Donald F. Durnbaugh
Encyclopedia
Donald F. Durnbaugh was a noted historian of the Church of the Brethren
who published more than 200 books, articles, reviews, and essays on its history. In the words of Dale Brown, with whom he taught at Bethany Theological Seminary
, Durnbaugh was "the dean of Brethren historians." He was also considered a leading authority on other Anabaptist religious movements
.
in 1952 and a doctorate in history from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1960.
Durnbaugh taught at Juniata College
in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania from 1958 until he went to Bethany Theological Seminary
in 1962 to teach church history. In 1986, he served in the highest elected position in the Church of the Brethren as Annual Conference moderator. The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination of the Anabaptist and Pietist traditions that is committed to living out its faith peacefully, simply, and in community.
In 1988, Durnbaugh became the J. Omar Good Distinguished Visiting Professor at Juniata and, in 1989, the Carl W. Ziegler Professor of History and Religion at Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. His many professional associations included affiliation with the Young Center for the Study of Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College
and service as President of the Brethren Journal Association. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Juniata College in 2003.
At the time of his death in 2005, he was in the process of editing Volume IV of the Brethren Encyclopedia, with co-editor Dale Ulrich and contributing editor Carl Bowman
. Published in 2006, this volume included new information on the Brethren from 1980 to 1995, a comprehensive index covering all four volumes, and additions and corrections to the first 3 volumes.
Church of the Brethren
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination originating from the Schwarzenau Brethren organized in 1708 by eight persons led by Alexander Mack, in Schwarzenau, Bad Berleburg, Germany. The Brethren movement began as a melding of Radical Pietist and Anabaptist ideas during the...
who published more than 200 books, articles, reviews, and essays on its history. In the words of Dale Brown, with whom he taught at Bethany Theological Seminary
Bethany Theological Seminary
Bethany Theological Seminary is the graduate school and academy for theological education for the Church of the Brethren. Bethany, located in Richmond, Indiana, is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and the Higher Learning Commission of the North...
, Durnbaugh was "the dean of Brethren historians." He was also considered a leading authority on other Anabaptist religious movements
Anabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
.
Educator and church leader
Born in 1927, Durnbaugh earned a bachelor's degree in history from Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana, in 1949. Following graduation, he engaged in volunteer service in Europe through the Brethren Service Commission, working with refugees in Austria, where he later returned to direct the Brethren Service program (1953–1956). Durnbaugh went on to earn a master's degree in history from the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1952 and a doctorate in history from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1960.
Durnbaugh taught at Juniata College
Juniata College
Juniata College is a private liberal arts college located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. It is named after the Juniata River — one of the principal tributaries of the Susquehanna River. In 1876 it became the first college founded by the Church of the Brethren and has been co-educational since...
in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania from 1958 until he went to Bethany Theological Seminary
Bethany Theological Seminary
Bethany Theological Seminary is the graduate school and academy for theological education for the Church of the Brethren. Bethany, located in Richmond, Indiana, is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and the Higher Learning Commission of the North...
in 1962 to teach church history. In 1986, he served in the highest elected position in the Church of the Brethren as Annual Conference moderator. The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination of the Anabaptist and Pietist traditions that is committed to living out its faith peacefully, simply, and in community.
In 1988, Durnbaugh became the J. Omar Good Distinguished Visiting Professor at Juniata and, in 1989, the Carl W. Ziegler Professor of History and Religion at Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. His many professional associations included affiliation with the Young Center for the Study of Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown College is a small comprehensive college located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania in Lancaster County. The school was founded in 1899 by members of the Church of the Brethren...
and service as President of the Brethren Journal Association. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Juniata College in 2003.
Scholarship
Among his numerous books and articles are:- "European Origins of the Brethren: A Source Book on the Beginnings of the Church of the Brethren in Early Eighteenth-Century Europe" (Brethren Press, 1958)
- "Brethren in Colonial America: A Source Book on the Transplantation and Development of the Church of the Brethren in the Eighteenth Century" (Brethren Press, 1967)
- "The Believers' Church: The History and Character of Radical Protestantism" (Macmillan, 1968)
- "Every Need Supplied: Mutual Aid and Christian Community in the Free Churches, 1525–1675" (Temple University PressTemple University PressTemple University Press is a university press publishing house that is part of Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The press was founded in 1969....
, 1974) - "The Brethren Encyclopedia, Volumes I–III (Ed.) (Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc., 1983)
- "Meet the Brethren" (Ed.) (Brethren Press, 1984)
- "Pragmatic Prophet: The Life of Michael Robert Zigler" (Brethren Press, 1989)
- "Fruit of the Vine: A History of the Brethren, 1708–1995" (Brethren Press, 1997)
At the time of his death in 2005, he was in the process of editing Volume IV of the Brethren Encyclopedia, with co-editor Dale Ulrich and contributing editor Carl Bowman
Carl Bowman
Carl Bowman is an American sociologist, who is widely recognized for his studies of Anabaptist religious groups and is perhaps the foremost expert on the social and cultural history of the Church of the Brethren.- Author and educator :...
. Published in 2006, this volume included new information on the Brethren from 1980 to 1995, a comprehensive index covering all four volumes, and additions and corrections to the first 3 volumes.