Graduation
Graduation Weekend 2026
2026 Commencement Service
AMBS’s 2026 Commencement Service was held on Saturday, May 2, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. EDT on the AMBS campus in Elkhart, Indiana.
The service, which honored 26 candidates for graduation who completed degrees and certificates, will mark several milestones. Two students were the first to earn a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership through a program that launched in January 2023, and 10 students were the first to complete the Mennonite Church USA Hispanic Ministries – AMBS Graduate Certificate in Theology, a fully online Spanish-language certificate program that began in August 2023. Five candidates earned a Master of Arts: Theology and Global Anabaptism; four earned a Master of Divinity; one earned a Master of Arts: Theology and Peace Studies; and four received a Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies.
In addition, eight students who are part of a Master of Arts: Theology and Global Anabaptism cohort through the Nehemiah Institute for Christian Studies in Seoul, South Korea, attended the service together in person during a special visit to the AMBS campus. They were recognized in advance of completing their degrees in 2027.
2026 Commencement Speaker
Rev. Leonard Dow of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, brought the commencement address. Since 2017, he has served Everence as Vice President of Community and Church Development and leader of the Everence team in Philadelphia. In this role, he leads efforts to resource emerging diverse communities and congregations that historically have been underserved.
Dow previously served as Pastor of Oxford Circle Mennonite Church in Philadelphia for nearly 20 years and also founded the Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association. A graduate of Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia, he received EMU’s Distinguished Service Award in 2017. He is a board member for the Brooklyn (New York) Peace Center and The Common Place, a community center in Southwest Philadelphia.
2026 Graduation Weekend schedule
All times listed are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) for Elkhart, Indiana.
Friday, May 1
- 11:45 a.m. | Dean’s Luncheon (Lambright Dining Hall — by invitation)
- Each graduate may bring one guest.
- No livestream will be available for this AMBS community event.
- 7 p.m. | Commissioning Service (AMBS Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount)
- This worship service will include a blessing for each graduate.
- The service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
Saturday, May 2
- 1 p.m. | Commencement rehearsal (AMBS Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount)
- 3 p.m. | Commencement Service (AMBS Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount)
- Guests of graduating students are welcome to join this service in the chapel.
- The service will be livestreamed.
- 4:30 p.m. | Reception for graduates and their guests (AMBS Courtyard, weather permitting, and Waltner Hall Lounge).
Past Commencement Services
2025 Commencement Service
- Meet the 33 graduates of AMBS’s Class of 2025
- Read about our 2025 Commencement Service: Rempel gives 33 seminary grads tips for “driving in the fog”
- View the 2025 Commencement Service program | Watch the recording
2024 Commencement Service
- Meet the 22 graduates of AMBS’s Class of 2024
- Read about our 2024 Commencement Service: Follow Jesus’ leadership model, Okanya tells seminary grads
- View the 2024 Commencement Service program | Watch the recording
2023 Commencement Service
- Meet the 20 graduates of AMBS’s Class of 2023
- Read about our 2023 Commencement Service: Soto Albrecht urges AMBS graduates to “be where it matters”
- View the 2023 Commencement Service program | Watch the recording
2022 Commencement Service
- Meet the 21 graduates of AMBS’s Class of 2022
- Read about our 2022 Commencement Service: García points AMBS graduates to Moses’ story for leadership lessons
