Winter 2011 Southern Bulletin
Content
A M AG AZI N E F O R F R I E N D S O F L U T H E R A N T H E O L O G I CAL S O U T H E R N S E M I N ARY
Nurture: A Cornerstone of of our Mission
In This Issue:
A Nurturing Campus— Outside & Inside the Classroom A Pilgrimage into Desert Spirituality With a Belief and a Plan, The Wanda Hackbarth Legacy Being Sacred-Trustworthy Seminary News & Announcements and more...
In This Issue The Seminary Scene
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Nurture: A Cornerstone of Our Mission, 3 Meeting the Needs of Today’s Church & World, 4 Seminary News & Announcements, 5 A Nurturing Campus—Outside the Classroom, 6 A Nurturing Campus—Inside the Classroom, 8
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Faces & Places of Faith
Meet the Board of Trustees, 9 Campfirmation: A Faith-Building Week, 10 A Pilgrimage into Desert Spirituality, 11
Visionary Giving
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Seminary News & Announcements, 14 Seven Decades of Faithful Support, 15 With a Belief and a Plan: The Wanda Hackbarth Legacy, 16 About the Lutheran Community Foundation, 17
18 Southern People Being Sacred Trust-worthy, 18 Suggested Readings from Dr. David S. Yeago, 19 Faculty, Staff, & Alumni Updates, 20 Coming Events, 23
Photos Above (from top): The LTSS “Fighting Dove” flag-football team at the annual Luther Bowl tournament in Gettysburg, Pennsylvannia; Pastor John Largen meets with students in front of the Library; Mrs. Wanda Hackbarth and Dr. Dr. Mary Ann Shealy, former Vice President for Development during a campus visit by Mrs. Hackbarth; The Rev. Dr. Daniel M. Bell, Jr.. leading class discussion. Jr discussion. On the Cover: Students gather for morning prayer on the campus quad.
The Seminary Scene Nurture: A Cornerstone of Our Mission You may have heard me say that tha t one of the great joys I have in this call at Southern Souther n Seminary is to hear the stories of the calls that brought students to this place to study and be formed for ministry. ministry. They are amazing stories: the young man who knew that he wanted to be a pastor from an early age, the woman hearing a call to ministry later in life, a man realizing that that voice is God’s calling him to diaconal ministry, a woman balancing raising children with studying Greek and making supper all on the same day. We also know that They are preparing for a demanding, d emanding, 24-hour a day, day, seven day a week as they are cared vocation. They are precious gifts to us and to you. We also know that these people have families, personal lives, social for here, that they lives, health matters, and emotional needs. We make nurture (caring for will learn habits these students) one of the cornerstones of our mission at Southern Semi- for their ministry nary.. We hope that as students are cared for and nurtured here during nary as they care for Seminary that they will develop habits that will follow them into life in the church. you and others. others. Our Pastor to the Seminary Community, John Largen, provides pastoral care for students, spouses, and families on the campus. The rest of us who are called here are often called on to provide support and encouragement to students who sometimes wonder out loud why they sold the business, moved away from their family,, and began to study Greek. ily Gre ek. The habits of watching your weight, attending to your own spiritual needs, finding a pastor because your congregation cannot be and should not be your pastor, of attending to emotional health, spending time with your family, honoring appropriate boundaries, obeying the expectations of the church, respecting your bishop, developing good relations with colleagues, having a hobby, and getting away from it all once in a while are habits that begin long before people get into their first call. One of our goals is to help our students develop these habits for at least three reasons: • because it is good for them and the ones they love; • because it is good for you who are served by these servants of Christ; • because God expects us to care for our selves, our bodies and spirits. We also know that as they are cared for here, that they will learn habits h abits for their ministry as they care for you and others. Join me in giving thanks for these precious gifts, for their spouses and children, for their friends and their supporters, suppor ters, for their play time and study time, for their service to the church, and for the gifts they offer to Christ. In Him, Marcus Miller Miller,, President Presiden t
Meeting the Needs of Today’s Church & World by the Rev. Dr. Ginger Barfield, Dean and Vice president for Academic Affairs
“The future has arrived.” So states Daniel Aleshire in his pivotal article that captures his address to the Association of Theological Schools Biennial Meeting last June in Montreal.1 Here at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary nary, , we has are reminded nodding our in agreement. As Aleshire us, heads the world has changed. Religion has changed. Higher education has changed. Students have changed. Theological education has some catching up to do. We are currently engaging the issues Aleshire raises in his article head on. How will LTSS move into the present age that is already in our midst? Aleshire describes the changed world of North As the church and world changes, the seminary is studying American religion: how it can strengthen traditional curriculum models and • Reduced denominational significance develop diverse educational models for today’s needs. • Different patterns of church participation students join together for learning during the nine • Increased religious pluralism • Gaining significance of non-western culture in month academic year and faculty spend additional time to provide research in support of the leaderNorth American Christianity ship needs of the church. Seminaries will be called upon to clarify faith It is becoming increasingly clear that in this “plastic and amorphous” Christian identity. identity. (3) Theological schools are How will LTSS LTSS not all of our students for degree and also having to consider “their contribumove into the other educational formation will be in residential programs at 4201 Main Street tions to a wider world and to embrace present age in the future. We may have to take our intellectual contributions that the world that is already classes to students through online techbrings them.” (3) in our midst? nologies. We may have students who In order to address addres s these issues, LTSS come to campus for short terms and then is currently engaged in curriculum recomplete coursework through email and online diview through a Curriculum Task Force of the seminary faculty and administration. Many of you had alogue. We are thinking seriously and creatively of multiple delivery models, “a diversity of educaa chance last spring to participate in some online tional strategies.” (6) surveys to provide information and feedback for As we think of multiple delivery models, we this group to analyze. Dr Dr.. Julius Carroll, Dr. Dr. Brent are also thinking of broader ranges of students— Driggers, Dr. Susan McArver, Dr. Marcus Miller, both for lay and rostered ministries—who may be and Dr. Ginger Barfield have been deeply engaged reached. That will provide opportunities for exin their work for about six months now and will panded course options in areas where we may not soon begin gathering some market analysis with currently see the potential. the help of a consultant. The future has arrived. It is here now. now. What an The “gold standard” for theological education is still placing students face to face with faculty exciting moment to be focusing on specific plans for the mission of teaching, forming, and nurtur- for teaching, learning, and forming as the mission ing. In this, the current model of LTSS, LTSS, faculty and 1
of LTSS.
