Lonnie Yoder

The church and seminary face a dizzying array of challenges and opportunities as we live into the 21st century. Dr. Lonnie Yoder is passionate about preparing leaders who are responding to their unique callings in life. He especially enjoys mentoring and counseling younger leaders who are discovering ways to share their gifts with both church and society. He is intrigued by the challenges of revisioning theological education, including the development of new delivery systems such as distance learning and hybrid courses.

Lonnie is excited about investing in the church in both its traditional and emergent forms. One practical expression of this commitment has been his role as a consultant to various congregations, pastors, and leaders over the past several decades. He is also committed to cultivating a truly diverse church in which all of those who represent the rich diversity of our human community are given voice and place in Christian communities around the globe. Involvements in Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, Colombia, and other locations have both inspired and challenged Lonnie. Finally, Lonnie is committed to a lifelong journey of discovering the ordinary, but powerful, ways in which we care for one another in the church and beyond. Of special interest is the various ways in which technology can serve us as we strengthen our care and our communities.

A native of rural southeast Iowa, Lonnie served as youth minister and assistant pastor in his home congregation, East Union Mennonite Church, for twelve years before engaging doctoral studies in Religion and Personality at the University of Iowa. Married to Teresa Boshart, a managing director for Everence, father to two young adult daughters, and grandfather of two, Lonnie enjoys family time, sports, genealogy, and gardening. A professor at Eastern Mennonite University from 1991-2021, he carried the role of associate dean at the seminary from 2010-2016 while continuing to teach in the areas of pastoral care/counseling and leadership.

I am called to be both a seeker and mentor in the way of Jesus. In the field of pastoral care and counseling this involves building awareness, understanding and making meaningful connections within and between persons and communities. Creative engagement with the seminary community, the church and the world provides grist for this unfolding journey.

• LEAP Center-Edge Challenges: An Improvisational Leadership Dance-Academy of Religious Leadership, Chicago, IL-April 17-19, 2009

• The Jesus Movement in the Early Context-Association of Theological Schools Educational Technology Conference, Tampa, FL-March 28-29, 2008

• Lively Choruses: A Jamaican Mennonite Dance-Annual Meeting of the Society for Pastoral Theology-Los Angeles, CA-June 21, 2003

• An Introduction to Amish and Mennonite Perspectives on Commitment/Discipleship Revisited-Annual Meeting of the Society for Pastoral Theology-Denver, CO—June 17-19, 1999

• An Introduction to Amish and Mennonite Perspectives on Commitment/Discipleship”-Annual Meeting of the Society for Pastoral Theology-Chicago, IL-June 18-20, 1998

• Walking the Road to Wellness: Care and Nurture of Pastors and Caregivers-Mennonite Health Assembly-Pittsburgh, PA-April 3-6, 1997

• The Behavioral Response to Authority in Three Religious Traditions”-7th Annual Meeting of the Association of Mennonite Psychologists-Hesston, KS-March 5-7, 1992

Presentations

• “Pastoral Care in the Time of Covid-19 and Beyond”-EMS Forum, April 15, 2020
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• “Pastoral Care in the Time of Coronavirus”-Zoom presentation in 5 different districts of the Virginia Mennonite Conference, April 2020
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• “Boundaries”-Park View Mennonite Church, January 19, 2020
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• “Setting Healthy Boundaries”-Financial Coaching Seminar with Lana Miller and Teresa Boshart Yoder-Capital Christian Fellowship, Lanham, MD-March 30, 2019
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• “Healthy Boundaries Training 101” Presentations with Teresa Boshart Yoder-Various Districts and Clusters in Virginia Mennonite Conference-September 2017-2019
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• “MCUSA Policies on Misconduct/Abuse”-Park View Mennonite Church Pastoral Team-October 17, 2018
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• “Care in the Congregation”-Wellbeing for Minds and Hearts Series-Community Mennonite Church-October 7, 2018
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• Bible Study at Park Place, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Harrisonburg, VA-November 2017
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•  “Challenging/Difficult People in Congregational Life…including Ourselves”-Virginia Mennonite Conference Pastor’s Summit, Harrisonburg, VA-July 20, 2017
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• “My Future: How in the World Do I Decide?”-Youth Seminar at Orlando 2017, Orlando, FL-July 5-6, 2017
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•  “Sports and Faith: How Do They Relate?”-Youth Seminar at Orlando 2017, Orlando, FL-July 5-6, 2017
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• “Virginia Mennonite Conference Structure”-Community Mennonite Church, March 5, 2017

