Myron Augsburger (born August 20, 1929) is an American

Mennonite Mennonites are a group of Anabaptism, Anabaptist Christianity, Christian communities tracing their roots to the epoch of the Radical Reformation. The name ''Mennonites'' is derived from the cleric Menno Simons (1496–1561) of Friesland, part of ...

pastor, professor, theologian, and author. He is the former president of both Eastern Mennonite College (now known as Eastern Mennonite University) and the

Council for Christian Colleges and Universities Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) is an international organization of evangelical Christian colleges and universities. The headquarters is in Washington, D.C., United States. History In 1976, presidents of colleges in Chri ...

Early life

Augsburger was born in

Elida, Ohio Elida ( ) is a village in Allen County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,923 at the 2020 census. It is included in the Lima, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Elida was laid out in 1852. A post office called Elida was establ ...

. He is one of six children, Fred, Donald, Anna Mary, Daniel and

David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Dam ...

, born to Clarence and Estella Augsburger. On November 28, 1950 he married Esther L. Kniss (creator of Guns into Plowshares) in Elida, Ohio. They have three children, John Myron, Michael David, and Marcia Louise.

Education

Augsburger received his Junior College Bible Diploma (1950) from Eastern Mennonite College (EMC) after which he began as pastor for Tuttle Avenue Mennonite Church in

Sarasota, Florida Sarasota () is a city in and the county seat of Sarasota County, Florida, United States. It is located in Southwest Florida, the southern end of the Tampa Bay area, and north of Fort Myers, Florida, Fort Myers and Punta Gorda, Florida, Punta Gord ...

. He returned to

Harrisonburg, Virginia Harrisonburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. It is also the county seat of the surrounding Rockingham Cou ...

, in 1953 to continue his studies and serve as a part-time campus pastor at EMC. He received his AB (1955), and ThB (1958), from EMC. After leaving EMC he completed a Masters of Divinity from

Goshen Biblical Seminary The land of Goshen is the Hebrew name of an area in the Nile delta in Ancient Egypt. Goshen may also refer to: Places United States Cities and towns *Goshen, Alabama *Goshen, Arkansas *Goshen, California *Goshen, Connecticut * Goshen, Georgia * ...

, in

Goshen, Indiana Goshen ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. It is the smaller of the two principal cities of the Elkhart–Goshen Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the South Bend–Elkhart–Mish ...

, in 1959. Returning to Virginia for his studies he finished his Masters in Theology (1961) and Doctorate in Theology and Ph.D. (1964) at

Union Presbyterian Seminary Union Presbyterian Seminary is a Presbyterian seminary in Richmond, Virginia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, offering graduate theological education in multiple modalities: in-person, hybrid, and online. History As a result of efforts underta ...

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

, while serving as a pastor at National Heights Mennonite Church. Augsburger continued his education in postgraduate positions at

George Washington University The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Originally named Columbian College, it was chartered in 1821 by ...

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, in 1964, at the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

, in

Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the List of municipalities in Michigan, fifth-most populous cit ...

in 1965, the

University of Basel The University of Basel (Latin: ''Universitas Basiliensis''; German: ''Universität Basel'') is a public research university in Basel, Switzerland. Founded on 4 April 1460, it is Switzerland's oldest university and among the world's oldest univ ...

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

in 1974, and

Mansfield College, Oxford Mansfield College, Oxford is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. The college was founded in Birmingham in 1838 as a college for Nonconformist students. It moved to Oxford in 1886 and was renamed Mansfield Coll ...

University, England in 1980. He was also a scholar in residence at Princeton Seminary during 1980–81.

Early career

During the years 1955–1961, while he was pursuing various degrees, he worked as an evangelist for Christian Layman’s Tent Evangelism (CLTE). CLTE was a Mennonite evangelical organization founded in

Kidron, Ohio Kidron is a census-designated place in southwestern Sugar Creek Township, Wayne County, Ohio, Sugar Creek Township, Wayne County, Ohio, Wayne County, Ohio, United States. The population was 966 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Hist ...