The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) is an accrediting organization of more than 250 graduate theological schools, including Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. Seminary. The seminary is fully accredited through ATS ATS and will undergo its next accreditation review in 2013. To view a copy of the ATS Executive Director Daniel Aleshire’s Aleshire’s article, please visit http://www.ats.edu/Resources http://www .ats.edu/Resources/PapersPresentations/D /PapersPresentations/Documents/Aleshire/ ocuments/Aleshire/2010/Biennial-FutureH 2010/Biennial-FutureHasArrived.pdf asArrived.pdf
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News & Announcemen Announcements ts 2010-11 Academic Year Enrollment Facts
Seminary Exploring Partnerships with Lenoir-Rhyne Univeristy
The seminary began its 180th year on September 8, 2010. The below facts are representative of the diverse and qualified student body currently on campus. ·
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Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and Lenoir-Rhyne University are conducting a feasibility study to identify partnership opportunities between the institutions. The board of trustTotal enrollment - 152 ees of each of the two histori(107 full-time/45 part-time) cally Lutheran institutions authorized the feasibility study to Programs of Study determine various options for Master of Divinity - 123 partnership. Master of Arts in Religion - 18 “The seminary is excited Master of Sacred Theology - 4 about exploring new opporNon-Degree - 7 tunities for partnership with Lenoir-Rhyne,” said the Rev Rev.. Denominations & Traditions Dr. Marcus Miller, President of ELCA Lutheran - 99 the seminary. “The feasibility United Methodists - 27 study will identify partnerships Baptist - 11 that will enhance the mission Episcopal - 4 and programs of each school, Presbyterian - 1 strengthen offerings on both the Other - 10 Columbia and Hickory campuses, better utilize resources, and, ELCA Synods Represented - 18 most importantly, enrich the North Carolina - 14 student experience so that our South Carolina - 10 church and world has the leadSoutheastern - 11 ers it needs for generations to Florida-Bahamas - 9 come.”
Virginia - 6 · Gender 84 men/68 female
The seminary’s participation in the feasibility study is an outcome of March 2010 seminary Board of Trustees meeting. The board adopted multiple initiatives to grow effectiveness and improve the viability of the school, including exploring possible partnerships, reviewing cur-
riculum models, increasing activities in congregations, evaluating under-used seminary property, and expanding fundraising efforts. The Lenoir-Rhyne University Board of Trustees adopted a resolution at its August 2010 meeting to initiate the feasibility study. study. The seminary’s seminary’s board passed a similar resolution at its October meeting. The respective board chairs have appointed a feasibility committee to conduct the study and report findings to each governing body for review and possible further action. “The committee will explore a variety of opportunities between the seminary’s graduate-level programs and LenoirRhyne’ss liberal arts university Rhyne’ system,” said Miller Miller.. “This study s tudy will examine how different levels of partnership and collaboration may allow each school to more faithfully accomplish our missions.” Established in 1891, LenoirRhyne University is a private, coeducational university located in Hickory,, North Carolina. It is afHickory filiated with the North Carolina Synod of the ELCA and is open to students from all religious backgrounds seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees.
For more news see page 14 or visit www.ltss.edu www.ltss.edu
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The Seminary Scene A Nurturing Campus—Outside of the Classroom Preparing to serve Christ’s church is demanding but necessary and fulfilling work. It takes a commitment of years full of extensive readings, tests, and papers, dissecting and forming personal beliefs, learning new languages and concepts, developing a pastoral presence, and so much more. However However,, seminarians do not go through this journey alone. They have a network of support that is there to nurture them as they form for f or ministry. ministry. Outside of the classroom, students gather in groups that support their classmates and look for ways to be active in the neighborhoods around the campus. The MAR group is a gathering of students pursuing Master of Arts in Religion degrees. “Meeting together as MARs means the world to me. It’ss a time we can come together to It’ to share our joys, concerns, and be a group when most of the time we’re going in different directions!” said Alicia Koon, a senior from the South Carolina Synod. Meanwhile, the Community Action Committee finds opportunities for students to give back to the Columbia area by participating Seminarians pursuing a Master of Arts in Religion degree meet throughout in Habitat for Humanity builds, the year to give support to each other outside of the classroom.
supporting community farm coops, and organizing a neighborhood Trick-or-Treat Trick-or-Treat night. “W “Wee believe it is important for students to be active in the Columbia community because this is our home while we are here at LTSS,” remarked the committee’ss co-chair Patrik committee’ P atrik Silvola, a United Methodist MDiv Middler. Middler. “God has commanded us to ‘love your neighbor as your(Lev.19:18) What better way to start living out that “...Seminarians self.’ (Lev.19:18) commandment than through acts of selfless service?” do not go Many of the students move to their new Columbia comthrough this munity with families in tow. tow. The hours spent with spouses journey alone.” alone.” and children provide respite from demands of the seminarian life. The campus community also supports these family members through gatherings and retreats theperson spousesingroup and children’s children’ s choir. choir . But not all families have justofone seminary. This year there are two mother-son combinations enrolled, Gail and Malik Bullard, Senior MAR and Middler MDiv, respectively, Baptists
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The Seminary Scene from South Carolina, and Lisa and Andrew Isenhower, Isenhower, MDivs from the South Carolina Synod. “Having my son here on campus as a part of my support group has been a comfort and a joy,” said Lisa Isenhower, Isenhower, a first-year first-yea r seminary student whose son is a senior. “He has helped me navigate through this new territory called seminary life, answering questions, giving advice, commiserating and celebrating with me. It’s pretty amazing to see our roles change as I follow in his footsteps.” Support group members may vary for each student, but it is evident on campus that animals also play a key role for many people. The campus is alive with about twenty dogs and a number of cats living on campus and giving support to their owners. “Dogs are helpful for students because sometimes you need a pick me up. Every time that I come home my dog is so excited to see me and needNorth that,”Carolina. said Senior MDiv seminarian Fox Ifrom “Another reason whyDavid it is Chris Wulff and Buddy, her rescue helpful to have a dog is because it is a reminder to take a greyhound, walking around campus to break and go for a walk. All too often we forget about cheer on the flag-football team. self-care and dogs help us to take care of ourselves, or maybe they just take care of us.” Walking dogs around campus is just one way the seminary community exhibits physical wellness habits that nurture the body. body. Students frequently ride their bikes and jog through the neighborhood. Once classes are over on Friday afternoons each week, students gather for games and activities—from kickball to water fights—on campus and in nearby city parks. However, perhaps the most fruitful nurturing and support comes in the communal quiet and reflective moments of seminary. seminary. Steve Evans, a Middler MDiv student from Florida, enjoys these special moments. “Communal prayer and worship is an important way that my spiritual reservoir is is filled. It keeps me focused on the fact that I am part of something bigger than myself here and in my life.” When gathering in Christ Chapel for daily worship services, walking the Trinity Prayer Labyrinth, or pausing in silence at Monday Night Contemplative Prayer, students are able to center their lives around worship and prayer prayer.. They continue this as they form prayer groups and spiritual formation groups that give opporGathering as a community for daily tunities to share the joys and concerns of the seminary worship and prayer helps the campus stay life and fulfill the need to nurture their well-beings in a focused and renews the commitment of being faithful members of Christ’ Christ’ss church. demanding period in their life’ life’ss journey.
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Conversations “What nurture meandoes to you?” Tara Magoon Class of 2000 Nurturing is more than just caring, it is supporting, teaching, giving the building blocks needed to encourage growth all done out of love for the nurtured.
April L. Hall
Class of 1989
Nurturing enables one soul to meet and care for another another.. Around here, it’ss holding the hand of a dying it’ person, interceding for families. Nurturing others is to care in the way that you would want to be.
