Myron S. Augsburger, college president, evangelist, theologian, pastor and author, recognized nationally for his ecumenical influence and passion for gospel-centered peacemaking, died Oct. 15 at the age of 97.
Appointed to the presidency of Eastern Mennonite College (now University) at the age of 35, he led EMU’s growth as a liberal arts college and seminary beyond the previous limits of Mennonite Church cultural traditions.
During his presidency, from 1965 to 1980, EMU built the Suter Science Center and Hartzler Library and expanded its programs in the arts, introducing musical instruments and theater, athletics and international study. His influence extended to the classroom, where as a professor of theology from 1963 to 1980 he shaped generations of students, pastors and church leaders.
“Myron’s spirit of relationality, passionate vision and steadfast faith remains woven into the fabric of EMU,” said Shannon W. Dycus, EMU’s newly inaugurated president. “Often in my engagement with alumni of EMC, I am inspired by stories of a chapel service or his infectious encouragement of leadership and ministry. . . . His legacy is not just that of a formative leader in EMU’s history but of a visionary who preached, mentored and championed an active gospel.”
As a young college president in a turbulent era of war and civil-rights activism, Augsburger invited numerous African-American speakers to campus, said Loren Swartzendruber, EMU president from 2003 to 2016.
“During the Vietnam conflict he received some criticism for publicly promoting pacifism,” he said.
Before his presidency, Augsburger was already a widely recognized evangelist, leading crusades across the United States and Canada. His reputation made an impact at the college, as “a large number of other-than-Mennonite students were attracted to EMU when they heard him preach in many communities around the country,” Swartzendruber said.
Augsburger’s evangelistic ministry built connections across the theological spectrum, earning the trust of Anabaptists, evangelicals, mainline Protestants and Catholics. Swartzendruber recalled that “Myron frequently said, ‘Theologically I am conservative, but politically I am progressive because of how I understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus.’ ”
From his early days of ministry at Tuttle Avenue Mennonite Church in Sarasota, Fla., to conducting crusades with Christian Layman’s Tent Evangelism and InterChurch Inc., Augsburger was known as a voice for gospel-centered outreach. In 1969, Time magazine named him one of America’s five most influential “preachers of an active gospel.”
After his presidency at EMU, Augsburger served as president of the Christian College Coalition, now the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. He planted Washington Community Fellowship in Washington, D.C., and was one of the founding pastors of Park View Mennonite Church and Community Mennonite Church of Harrisonburg, Va.
He wrote over 20 books on theology, discipleship, peace and church history. He served as moderator of the Mennonite Church General Assembly.
Born Aug. 20, 1929, in Elida, Ohio, he was one of six children of Clarence and Estella Augsburger. On Nov. 28, 1950, he married Esther L. Kniss. Their partnership in ministry and art spanned seven decades.
Augsburger earned degrees from Eastern Mennonite College, Goshen Biblical Seminary and Union Presbyterian Seminary. His talents and interests included memorizing poems and scripture, raising swans, baking pies, singing and planting trees.
Survivors include his wife; two children, John Myron Augsburger (Beverly Stauffer) and Marcia Louise Augsburger (Steve Goff); two granddaughters; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Anna Mary Good. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael David; and brothers Fred, Donald, Daniel and David.
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