, in the early 1950s and in operation until the early 1960s. Augsburger continued to serve as an evangelist and speaker to large crowds throughout his career including: Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar, in Staley Foundation Lectures, for over 60 campuses, serving the Evangelical Fellowship of India in Conventions across India in 1964, 1969, 1973, speaker at the MarThoma Convention, Kerala, South India, February 2008. In 1960 Augsburger attended the first National Christian Leadership Breakfast with President

Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionar ...

. In 1961 Augsburger took a position as an evangelist with InterChurch, Inc., where he preached and ran city-wide meetings intermittently until 1996, at times drawing in as many as 7,000 people.

Mid-career

Starting in 1963, Augsburger began his professorial career at Eastern Mennonite College as Professor of Theology. In 1965, at age 35, he was named the fifth president of Eastern Mennonite College & Seminary, serving from 1965 to 1980. He continued to teach Theology during his tenure as college president. Shortly thereafter, in 1966, he received the first of his 10 honorary doctorates, at

Houghton College Houghton University is a Private university, private Christian liberal arts college in Houghton, New York, United States. Houghton was founded in 1883 by Willard J. Houghton and is affiliated with the Wesleyan Church. That same year Augsburger founded the Mennonite Christian Leadership Foundation which was later integrated with the organization Global Disciples in 2000. In 1971, Augsburger joined with other college presidents to found the

Christian College Consortium The Christian College Consortium is an affiliation of 13 Christian colleges and universities in the United States. Member schools provide each other with mutual support through scholarships, conferences, and exchange programs. History The Consort ...

. In 1976, he also participated in the founding of the

, an organization he would later go on to become president of. In 1980, Augsburger left EMC after a fifteen-year presidency. His time was marked by the completion of a new library and science center, as well as an increased profile for the university.

As a well-known evangelist, Myron had the vision and stature to guide EMC from being a rather insular school – one that lacked art, instrumental music, drama and intercollegiate athletics – to rapidly growing into a national player among Christian liberal arts colleges. - Phil Helmuth EMU’s executive director of development

Later career

After leaving the EMC presidency in 1980 Augsburger moved to

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

to become a scholar in residence at

Princeton Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a Private university, private seminary, school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Establish ...

. In the spring of 1981, Myron and Esther Augsburger were asked by the Mennonite Board of Missions to start a church in Washington, DC. The a church they founded on Capitol Hill, Washington Community Fellowship, continues to this day. Augsburger remained on the pastoral staff there until 1987. In September 1987 the Augsburgers spent a semester at Union Biblical Seminary in Pune, India. During their time there Myron taught courses and Esther (a renowned artist) built a nine-foot sculpture of Jesus washing Peter’s feet. During this time he also began his work as Moderator of the General Assembly of the

General Conference Mennonite Church The General Conference Mennonite Church (GCMC) was a mainline association of Mennonite congregations based in North America from 1860 to 2002. The conference was formed in 1860 when congregations in Iowa invited North American Mennonites to join ...

(now known as

Mennonite Church USA The Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) is an Anabaptist Christian denomination in the United States. Although the organization is a recent 2002 merger of the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church, the body has roots in the Radi ...

), which he held for two years. In May 1988 Augsburger became president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). During his time at CCCU the coalition sponsored the Through the Eyes of Faith books and conferences on a variety of topics, opened the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, and partnered with the Centre of Medieval and Renaissance Studies in Oxford, among other things. His tenure was characterized by a focus on racial and ethnic diversity. This global focus and concentration on social justice issues and peace theology caused some coalition college presidents to question whether he was pulling the coalition to the left. Augsburger served as president of the CCCU until 1994. During his tenure as president of the CCCU Augsburger advocated for a focus on Russia and led a team to Moscow to give lectures. Later, he returned to Russia to work with other evangelical leaders on developing the Russian American Christian University (opened in 1995), now known as the Russian American Institute. During this period Augsburger was a visiting or adjunct professor at a variety of institutions, notably:

Eastern Mennonite Seminary Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS) is the graduate theological division of Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), which is an accredited Christian liberal arts university in Harrisonburg, Virginia. EMU was established as Eastern Mennonite College in 19 ...

