About the Center
The Young Center, which is named for Galen S. Young, D.O., and Jessie M. Young, interprets the cultural and religious heritage of Anabaptist and Pietist communities to the general public via lectures, seminars, exhibits, and conferences. The adjoining Bucher Meetinghouse, named for Rufus P. Bucher, provides ample space for many of the Center’s programs.
The Bucher Bookshop, located in the lobby of the Young Center, contains over 100 different titles on the Brethren, Brethren in Christ, Amish, Mennonites, Hutterites, and Moravians. The books range from scholarly studies to children's fiction. The shop is open during the Center's regular hours and during special events.
The Young Center’s regular activities include a spring and fall lecture series, an annual banquet, the Durnbaugh Lectures, and the Dale W. Brown Book Award. The Center also supports a fellows program and hosts occasional conferences. Center staff members regularly teach undergraduate classes for the college and conduct research related to the Anabaptist and Pietist movements. The Center houses a variety of research collections that are available to the public.