Jennifer Shimota Krushas Intern MDiv, Pacifica Synod Nurturing often occurs in the refectory. Lunch with a professor. Sharing my thoughts or questions. When the professor’ professor’ss language and demeanor suggest that I am headed in a holy direction...or engage me in further conversation that help me to see a holy direction, I feel nurtured. I feel a bit like a child who is looking to a parent for approval and support. I love that the lunch table is a safe place to learn and grow.
www.facebook.com/ LutheranTheologicalSouthernSeminary
The Seminary Scene A Nurturing Nur turing Campus—Inside the Classroom Classroom In the lives of students who experience third-year internships, se- This article is by Lisa Beery, a senior nior year opens the floodgates for a time of confidence, commitment, Master of Divinity Student and the 2010-11 Body President, and confusion. We come back to academic and communal life together from theStudent North Carolina Synod. with a confidence in the “ministry tool belts” our contextual experiences helped us develop. We enter into the year committed committed to our continued education and formation. We journey through our time on campus confused while thinking about where we have just been, where we are right now, and how it all relates to wherever we may be when the academic year is over. The experiences of what has happened before, what is happening and what will be happening are held in tension in the Parish Administration class. In this class, taught by Dr. Everett, the content, guest speakers and discussion help nurture our state of confidence, commitment, and confusion in a way that respects where we have been, where we are, and where we are going. Dr. Everett and the class structure provide an open space for us to discuss what all aspects of ministry looked like in our internship contexts. This classroom experience facilitates the continued nurturing of the internship experience as we share our knowledge and ex- The Rev. Dr. Jim Utt (Class of 1976), 2010-11 Reinartz Scholar in Residence, leads discussion in Parish periences with others. Administration class during his visit to campus. The class focuses on the education, formation and discernment needs we have in the moment. It nurtures students to understand that the classroom moments of here and now are important and are in fact the place to which God has called us in this time. The class helps us to anticipate the future and what we will need to know and do. In this way, way, the class nourishes its stu...the classroom dents by planting and watering seeds that will grow, in moments of here and the right time and place, as we enter first call. now are important and As Martin Luther said, “We are not now what we are in fact the place to shall be, but we are on the way. way. The process is not yet which God has called finished, but is actively going on. This is not the goal, but us in this time. it is the right road.” Whether it is starting a sentence saying say ing “At my internship congregation, we …,” or helping us understand there are more things we need to learn, or talking through our anxietiesclass about assignment and first LTSS and the Parish Administration nurture its students oncall, the way in times of confidence confi dence and uncertainty, in times of commitment and hesitation, and in times of confusion and understanding. The process is not finished here, but it is most certainly nurtured.
Photo on page 8: The Rev. Dr. Tony Everett shares a biblical passage on leadership before beginning class.
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Meet The Seminary Board of Trustees The Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Board of Trustees is consists of 24 members who are dedicated to the success of the seminary. seminary. The diverse group of successful business leaders, financial professionals, lawyers, doctors, educators, and clergy from across the country provide leadership and guidance to the seminary as it strives to fulfill its mission. Officers of the Board of Trustees
Mr. Arthur J. Kuh
Mr. Kuh joined the Board of Trustees at Mr. the October 2010 meeting as a representative of the Florida-Bahamas Synod. He is a retired entrepreneur and business owner of United Provisions, Inc., a beef processing company in the Midwest. He is a member of St. Armands Key Lutheran Church in Sarasota, Florida, where he has served on the call committee, the church council, and as president of the congregation.
The Rev. Robert F. Humphrey Pastor Humphrey serves the Board of Trustees as a representative of the Virginia Synod and as secretary. secretary. A 1981 graduate of Southern Seminary, he currently serves the congregation of Muhlenberg Lutheran Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia and was previously pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Waynesboro, Waynesboro, VA. VA. He has served as a Trustee since 2009. 2 009.
Ms Cathy Jordan Ms Jordan is a member at large from Columbia, South Carolina. She is a realtor and property manager with Hubbard Bowers, Inc. and has almost 20 years experience in real estate professions. She is an active member of St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Columbia. She joined the Board of Trustees in 2008. 2008 .
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The Rev. dDr. William B. Trexler, Chair (‘70 & ‘91) Retire Retired Pastor, Former Bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod Dr.. Miriam L. David-Brow Dr David-Brown, n, Vice-Chair Vice-Chair Director of Health Services, Berea College The Rev. Robert F. Humphrey, Secretary (‘81) Pastor Pastor,, Muhlenberg Lutheran, Harrisonburg, VA Mr.. Steve Nivens, Mr Nivens, Treasurer Treasurer Executive Officer Officer,, Congaree State Bank Members of the Board of Trustees Bishop James F. Mauney, Mauney, (‘78) Bishop of the Virginia Synod Bishop Edward Edward R. Benoway, Benoway, (‘73) (‘73) Bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod Dr.. Linda Daniel Dr Daniel Retired Medical Doctor Dr.. Cinde Rinn, Dr Educato Educator, r, Davie County, NC The Rev. Robert Shoffner, (‘74) Pastor, Holy Trinity Luthera Lutheran, n, Hickor Hickory, y, NC The Rev. Virginia Aebischer, (‘89) Assistant to the Bishop, South Carolina Synod The Rev. Robert T. Byrne, (‘95) Pastor Pastor,, St. Paul Lutheran, Aiken, SC Mr.. Robert E. Long, Mr Resource Planning Manager, SCANA Corp. The Rev. Robert H. Loshuertos, (‘63) Retired Pastor Mr.. Roy T. Mr T. Wise (‘70) (‘70) Secretary Secretary,, The Kessler Reformation Collection The Rev. Bobbie Blackburn Pastor,, Trinity Lutheran, Bradenton, FL Pastor Mr.. Arthur J. Kuh Mr Kuh Retired Business Owner Sister Carmen Ana Ramirez Deaconness, Bayamon, PR The Rev. Themba Mkhabela Pastor,, Reformation Lutheran, St. Thomas, VI Pastor The Rev. Dr. Lowell G. Almen Former Secretary of the ELCA Mr.. Kenneth L. Mr L. Childs, Esq. Attorney,, Childs & Halligan, P.A. Attorney Dr.. Richard Conn Dr Retired Surgeon Ms Cathy D. Jordan Realtor and Property Manager Ms Eileen Corley Leaphart Leaphart Clinical Associate Professor Professor,, Univ Univ.. of SC Mr.. Gene Lewis Mr Lewis Project Management Consultant, Water Transit Transit Solutions, Inc. Advisory Members of the Board of Trustees Bishop Leonard Leonard H. Bolick, Bolick, (‘72) Bishop of the North Carolina Synod Bishop Herman Herman R. Yoos, Yoos, III, (‘79) Bishop of the South Carolina Synod Bishop H. Julian Julian Gordy, Gordy, (‘85) Bishop of the Southeastern Synod Bishop Felipe Felipe Lozada Montanez, Montanez, Bishop of the Caribbean Synod