, Harrisonburg, Virginia;

Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) is an Anabaptist Christian seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, affiliated with Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada. It was formerly known as Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary until its nam ...

, Elkhart, Indiana (currently known as

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) is an Anabaptist Christian seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, affiliated with Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada. It was formerly known as Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary until its n ...

; Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India; Messerite Christian College, Addis Abba, Ethiopia; and Evangelical Theological Seminary, Osijek, Croatia. Augsburger continues to write books and to work in various positions of education and ministry. He also has served on a number of boards, including the board of reference for Christians for Biblical Equality and their publication Priscilla Papers, the Evangelical Environmental Network, Evangelicals for Social Action, Call for Renewal, and others.

Books authored

* ''Called to Maturity'', Herald Press (1960), ASIN: B000MQ6V2I * ''Plus Living, Zondervan'' (1963), ASIN: B000UT7SV0 * ''Invitation to Discipleship: The Message of Evangelism'', Herald Press; Second Edition (1967), ASIN: B000M9QGE8 * ''Faith for a Secular World'' (reprint, ''When Reason Fails''), Word Books; First Edition (1968), ASIN: B00005VV66 * ''The Broken Chalice'' (a historical novel), Herald Press (June 1971), * ''The Expanded Life'' (on the Sermon on the Mount), Abingdon Press (1972), * ''Quench Not the Spirit'', Herald Press; rev. edition (1975), * ''Principles of Biblical Interpretation in Mennonite Theology'', Herald Press (1975), * ''Walking in the Resurrection'', Herald Press (1976), * ''Faithful Unto Death'' (historical stories of 16th-century youth), Word Books (1978), * ''Practicing the Presence of the Spirit'', Herald Press (1982), * ''Evangelism as Discipling'', Mennonite Faith Series (Book 12), Herald Press (August 1983), * ''Nuclear Arms'' (with Dr. Dean Curry), Issues of Christian Conscience Series, Word Publishing Group (January 1987), * ''The Peacemaker'', Abingdon Press (May 1987), * ''I'll See You Again'', Herald Press (April 4, 1989), * ''Mastering Outreach & Evangelism'' (with Ratz and Tillapaugh), CT, Multnomah, Mastering Ministry Series, Thomas Nelson (June 1, 1990), * ''The Deacon'' (with his daughter, Marcia, a historical novel), Herald Press (July 1, 1990), * ''The Christ Shaped Conscience'', Scripture Press Publications; 1st printing edition (September 1990), * ''How To Be a Christ Shaped Family'' (with Esther), republished as ''God Sculptures the Family'', Victor Books; first printing edition (February 1994), * ''The Robe of God'', Herald Press (December 2000), * ''The Preacher’s Commentary Matthew'', Thomas Nelson (March 1, 2002), * ''Pilgrim Aflame'' (a historical novel, now in film, ''The Radicals'') Herald Press (June 1, 2005), * ''The Resurrection Life'', Evangel Pub House (August 30, 2005), * ''Soli Deo Gloria'', a daily devotional through Romans, Herald Press (March 27, 2007), * ''The Fugitive'', the story of Menno Simons, Herald Press (June 13, 2008), ASIN: B003C1QSSC * ''The Kingdom is For Real: Meditations on Discipleship of the Risen Lord'', WestBowPress (June 22, 2012),

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Augsburger, Myron 1929 births Living people Eastern Mennonite University alumni American nonviolence advocates American Mennonites Mennonite ministers Mennonite theologians Mennonite writers American evangelicals American male non-fiction writers American Protestant ministers and clergy Christian revivalists Heads of universities and colleges in the United States Writers from Ohio 20th-century American male writers 21st-century American male writers 20th-century Anabaptist ministers People from Allen County, Ohio Union Biblical Seminary, Pune alumni