Brief History of the Department

[to be added soon]

Past Professors Emeriti

Kenneth L. Brown (died 3 November 2010)

Professor emeritus of religion and philosophy and peace studies, director of the peace studies program from 1980 to 2005.  A.B., McPherson College, 1955; B.D., Bethany Theological Seminary, 1958; Ph.D., Duke University, 1964. 

Ken taught at Manchester from 1961 through spring 2006, when he retired from full-time teaching.

Courses:

• Introduction to Peace Studies (PEAC 110)
• Current Issues in Peace and Justice (PEAC 120)
• Literature of Non-Violence (PEAC 235)
• Analysis of War and Peace (PEAC 330)
• Peace Issues (PEAC 333)
• Ethical Decision-Making (PHIL 215)
• Philosophy of Civilization (PHIL 444)
• ... and many others.

David L. Eiler (died 8 January 2008)

Professor emeritus of religion and philosophy.  B.A., Manchester College, 1950; B.D., Bethany Theological Seminary, 1955; Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary, 1968.

Dave Eiler taught at McPherson College before coming to Manchester in 1969 as the first MC faculty member with a doctorate in biblical studies.  Dave taught Bible classes, among many, many others, and ably chaired the department for much of his twenty-three years, before retiring in 1993. 

Courses:

• Old Testament (REL 101)
• New Testament (REL 102)
• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (REL 210)
• Jesus and the Gospels (REL 241)
• Religious Classics (REL 266)
• Environmental Philosophy (PHIL 425)
• ... and many others.

T. Wayne Reiman (died 9 November 1994)

Professor emeritus of religion and philosophy.

Tim served full-time at Manchester College from 1949 until 1978, and then again occasionally on an adjunct basis.  Apart from teaching courses in religion and philosophy, T. Wayne also served as Campus Pastor during his earlier years at the college.

Robert Henry (R. H.) Miller, Jr. (died 10 May 1979)

Professor emeritus of religion and philosophy.

R. H. taught at Manchester from 1923 to 1959.

Professors and Instructors

Chris Collins

Years: Fall 2010-Spring 2011

Visiting assistant professor of philosophy.  B.A., Bridgewater College, 2003; Ph.D., University of Virginia, 2010.

Courses:

• Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 201) [syllabus]
• Ethical Decision-Making (PHIL 215) [syllabus]
• 20th Century Philosophy (PHIL 423)

Michael Brown

Years: Fall 2005-Spring 2007

Visiting assistant professor of philosophy (2005-06, 2006-07).  B.A., Manchester College, 1994; Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 2005.

Courses taught:

• Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 201)
• Ethical Decision-Making (PHIL 215)
• Ancient and Medieval Western Philosophy (PHIL 316)
• 17th and 18th Century Western Philosophy (PHIL 318)
• 20th Century Western Philosophy (PHIL 423)
• Environmental Philosophy (PHIL 425)
• Philosophy of Civilization (PHIL 444)

David H. Jensen

Years: 1999-2001

Taught religion.

Robin A. Roth

Years: 1998-1999

Taught philosophy.

Susan E. Wennemyr

Years: 1993-1997

Taught religion and philosophy, and in the later years also served as an assistant director to BCA.

James Platt

Years: 1989-1991

Taught philosophy.

Frederick Detwiler, Jr.

Years: 1980-1983

Taught religion and philosophy.

Robert W. Dell

Years: 1979-1976

Taught religion and philosophy.

Eugene P. Wratchford

Years: 1977-1980

Taught religion and philosophy.

Randolph C. Fenimore

Years: 1976-1977, 1988-1989

Taught religion, philosophy, and history.

David Kreider ('60)

Years: 1966-1969

Taught religion.  Died 26 February 1982.

Eric J. Sharpe

Years: 1965-1966

Taught religion.

Everett G. Beckman

Years: 1960-1964

Taught religion.

Donald M. Mikula ('54x)

Years: 1959-1960

Taught religion and philosophy.

J. Roy Valencourt ('50)

Years: 1957-1958

Taught religion and psychology.

J. Benton Rhoades ('42)

Years: 1956-1957

Taught religion and Spanish.

Gertrude Wiebe Roten

Years: 1953-1962

Taught religion and psychology.

Ercell Lynn

Years: 1947-1960

Taught religious education.

Edward Krusen Ziegler

Years: 1946-1947

Taught religion.

Otho Winger (d. 1946)

Years: 1907-1941

Taught philosophy, history, English, and served as Vice-President and then President of the College.

George W. Furrey

Years: 1907-19??

Taught mathematics, physics, philosophy, and served as the Registrar of the College.

James Mace Andress

Years: 1905-1907

Taught history, philosophy, pedagogy.

M. M. Sherrick ('18 MM) (d. 1952)

Years: 1904-23 (Mount Morris), 1923-38 (Manchester)

Taught German, French, modern languages, philosophy, pedagogy, and served as Vice President of the College.

W. I. T. Hoover ('20)

Years: 1901-1906

Taught science, philosophy, history.

T. S. Moherman

Years: 1895-1903

Taught church history, Bible, philosophy, exegesis, history, ethics.

Past Adjunct Faculty

Christen Pettit Miller, Spring 2008, 2009: Feminist and Womanist Theologies (REL 225) [syllabus].

Mike Smith, Spring 2007: Christian Faith (REL 111).