 It is my pleasure this afternoon to bring commendations for retiring faculty. I will begin by recognizing Dr. Lauren Johns for his 19 years of service to Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary as Professor of New Testament. Lauren joined the AMBS faculty in 2000 after teaching at Bluffton University for seven years. For seven more years, he served as academic dean at AMBS before becoming a full-time member of teaching faculty. He was director of the Master of Divinity Program at AMBS from 2009 to 2018. As professor of New Testament, Lauren taught core requirements in Bible and innovated the curriculum with original courses, dedicated to his teaching and his students and known for his rigorous expectations. Lauren is a highly active scholar, including as New Testament editor of the Believer's Church Bible Commentary, as associate editor for the Dead Sea Scrolls Project of Princeton Theological Seminary, and as author of many books, articles, and book reviews. His primary research on the role of the Bible in the church, the letters of Paul, canonical formation, and the writings of John will enrich the academy for much time to come. Lauren has served the church in many ways, including pastoring for eight years before he was 30, preaching at more than 50 different congregations, and as overseer of Allegheny Mennonite Conference for six years. He has taught for the Church Leadership Center at AMBS, including an online short course, Anabaptist Approaches to Scripture, and an on-campus short course delivered in Spanish on how the Bible was formed. Next academic year, Lauren will take his gift to Samia, the Anabaptist Seminary in Guatemala City, where he and Rachel will serve as host of the guest house and he will teach some courses in Spanish. They will then move to Stuart, Florida to be closer to family. Lauren will also continue to teach for us both graduate courses and Anabaptist short courses at AMBS. Lauren, would you please stand? Friends, please join me in thanking Lauren Johns for his exceptional years of service to AMBS. This afternoon, I am also delighted to recognize Dr. Ben Olinberger for his 31 years of service to Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary as Professor of Biblical Theology. Ben began teaching at AMBS in 1987, following several years as Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary and an earlier faculty term at Tabor College. At AMBS, Ben has taught courses in Hebrew language, biblical theology, Old Testament book studies, hermeneutics, and exegesis. His teaching is known for deep exploration and analysis, all with the central aim of remaining faithful to Jesus Christ. He is known for his wonderful storytelling skill, his exceptional and active scholarship and his delightful presence as a colleague and teacher. Ben served as Director of MA Programs for more than 20 of his years at AMBS. A long tenure as a professor means experience with many committees, including often sharing these governance bodies, adding to Ben's deep historical perspective about AMBS within the larger story of Anabaptist Mennonite Theological Education. While offering his care, expertise, and mentorship for pastors and leaders trained at AMBS for more than three decades, Ben has extended his gifts to the broader academy, including as a member of several society of biblical literature groups, sections, and consultations. As he enjoys, as he continues enjoying retirement, which began this past January, Ben will periodically teach for AMBS, including the Church Leadership Center short course, Biblical Foundations for Creation Care, and a graduate level course next year on the authority of scripture. We look forward to Ben's ongoing presence on the AMBS campus and are grateful for the continued gifts he and Janice bring to our community and to Elkhart. Ben, would you please stand? Let's join together in thanking Ben Olinberger for his years of service to AMBS. And today I also have the great honor of recognizing Dr. Sarah Wangershank for her nine years of service to Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary as president. Sarah became president in the fall of 2010, following service in various roles at Eastern Mennonite University and Seminary since 1995, including Associate Professor of Christian Practices, Associate Dean, and Dean. Sarah has been a beloved leader at AMBS where her leadership style is described as courageous, honest, and pastoral. She encourages collaborative approaches while providing strong direction for strategic decision making during a time of tremendous upheaval in higher education in theological schools and in the church. Changes at AMBS during her tenure include overseeing the shaping of a completely new teaching faculty, significant growth and endowment resources, and new and innovative degree programs. She skillfully guided AMBS through its recent successful tenure re-accreditation process with the Association of Theological Schools. Sarah's gifts in connecting authentically with a broad range of people in Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA have been noted far beyond our campus. Her extensive publications and public and scholarly presentations go along with nearly 100 sermons and congregations in Canada and the US during her time at AMBS. Sarah's service to the church is extensive, including collaboration with Mennonite College and university presidents in the US and Canada, most recently helping create the new Mennonite Higher Education Association. Her practicing reconciliation blog has been a platform for Sarah's theological ecumen and exceptional writing. It's a place for her public witness on behalf of AMBS's mission to extend God's reconciling mission to the world. Sarah leads AMBS with tremendous energy and a gift for enabling momentum, inspiring her colleagues towards creative vision within the realities of limited resources. She is currently creating relationships and partnerships that will help AMBS live more fully into its mission to serve the global church, including visits to Ethiopia and Korea during her final four months as president. Sarah is known at AMBS for leading from a place of grounded personal integrity, a deep sense of service and a deep love for God. The institution of AMBS and the wide network of people it serves will be forever changed and strengthened for having Sarah as president, leader, colleague, and friend. Later this summer, Sarah will move to Staunton, Virginia to join her loving, supportive spouse, Gerald and other family. There is a sense of anticipation and curiosity in the air to see where the freedom and joy of retirement takes Sarah. There is more dynamic leading, writing, speaking and collaborating ahead for Sarah. We are eager to see how this comes into being in the next phase. Sarah, I invite you to stand. Friends, please join me in thanking Sarah Wenger-Shank for her service to AMBS.