Pastor-Faculty Colloquy

Leadership in the Mennonite Church can carry an ambiguous mandate. At the Pastor-Faculty Colloquies, church leaders gather in a retreat setting to unpack this issue. Focused reading and writing assignments ground discussions on such topics as sustaining pastoral ministry and the importance of teaching in the church. As participants share their knowledge, foundation is laid for vocational growth in the church and in the classroom.

The Pastor-Faculty Colloquies are part of Engaging Pastors, a larger initiative by AMBS to "transform seminary-church connections through sustained interaction between professors and pastors," as articulated by the program mission statement. Engaging Pastors is funded by a five year grant from Lilly Endowment.

Colloquy group

2008-2009 Pastor-Faculty Colloquy

The 2008-2009 colloquy has been designated for recent AMBS M. Div graduates who are between one year (as of September 2008) and five years in their first pastoral charge.

Gatherings will be held at Lindenwood Retreat Center in Donaldson, Ind. August 18-20, October 27-29, 2008 and February 23-25, 2009. Meetings begin with supper on Monday and end with lunch on Wednesday. All participant expenses (travel, lodging, meals) are paid by Engaging Pastors and there is as well a generous honorarium for all involved.


The application period for the 2008-2009 Colloquy has ended.



2007-2008 participants

Conference & Denominational Ministers Congregation
Dave Bergen MC Canada
Jerry Buhler MC Saskatchewan
Donella Clemens Franconia Conference
Sven Eriksson MC Canada
Dorothy Nickel Friesen Western District Conference
Marco Guete Western District Conference
Keith Harder MC USA
Tom Kauffman Ohio Conference
Nancy Kauffmann Indiana-Michigan Conference
Jim Shantz MC Alberta
AMBS Faculty Position
Arthur Paul Boers Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology
Loren Johns Associate Professor of New Testament
Marlene Kropf Associate Professor in Spiritual Formation and Worship
John Rempel Assistant Professor of Theology and Anabaptist Studies
External Facilitator Congregation
David Wood First Baptist, ME

2006-2007 participants

Pastors Congregation
Rudy Baergen Bethel Mennonite Church, MB
Roy Hange Charlottesville Mennonite, VA
Rachel Miller Jacobs Kern Road Mennonite Church, IN
Timothy Kuepfer Peace Mennonite Church, BC
Carol Penner First Mennonite Church, ON
Don Rheinheimer Mountain Community, CO
Jennifer Davis Sensenig Pasadena Mennonite Church, CA
Phil Waite First Mennonite Church, KS
AMBS Faculty Position
Arthur Paul Boers Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology
Alan Kreider Associate Professor of Church History and Mission
Jewel Gingerich Longenecker Associate Dean for Leadership Education
Mary Schertz Professor of New Testament
Daniel Schipani Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
External Facilitator Congregation
David Wood First Baptist, ME

2005-2006 participants

Pastors Congregation
Carolyn Collins Church of the Overcomer, PA
Keith Collins Church of the Overcomer, PA
Samuel Lopez Spanish Mennonite Council of Churches
LAN Spanish district, PA
Doug Luginbill Hope Mennonite Church, KS
Craig Maven First Mennonite Church, IN
Bob Smith First Mennonite Church, IA
Mag Richer Smith First Mennonite Church, IA
AMBS Faculty Position
Arthur Paul Boers Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology
Jacob Elias Professor of New Testament
Gayle Gerber Koontz Professor of Theology and Ethics
Rebecca Slough Associate Professor of Worship and the Arts
External Facilitator Congregation
David Wood First Baptist, ME