Historical Committee

 

The Back Page

Our congratulations to Gemechu Gebre Telila, Sarah Marie Rempel, and Stefan Epp, first place winners in the 2002 John Horsch Mennonite History Essay Contest. Their papers, along with the other winners and their entries are listed below.

Class I - Seminary and Graduate School:
First, Gemechu Gebre Telila, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Virginia, History of the Meserete Kristos Church at Wonji Gefersa, Ethiopia, during the Derg, 1974-1991: "God Works for the Good"
Second, Ami L. Hudson, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Virginia, The Enigma of Power in Christ's Humble Church
Third, John W. Jacobs, Jr., Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Virginia, For other foundation can no-man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 3:11

Class II - Undergraduate College and University:
First, Sarah Marie Rempel, Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas, Unification Unveiled: A Tale of Two Churches and the Intricacies of Identity Conflict
Second, Tammy Parker, Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana, Education and Ethnicity: The Relationship between Russian Mennonites and School District Formation in Buhler and Goessel, Kansas
Third, Zachary J. Walton, Bluffton College, Bluffton, Ohio, Advocating the Kingdom: The Ecclesiological Rhetorical Strategies of Post-Münsterian Dutch Anabaptist Leaders

Class III - High School:
First, Stefan Epp, Rosthern Junior College, Rosthern, Saskatchewan, The Life of Claas Epp, Jr.

In each class first-place winners are awarded $100, second place, $75 and third place $50. First-place winners also receive a one-year subscription to the Mennonite Quarterly Review. All entrants receive a one-year subscription to the Mennonite Historical Bulletin.

This year's entries were judged by Perry Bush, Professor of History at Bluffton College, Bluffton, Ohio; Leonard Gross, Goshen, Indiana, retired Executive Director of the Archives of the Mennonite Church; and Mark Metzler Sawin, Assistant Professor of History at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Eleven students in three academic levels submitted papers on various topics in Mennonite studies.

The annual contest is sponsored by Mennonite Church USA Historical Committee, and is named in honor of John Horsch (1867-1941), the German-American Mennonite historian and polemicist who did much to reawaken interest in Anabaptist and Mennonite studies in the 20th century. The deadline for submission of entries for next year's contest is June 15, 2003. We especially encourage essays that reflect the experience of people of color in Anabaptist/Mennonite communities.

-jes



Mission Statement:
"God calls us to preserve our faith heritage, to interpret our stories, and to proclaim God's work among us."

Home  
Resources
Mennonite Historians Directory
Mennobits Project

Mennonite Historical Bulletin
Features
Photos
Staff

Contact us

Webmaster: John E. Sharp | Redesign: Tim Nafziger | Last updated: 1/28/2003