Celebrating 50 years

Seminary commemorates anniversary of dedication

The weather on April 9, 2007, in Elkhart, Ind., matched what it was 50 years earlier. On that date in 1957, a service of dedication was held on the site of what would become the campus of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. According to a page 1 story in the April 18, 1957, Mennonite Weekly Review, “Although it was a cold snowy day the group met on the land for the service.”

At that time, plans were in place for Mennonite Biblical Seminary to move from Chicago, Ill., to Elkhart, so it could begin an association with Goshen Biblical Seminary, located in Goshen on the campus with Goshen College. The land had been purchased, and administrators gathered in Elkhart to dedicate the site and to negotiate details with the architect and city officials. Among those present were Erland Waltner, who at the time was president-elect of MBS; S.F. Pannebecker, then MBS president; Paul Mininger, Goshen College president; and H.S. Bender, dean of Goshen Biblical Seminary.

The 50-year anniversary coincided with the weekly Monday late-morning prayer service at AMBS. In spite of snow and wind reminiscent of the earlier date, Janeen Bertsche Johnson, campus pastor, coordinated the time of remembrance outdoors.

Waltner checked his files for information about the 1957 service. In his date book for the year, he found a note about the 11 a.m. meeting. “Fifty years ago, at almost this same hour, we gathered to pray that this land that had produced soybeans and corn could be a seminary—a seedbed—to produce leaders for the church.” When he concluded his remembrances, he said, “It’s amazing to me to be here 50 years later.”

New prayers of thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness were shared and the group concluded with singing “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”

A groundbreaking service was held on September 3, 1957, at the start of construction for the seminary’s administration, classroom and library building, now called Waltner Hall, and the seminary’s dormitory and apartments. In September 1958, classes began on the campus, with GBS students joining MBS students in Elkhart several days a week. In 1969, GBS moved to the Elkhart campus and in 1993 the two seminaries incorporated as one.