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In This Issue
The Class of 2010
Week of Renewal
Cross-Cultural Awareness
The Power of Endowments
Faculty Blogs
Thanks to Ryan
In Memoriam
Updates
Quick Links
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Above the Fog
PLTS Newsletter

May 2010
Greetings!  
 
Congratulations to the class of 2010! Our graduates are now on their way to ministries across the nation. We will miss them, and we wish them Godspeed. 
The Class of 2010:
Certificate of Advanced Theological Studies
 
SerranoJoshua George Serrano
Southwest California Synod
BA, 2005, San Diego State University
MDiv, 2008, Fuller Seminary
 
 
 
 
 
The Class of 2010:
Certificate of Affiliation with Theological Education for Emerging Ministries
 
ChangRev. Joseph S. Chang
Southwest California Synod
MA, 2000, Fuller Seminary
MDiv, 2002, Logos Evangelical Seminary
 
 
 
 
 
 
ChenBetty Tsung Yueh Chen
Pacifica Synod
BSN, Changhua Christian Nursing School
Interned at and serving Glory Lutheran Church, San Diego, California
 
  
 
Kung EmilyEmily Kung
Pacifica Synod
BTh, 1994, Chinese Theological Seminary
MDiv, 2007, Chinese Theological Seminary
 
 
 
 
 
 
OngRev. Joseph Ong
TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod
BA, 1984, Ecclesia Bible College
MA, 1991, Asian Missiological Graduate School of Theology
Interned at and serving Church of the Living God, Houston, Texas
 
 
 
Rev. Frank Hao Wong
Southwest California Synod
MA, 2001, Birmingham University
MDiv, 2007, Fuller Seminary
Interned at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Temple City, California
The Class of 2010:
Certificate of Theological Education for Emerging Ministries
 
Mark Kristen Ekstrom
Nebraska Synod
BA, 1982, University of Nebraska
Interned at and serving St. John's Lutheran Church, Ote, Nebraska
 
Rev. James L. Elder
Sierra Pacific Synod
BA, 1978, Fresno Pacific University
Interned at and serving Pella Evangelical Lutheran Church, Selma, California
 
KrauszerRev. Diane M. Krauszer
Alaska Synod
BA, 1976, Hope College
MDiv, 1981, New Brunswick Theological Seminary
Interned at and serving Trinity Lutheran Church, Palmer, Alaska
 
Rev. Janet P. Young
Montana Synod
BA, 1985, Carroll College
MSW, 1988, Eastern Washington University
Interned at and serving Trinity Lutheran Church, Hot Springs, Montana
The Class of 2010:
Master of Christian Ministry
 
GomezTamara Lynn Gomez
BA, 2001, St. Mary's College of California
Faith and Spiritual Changes in Older Adulthood
Dr. Carol R. Jacobson, Advisor
 
 
 
 
 
 
Luedtke SStephanie K. Luedtke
BA, 1996, College of William and Mary
BM, 2002, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Field Study in Worship Arts
Dr. Carol R. Jacobson, Advisor
The Class of 2010:
Master of Theological Studies
 
AmundsonAmund Stephen Amundson
BS, 2008 Indiana University
The Ethics of Homosexuality
Dr. Carol R. Jacobson, Advisor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EhrhardtNicholas Ehrhardt
BA, 2004, Fort Lewis College
Practicing Faith: Searching for an Authentically Lutheran Understanding of Practice of Zen Buddhism
Dr. Jane E. Strohl, Advisor
The Class of 2010:
Master of Divinity
 
John Cummings
Southwest California Synod
BA, 2005, California Lutheran University
Interned at New City Parish, Inglewood, California
 
FalkKinnon Andrew Falk
TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod
BA, 2005, University of Texas at Austin
 
 
  
 
 
FuerstJeremy Fuerst
Nebraska Synod
BA, 2000, Midland Lutheran College
Interned at Evergreen Lutheran Church, Evergreen, Colorado
 
 
 
 
 
 
HongHyunHo James Hong
Sierra Pacific Synod
BA, 1996, Korean Methodist University
MTS, 2001, Lutheran Theological Seminary
MA, 2005, Seoul National University
Interned at Lutheran Church of Dream Builders, Anaheim, California
 
 
KanenwisherSamuel Kanenwisher
Minneapolis Area Synod
BSW, 2006, Augsburg College
Interned at University Lutheran Chapel, Berkeley, California

 
  
 
 
 
KitzingAndrew Kitzing
Nebraska Synod
BA, 2006, Midland Lutheran College
Interned at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Garden Grove, California
 
  
 
 
KohWoo Jung Koh
Sierra Pacific Synod
BA, 1996, Luther University
ThM, 1999, Graduate School of Kangnam University
ThM, 2002, