Sheila
grew up on a farm outside of Coaldale, Alberta.
She received a B.Th. from Canadian Mennonite
Bible College, 1983; a B.A. (History) from the
University of Manitoba, 1984; an M.Div. from
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, 1988;
and a Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary
in Richmond, VA, 2001. Her dissertation focused
on discipleship in the Gospel of Luke.
Sheila began teaching at CMBC (later CMU) in 1993. Before this, she and her husband also taught at Elim Bible Institute in Altona, MB (1984-86) and at Swift Current Bible School (1988-89).
Sheila has served on the MCC Bi-national Peace Committee since 2001. In her leisure time she enjoys jogging, reading novels, gardening, baking decadent desserts, and spending time with her family.
Sheila is married to Vern and they have three wonderful daughters. She is an active member at Charleswood Mennonite Church.
Recent Publications and Presentations (selected)“Jesus Christ: A Portrait of God” Adult Bible Study Guide (13 lessons) (Mennonite Publishing House) (forthcoming, winter 2006-07)
“Pondering the Word: Waiting for Heaven to Rip Open,” Leader 3, no. 1 (Fall, 2005)
Book review in Conrad Grebel Review (Fall, 2005) of Loren L. Johns, The Lamb Christology of the Apocalypse of John. An Investigation into Its Origins and Rhetorical Force (Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2003)
“Theological Reflections on the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ Vulnerable Populations.” Written for a Project Ploughshares website resource “Protecting the Vulnerable: Commissioned Papers,”
(www.ploughshares.ca/libraries/Reduce/InterventionPaperKlassen.htm)
“Mutuality at Work,” MCC Women’s Concerns Report, no. 173 (May-June, 2004).
“Living in New Ways,” MCC Staff Retreat, Winnipeg, June 1, 2006
Opening public address for the Annual General Assembly of Mennonite Central Committee in Winnipeg, MB, Nov. 25, 2005
Presentation at MCC Peace Gathering, Saskatoon, May 3-4, 2002: “Who We Are as Christians in the Anabaptist Tradition: Our Scripture, Our History, Our Faith”
Presentation at CMU sponsored forum, “Anabaptist-Mennonite Thinking in These Troubled Times”, Oct. 10, 2001
Portable CMU: “Discipleship in the Gospel of Luke” in numerous churches across Canada
