Suderman notes that he is grateful that the MTS student body is not uniform because a lot of learning that happens in the program occurs through student interaction with peers. Suderman explains that the program’s open nature is inspired by its Anabaptist roots and strong foundation in the Bible. “Because Anabaptism has historically been a minority view, I think there’s an inherent openness and a possibility of hospitality for different perspectives.”
“Mennonites have often thought of themselves as counter-cultural. In our setting, I think one of the most counter-cultural things we can do is to study the Bible as though it matters,” he notes. “People can go for days, months, even years, without moving outside of our culture. This is one of the great strengths of the Bible. Since it does not emerge from our time and place, it provides a unique opportunity to consider our own setting with new eyes.”
“I’m interested in the process of transformation. In my view, success is not that a student agrees with me,” Suderman adds, “but that they’ve deepened their understanding and gained an appreciation for a variety of viewpoints. Today’s church urgently needs people who genuinely understand each other and seek to work together, rather than simply denouncing the other side’s approach. Because the program welcomes different perspectives, it challenges students to articulate what they believe and why they believe it—a vital part of growing one’s faith.”
The Master of Theological Studies at Grebel is a two-year degree program open to persons from a range of academic backgrounds. Study the Bible, Christian theology, church history, and the practice of ministry in an interdisciplinary and ecumenical setting with a distinctive Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective. Join Grebel’s Theological Studies program to study with our core faculty: Alicia Batten, Jeremy Bergen, Troy Osborne, Carol Penner, and Derek Suderman. Apply today!