will begin work as president of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind., this summer.
Comment on the article EMU commends servant leaders
The purpose of comments is to engage in dialogue. We expect commenters to treat authors and each other as each would want to be treated. Respectful criticism is welcomed; offensive comments or parts of comments will be removed by the site administrator. Name and comment will be posted; email address is for follow-up only and will not be made public.
Download a free PDF showing the populations of
Mennonite groups and other Anabaptists.
