Ervin R. Stutzman
Ervin R. Stutzman, 72, who served as Mennonite Church USA’s second executive director, died on June 3, 2025.
Stutzman was known as a talented leader, teacher and preacher, who was deeply committed to Christ and the church. He served as MC USA’s first moderator (2001-2003) and second executive director (2010-1018). He played an instrumental role in the formation of the denomination as part of the executive board, led it through a difficult season of deep divisions and polarization during his tenure as executive director, and helped set a fresh vision and strategy as part of the team that developed the Purposeful Plan, in addition to convening the Future Church Summit before his retirement.
“There is no doubt that Ervin loved the church,” said Glen Guyton, executive director of MC USA. “I learned many things working alongside Ervin. His attention to detail and his dedication to the denomination he helped establish was unyielding. The role of executive director is not an easy one, but Ervin bore the burden of this mantle with grace and joy. He continued to serve faithfully until God called him home. My blessings go out to his wife, Bonnie, and the rest of his family.”
Stutzman was born April 27, 1953, in an Amish home in Kalona, Iowa, to Emma and Tobias Stutzman. He grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas, where his family moved after his father’s death when Stutzman was just three years old. He was baptized in Center Amish Mennonite Church and, later, joined Yoder Mennonite Church.
He married Bonita Haldeman of Manheim, Pennsylvania. Together they served for five years with Rosedale Mennonite Missions in Cincinnati, Ohio, with part of that time spent in voluntary service.
After his ordination in 1978 in the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, Stutzman co-pastored Mennonite Christian Assembly in Fredericksburg, Ohio.
In 1982, at age 29, Stutzman moved with his young family to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and became associate pastor of Mount Joy (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Church, while also serving as the associate director for Home Ministries at Eastern Mennonite Missions. Just 18 months later, he began a half-time role as district overseer for Lancaster Mennonite Conference, and from 1991 to 2000, he served as conference moderator. During those years, he also served a term on the Mennonite Church General Board.
In the late 1990s, he became associate professor of church ministries and then academic dean at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he served for 11 years.
During this time, Stutzman was also heavily involved in the merger of the Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church. He served as moderator-elect from 1999 to 2001 and as the first moderator of the newly formed Mennonite Church USA from 2001 to 2003.
Ervin and Bonnie Stutzman at Ervin’s installation as MC USA Executive Director in 2010.
In 2010, Stutzman was ordained again, this time in Virginia Mennonite Conference, and was named executive director of MC USA, a position he held for eight years. He retired from MC USA in April 2018 to spend more time with his wife and family, yet he continued to answer the call to serve as needed.
In 2019, Stutzman began a brief term as the transitional pastor of Zion Mennonite Church in Broadway, Virginia.
In Nov. 2023, Stutzman was affirmed as chair of the Faith and Life Commission of Virginia Mennonite Conference. The FLC promotes unity of faith and practice in Virginia Mennonite Conference and has oversight for ministerial credentials, qualifications and appointments, giving leadership to spiritual, doctrinal and faith-and-life issues. He moderated a significant meeting of the FLC on Thursday, May 29, even as his health was failing.
Ervin Stutzman at MennoCon2015. Photo by Ken Krehbiel. Property of MC USA.
A man of many talents, Stutzman was also known for his literary works. He wrote several historical novelizations of true Amish stories, including those of his parents’ lives, “Tobias of the Amish” and “Emma: A Widow Among the Amish,” and “Return to Northkill,” a three book series on the life of his ancestor, Jacob Hochstetler. He also penned Christian ministry books, such as “Being God’s People,” “Creating Communities of the Kingdom,” and “Welcome!,” as well as historical non-fiction books, such as “The Hochstetler Story” and “From Nonresistance to Justice.”
Stutzman received his Ph.D. in rhetoric and communication from Temple University (1993). He earned a Master of Arts in communications from the University of Cincinnati (1979) and a Master of Arts in biblical interpretation from Eastern Mennonite Seminary (1999). He also held a Bachelor of Arts in Christian ministries from Cincinnati Bible College (1978).
He was an active member of Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Part of Stutzman’s Life Purpose Statement read, “In response to God’s love expressed in Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I purpose to follow after God with all my heart … so that God may be glorified in my life at all times and in every way.”
Ervin was preceded in death by his son Daniel Tobias Stutzman.
His beloved spouse Bonita survives, as do two children: Emma Ruth (Stutzman) Dawson (Iowa City, Iowa), along with her sons Felix Tobias Dawson and Caius Lysander Dawson, and Benjamin Lee Stutzman and his wife Andrea Joy (Kniss) Stutzman (Harrisonburg, Virginia), along with their children Eva René Stutzman and Evan Rafael Stutzman. His twin, Erma Mae (Stutzman) Yoder (Ephrata, Pennsylvania) is his only surviving sibling.
A memorial service will be held at Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, VA on Sunday, June 8, at 3 p.m. and streamed online via the church website at https://www.pvmchurch.org/ervinstutzman.html.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to extend an act of service to a neighbor or friend as Ervin did for so many. Monetary donations may be sent to the Mennonite Church USA Archives. (Payable online at https://secure.myvanco.com/YM1N/campaign/C-YYEW or by check payable to MC USA and mailed to: MC USA, 718 N. Main St., Newton, KS 67114. Please note ARCHIVES in the memo line.
Updated June 6, 2025, 2:20 p.m. ET
Written by Jessica Griggs with input from Camille Dager and the Stutzman family.