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Miller, Marlin E. (1939-1994)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 10 Nov 1994 p. 1
Birth date: 1938 Nov 29
text of obituary:
ELKHART, Ind. — Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary president Marlin E. Miller, hailed for fostering MC/GC unity, died of a heart attack at his home Nov. 3. He was 55.
Among the significant accomplishments of Miller’s 20 years at AMBS was his role in the joining of Goshen Biblical Seminary and Mennonite Biblical Seminary into Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary last year.
GBS, the Mennonite Church seminary; and MBS, the General Conference Mennonite Church seminary; previously shared facilities and faculty as Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries.
“He played an important role in the theological direction of the Mennonite church, specifically in integration," said George R. Brunk III, dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Va., and a member of the MC/GC Integration Exploration Committee. “I think that he was one of the most creative theological minds in this generation of North American Mennonites."
Miller became GBS president in 1975 and continued in that role when was named MBS president in 1990. He then assumed the presidency of AMBS when the seminaries merged in 1993.
The funeral was held Nov. 7 at College Mennonite Church in Goshen with Duane Beck, pastor of Belmont Mennonite Church, officiating. Miller was a member of Belmont. Almost 1,000 people attended the funeral.
“Now is not the time to die, Marlin," Beck said in his meditation. “We cannot take Marlin’s place. No one can do that. The way we live now is that we each take our place in the kingdom with our gifts, our passion, our call from God, and we share that with each other.”
AMBS dean Gayle Gerber Koontz, who has been named acting president, said: “We give
thanks for the gift that Marlin has been and has given to the seminary and the church. We mourn what is lost and remains unfinished.”
Among the work left unfinished is the seminary's three-and-a-half-year, $11.9 million Partners for Ministry campaign, for which Miller announced a successful start in September; and the Inter-Mennonite Confession of Faith Committee, of which Miller was co-chairman.
“He brought a particular perspective,” said committee member Lois Barrett, executive secretary of the Commission on Home Ministries (GC). "He was a very clear thinker who could see the big picture. He loved the church, and his work on the confession of faith reflects his love for the church."
Of Miller's role at AMBS, seminary board member Verney Unruh of Newton, Kan., said: “Even though he was of MC background, we of GC background had full confidence in him. You just feel he had his marbles together, to use a common expression."
and his work on the confession
of faith reflects
[that]. — Lois Barrett
Miller was born Nov. 29, 1938, in Iowa City, Iowa. He received his bachelor’s degree from Goshen College in 1960 and studied at Goshen Biblical Seminary the next year. He then pursued graduate studies in Europe, receiving his doctorate in theology from the University of Heidelberg in 1968.
From 1968 to 1974, Miller was a Mennonite Board of Missions worker in Paris. He described himself as a “missionary on extended sabbatical," said Wilbert Shenk, AMBS associate professor of missions, because he came to the seminary in 1974 as a visiting professor and stayed for 20 years.
In 1971 Miller was ordained to pastoral ministry at the Chatenay-Malabry Mennonite congregation near Paris.
He also served on several committees and projects of Mennonite Central Committee.
Miller wrote extensively for church publications and made many contributions to books. A book he edited, The Church’s Peace Witness, is scheduled to be released by Eerdmans this month.
He married Ruthann Gardner on June 12, 1960. She survives. Other survivors include two daughters, Rachel Jacobs of Goshen and Lynelle Clark of Granger; a son, Eric Miller Sommers of Lamoine, Maine; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be sent to AMBS for the Leadership Award, a scholarship for students who have gifts for church leadership.
Koontz’s appointment as acting AMBS president was made according to the seminary's bylaws. A committee will be formed to search for an interim president.
Mary E. Klassen is communications, specialist for AMBS. Rich Preheim is MWR assistant editor. The South Bend Tribune contributed to this report.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 17 Nov 1994 p. 12
Birth date: 1939
text of obituary
■ A memorial service for Marlin Miller, president of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind., who died Nov. 3, will be held Sunday, Nov. 20 at 4:30 p.m. at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton. Organizers are inviting all AMBS supporters and friends of Miller’s family.