Ervin Stutzman,
Vice President and Seminary Dean
Upcoming Speaking Engagements:
• Blossom Hill Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa. (11-16-08)
• Bay Shore Mennonite Church, Sarasota, FL
(3-8-08)
• First Christian Church, Winchester, Va. (3-22-09)
Past Engagements:
•Hopewell Mennonite Church, Reading, Pa.
• Jubilee Mennonite Church, Meridian MS
• Scottdale Mennonite Church, Scottdale Pa.
•Deep Run Mennonite Church, East Perkasie, PA
• East Petersburg Mennonite Church, East Petersburg, Pa.
•Mt Clinton Mennonite Church
• Stirling Mennonite Church, Kitchener, ON, Canada
•Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, Pa. •Chambersburg Mennonite Church
•Weaverland Mennonite Church, East Earl Pa.
Ervin R. Stutzman, vice president and seminary dean of Eastern Mennonite University, was born into an Amish home as a twin in Kalona, Iowa. After his father's death, his mother moved her family to her home community in Hutchinson, Kan. Ervin was baptized in the Center Amish Mennonite Church near Partridge, Kan.
Ervin married Bonita Haldeman of Manheim, Pa. Together, they served for five years with Rosedale Mennonite Missions in Cincinnati, Ohio, part of that time in voluntary service. There, Ervin served as co-pastor of Mennonite Christian Assembly.
In 1982, he moved with his young family to Lancaster, Pa., to serve with Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions. He also served for a short time as pastor of Mount Joy Mennonite Church, before his 1984 ordination as bishop of the Landisville District.
He served as Moderator of Lancaster Mennonite Conference from 1991 to 2000, when he moved to Harrisonburg, Va., to serve as dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary. He also served as the Moderator of Mennonite Church USA, the newly merged denomination joining the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church.
Ervin earned a B.A. in Bible and Christian ministries from Cincinnati Bible College, an M.A. in communication arts from the University of Cincinnati, an M.A. in religion from Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and Ph.D. in communication from Temple University.
A preacher, teacher, and a writer, his publications include Being God's People, a study for new believers, Creating Communities of the Kingdom (co-authored with David Shenk), Welcome!, a book encouraging the church to welcome new members, and Tobias of the Amish, a story of his father's life and community.
Ervin enjoys doing woodworking projects in partnership with his wife Bonita. They have three adult children, Emma, Daniel, and Benjamin.
