The Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies at Tabor College in Hillsboro will hold its annual spring dinner meeting at 6:30 p.m. May 2 in the lobby of the Wohlgemuth Music Education Center.

The speaker will be Mark Jantzen, associate professor of history at Bethel College in North Newton. He will present a speech on “Mennonite Migrants, Mennonite Solders.” It will track Mennonite identity across four centuries in Poland, Prussia, and Russia through the lens of military service exemptions.

Raised on a dairy farm in Beatrice, Nebraska, Jantzen worked with the Mennonite Central Committee in East Germany from 1988 to 1991 and in Serbia from 1993 to 1996.

Jantzen has done extensive research in the Prussian-Polish Mennonite experience and has authored several books relating to the topic.

“This is an opportunity to benefit from Dr. Jantzen’s extensive research and to see the struggles for identity and belief which are still with us today,” CMBS director Peggy Goertzen said.

Wilmer Harms will be recognized for 36 years as board chairman for CMBS. He resigned from the board in November.

For reservations, call (620) 947-3121 ext. 1211 or email peggyg@tabor.edu. Reservations are due by April 27.