Anabaptism at 500

Join us in spring 2025 as we look back at 500 years of Anabaptism with readers theatre, an early Anabaptist Bible exhibit, book celebrations and much more.Anabaptist 500 Logo

Schedule of events

Anabaptism at 500 events are open to public. 

Jan. 26
Radical Reformation Film Festival 1, Luther
Introduced by Dr. Martina Cucchiara, professor of history
2:30 p.m., Centennial Hall, Stutzman Lecture Hall

Jan. 28
Forum, “Becoming Anabaptist: Personal Faith Stories and Reflections”
Micah Dodson, ’27; Bill Hanefeld Jr. ’05, sports information director; Dr. Angela Montel, professor of biology; Dr. Paul Neufeld Weaver ’81, director of global education and professor of education and Spanish; Deborah Yoder ’23, communications manager of Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery

Feb. 2
Radical Reformation Film Festival 2, Zwingli
Introduced by Dr. Gerald J. Mast, professor of communication
2:30 p.m., Centennial Hall, Stutzman Lecture Hall

Feb. 7
Friday Colloquium, “The Bible and Anabaptist Beginnings”
by Dr. Gerald J. Mast
4 p.m., Centennial Hall, Stutzman Lecture Hall

Feb. 8-9
Winter Bible School with the Anabaptist Community Bible
“In the Wilderness: Reading Numbers Today”
by Dr. Jackie Wyse-Rhodes, associate professor of Hebrew Bible, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and Anabaptist Community Bible contributor
Feb. 8, 10 a.m.-3 p.m;
Feb. 9: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora
(co-sponsored with First Mennonite Church, Bluffton)

Feb. 9
Radical Reformation Film Festival 3, The Radicals
Introduced by Dr. Gerald J. Mast, professor of communication
2:30 p.m., Centennial Hall, Stutzman Lecture Hall

Feb. 16
Reader’s Theatre, “I Have Not Forsaken the Word of God”
(based on testimony of Jacques d’Auchy from the Martyrs Mirror)
directed by Dr. Melissa Friesen, Mary Nord Ignat and Joseph Ignat Professor of Theatre and Communication
2:30 p.m., College Hall Ramseyer Auditorium

March 9-23
Exhibit, “Early Anabaptist Bibles in the Musselman Library Historical Collections” 
Curated by Carrie Phillips, Library director
Musselman Library Reading Room

March 9
Christian education elective class, “The Anabaptist Community Bible: 500 Years of Reading the Bible in the Anabaptist Tradition” 
led by Dr. John D. Roth, project director, Anabaptism at 500 for MennoMedia,
9:15 a.m., First Mennonite Church, Bluffton
 
Worship service sermon, “Repentance as Good News?” 
Dr. John D. Roth, 
10:30 a.m., First Mennonite Church, Bluffton

March 9
Anabaptist Community Bible Book Celebration
featured speaker, Dr. John D. Roth (with contributors Dr. Gerald Mast and Dr. Raymond F Person; and participants in local Anabaptist Bible contributing study groups Lydia Brenneman and Carrie Mast ’95)
4 p.m., Musselman Library

March 11
Forum, “Seeking Peace in Challenging Times: Lessons for Today from Mennonite Central Committee”
by Eric Kurtz
11 a.m., Yoder Recital Hall

March 14,
Friday Colloquium, “Early Anabaptist Bibles in Musselman Library Historical Collections” 
by Carrie Phillips ’99,  Library director
4 p.m., Musselman Library

March 18
Forum, “What is the Good Life? Insights from 500 Years of Anabaptism”
by Dr. John D. Roth
11 a.m., Yoder Recital Hall

March 23
Drawing Near book celebration
featured speaker and contributor Dr. Jeff Gundy. With contributing poets Sheri Hostetler ’84, Dr. Shannon McKeehan ’08 and Ruth Naylor ’71.
4 p.m., Musselman Library   

March 25
Spiritual Life Week Forum, “Bound to Remember: Five Hundred Years of Anabaptist Critique”
by Dr. Maxwell Kennel, pastor of Hamilton Mennonite Church
11 a.m., Yoder Recital Hall

April 11
Friday Colloquium, “Sin in Anabaptist Theology”
Dr. Alex Sider, Harry and Jean Yoder Scholar in Religion and academic dean
4 p.m., Stutzman Lecture Hall

April 27
Choral Concert, “Five Centuries of Anabaptist Singing—a Musical Odyssey”
directed by Camille Lively, director of music, First Mennonite Church
2:30 p.m., Yoder Recital Hall

June 20
Concert, “One Hundred Years of Mennonite Women Through Story and Song”
by Wendy Chappel-Dick, MBA ’08 and ensemble
7 p.m., First Mennonite Church

These events made possible with the generous support of Lowell and Marty Hostetler.

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