Bluffton to offer new environmental science major

BLUFFTON, Ohio — Starting in fall 2024, Bluffton University students will have the opportunity to major in environmental science. Housed in the department of health sciences, natural sciences and mathematics, the program will provide students a broader understanding of the natural and built worlds around them through classes in biology, chemistry, geology, and soil, water and climate sciences. See the…

Bluffton to offer Master of Nutrition and Dietetics

BLUFFTON, Ohio — Bluffton University is now offering a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics graduate degree for students interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Beginning in January 2024, students must have a master’s degree and at least 1,000 hours of supervised experiential learning to sit for the RDN licensing examination. Bluffton’s new program fulfills both requirements. See www.bluffton.edu/dietetics…

Millsaps to present Forum on gun violence

BLUFFTON, Ohio — Cyneatha Millsaps, executive director of Mennonite Women USA, will present the Forum “Gun Violence: Its Effects on Family and Community” at 11 a.m. on Feb. 11 in Yoder Recital Hall at Bluffton University. This event is free and open to the public. Millsaps will tell about her family’s experience with gun violence and describe the many risks…

Bluffton University students explore faith through interactive program on Christianity

BLUFFTON, Ohio — For the second semester in a row, Bluffton University’s campus ministries team and student volunteers led Alpha, a multi-week video series and discussion group centered on the Christian faith. The international program, developed in London in 1977, creates spaces where participants come together for conversations about faith, life and God. “Alpha is specifically designed for people who…

Senior designs her own social work internship through Bluffton’s Summer Discovery Program

BLUFFTON, Ohio — Rowena Zuercher, a member of Sonnenberg Mennonite Church in Kidron, is making the most of her college experience. The social work and Spanish double major from Apple Creek, Ohio, is a student ambassador, active on campus and spent a semester in Guatemala. This summer, she created her own internship through the Summer Discovery Program, which provides a…

Missional festival planned for June 2020

Mark your calendar: Ohio Conference is planning a 2020 Intergenerational Missional Festival to be held at Bluffton University June 26-28, 2020. This event will be for people of all ages.

Bluffton peace lecture to tell story of MJ Sharp

BLUFFTON, Ohio — John E. Sharp will present “Changing the World One Life at a Time: The MJ Sharp Story” at 11 a.m. on March 26 in Yoder Recital Hall at Bluffton University. Sharp will reflect on the life of his son MJ Sharp who died in his prime as a peacebuilder in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On March…

Author to speak at Bluffton Student Life Forum

BLUFFTON, Ohio — Spiritual writer Christiana Peterson will present “Searching for Koinonia: In Community with Mystics and Misfits,” at 11 a.m. on Jan. 15 in Yoder Recital Hall at Bluffton University. A blogger and author, Peterson will share her experience of living in a Mennonite intentional community and being drawn to mystics such as St. Francis, Dorothy Day and Clare…

Bluffton University to present ‘Messiah’

BLUFFTON, Ohio — Bluffton University will present its 123rd performance of Handel’s “Messiah” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, in Yoder Recital Hall. While tickets are free, they must be reserved at http://tickets.bluffton.edu or at Marbeck Center. Dr. Bo Young Kang, director of choral activities, will make her debut conducting the oratorio at Bluffton. Soloists along with the Bluffton Choral…

Bluffton students ‘reimagine’ the Church

By Tricia Bell Bluffton University BLUFFTON, Ohio – Using the theme “Reimagining the Church: Looking Back to Move Forward” as inspiration, Bluffton University students explored the relevance of the Church in the modern era during Spiritual Life Week. The week-long, student-led examination of faith is held each semester on Bluffton’s campus. For Jenny Dorsey, a Bible and theology major from…

Bluffton University to celebrate Spiritual Life Week

BLUFFTON, Ohio – Hannah Troyer, a grassroots community organizer, will speak during Bluffton University’s semi-annual Spiritual Life Week Forum at 11 a.m. on Oct. 23 in Yoder Recital Hall. The title of her presentation is “Grassroots Organizing: Reclaiming and Reimagining the Church.” Troyer, of Akron, Ohio, is the co-founder of a community organization focused around challenging conversations. She is a…

Bluffton University to host healthcare gathering

Healthcare Workers, Students, and Retirees: You are invited to the Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship Annual Gathering 2018, which will take place June 22-24, 2018, at Bluffton University, Bluffton, Ohio. Come join doctors, nurses, dietitians, therapists, chaplains, mental health workers, students, educators, and other healthcare workers and families for a weekend of worship, inspiration, learning, networking, and fellowship. The theme this year…

Bluffton student develops social justice curriculum

By Cara Echols BLUFFTON, Ohio – Emily Short wears many hats. A bible and theology major with three minors (psychology, sociology, and peace and conflict studies) at Bluffton University, she recently used her knowledge in all of those areas along with a desire for social change to create an innovative summer camp curriculum. A senior from Archbold, Ohio, Short constructed…

Conference to focus on evangelism, discipleship

Gathered and Sent, a missional conference, will precede the 2018 Annual Conference Assembly. It will take place March 8-9 at Bluffton University. Presenters will be Meghan Good, teaching pastor at Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, Arizona, and Marvin Lorenzana, discipleship initiatives director at Mennonite Mission Network. This conference will focus on growing as a good news community. Join us as…

Bluffton University to host ACA

Bluffton University will host the 2018 Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) of the Ohio Conference March 9-10. The theme of this year’s gathering will be “Gathered and Sent,” based on 1 Peter 2:9-10 and Luke 10:1-12. Ohio Conference also will hold a missional conference at Bluffton University immediately prior to ACA, on March 8-9. See page 3 for more missional conference…

Missional conference to precede ACA

Meghan Good and Marvin Lorenzana will be the featured speakers at Gathered and Sent, the missional conference at Bluffton University March 8-9, 2018, immediately prior to Annual Conference Assembly. To download the event flier, click here: 2017 Missional Conference Flier.

Doctrine of Discovery programs come to Bluffton

BLUFFTON, Ohio – Erica Littlewolf, coordinator of the Indigenous Visioning Center for Mennonite Central Committee (Central States), will bring two programs to Bluffton University on Nov. 28. Littlewolf will present “Doctrine of Discovery: A Living History” during Forum at 11 a.m. in Yoder Recital Hall. During the presentation, Littlewolf, who is Northern Cheyenne, will explain how the 15th century Christian…

Annual Conference Assembly

Bluffton University will host the 2018 Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) of the Ohio Conference on March 9-10, 2018. The theme for ACA will be “Gathered and Sent,” based on 1 Peter 2:9-10 and Luke 10:1-12. Ohio Conference also will hold a missional conference at Bluffton University immediately prior to ACA, on March 8-9. Registration for the 2018 Annual Conference Assembly is…