{"id":51065,"date":"2022-09-22T11:04:51","date_gmt":"2022-09-22T15:04:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.easternmennonite.org\/?p=51065"},"modified":"2022-09-27T16:30:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T20:30:32","slug":"51065","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.easternmennonite.org\/es\/2022\/09\/51065\/","title":{"rendered":"New Teachers Bring New Bible Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three new high school teachers \u2014 Benjamin Bixler, Nathan Hershberger, and Karen Suderman \u2014 revised the Bible curriculum for grades 9-12 over the summer of 2022. They drew from the Encounter Curriculum created by Mennonite Schools Council, which is used by EMS in grades K-12, and built on the foundation of Anabaptist-centered Bible teaching at EMS since the school\u2019s founding in 1917.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur objectives are to meet students where they are in their own faith development, to help them think deeply about who they are and how they understand the world, to present an Anabaptist Christian understanding of Jesus, and to affirm that they are loved by God for who they are,\u201d summarized Bixler.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Teachers<\/b><\/p>\n

Benjamin Bixler studied English Education and Biblical Studies at Eastern Mennonite University, earned an MAR from Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and is a PhD student in Bible and Cultures at Drew Theological School. He teaches Creation and Promise, an Old Testament class required for 9th grade students; the Kingdom Living requirement for seniors each spring; and a new elective course titled Second Temple Judaism.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nathan Hersbherger \u201808, studied history, philosophy and theology at Eastern Mennonite University, earned a master\u2019s degree in religious studies from the University of Virginia, and a PhD in Christian Theological Studies from Duke University in 2022. He and his wife Kaitlin Heatwole served with Mennonite Central Committee in Iraq for three years, an experience he brings to his Global Christianity class, required for 11th grade students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Karen Suderman, originally from Didsbury, Alberta, earned a bachelor\u2019s degree from Canadian Mennonite University in literature and a master\u2019s degree from the University of Western Ontario in library science. She and her family lived in South Africa for seven years, serving with Mennonite Church Canada Witness. She teaches Jesus Story, a requirement for 10th grade students, and Kingdom Living for high school seniors.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Program<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bible department occupies an interesting intersection within the bigger picture of an EMS education,\u201d Bixler reflects. \u201cBible class outcomes are the responsibility of Bible teachers, but the entire faculty and staff are key to implementing the school\u2019s<\/span> Faith Practices<\/span><\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Bible teachers facilitate study of the Bible and learning about church history, ethics, theology, religion, and more, the teachers note. They also have a unique challenge of making space for a variety of theological perspectives and helping students of other faiths or no faith tradition to feel at home in EMS Bible classes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As they designed curriculum, the teachers turned to the EMS vision statement<\/a> and asked themselves: How does \u201cevery student belong, thrive, and live God\u2019s call\u201d in our Bible classes?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe seek to create spaces and curricula that strive for truth seeking,\u201d Suderman shared with colleagues at the beginning of the year. \u201cWe root the pursuit in the Bible, and aim to make materials and discussions relevant, and responsive to student needs and interests\u2026 We hope to help students to identify and exercise their gifts, engage their beliefs and faith in all aspects of their lives, and grow compassionate ears to have difficult conversations.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One visible change has been to the senior presentation, a culminating activity for the Kingdom Living course. The assignment invites seniors to reflect on:<\/span><\/p>\n