Sawatzky, Erick (1944-2007)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Dec 24 p. 8

Birth date: 1944 Nov 15

text of obituary:

Prof. who guided pastors dies at 63

Sawatzky taught 16 years at AMBS

By Mary E. Klassen Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary

WINNIPEG, Man. — Erick Sawatzky, associate professor emeritus of pastoral ministry at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, died Dec. 6. He was 63.

Sawatzky joined the AMBS faculty tin 1986, directing the field education program and teaching in the area of pastoral ministry.

He was a member of the Commission on Education of the General Conference Mennonite Church for 12 years and a member of the GC Committee on the Ministry from 1988 to 1997.

In 2004, Sawatzky realized a dream of editing a collection of essays on ministry written by AMBS faculty, The Heart of the Matter: Pastoral Ministry in Anabaptist published by Cascadia and Herald Press.

Sawatzky taught at AMBS for 16 years. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy, he retired early in 2004. He and his wife, Beverley, moved to Winnipeg in 2006.

Sawatzky's colleagues at AMBS described him as gracious, supportive and encouraging.

Janeen Bertsche Johnson, first a student and then a colleague of Sawatzky, said: "Erick's class on pastoral leadership was one of the most helpful AMBS courses I took a a student."

Loren L. Johns, associate professor of New Testament and academic dean from 2000 to 2006, said: "Erick was passionate about the practice of pastoral ministry and the importance of an adequate theology of pastoral ministry in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. He expressed this passion in teaching and mentoring that were empowering and deeply formative for decades of AMBS students."

Jacob Elias, professor of New Testament, said: "Erick and I had a special kinship arising out of our shared roots as Saskatchewan farm boys whom God called into church work. In the mystery of God's working, both of us heard the call, first of all to pastoral ministry and then also to seminary teaching.

"Often our reminiscing about our respective journeys from the Canadian prairie heartland to our assignments at AMBS awakened within both of us the incongruous sense that these memories had bet be communicated in Low German."

Marlene Kropf, associate professor in spiritual formation and worship, said: "Erick's irrepressible joy in living is what I will miss most. Even as his physical health deteriorated, he brought energy and sparkle to conversations and meetings. Erick loved the church. He loved AMBS. He loved his family. He loved God. What a saint."

Sawatzky was born Nov. 15, 1944, at Rosetown, Sask., the son of Peter P. and Katharina Swawatzky. After studying at Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg and graduating from the University of Saskatchewan, he pursued a master's degree at AMBS. His studies prepared him to pastor in Hillboro, Kans., and Regina, Sask.

While he was the director of the Saskatoon Pastoral Institute and studying for his doctor of ministry degree at St. Stephen's College in Edmonton, Alta., he was involved in prison ministry.

Sawatzky is survived by his wife of 39 years, Beverley Boldt Sawatzky; a son, Tyler; a daughter, Tamara Sawatzky; five brother, Peter G., Jacob, Henry, William and Werner; and two sisters, Elsie Neufeldt and Edna Peters.

A memorial service was held Dec. 11 at Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg. A second memorial service will be held in Goshen, Ind., at a later date.