Faces & Places of Faith Campfrmation: A Faith-Bu Faith-Building ilding Week Each summer, Lutheridge+Lutherock Ministries, Inc. hosts a series of “Campfirmation” weeks at their camps in the mountains of North Carolina. For over 25 years, the Campfirmation Campfirmation program provides a week where teenage campers, young adult counselors, and congregational pastors create a faith-building and nurturing environment for each other. other. It is an environment that helps strengthen the church, its current and future leaders, and its future members. Pastor Russell Peek (Class of 2004) has seen the benefits of Campfirmation from all three perspectives. He still has vivid memories of being a camper in 1991. For three summers in the late 1990s, he returned as a counselor and it was a formative experience for his faith. He remembers that, “Because I worked with a variety of clusters of churches that chose to do things differently, I began to gain a deeper appreciation of the depth and variety within Lutheranism.” Today oday,, he is the pastor ofthat Emmanuel Church, West Columbia, South Carolina, brings hisLutheran own class to Campfirmation. “I deeply treasure the opportunity to build relationships with the youth who go to confirmation camp,” he says. “The context of outdoor ministry gives confirmation students the opportunity to see the church in a different light.” Pastor Mary Caniff-Kuhn (Class of 1988), Lutheridge Program Director, sees the week as an opportunity for students to get to know their pastor outside of the church and classroom setting. “Students see their pastors as approachable people who care about them enough to spend a whole week getting to know them.” Additionally Additionally,, she sees first-hand how the counselors impact teenage “[The students counselors] become and rolethe models forcampers. campfirmation in ways thatmentors pastors and parents never could be. They show students that living the life of faith is fun and fulfilling.” Campfirmation counselors, like outdoor ministry counselors across the globe, often come to hear God’s calling to ministry, or other vocations, while at camp. “It provides an environment to be able to listen to how God may be speaking/revealing God-self,” remarked Pastor Tim Caniff-Kuhn (Class of 1988), Interim VP of Program & Guest Relations at Lutheridge. This was true for Matthew Titus, Titus, a Senior MDiv from the South Carolina Synod who worked as a counselor in 2002 and 2003. “Simply put, working at Lutheridge is where God showed me that I had gifts for ministry,” he said. “Here was a place, talking with young folks about Jesus Christ where I felt, ‘Hey, I can do this. This is possible.’”
Pastor John Yost, III (Class of 1974) of Messiah Lutheran Church, Mauldin, South Carolina joins a skit during Campfirmation at Lutheridge. Photos provided by Lutheridge+Lutherock Ministries, Inc.
For more information about Campfirmatio Campfirmation n and Lutheridge+Luthero Lutheridge+Lutherock ck Ministries, Inc. visit www.llmi.net. www.llmi.net. For other ELCA outdoor ministry opportunities across the country please please visit http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Ministry/Outdoor-Ministry.aspx
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A Pilgrimage into Desert Spirituality by the Rev. Dr. John Largen (Class of 1980), Pastor to the Seminary Community
At the close of each academic year, the Seminary Pastor sponsors a “pilgrimage” to an important Christian site, as part of the seminary’s spiritual formation emphasis. Pilgrimage is a time-honored Christian practice which has been described as an outward journey reflecting an inward journey. journey. It is a spiritual exercise that opens our consciousness to God’s God’s activity in the world. In previous years, our destinations have included: the ecumenical monastic community at Taize, Taize, France; 6th & 7th century Celtic church sites in England & Iona, Scotland; Holden Village in Washington’s Cascade Mountains; Thomas Merton’ss Abbey of Gethsemani Merton’ Get hsemani in Kentucky; and Vadstena & Uppsala, Sweden to learn about 14th century Saint Birgitta. Last May’s May’s pilgrimage was different. Instead of going to a famous site, we journeyed an ancient Christian “way”toofthe prayerful living known today asinto “desert spirituality spirituality.” .” Traveling high desert of northern New Mexico, our pilgrimage group resided at Casa del --a remote retreat hacienda at Ghost Ranch--where we explored Sol --a “the spaciousness of silence” and received “the solace of fierce landscapes.” In one week together, our pilgrims began to learn the church’s “desert tradition” which has its roots in scripture’s Sinai story and the teachings of the 3rd & 4 th century “Desert Fathers and Mothers” of Egypt and Palestine. The long-standing insistence of the tradition is that there is no achievement of “consciousness” to be sought; rather er, our being God, in a silence beyond words, is an end in, itself. Godpresent cannotbefore be had , the desert tradition affirms. Metaphors for God as a mountain, as a desert, and as a cloud are central to this rich apophatic spirituality which is so odd and counter-cultural to 21st century Americans. Belden C. Lane’ Lane’ss The Solace of Fierce Landscapes was the focus of our daily discussions. Our days also included morning & evening worship, time for contemplative prayer each afternoon, and ample free time to hike the canyon trails and to simply “be” with God in in the stark beauty of the painted desert. Our pilgrims trekked one day from Casa del Sol to to the even-more-remote Christ in the Desert Monastery, a Benedictine community, situated beneath a canyon wall along the t he Chamas River. River. Bottom Row (Left to Right): Jenny Jackson, Intern MDiv MDiv,, Central States Synod; Phyllis Diamond, Intern MDiv, Virginia Synod; Jason Darty, Middler, MDiv, Florida-Bahamas Synod. Top Row:Michael Warfel, Senior MDiv, North Carolina Synod; Lynne O’Shea, Middler MDiv New England Synod; Faron Johnson, Middler MDiv, MDiv, North Carolina Synod; Pastor John Largen.
