When I was 14 years old I was baptized at the Shippensburg (PA) Church of the Brethren, and was discipled by that church. Following high school, I entered Messiah College, near Harrisburg (PA) to study Physics. During my freshman year, I took a required “Introduction to Bible Study” class, and through that experience I began to sense a deep desire to study the Bible in a scholarly manner. At the same time I began to sense a call to share God’s Word with the church through the gift of teaching. Pastor Ronald Ludwick, was instrumental in assisting me as I entered the licensed ministry process. I changed my college major from Physics to Religion and graduated with a BA in Religion in 1982.
My intention at that time was to earn a PhD in Biblical Studies. I had been accepted at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois to work toward that goal. However, I decided that before going to Trinity I should gain some experience in local church ministry. This led to a pastorate with the Denton (MD) Church of the Brethren; and then later one in the Mount Zion Road Church of the Brethren near Lebanon, PA. While at Mount Zion Road, I began my M.Div. program at Evangelical School of Theology in Myerstown, PA. I graduated in 1992 with a concentration in Old Testament studies. Following my service as pastor at Mount Zion Road, I served as chaplain at Peter Becker Community, a Brethren retirement community in Harleysville, PA, and then in two pastorates in the Western PA District. In 2017 I was called to be the Western PA District Executive.
My experience with the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center began during the 1990’s when I taught a course in worship for the Atlantic Northeast District’s SVMC educational program. When I moved to Western PA District, I began to teach SVMC courses in Old Testament, Church History, and Biblical Interpretation and continue to do so up to the present time. I have served on the SVMC Board as a representative from Western PA District and now serve there by virtue of my role as District Executive.
I have found great satisfaction in teaching SVMC classes as it has provided a creative outlet for sharing my gift of teaching with others in the church. I have enjoyed seeing the growth in students’ understanding of God’s Word and of the history of the Church as they prepare for ministry. For many of the licensed ministers in the Western PA District, the SVMC courses are their only avenue for ministerial training. I appreciate what the SVMC program provides for these men and women who have been called to leadership in the Church of the Brethren.
--William Wenger
