 Durnbaugh went on to earn a master's degree in history from the University of Michigan in 1952 and a doctorate in history from the University of Pennsylvania in 1960.Durnbaugh taught at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania from 1958 until he went to Bethany Theological Seminary in 1962 to teach church history.In 1986, he served in the highest elected position in the Church of the Brethren as Annual Conference moderator.