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“Following the way of Christ has many challenges and surprises along the journey.. One surprise that we receive comes in following the path of ancient Christians ney into the desert. The cares and concerns of this this life are immediately immediately swept away by the winds across a barren landscape. landscape. A wind or breath, if you will, will, that finds us in the landscape of our innermost being. being. There in the silence, a still still small voice calms and comforts. It calls us to question question the patterns of our days. Yes, this place strips away the essence of our being, till all that remains is the God who finds us in the wilderness. Fortunately Fortunately,, the landscape leaves an indelible mark on our spirits, so that we return when we experience silence and close our eyes.” – Faron Johnson, Middler MDiv from the North North Carolina Synod
“Stark dry deserts have have a way of washing away everything everything that weighs us down. After a busy semester and the excitement for internship beginning in just months, I was ready to put on the brakes, if only for a little little while. I hiked Chimney Rock, the large mountain around which which Ghost Ranch is based. I remember the stark silence. I loved that silence. silence. Our morning and evening prayer centered centered our days. The mountain lion tracks humbled our hearts. I remember one time time when I was walking walking out into the open desert at dusk. It was quiet. quiet. I looked up and there was a lone coyote about 200 yards in front of me. My heart raced. I was scared, amazed...more scared. It traipesed on and I turned to walk back, one eye over my shoulder. shoulder. Wow Wow.. To be so close to nature, where where nature can be nature, was remarkable. It renewed me and reminded me of the wonderful gift of creation.” – Jenny Jackson, Intern MDiv from the Central States Synod
“This was certainly one of the high points of my time at seminary seminary so far. far. During our pilgrimage, I attended a blue grass concert at Ghost Ranch which happened to coincide with with our time there. In the concert room, room, I noticed a sculpture sculpture entitled “The Broken Man.” It was a terra cotta figure of a Native Native American or His panic man. The figure looked down upon the observer from a mirrored cross. The terra cotta of his his body was broken and disjointed disjointed in a number of places. As I was drawn in to look closer, I noticed another mirror above the figure that reflected my image. This image has come to mind many times times as I have ministered to people that are broken in body, body, mind and spirit. Its meaning to me lies in in the fact that Christ’s Christ’s body was broken for us. In our sin and brokenness, he reaches out to us with the love that drew him to the cross. I am called to reflect this love love that I cannot understand. understand. I was not expecting expecting to be changed at at a bluegrass concert. God used this sculpture sculpture to reveal Godself to me at a time and place where where I least expected it.” – Phyllis Diamond, Intern MDiv from the Virginia Virginia Synod
“The pilgrimage to the New Mexico desert was a profoundly spiritual experience for me. It began with our arrival at Ghost Ranch where we were were immediately struck by the grandeur of God’s creation. We found ourselves in the desert, surrounded by multi-colored rock cliffs that were eroding into towering sculptures. Against this backdrop, we soon settled into a routine of communal meals, daily centering prayer, prayer, hiking the canyon trails, individual meditation, and group discussions of The Solace of Fierce Landscapes . This trip was a true pilgrimage, pilgrimage, as each step led us into deeper meditation of God and God’ God’ss creation, while building community with our fellow travelers.” – Lynne Lynne O’Shea, Middler MDiv from the New New England Synod
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News & Announceme Announcements nts
Seminary Dedicates Apartment
Thrivent ChoiceSM: Make 2 Great Choices
Seminary Logo Apparel by Lands’ End
On October 21, 2010, the seminary dedicated a campus apartment given by the disciples of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Columbia, South Carolina, in memory of Eleanor and Red Rice. “We are blessed to have the opportunity and the resources to respond,” said Dr. Heyward Hornsby, a member of St. Paul and one of the leaders of the congregation’s foundation. The congregation made two significant gifts through its foundation and its council, along with their pastor the Rev Rev.. Tony Tony Metze (Class of 1985), wrote a letter of support to other congregations to consid-
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary is encouraging donors and alumni that are eligible for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ new charitable giving program, Thrivent ChoiceSM, to consider giving to the congregation of thier choice and to the seminary. The new program lets Thrivent members choose where gifts are made throughout throug hout the year. By selecting both local congregations and the seminary seminary,, supporters will embrace the local church’ss mission today and enchurch’ sure that the church will have the leaders it will need to contin-
Supporters and graduates of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary around the world can now choose from a wide-selection of seminary embroidered apparel and gifts from Lands’ End. To shop online for these quality and affordable items, log on to www.ltss.edu, click “Quick Links” at the top of the page, and look for the link named “Lands’ End Apparel E-Store.” The store offers a selection of men’ men’s, s, women’s and gift items that feature the seminary’s dove logo and name. From polos to wrinkle-free dress shirts
er doing likewise. The gifts were given in memory of Eleanor and Red Rice. The Rices were active leaders in the congregation prior to their deaths and their end-of-life gifts to the congregation’s foundation established a large portion of the foundation’s endowment. Additional naming opportunities are still available at the seminary.. For more information seminary
ue its mission in the future. Eligible Thrivent members may register and direct their Choice DollarsSM to organizations of their choice by logging on to www.thrivent.com or by calling their Thrivent Financial representative. To learn more about this and other ways to help the seminary, visit www.ltss.edu www.ltss.edu or call the t he Development Office at 803-461-
and from t-shirts to warm fleece, there is something for everyone in the store. When visitors submit their email address at the store, Lands’ End will send special offers throughout the t he year, year, including free shipping, free fr ee embroidery, and other special discounts. Seminary logo items make great gifts for pastors and their families, faithful donors, and fu-
on or your please congregationhow can you participate, call 3219. the seminary development office at 803-461-3219.
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ture students that already show the gifts for ministry in their own congregations.
For more news see page 5 or visit www.ltss.edu
Visionary Giving Seven Sev en Decades of Faithf Faithful ul Support Suppor t The year was 1940. God’ God’ss people offered prayers for peace as the realities of war sank in around the world. Technology and communication advances changed the way the world saw itself. The global economy was scratching and clawing to recover from a serious financial crisis. It was a tough year, and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary felt the impact of all the changes going on in the world. However it was during that year that a small group met on the seminary campus to discuss how they could make a difference at the seminary seminary.. The group developed a plan to bring the seminary’s mission and needs to the congregations in the southeastern synods of the church by forming what would be called the The Women’s Auxiliary of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. Now,, seventy years later, the global and Now seminary landscape looks very similar. similar. And the Auxiliary (the word women has since The Fall 2010 Seminary Auxiliary Officers meeting at LTSS. been dropped) is still hard at work bringing the mission and needs of the seminary to the people of the church. ...still hard at Each year, the Auxiliary holds a membership drive work bringing the to raise funds for the seminary and its students. The mission and needs funds raised by the Auxiliary are applied to special of the seminary to projects that fulfill student needs that cannot be met the people of the through the school’s operational budget.
e n i l C a r d n a S y b o t o h P
Special projects include a variety of helpful initiachurch. tives like beautifying the campus with new park benches and providing furniture and technology for the student union and computer labs. The Auxiliary provides support to the seminary’s seminary’s spouses group and gives camp scholarships for children of seminarians. They buy books for the library collections and award scholarships to students student s in need of financial assistance. The Auxiliary even helps offset the travel expenses of the students’ annual trip to Gettysburg for the Luther Bowl flag-football tournament with other seminaries from around the country. After seven decades of hard work and an d dedication, in good times and in bad, the faithful Auxiliary tradition of supporting seminary students continues in the congregations across the region. For more information about the Auxiliary and how you can support students through a membership or gift, please visit the “Donors and Partners” tab of www.ltss.edu or call the seminary at 803-461-3219 to find the Auxiliary contact nearest you.
