Jeff Bach is director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College and teaches in the Department of Religious Studies. He taught courses related to Brethren heritage for thirteen years at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Indiana. He earned his Ph.D. in religion from Duke University in 1997, concentrating on the history of Anabaptist and Pietist groups. He is the author of Voices of the Turtledoves: The Sacred World of Ephrata (Penn State Press, 2003). Among his recent articles are “The Ephrata Community in the Atlantic World” in Protestant Communalism in the Trans-Atlantic World, 1650-1850 (2016) and a chapter on Jacob Boehme in Protestants and Mysticism in Reformation Europe (2019). He is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. He is married to Ann Mason Bach and they have two adult daughters.
Pre-Conference Workshop and Non Delegate Session: "20/20 Vision: Brethren and Christ’s Vision for the Church" (Matthew 28:16-20 and Matthew 16:18)
Insight Session: "Do the Crime, Do the Time: Brethren Imprisoned for Baptism"
Pastor Brad currently shepherds the East Chippewa CoB congregation near Orrville, OH. He has been Pastor of East Chip since June of 2011. He is thoroughly thankful and knows he is blessed for being able to pastor at East Chip. Brad is celebrating 30 years of pastoral ministry in January of 2020. He and Sharon, his wife of over 33 years, have three grown children and live in the West Salem area.
Brad accepted the call to be our "2020 District Moderator" during the 2018 District Conference. He has been in this type of District role 20 years earlier in his previous pastorate in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. Recently, he has become one of our teachers in the District's Brethren Buckeye Institute. He taught the Fall 2019 BBI course on "Evangelism." For nearly the last 2 and half decades, He has provided quarterly preaching for the evangelistic chapel services at Akron Ohio's homeless shelter, the Haven of Rest.
Brad received formal higher education training from Grace College (Bachelors with a double major in both Biblical Studies and Speech Communications), Ashland Theological Seminary and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (Masters of Divinity and some Doctor of Ministry course work).
Friday Worship Speaker: "Focusing on Jesus' Vision of His Church" (Matthew 16:18)
After 42 years of church work, Tom Zuercher retired from full-time ministry in 2018. In the Northern Ohio District, he served as pastor for three congregations: Danville North Bend, Mt. Pleasant, and Ashland Dickey, and was District Executive for twelve years. In additional to pastoral work, Tom has served as a teacher, spiritual speaker, retreat leader, consultant, and author. He and Susan live in rural Ashland County and are always delighted to spend time with their children and grandchildren. In retirement, Tom has enjoyed traveling, making presentations on philately (stamp collecting), and O-gauge model trains.
Pre-Conference Workshop: “Things I’ve learned, mistakes I’ve made, advice I’m willing to give”
Saturday Worship Speaker: "Jesus' Vision for His Church" (Matthew 28:18-20)
20/20 Vision: Brethren and Christ’s Vision for the Church, Presented by Jeff Bach
Do the Crime, Do the Time: Brethren Imprisoned for Baptism, Presented by Jeff Bach
