The students at Eastern Mennonite Seminary become a community. Whether you are here for one course, one year, three years, or many more, the faculty, staff and students at EMS are intentional about creating community.
Community-building opportunities at EMS include:
Seminary Community Council (SCC) is composed of students and faculty members. SCC assists in structuring a community life of Christian sharing and caring. It operates from the understanding that a dynamic community life is vital to the academic process. Since Christian community requires committed individuals, every student, faculty and faculty staff member is expected to use his or her gifts and influence for the enrichment of community life.
SCC appoints the Worship and Fellowship committees and selects student representatives to the Academic Committee, Faculty Meeting, and Strategic Planning Council. The colloquium and forum series are sponsored by SCC.appointsstudent representatives to Seminary and University committees.
The community gathers for Seminary Chapel twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Student groups often provide leadership for chapel. The experience of worship is central to our community life, and students are encouraged to faithfully support the chapel services.
An hour for lunch immediately follows seminary chapel when students and faculty are encouraged to gather in the lounge for food, fellowship and conversation.
Occasionally, we We also gather with the wider university for special lectures and campus-wide chapels. A university chapel schedule is posted and students are welcome to attend these on days when seminary chapel is not held.
Spiritual Life Week gives students, faculty and staff an opportunity to consider their faith journeys together. Each fall a special guest is invited to campus to share with studentsspecial events are planned for the community. Wednesday afternoon classes are cancelled and students are invited to a retreat with the guest speaker.
The SCC has developed guidelines for the use of the Seminary Study Room provides students with an opportunity to study together, work on projects, and share their lives with each other.. You can find those guidelines here: https://moodle.emu.edu/pluginfile.php/558262/mod_resource/content/1/2018%20Study%20Room%20guidelines.pdf
The Fellowship Committee plans seminary-wide events that provide opportunity for students to relax, get to know each other and spend time together when they’re not in class. They plan annual events such as the Fall Picnic and Lenten Lunches.
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