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Visionary Giving With a Belief and a Plan: The Wanda Hackbarth Legacy Mrs. Wanda Wanda Hackbarth had an idea: She believed in the church and wanted to help. All she needed was a plan. A long-time member of Augsburg Lutheran Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wanda was an active force in her congregation. She was Secretary of the Church Council and President of the Altar Guild. She grew flowers for the altar in her own garden and carefully provided and adorned baptismal napkins for the church. She volunteered as a receptionist and was active in several Bible studies. She believed in Augsburg’s ministry and supported it faithfully, but she had a deep desire to help strengthen the whole of Christ’s church, too. One day in the mid-1990s while talking to her pastor, the Rev. Dr. Ronald Rinn (Class of 1972, 1992), Wanda expressed her desire to make a difference to the wider church. In their discussions, he mentioned the ministry of training the future leaders of the church at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. Wanda had seen firsthand the type of leaders that Southern Seminary provided the church. Her pastors at Augsburg Augsburg were graduates and she was impressed with what she saw. saw. Thanks to her pastor, pastor, she had found her way to help the greater church and she went on to develop a close relationship with the seminary. Wanda contacted the th e Lutheran Community Foundation and they helped her develop a plan to support the seminary seminary.. Her husband, Carl, had recently died so as she was Mrs. Wanda Hackbarth (left) visits with Dr. Mary Ann re-working her estate plans, she listed the Shealy (right), former Vice President for Development, on seminary as a beneficiary in her will. Howone of her many visits to the seminary campus. ever, the foundation remembers her saying, “I kept thinking that I wanted to see some money in action while I’m here, not after I’m gone.” So in addition to her estate plan, Wanda decided to set up The Wanda Hackbarth Gift Fund with the foundation to provide a scholarship to an excellent scholastic student with demonstrated financial need. After up thewho scholarship really wanted to be there for setting the students benefitedfund, fromWanda her generosity generosity. . She wrote each one with a special note of encouragement. “She made sure that I (and all seminarians) knew that God’s people were praying for the future leaders of the church. That got me through some of the tougher
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Visionary Giving parts of the academic journey in Columbia,” said David Wegner (Class of 2010). Each year, year, as her health allowed, she visited the seminary campus and attended the graduation ceremony. ceremony. She felt great joy seeing all of the seminary students, including the ones she helped through, walk down the aisle to receive their diplomas. She had enjoyed the scholarship gift so much, Wanda began to think of other ways she could establish her legacy at Southern Seminary.. She decided to name the seminary as the ben- “She made sure that I Seminary eficiary of a life insurance policy. policy. She gave the life insurinsur(and all seminarians) ance gift as an additional way to help strengthen Christ’s knew that God’s church through the students and the seminary that she people were praying praying loved so dearly. As the years went by, her health began to waiver and for the future leaders her visitswith to campus became less frequent. But her relaof-David the church.” Wegner tionship the seminary and students remained strong. Class of 2010 One summer afternoon in 2009, she invited seminary representatives to come visit with her at her home. It just so happened that one of the students who benefited from her scholarship, Vince Iocona, Intern MDiv from the North Carolina Synod, was completing his Clinical Pastoral Education at a Winston-Salem hospital that summer and he joined them for lunch. “Our visit was brief, but what a delightful woman. We shared faith stories over lunch and she spoke most notably of her love for God and for her love of Southern,” Vince Vince recalls. “She was a generous, loving, and God-fearing woman who I was blessed to have met.” Less than a year entered on April 6, 2010, all later, of herwhen plansWanda were finally set the intoChurch motion.Triumphant The scholarship fund (which already had given over a decade of support), the will, and the life insurance policy were supporting Southern Seminary and its mission to teach, form, and nurture public ministers for Christ’s church. Mrs. Wanda Hackbarth believed in the seminary, and she made a plan. And because of her generous and faithful legacy legacy,, generations of church leaders will benefit. Thanks be to God!
The Lutheran Community Foundation The Lutheran Community Foundation (LCF), headquartered in Minneapolis, is a faith-based public charity working nationally to help people give to their favorite charities and causes. Through its flexible giving options and the generosity of it donors, the LCF has distributed more than $63 million to charities since its inception in 1994. Together with its donors, the LCF is working to achieve effective, positive and lasting change in our communities. For more information, please visit www.TheLCF www.TheLCF.org. .org.
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Southern People Being Sacred Trust-worthy This article is written by Andrew Boozer, Director of Communications and the Rev. Dr. Daniel M. Bell, Jr., Professor of Theological Ethics.
In the process of answering God’s call to public ministry, seminarians discover that as leaders of the church chu rch they are granted a unique opportunity that is not extended to many in our culture: They are invited to share in the most vulnerable, fragile moments of people’s people’s lives. This invitation is built on trust. People turn to church leaders because they trust them to be good stewards of the access, the intimacy they have been granted. Moreover Moreover,, this is a sacred trust. trust. It exceeds even that offered to physicians and bankers, for the church leader represents not only the church but even Christ himself. Thus, this profound opportunity for care is matched by the equally profound possibility for harm. For it is one thing to be wronged by a secular professional; profes sional; but it is an altogether different matter to be mis-
The Rev. Dr. Daniel M. Bell, Jr. challenges his students in special workshops and in the classroom to understand and honor the sacred trust that church leaders are granted.
treated by a church leader. Such harm can exceed the body and touch even the soul as the injured may doubt God’s love and care, abandon the church, and neglect the means of grace. LTSS invites students to reflect on the nature of this sacred trust and how they might be good stewards of it. Each year in the fall, the seminary hosts a workshop open to all students and required of all newly entering students. The workshop is entitled, “Honoring a Sacred Trust: The Gift
of Boundaries in Church Leadership” and is led by the Rev. Dr. Daniel M. Bell, Jr., Professor of Theological Ethics. Dr. Bell explains that honoring this sacred trust is about being the kind of leaders who will not misuse the opportunity, who will not take advantage of the access granted into people’s lives, by using it to meet their own needs instead of the needs of those who have been entrusted to them in Christ’s Christ’s name. It is about learning the habits and practices that make one sacred trust-worthy. While Dr. Bell notes that nurturing sacred trust is the responsibility of the whole church (including its institutions, congregations, laity and leadership) he challenges seminarians to reflect on the trust granted to them. They examine and howas they can nurture as theyministry participate in the seminary community they move into itvarious contexts, from the sanctuaries, classrooms, and living rooms of their field-education settings, to the hospital bedsides of Clincal Pastoral Education, to the diverse ministry opportunities of internship and beyond.
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Southern People Central to the workshop is the recognition of boundaries bound aries established by best practices in counseling situations. Boundaries regarding friendships, romance, gift-giving and so forth within a ministry setting are not obstacles to genuine relationships or roadblocks to faithful ministry but are gifts, even means of grace, that enable faithful ministry and assist church leaders in caring for others in ways It is about learning learning that are appropriate and honor the sacred trust they have the habits and been granted. Appropriate boundaries are gifts that sus practices that tain freedom for ministry. make one sacred As seminarians develop and hone their gifts for mintrust-worthy. istry, as they learn and sharpen various skills for ministry, it is important that the character and habits that make them sacred trust-worthy are nurtured as well. With the help and guidance of God and the church, LTSS strives to nurture women and men who are sacred trust-worthy.
Reading Suggestions from Dr. David S. Yeago Dr. David S. Yeago is the Michael C. Peeler Professor of Systematic Theology at LTSS, where he has been on the seminary faculty since 1988. Below are reading suggestions and brief comments from Dr. Yeago.
Risto Saarinen, God and the Gift: An Ecumenical Theology of Giving. Liturgical Press, 2005 Paul R. Hinlicky, Luther and the Beloved Community: A Path for Christian Theology After Christendom. Eerdmans, 2010
John J. O’Keefe and R. R. Reno. Sanctified Vision: An Introduction to Early Christian Interpretation of the the Bible. Johns Hopkins, 2005. J. Todd Todd Billings, The Word of. God for the People of God: An Entryway Entryway to the Theological Interpretation of Scripture. Scripture. Eerdmans, 2010.
