Peace church traditions

Armistice celebration in 1918

С�Ŵ�ý was founded on the principles of peace and nonviolence connected to our Mennonite heritage. Throughout its 125 years, Bluffton has maintained that peace and nonviolence commitment so much so that students have left Bluffton so impacted that they chose to continue to live out those principles in their own lives.

Mary Anne (Bertsche) Moser, a 1950 graduate, spent time working with refugees through the “Sanctuary Movement.” This movement was built by churches who sponsored refugees. There was also support from Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) where missionaries, her son included, were working for churches in Honduras for those who were fleeing El Salvador.

“While we were there, [my son] took us into his shed and opened up this box. It was MCC quilts that had been shipped down there. Soldiers
guarded the camps in Honduras, so people, once they were in, they weren't allowed to leave. And MCC wasn't the only one; there were other groups with them that we were helping, too. I also visited the border and the group of sanctuary churches that's right there on the border."

The Sanctuary Movement and Moser’s work with refugees reflects her personal and Mennonite faith.

“We're supposed to take care of people that need taken care of. I think it gave me a broader outlook. I think it makes me much more empathetic to other cultures.”

Even younger graduates have looked at conflict studies in more modern landscapes.

“If you’re making a choice for peace, you’re making it very intentionally because of a real possibility of violence or conflict.”
Hannah (Kehr ’07) Heinzekehr

Hannah (Kehr ’07) Heinzekehr credited her passion for peace and conflict studies most notably in her cross cultural experience to Northern Ireland. “Studying conflict transformation in a place that's really experienced lived conflict for certain sticks with me. I did
my internship during that experience at a local community organization, which was a place for reconciliation dialogue right on the coast.”

Heinzekehr said that growing up in a Mennonite community, and being part of Mennonite congregations that talk often about peace theology, was really helpful during her time in a country that is known for conflicts.

Any graduate of Bluffton will know the quote “It’s all about relationships.” Recited first by former dean of students, Dr. Don Schwiengruber, it’s a phrase that David Glick ’07 will never forget. Now a pastor, Glick credits Bluffton faculty and staff for living out that phrase.

“I think I’ve learned a lot about how to love people after seeing it done on a daily basis at Bluffton. I’ll never forget how they took care of me when they didn’t have to and that was really cool.”