Two pastors serving on campus in 2010-2011 – B.C.’s Dan Unrau and Ontario’s Carol Penner
For release November 3, 2010
In 2010-201, CMU will benefit from a new student life program that brings a Pastor in Residence to CMU for a week during each of the fall and winter academic terms.
Dan Unrau, lead pastor at Fraserview Mennonite Brethren Church in Richmond, served as CMU’s first Pastor in Residence, visiting CMU October 25 – 29, 2010. From February 7 -11, 2011, CMU will welcome Carol Penner, pastor at First Mennonite Church in Vineland, Ontario, to be CMU’s Pastor in Residence during the winter semester.
“The Pastor in Residence is invited to participate in the life of the CMU community by being available for pastoral care through one-on-one time with students, faculty, and staff, and sharing his or her faith story through our CMU chapel sessions,” says CMU Dean of Student Life Marilyn Peters Kliewer. She notes that the aim of the program is both to encourage spiritual growth among members of the CMU community, while also helping to build and maintain close connections with our churches.
Pastor Dan Unrau, a former Manitoban born and raised in Boissevain, now lives in Richmond, British Columbia, with his wife, Lois. During his weeklong stay, faculty, staff, and students welcomed him on campus where he participated and led in a variety of settings. This included a forum on the topic of family systems, a chapel where he shared his faith story, a round-table discussion with local pastors, a resourcing session for student leaders, an evening time of worship, and a meeting with students who are interested in pursuing ministry as their vocation, along with other informal gatherings with members of the CMU community. Another highlight for Unrau was conversation with CMU students during evening snack time.
“I come away from my time at CMU with a professional and pastoral affirmation that the need to tell the integrative story of Christ, faith and life, at all ages, for students, and for faculty and staff, is never ending. It is needed, and welcome, and appropriate,” said Unrau, commenting further that, during CMU’s weekday chapel programs, and again in the evening during student worship time, he was refreshed to again hear and see the “aha” impact of the words of Christ’s story.
“My strongest image of the students is these fresh-faced, young people, alive, vibrant… with healthy bodies and healthy souls. I am so encouraged by this. These students will look after the future. They will become us and more.”
A former teacher, Unrau has been serving in a pastoral role for nearly 26 years. Unrau holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, English, and Religious Studies from The University of Winnipeg, a Master’s degree in Judaeo-Christian Studies (Jerusalem University College), and a DMin. degree in Leadership Studies (Carey Theological Seminary, UBC).
Speaker, preacher, story-teller, and motivational trainer, Unrau has lived in Manitoba, British Columbia, Israel, and Germany. He has authored two books, is currently completing a novel with Mennonite and Jewish themes, has been an adjunct Seminary professor, has appeared on television, and has been a guest on various radio shows. Among his commitments, he serves as the volunteer chaplain of the Vancouver Giants WHL hockey team.
“Most people are running so hard they have no time to reflect,” he notes. “My job as a pastor is as much speaking the good news as reflecting what it means to be a follower of Christ in this day and age. My role is to pray for people, to read the Bible for them, and to read the world for them in a way that helps them to understand.”
Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) is a Christian university offering undergraduate degrees in the arts and sciences, business, communications and media, peace and conflict resolution studies, music, music therapy, theology, and church ministries, as well as graduate degrees in Theological Studies and Christian ministry. Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, CMU has over 1,800 students at its Shaftesbury Campus in Southwest Winnipeg, at Menno Simons College in downtown Winnipeg, and enrolled through its Outtatown discipleship program. CMU is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC).
For CMU information, contact:
Nadine Kampen, Communications & Marketing Director
Tel. 204.487.3300 Ext. 621
nkampen@cmu.ca
500 Shaftesbury Blvd.
Winnipeg, MB R3P 2N2