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Reverend Maurice Martin, BA 1968

     Attending the University of Waterloo was a practical decision for Reverend Doctor Maurice Martin (BA 1968), as the university was close to home. In addition, Maurice wanted to get at least part of his education from Conrad Grebel College, though he did not reside at the college. Choosing to study English was as easy for him as choosing a university, for he has loved to read since the first grade and has been interested in literature ever since.

Rev. Maurice Marton     A class that Maurice remembers as a great learning experience was Dr. Walter Martin's first year class. Dr. Martin had a keen interest in the students and was concerned that all of the students pass the course. Maurice still recalls the first paper he wrote for Dr. Martin's class. The essay was really marked up and many of the students, including him, received a “D”. He was shocked to see the grade. He and the other students were given the opportunity to rewrite the paper, and his second attempt at the paper earned a “B.” This paper helped him to realize the difference between University-level and high-school-level English. Maurice has written quite a bit since then and has drawn upon this lesson a great deal.

     Another of his professors, Walter Klassen, said that being a student involved asking questions, not just getting the answers. Maurice learned from Dr. Klassen that questions are a way to lead you on to learning. He wonders: “If Galileo had never said 'I doubt it', where would we be today?”

     After completing his degree at UW Maurice went to teachers' college, where he fast-tracked his program by studying during the summers. That same year, he was married on August 27. He started his career as a secondary school teacher soon after and taught English for three years. He then attended the Goshen Biblical Seminary in Elkart, IN and became a pastor upon graduation. He was full time pastor in several congregations in Ontario between 1974 and 2001, and has had several part time interim pastoral assignments since then. In addition, he has held various positions in the denominational offices of Mennonite Church Canada, and Mennonite Church Eastern Canada since 2001. In 2001 Maurice received his Doctor of Ministry from McMaster University.

     As a pastor and Christian educator, Maurice sees the Bible as an important piece of literature. He believes that most people who do not make church a part of their lives miss out on some of the biblical language and biblical allusions in literature. During his time as a teacher, Maurice would take the Bible to class and read passages to the class in order to make connections between the passages and the literary text the class was studying that day. Thirty years later, he ran into a former student who thanked him for bringing these connections to his attention, as it inspired him to look at his faith more seriously. From this experience, Maurice realized that everything a teacher says has an impact on students. Maurice is grateful to have had an impact on the lives of others.

     Having a degree in English has benefited Maurice throughout his career as he at various times wrote for the Mennonite Church, including artciles in several Mennonite periodicals, adult Christian education curriculum, and of course many sermons in which he from time to time makes literary allusions. In  each of these areas he has needed to learn different writing styles. Maurice also enjoys writing poetry on occasion.

     Today, Maurice is one of two Regional Ministers of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada. He works with 45 congregations and their pastors to provide program support to the churches and offers collegial support to pastors.