Three professors involved with recently published scholarly books on Amish and Africa

 

GOSHEN, Ind. – One of the two newly released books by Goshen College professors describes Indiana’s Amish, a group known for its stance on peace, while the other compiles stories from African peacemakers.

 

Professor of History Steve Nolt and Professor of Sociology and Director of International Education Tom J. Meyers co-authored “Plain Diversity: Amish Cultures and Identity” (May 2007, Johns Hopkins University Press).

 

“Plain Diversity: Amish Cultures and Identity” is the result of a four-year study conducted by Nolt and Meyers on all of the Old Order Amish communities in Indiana. “Since most of the scholarship on Amish society had focused on groups in Pennsylvania, there was a major gap in the literature on Midwestern Amish,” said Nolt.

 

“In the course of our research we visited each of the Amish settlements in Indiana, most of them more than once, interviewed folks in each place, and looked at archival and library material about each settlement, and also visited Amish settlements in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Ontario with ties to Indiana,” Nolt said.

 

“We were intrigued by the relationship of diversity and unity, and as we searched for a model to make sense of it, decided that our study was really about Amish culture more broadly than Indiana,” Nolt said. “Our book draws on the rich array of Indiana examples to document Amish diversity, but it suggests ways of thinking about Amish culture and values that are national in their implications.”

One specifically local contextual factor is that, “in northern Indiana, most heads of households are working in industry. That’s fairly unique,” Meyers said.

The book also describes Amish who shop at Wal-Mart, vacation in Florida and attend public schools, stating that these practices can be “as curious to other Amish people as they are to outsiders.”

The book offers, the authors say, “an invitation to step back and ask questions of Amish unity and cultural coherence in light of the diversity that makes simple generalization impossible but promises a richer representation.”

 

The book is the sequel to a book Meyers and Nolt published in 2005, “An Amish Patchwork” (Indiana University Press). The project was funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

 

Nolt has taught history at Goshen College since 1999. He received his bachelor’s degree from Goshen College in 1990, a master’s in theological studies from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 1994 and master’s (1996) and doctorate (1998) degrees from the University of Notre Dame. He serves as chair of the History and Political Science Department. He is also the author of “A History of the Amish,” rev. ed. (2004, Good Books).

Meyers is the director of international education, professor of sociology and associate dean. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College (1975) and master’s (1978) and doctorate (1983) degrees from Boston University. Meyers and Nolt presented their findings from their books at a national conference, “The Amish in America: New identities and Diversities,” in early June.

Assistant Professor of Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies Dean Johnson co-edited “Seeking Peace in Africa: Stories from African Peacemakers” (April 2007, Pandora Press).

 

As a response to an invitation from the World Council of Churches for the Historic Peace Churches (HPC) to share their peacemaking experience with them, the HPC, made up of Friends (Quakers), Mennonites and the Church of the Brethren, decided to hold a gathering in Kenya in 2004.

 

That conference, called the Watu Wa Amani (“people of peace”) Historic Peace Church Consultation in Africa, created an opportunity for sharing and addressing issues related to overcoming violence and building peace, especially in the context of Africa. Johnson said, “Hearing the embodied peace theologies of HPC folks from all over Africa gives one a deep appreciation for what is possible in the midst of some very rough situations.”

 

This book is made up of the stories told there, both of the despair created by violence and of the hopeful acts of peacemaking. In addition, a DVD was released last year, produced by Goshen College. Johnson said, “It profiles some of the conference participants and allows people to hear some of the stories told [there].”

 

Johnson served on the planning committee for the conference as well as both projects. “These projects were years in the making and it is nice to see them finally reaching the public,” he said.

 

Johnson received his bachelor’s degree from Manchester College in 1996 and his master’s degree from Bethany Theological Seminary in 2000. He has been teaching peace and justice courses at Goshen College since 2003, while serving as the college’s director of the Plowshares Peace Collaborative.

 

Johnson and three others involved in the conference edited the book. Donald E. Miller is professor emeritus of Christian education and ethics at Bethany Theological Seminary. Scott Holland is associate professor of peace studies and cross-cultural studies, Bethany Theological Seminary. Lon Fendall serves as director of the center for global studies and the center for peace and justice at George Fox University.

 

Both books are available for purchase at national book chains and online retailers. The Goshen College Bookstore (574-535-7482) is able to order “Plain Diversity,” listed at $48, by request. “Seeking Peace in Africa” is listed at $22.95.

– Kelli Yoder

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.