Comments: In these two books, Lutheran theology breaks out of denominational narrowness and the standard routines of the last century and achieves a truly ecumenical voice, at the same time engaging
Comments: These two books provide a path into perhaps the most important movement in English-speaking theology today: a creative rethinking of the relationship between Scripture, theology, and church. O’Keefe and Reno have written simply the clearest account ever of what premodern biblical interpreters were up to, and what rationale they had
confidently and constructively with contemporary thought. Neither book is easy but both address issues of central importance for gospel mission and ministry.
for the seemingly strange moves they made. Billings offers a lucid, balanced survey and synthesis of the new developments, with Christian life and ministry.
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Southern People Updates and News from the Southern Souther n Community Faculty, Staff, & Emeriti The Rev. Dr. Daniel M. Bell, Jr.
Professor of Theological Ethics At the October 2010 meeting of the seminary board of trustees, Dr. Dr. Bell was w as promoted to the rank of full professor. professor. He has been a member of the seminary faculty since 2000 and is an ordained elder of The United Methodist Church.
The Rev. Dr. Julius Carroll Associate Professor of Contextual Education Dr.. Carroll serves on the North CaroDr lina Synod’s Multi-Cultural Ministries
Task Force. As a member of the task force he is consulting with St. John’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury as the congregation seeks ways to reach out to the community around their church. Those residents living within w ithin St. John’s zip code are 37% persons of African descent. The outcome of the consultation process is to have a resource notebook that can be used—not only by St. John’s—but John’ s—but also for other congregations in the synod.
The Rev. Dr. Tony S. Everett Dewey F. Beam Professor of Pastoral Care Dr. Everett’s book Show-and-Tell and Other Cycle A Sermons for Lent/Easter will be published by CSS Publishing Company,, Lima, Ohio, in January Company 2011. This is the second book he has completed on Cycle A, following the 2007 release of Did You See That Gorilla?, which covered the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany Epiphany..
The Rev. Dr. James R. Thomas Associate Professor of Church and Ministry, Director of African American Ministries, North Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission Professor of Bible and Mission Testamentum Imperium, an international theological journal from Tri Trinini-
dad, recently publishe published d Dr Dr.. Thomas Thomas’s ’s article, “The Sovereignty of God at the
In Remembrance
Death of Loved Ones: Hope from the The Book of Revelations.” The article can be found in Volume 2 and is available for online reading or for purchase at www.preciousheart.net/ti.
Members seminary family that enteredof thethe Church Triumphant May 1, 2010 - Nov. 12, 2010.
The Rev. Dr. Luther Lindberg Faculty Emeritus
Dr. David S. Yeago Michael Peeler Professor of Systematic Theology Dr. Yeago presented at the Wittenberg Series –sponsored Kenneth H. Sauer Luther Symposium at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, on October 20, 2010. The Kenneth H. Sauer
Luther Symposium is held in honor of The Rev. Dr. Kenneth H. Sauer, former Bishop of the Southern Ohio Synod, ELCA. The Wittenberg Series annually brings distinguished lecturers of national and international prominence to the university’s campus.
The Rev. Dr. John Largen, ‘80 Pastor to the Seminary Community Pastor Largen will be the Bible Leader at the 25th Annual Power in the Spirit 2011 at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. Power in the Spirit is is an inspirational conference held by the Virginia Synod for everyone who wishes to explore God’s call to service through joyous worship, Bible study study,, keynote addresses, workshops, and fellowship.
Thuot Ksor Custodial Supervisor, Aramark Facility Services at LTSS Thuot, a refugee who was resettled from his native Vietnam to Columbia by Lutheran Family Services and sponsored by Christus Victor and Reformation Lutheran Churches (See Summer 2008 Southern Bulletin, p. 13), passed
his test with perfect score andcitizenship became a citizen of athe United States of America in July 2010.
The Rev. John W. Swails Class of 1946
The Rev. Rev. J. Russell Boggs Class of 1946
The Rev. Dr. Paul Conrad Class of 1956
The Rev. Patti Arthur Class of 1993
Dr. David Y.P. Chou Former Trustee
Alumni Carl Fisher, ‘58 The James R. Crumley, Jr. Archives presented Carl with the Walton H. Greever A for and Distinguished toward Church Society at Leadership its annual banquet on October 29, 2010.
Charles Huggins, ‘61 Charles was honored as pastor emeritus at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sanford, North Carolina on July 11, 2010, at the congregation’ congregation’ss homecoming celebration. He served at Trinity Trinity from 1967-1999 and currently serves on the staff of St. Paul’ Paul’ss Lutheran Church, C hurch, Durham, North Carolina.
Edwas Harper, ‘64 the North Carolina Ed presented District West Humanitarian Award by North Carolina District West Civitan International. He was nominated by the Granite Quarry Civitan Club where
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Southern People he has served the club as chaplain for two years. He is also serving as interim interim pastor at Haven Lutheran Church, Salisbury, North Carolina.
Richard Duncan, ‘68
Richard retired from St. Peter Lutheran Church in Stafford, Stafford, Virginia. Virginia. He and his wife, Charlotte, currently reside in Stafford but are considering a move to North Carolina to be closer to family.
Keith Copeland, ‘92 Keith received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury Salisbury,, North Carolina, on May 15, 2010. He currently currently serves as the interim pastor at Mt. Hermon
Lutheran Church in Concord, North Carolina.
Marty Stevens, ‘93 In October 2010, Marty was installed as Associate Professor of Stewardship and Biblical Studies in the Arthur L. Larson position of Stewardship and Parish Ministry at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. In addition to her professor duties, she also serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Registrar at the seminary seminary.. She recently published her second book, Theological Themes in the Old Testament: Creation, Covenant, Cultus, and Character (Cascade Books, 2010).
Fred Hodges, ‘96 Fred’s congregation, Our Savior LuFred’s theran Church, Christiansburg, VirVirginia, honored him in recognition of his 10th anniversary with the congregation. In addition to a reception and a hand-made gift from a parishioner, the congregation collected a gift in his honor to the seminary’s student aid fund to help a future pastor prepare for ministry.
