Sara Wenger Shenk named new AMBS president

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Sara Wenger Shenk, associate dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS) in Harrisonburg, Va., has been named president of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS), Elkhart, Ind.

She will begin the new assignment no later than Oct. 1, 2010, following several months of orientation and preparation. The AMBS board made the appointment at the Oct. 22-24 meetings in Elkhart.

Mennonite Education Agency board and Mennonite Church Canada Christian Formation Council gave their approval to Wenger Shenk as the candidate of choice prior to the decision by the AMBS board.

Wenger Shenk has been a member of the faculty and administration of EMS since 1995. In addition to serving as associate dean, she also is associate professor of Christian practices.

Randall Jacobs, Goshen, Ind., chair of the presidential search committee and new chair of the AMBS board, says, "Wenger Shenk represents a unique combination of gifts and experiences, including teaching and administration in theological education, cross-cultural ministry, church planting, and writing for both scholarly and popular audiences. Perhaps more importantly, Wenger Shenk is grounded in Jesus, deeply respectful of the church, and passionate about Anabaptist theological education."

Her scholarship and commitment to the church are evident in the wide range of books, chapters and articles she has written. This work includes Thank You for Asking: Conversing with Young Adults about the Future Church (Herald Press, 2005), Anabaptist Ways of Knowing: A Conversation about Tradition-Based Critical Education (Cascadia, 2003), Coming Home: A Thoughtful Resource for Fathers, Mothers, and the Rebirth of the Family (Good Books, 1992) and Why Not Celebrate! (Good Books, 1987).

Her dissertation is "Toward An Anabaptist Educational Theory," presented to the faculty of Union Theological Seminary and The Presbyterian School of Christian Education in August 1998.

Wenger Shenk has been a "Real Families" columnists for The Mennonite and contributed to Mennonite Quarterly Review, Leader Magazine, Vision and Sojourners.

Wenger Shenk believes that worship, our "primary theology," sustains and grounds all aspects of theological education. One evidence of this is the leadership she and Gerald Shenk, her husband, have given over the last three years to The Table, an emerging Mennonite congregation in Harrisonburg, Va.

In addition, Wenger Shenk is involved in the life of the church at denominational and conference levels. She serves as the Virginia Mennonite Conference representative to the Constituency Leaders Council of Mennonite Church USA, and has recently joined the MC USA binational worship council. From 1993-2001 she was member-at-large for the Faith and Life Commission of Virginia Mennonite Conference.

"Sara Wenger Shenk's scholarship, commitment to pastoral theological education, love and passion for the church, and deep spirituality are precious gifts that she brings to AMBS and the wider church,” says Carlos Romero, executive director of Mennonite Education Agency. "Her experiences as teacher, writer, pastor, administrator, as well as conference involvement, have served to prepare her for this calling from the church."

Having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Mennonite University, Wenger Shenk pursued study at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif., and completed a master's degree in 1986 at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Ill. She received the Doctor of Education degree in 1999.

From 1977-1983 and again from 1986-1989, Wenger Shenk and her husband served on a study-service appointment with Eastern Mennonite Missions and Mennonite Central Committee in the former Yugoslavia. While there, she studied Croatian language at the University of Zagreb.

As president, Wenger Shenk will join the other four members of the AMBS administrative cabinet: Rebecca Slough, dean; Jeffrey L. Miller, chief financial officer; Ron Ringenberg, vice president; and Jewel Gingerich Longenecker, associate dean. George R. Brunk III currently is serving as interim president and will continue until Wenger Shenk begins her new role. J. Nelson Kraybill had served as president for 12 and a half years, from January 1997 through July 2009.

AMBS, located in Elkhart, Ind., for 51 years, is a seminary of Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA.

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