Naomi graduated from Bethany Theological Seminary in 2019 with both Master of Divinity and Master of Arts degrees and a graduate certificate in Intercultural Biblical Interpretation. Her culminating work in seminary focused on practices in the Church of the Brethren as a means of generating unity … but not unanimity. She specifically focused on baptism, Love Feast, and consensus in church governance. She also did some writing on theological streams of biblical interpretation in the CoB, encouraging LGBTQ inclusion in congregations that are not of “one mind,” and issues of patriotism in the CoB as connected to the denominational orientation towards peace.  

 

Naomi also teaches at Elizabethtown College as an adjunct faculty member in the Religious Studies department, teaching courses such as: Introduction to New Testament; Abrahamic Traditions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; Artistic Peacebuilding; and Religion and Nonviolence. Naomi is a PhD student at George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Her current research focuses on Lancaster County as a refugee-receiving community, with its unique religious heritage and identity. She is passionate about interfaith and intrafaith work, enjoys reading and thinking about peace and conflict as it coincides with religion and spirituality, and she greatly enjoys working with undergraduate students.

 

The Kraenbring family lives in a 100+-year-old home near Mount Gretna, and Naomi’s greatest joy is when all six are home and under the same roof, which happens less frequently these days! Mark and Naomi have been married for 25 years, and they are parents to four fantastic teenagers and young adults. Two dogs, a cat, and a small flock of ducks, chickens, and heritage turkeys currently round out the homestead.