• “James Fowler’s Stages of Faith”-Park View Mennonite Church, November 6, 2016

• Bible Study at Park Place, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Harrisonburg, VA-November 1, 2016

• “Biblical/Theological Perspectives on Harm in the Community of Faith”-Virginia Mennonite Conference Credentialed Leaders Consultation, May 20, 2016

• “Ten “Best Practice” Questions in Complicated/Challenging Pastoral Situations”-Harrisonburg District Pastors Luncheon, May 19, 2016

• “Developing Healthy Congregations”-Ohio Mennonite Conference Pastor/Elder Retreat-Camp Buckeye, Beach City, OH-February 19-20, 2016

• “Discerning Call”-Vocations Banquet for EMU Undergrad Students-Harrisonburg, VA-February 16, 2016

• “Challenging Pastoral Scenarios: Invitation to Learning and Growth”-Harrisonburg District Pastors Luncheon, Harrisonburg, VA-January 21, 2016

Roles

• Chair of Community Life Commission, Community Mennonite Church, 2019-2020
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• Pastoral Care Team, Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA-2015-16

• Emergency Preparedness Task Force, Community Mennonite Church, 2016

• Leadership Development Pilot Process, Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA-February-November 2016

• Pastoral Consultant to fourteen area churches and pastors, Harrisonburg District of Virginia Mennonite Conference-1999, 2005-2018

• Conference Delegate (Virginia Mennonite Conference) representing the Teaching Cluster in Virginia Mennonite Conference-2009-2018

• Board Member, House of Yoder, Inc.-Grantsville, MD-1996-2011

• Ministry Support Team Member for Peace House (an Anabaptist ministry to young adults with primary focus on the campus of James Madision University)-2005-2011

• Member of Trauma Healing Team to Haiti-Port-au-Prince, Haiti-May 17-24, 2010

• 2020-Mid-Prairie Alumni Service Award, Mid-Prairie High School, Wellman, Iowa
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• 2007-Quality Service Award, Eastern Mennonite University

• 1990-Collegiate Associations Council Research Grant (for dissertation research), The University of Iowa

• 1990-Arthur Steindler Award (based on academic excellence and practical service, especially in teaching), School of Religion, The University of Iowa

• 1987-Louis Penningroth Award (based on potential as a counselor), School of Religion, The University of Iowa

• 1986-1987-Elmer Ediger Memorial Scholarship, Mennonite Mental Health Services

• 1985-Clinical Pastoral Education Award, School of Religion, The University of Iowa

• 1968-1972-General Motors Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa-Drake University

• Member, Association of Clinical Pastoral Education

• Association of Clinical Pastoral Education

• Society for Pastoral Theology

• Association of Practical Theology

• Academy of Religious Leadership

• Anabaptist Mennonite Scholars Network

• “Training of Trainers for Teaching Healthy Boundaries 101 & 201-Faith Trust Institute-facilitated by Rev. Pat Simpson and Rev. M.L. Daniel, ESQ, Kansas City, Missouri-May 10-11-2017

• “Developing Intercultural Competence”-lead facilitator-Ertell M. Whigham, Jr.-Virginia Mennonite Conference, Harrisonburg, VA-May 5, 2017

• “Creating Congregational Cultures of Generosity”-Lake Institute on Faith and Giving seminar-First Mennonite Church, Richmond, VA-March 3-4, 2017

• “Special Tax Considerations for Clergy”-presented by Edward T. Yoder, CPA-Harrisonburg, VA-January 24, 2017

• “State of the Older Adult: The Time Is Now”-James Madison University, November 2, 2016

• Mennonite Higher Education Faculty Conference-“Fidelity of Place”, Bethel College, North Newton, KS-May 25-27, 2016

• “Myers Briggs Type Indicator”-Formation in God’s Story I class-November 13, 2019
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• ATS Steering Committee

• “A Good Sadness”-Eastern Mennonite Seminary Clinical Pastoral Education Didactic-April 3, 2017

• “What I Have Learned in the VMC Context”-Eastern Mennonite Seminary Faculty Retreat-February 10, 2017