Dr Ross T. Bender

Ross T. Bender was born June 25, 1929, in Tavistock, Ontario, Canada to Christian and Katie Bender.  He married Ruth Steinmann in 1950.  He studied at Toronto Teacher’s College and the University of Western Ontario before completing his bachelor’s degree at Goshen College, Goshen, Ind.  He also earned Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Religious Education degrees at Goshen College Biblical Seminary in 1956.  He then earned Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees at Yale University.  Post-graduate work was completed at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Geneva, Switzerland.   In his lifetime, Ross T. Bender contributed much to the church – as pastor, writer, theologian, educator and administrator.  He served in pastorates in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; Lansdale, Pa. and Lakewood, Colo.  He also served the Mennonite Church and his home congregation, College Mennonite Church in Goshen, in many ways.   Ross served more than 26 years at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries in various roles, including 15 years as dean.  At AMBS he also served as professor of Christian Education and director of the Institute of Mennonite Studies.  Ross retired as Dean Emeritus of AMBS in 1996. Among his special assignments for the Mennonite Church were member and chair of the Mennonite Commission for Christian Education (1963-1971), Executive Secretary of the Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries (1972-1974), moderator of the Mennonite Church General Assembly (1981-1983) and President of the Mennonite World Conference (1984-1990). In addition to his published articles, he authored and co-edited four books:  The People of God:  A Mennonite Interpretation of the Free Church Tradition (Herald Press, 1971), Christians in Families:  Genesis and Exodus (Herald Press, 1982), Baptism, Peace and the State in the Reformed and Mennonite Traditions (Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1991 – co-edited with Alan P.F. Sell) and Education for Peoplehood:  Essays on the Teaching Ministry of the Church (Institute of Mennonite Studies, 1997).  His final publication was Tending and Mending the Creation (Pandora Press, 2007), his reflections on his struggles with Parkinson’s Disease. Ross was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth E. Bender, in 1997.  He is survived by five children and their spouses:  Ross Lynn Bender and Sylvia Horst of Philadelphia, Pa.; Elizabeth and Jim Barker of Buhl, Idaho; Michael and Alice Bender of Washington, DC; Lenore and Stevan Challenger of Camano Island, Wash.; and Anne and Dave Jacoby of Bel Air, Md.  He is also survived by nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and one brother, Harold Bender of Stratford, Ontario, Canada. He was also preceded by his parents, a sister, Leona Bender and two brothers, Walter and Orie Bender. Visitation will be on Monday, April 25 from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm in the Koinonia Room at the College Mennonite Church.  A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 26 at 11 am at the College Mennonite Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Greencroft Goshen Employee Benevolent Fund or to Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, in care of Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, 1911 South Main Street, Goshen, IN  46526.