Ervin R. Stutzman, 72, Mennonite Church USA’s second executive director, who also held leadership roles at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and in Lancaster Mennonite Conference, died June 3.

Stutzman served from 2001 to 2003 as MC USA’s first moderator and from 2010 to 2018 as its second executive director. He played an instrumental role in the formation of the denomination as part of the Executive Board and led it through a difficult time of divisions and polarization during his tenure as executive director.

He helped to set a new vision and strategy as part of the team that developed the denomination’s Purposeful Plan, in addition to convening the Future Church Summit before his retirement.

“There is no doubt that Ervin loved the church,” said Glen Guyton, executive director of MC USA. “I learned many things working alongside Ervin. His attention to detail and his dedication to the denomination he helped establish was unyielding. The role of executive director is not an easy one, but Ervin bore the burden of this mantle with grace and joy. He continued to serve faithfully until God called him home. My blessings go out to his wife, Bonnie, and the rest of his family.”

Stutzman was born April 27, 1953, in an Amish home in Kalona, Iowa, to Emma and Tobias Stutzman. He grew up in Hutchinson, Kan., where his family moved after his father’s death when Stutzman was 3 years old. He was baptized in Center Amish Mennonite Church and later joined Yoder Mennonite Church.

He married Bonita Haldeman of Manheim, Pa., who survives. They served for five years with Rosedale Mennonite Missions in Cincinnati.

Ordained in 1978 in Conservative Mennonite Conference (now Rosedale Network), he co-pastored Mennonite Christian Assembly in Cincinnati.

In 1982, at age 29, Stutzman moved with his young family to Lancaster, Pa., and became associate pastor of Mount Joy Mennonite Church while also serving as associate director for home ministries at Eastern Mennonite Missions.

Just 18 months later, he began a half-time role as district overseer for Lancaster Mennonite Conference and from 1991 to 2000 served as conference moderator. During those years, he also served a term on the Mennonite Church General Board.

In the late 1990s, he became associate professor of church ministries and then academic dean at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Va., where he served for 11 years.

During this time, Stutzman was involved in the merger of the Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church. In 2010, he was ordained again, this time in Virginia Mennonite Conference. He retired from MC USA in 2018 to spend more time with his wife and family.

In 2019, he began a brief term as the transitional pastor of Zion Mennonite Church in Broadway, Va. In November 2023, he was affirmed as chair of the Faith and Life Commission of Virginia Mennonite Conference. He moderated a meeting of the commission on May 29, even as his health was failing.

Stutzman wrote historical novelizations of true Amish stories, including those of his parents’ lives, Tobias of the Amish and Emma: A Widow Among the Amish, and the life of Jacob Hochstetler, Jacob’s Choice. He also penned Christian ministry books, including Being God’s People, Creating Communities of the Kingdom and Welcome!, as well as historical nonfiction books, such as The Hochstetler Story and From Nonresistance to Justice.

He received a Ph.D. in rhetoric and communication from Temple University in 1993, a master of arts in communications from the University of Cincinnati in 1979, a master of arts in biblical interpretation from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 1999 and a bachelor of arts in Christian ministries from Cincinnati Bible College in 1978.

He was a member of Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va., where a memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. EDT June 8 and streamed on the church website.

In addition to his wife, Bonita; survivors include two children, Emma Ruth (Stutzman) Dawson of Iowa City, Iowa, and Benjamin Lee Stutzman and his wife Andrea Joy (Kniss) Stutzman of Harrisonburg, Va. four grandchildren; and a sister, Erma Mae (Stutzman) Yoder of Ephrata, Pa.