On Tuesday evening, students, staff, community members and faculty gathered in Umble Center for a conversation between President Rebecca Stoltzfus and filmmaker Martin Doblmeier about his career. 

Doblmeier is a filmmaker known for his documentaries focusing on religious subjects and significant historical figures. Throughout the night, he answered several questions concerning not only his professional journey but also his faith and values. 

He began by discussing the importance of fostering deeper understanding between different faith communities. “I was born, raised, educated Roman Catholic … And then I began this work … and I began to find myself in so many different kinds of religious practicing, spiritually seeking communities,” he said. 

Doblmeier went on to add, “I find it very disappointing … when I get together with Episcopalians who don’t know anything about the Lutherans … or a Catholic pastor who doesn’t know what’s happening in the Presbyterian church just down the street.”

When asked about the Bible as a sacred text, Doblmeier spoke of its role in shaping personal and collective faith. “People today see the world as a confusing, scary place more than ever … and they see the Bible as a place where they can really find rest. They weren’t just behaving out of impulse. … These were people who understood their faith tradition,” he said.

The invitation for Doblmeier to speak at Goshen College began through GC’s participation in the Lilly Endowment’s new “National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life,” which aims to support compelling stories that reflect the vitality of Christian faith. Former president Shirley Showalter connected GC with Doblmeier, who worked with them to develop the grant proposal. In January, President Stoltzfus invited Doblmeier to speak on campus and he agreed to visit this spring.

Caoimhe Farrell, a first-year communication major, was one of the students who attended the event. She spoke on the importance of such topics being brought to the college campus.

“It’s hugely relevant for the Goshen College community, a lot of people are interested and want to know more about this topic. I feel like this is a great way to foster understanding and learning about others’ cultures and others’ beliefs, as well as our own,” she said. 

Duane Stoltzfus, professor of communication, along with President Stoltzfus, was responsible for making this event possible. He spoke about both Doblmeier’s relevance and his hopes for the future.

“Martin is one of the foremost national experts on this American landscape. His storytelling is both inspiring and deeply moving. The conversation that he led on Tuesday should continue. I hope that students and others will watch the entirety of his ‘Prophetic Voices’ series, biographical portraits of remarkable leaders from the 20th century.”

Doblmeier is currently in the process of producing a new four-hour-long PBS documentary about Christianity at the Crossroads. 

“I think that the point of the film is to raise questions and open up conversations about the state of Christianity in America and what it looks like going forward,” he said.

The evening concluded with an open-floor Q&A with the audience, followed by refreshments outside the theater.