Chris Bowen, ‘01 Chris, and his wife Cynthia, celebrated the birth of their son, Croix Stuart, on May 24, 2010. Chris currently serves at St. Michael Lutheran, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Greninger & Reinartz Scholars In October 2010, Lutheran Theological Southern Souther n Seminary welcomed two scholar award recipients to campus: The Rev. Dr. Dr. James H. Utt, the 2010-2011 Reinartz Scholar in Residence, and Sue Setzer Setzer,, LHD., the 2010-2011 Greninger Scholar in Residence. Each award enables recipients to spend a week on campus to study, research, and connect with the students and faculty at the seminary seminary.. The Reinartz Scholars Program is in tribute to former seminary President, Dr. Dr. F. F. Eppling Reinartz (1961-1970). The Greninger Scholar Program is named for Dr. Edwin T. and Mrs. Joan Greninger of Johnson City, Tennessee, and in memory of Dr. Greninger’s father, the Rev. Fred. R. Greninger, a seminary professor in the 1940s. Recipients for each award are selected by the seminary’ seminary’ss Board of Trustees from nominations by the bishops of Region 9 of the ELCA. Utt, a 1976 graduate of Southern Seminary, serves as senior pastor at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winchester, Winchester, Virginia. While on campus, he shared his 34 years of ordained ministry experience with the senior class in its Parish Leadership and Administration class. “I was pleased with the ways in which the members of the senior class engaged me with their questions and comments and Rev. Dr. Jim Utt challenges about practical practices of being a parish pastor,” pastor,” he said. “They will be Class of 1976 a blessing for generations to come.” Setzer is the Associate Asso ciate Director of Supervised Supervise d Ministry and Vocational Planning and is Adjunct Instructor of Christian Education at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina, campus. During her week on campus, she focused on studying how seminary field work supervisors can be spiritual companions for their students. She took full advantage of being on campus by meeting with students and faculty, worshipping with the campus, and even participating part icipating in a choir practice session. “The week was a Sabbatical that gave me perspective that rarely occurs in the routine work schedule,” she remarked, “I hope to return next year on my own for a week of sacred study.” Sue Setzer
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Southern People Christy Van O’Linda, ‘04 Christy and her husband, Nathan Huffman, celebrated the birth their daughter,, Cora Elizabeth, on May 21, daughter 2010. Christy is a Diaconal Minister at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia. Virginia. Cora Elizabeth’s Elizabeth’s proud grandfather is William Van O’Linda, ‘78.
Heather Apel, ‘06 Wade Apel, ‘06 Heather and Wade celebrated the birth of their daughter, Jillian, on June 10, 2010. Heather and Wade Wade cur-
rently serve at Bethel Lutheran Church, Noblesville, Indiana.
on October 7, 2010. Mark currently currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina and is in the call process.
Brad Fuerst, ‘07 Brad was awarded the prestigious Philip N. Knutson Award at the National Lutheran Campus Ministry Conference in Chicago, August 12, 2010. He is currently the Campus Pastor at Houston Lutheran Campus Ministry in Houston, Texas.
For more Alumni news and for a full list of Ordinations, Installations, Consecrations, and Commissionings, visit the Alumni section of www.ltss.edu
Mark Peterson, ‘10 Mark and his wife, w ife, Carrie, celebrated the birth of their son, Charles Xavier Xavier,,
Alumni Day 2011 2011 ClassAnniversary of 1961 - 50Classes: Years Alumni Day 2011 will be held on Thursday Thursday,, May 12, 2011 on the Class of 1986 - 25 Years seminary campus. Plans are already underway for a full day of fellowClass of 2001 - 10 Years: ship, worship, ministry workshops, celebration meals for anniversary Also recognizing all 5-year classes and the class of 2011, and the Yost Lectures. class anniversaries and the This year the Yost Lectures will focus on Christian-Muslim Relations “Golden Alumni,” all those and will be given by the Rev. Dr. Mark Swanson, the Harold S. S . VogeVogecelebrating 50+ years. laar Professor of Christian-Muslim Studies and Interfaith Relations and Associate Director of the Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. In addition to his work at LSTC and Luther Seminary (1998-2006), he has also taught at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt. He has published multiple articles and books, including section editor for Christian-Muslim Relations: A Bibliographical History (Brill, 2009) and author of The Coptic (American University in Cairo Press, 2010). Papacy in Islamic Egypt (American Please mark your calendars for Alumni Day today today.. Registration information will be distributed later this Spring. For more information, please contact Sandra Cline, Associate Director for Development and Alumni Relations at 803-461-3252 or [email protected]
Catching up with classmates at Alumni Day 2010
The Class of 1960 Reunion Photo at Alumni Day 2010
The Rev. Dr. Mark Swanson, 2011 Yost Lecturer
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for more events and information visit
www.ltss.edu Spring Classes Begin Jan. 27
Coming Events
Spring Break, March 7-11 Easter Break, April 21-22 Spring Meeting of the LTSS Board of Trustees, March 24-25 Last Day of Class, May 6; Exams, May 7-10 Alumni Day & Baccalaureate Service, May 12 Commencement, May 13
Seminary Weekend Mar.. 18-20 Mar 18 -20
Join the seminary seminary community community for for a visit weekend on on campus for all those hearing God’s calling to ministry in their lives. Room and board are provided. Contact Admissions at [email protected] or 803-461-3238 for more information.
Seminary Saturdays
Feb. 12, Mar Mar.. 12, Apr Apr.. 9
Gather on the seminary campus from 9:00AM to Noon with others discerning God’s call to ministry and discover how Southern Seminary can teach, form, and nurture you for ministry. Contact the Admissions Office at [email protected] or 803-461-3238 for more information.
Spring ‘11 Lectures & Events Preaching the Lenten Texts(Rev. Dr. Marcus Miller) Virginia: Feb 2-4; Florida: Feb 23-25; Times & locations TBD Hall Lecture - April 1 (Dr. Adela Yarbro Collins) Hein-Fry Lectures - April 7 (Dr. Elieshi Mungure) Confirmation Day - April 9 Yost Lecture - May 12 (Rev. Dr. Mark Swanson) Photos Above (from top): LTSS students and alumni gather at the dedication of the Martin Luther statue at Lenoir-Rhyne Lenoir-Rhyne University Homecoming, October October 9, 2010; Students gathering on the quad during Orientation 2010; Dr. Dr. Risto Saarinen from the University of Helsinki lectures about the theology of the gift; Dr. Jan Love, Dean of Candler School of Theology Theology,, lectures at the Eben Taylor Memorial Lecture Series held at the seminary in partnership with The United Methodist Church of South Carolina. Back Cover (left to right): right): David Parr (Middler, (Middler, MDiv, MDiv, Southeastern Synod); Matthew Nickoloff Nickoloff and family (STM, Upstate New York Synod); Christina Mauntel (Junior (Junior,, MDiv, Indiana-Kentucky Synod); Martine Joseph, Lutheran Year, Metro Washington, DC Synod)
Non Profit Organization US Postage PAID Columbia, SC Permit No. 522
4201 Main Street Columbia, SC 29203-5863 www.ltss.edu Contact Us: (803) 461-3219 or (803) 786-5150 Fax: (803) 461-3272 (USPS 8846-2000) Published by Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 4201 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29203. Mr. Ron Walrath • e-mail: [email protected] Vice President for Development Writer/Editor/Design: Andrew Boozer • e-mail: [email protected] Director of Communications. Unless otherwise denoted, all content written by the editor. Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race or religion. Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Seminary admits men and women. Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Seminary is in compliance with Title IX of the Higher Education Act of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
www.ltss.edu
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary’s Mission: To teach, form, nur ture nurture women and men for public ministr ministry y in and a context tha that t is Christ-centered, faithfully Lutheran and ecumenically committed.
