Andrew Suderman

Andrew Suderman is Associate Professor in Theology, Peace, and Mission. Although born in Canada, Andrew has spent many years living outside of Canada – a combined total of ten years in Latin America (Costa Rica, Bolivia, and Colombia) – before moving back to Canada. He received Undergraduate degrees in both Theology and Philosophy and received a Masters degree in Theology from Conrad Grebel University College.

Andrew has sought to maintain a balance between the academy and lived ministerial and practical experience in several different contexts. During his undergraduate studies in theology and philosophy Andrew worked with offenders and ex-offenders in both Provincial and Federal penitentiaries. While working on his Masters, Andrew supervised a 54-bed homeless shelter.

From 2009 – 2016, Andrew and his wife Karen served as Mennonite Church Canada Witness Workers in South Africa. They lived in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and helped to coordinate the Anabaptist Network in South Africa (ANiSA).

Andrew completed a PhD in Theology at the University of KwaZulu Natal in 2017. He also serves as the Secretary of Mennonite World Conference’s Peace Commission.

“Which Space counts as ‘Public’? South African Public Theology and Black (or Prophetic) Theology’s Response.” Paper delivered at the Uncommon Goods: Public Theology and Empire Conference in Brisbane, Australia (Sept. 2022).

“¡Para que a Través de la Iglesia! Una Reflexion para la celebración del 30 aniversario de Justapaz.” A Reflection prepared for Justapaz’s 30 Year Anniversary (Sept. 21, 2022).

“Peace, Reconciliation, and Decolonialism.” Workshop prepared for the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Indonesia, 2022.

“Declaration of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples.” A 3-part workshop that explores the Mennonite World Conference “Declaration of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples.” Prepared for the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Indonesia, 2022.

“Exploring the nature of peace contextually.” Workshop prepared for the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Indonesia, 2022.

“Mennonite World Conference and Political Advocacy.” Workshop prepared for the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Indonesia, 2022.

“Are We Saved?” Presentation and topical study on “Salvation” for First Mennonite Church, Richmond, VA (March 2022).

“Solidarity in the time of Covid-19: Being a Peace Church in the midst of a Pandemic.” Presentation for a GITJ Pastor’s Forum (Indonesia) (Sept. 1, 2021).

“Pursuing an Emancipatory Gospel: a primer on Liberation Theology.” Led two seminars as part of Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s School for Leadership Training (Jan. 12 & 14, 2021).

“Ser Iglesia de Paz: El Imperativo de la Construccion de la paz con justicia en el mundo de hoy.” Presentation at Dialogos Anabautistas (Virtual gathering of Latin American leaders and pastors, Oct. 14, 2020).

“Taller sobre Cambios Mas Importantes.” Assisted in leading a three-part workshop for World Vision El Salvador staff regarding Cambios Mas Importantes (Most Significant Change) methodology (Virtual workshops held Aug., 2020).

“Solidarity in the time of Covid-19: Theology during a Pandemic.” Presentation as part of a virtual Pastor’s Forum held by Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMU), May 27, 2020.

“Exploring the nature of ‘Witness’” – 3-part Bible study at Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Virginia (Feb. – Mar. 2020).

“Which space counts as ‘public’? South African Public Theology and Black (or Prophetic) Theology’s Response.” Paper presented at the American Academy of Religion Annual meeting (Ecclesiological Investigations Unit), 2019, San Diego, California, USA.

“So that through the church…” Keynote address at the Haverim Alumni breakfast at Eastern Mennonite University, Oct. 12, 2019.

“Loving Thy Neighbourhood.” Retreat for Park View Mennonite Church in exploring how to be missional in their context, September 7-8, 2019.

“Reclaiming Our Power: Assuming political agency in the quest for peace.” Paper presented at the II Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference & Festival, June 27-30, 2019, Elspreet, Netherlands.

“Mission and Peace: Mutually exclusive or intrinsically bound? Toward a post-colonial theology of mission.” Paper presented at the II Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference & Festival, June 27-30, 2019, Elspreet, Netherlands.

“Faith Action for Children on the Move.” Presented on MWC’s work surrounding “Children on the Move”. Presented this work at the II Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference & Festival, June 27-30, 2019, Elspreet, Netherlands.

“MWC’s ‘Declaration of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples’: Hearing the Stories that led to this commitment; exploring how to live it out.” Workshop at the II Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference & Festival, June 27-30, 2019, Elspreet, Netherlands.

“Exploring Anabaptism’s Third Way.” Campus Worship talk at Eastern Mennonite University, January 16, 2019.

“Believers Church and the (counter) political: the promise of Anabaptist ecclesiology in the South African context.” Paper presented at Believers Church Conference at Goshen College, 14-16, 2017.

“Today’s Anabaptist COs in our Global Body.” Presentation at the Mennonite Church USA Convention, 5 July, 2017.

“Which Peace? Whose Rationality? The Challenge of pursuing peace in the South African context.” Paper presented at the Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference and Festival, Conrad Grebel University College, 9-12 June, 2016.

“Journeying Towards Reconciliation: Reflections from a post-TRC South Africa.” Paper presented at the Centre for Peace Advancement at Conrad Grebel University College, 26 February, 2015.

“The Insidious Nature of Power: Lessons from South Africa.” Paper presented at the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre at the Toronto School of Theology, 13 January, 2015.

“When the Pursuit of Peace causes conflict.” Paper presented at the Centre for Peace Advancement at Conrad Grebel University College, 12 January, 2015.

“‘Who’ll be a witness for my Lord?’ Witnessing as an ecclesiological and missiological paradigm.” Paper presented at the South African Missiological Society Conference, March 2014.

“Third Way theology, Prophetic theology, and Anabaptism: a comparative study.” Paper presented at the Anabaptist Network in South Africa theology conference in Hermanus, South Africa, October 2013.

“Third Way Theology: Comparing South Africa’s ‘third way theology’ with the Anabaptist third way.” Paper presented at the Transforming Traditions Colloquium in Stellenbosch, South Africa, September 2013.

“War and Peace in the Old Testament.” Lecture given at Union Bible Institute, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, August 28, 2013.

“The Church as response to Empire: An Anabaptist Perspective.” Paper presented at the South African Missiological Society Conference at the University of South Africa in Pretoria, South Africa, January 2012.

“Overcoming Modernity’s Individualism: Becoming a Community of Peace in the face of Violence.” Paper presented at the Violence in the Democratic South Africa: A Challenge to the Church and its theology conference held at the University of Pretoria in Pretoria, South Africa, August 2010.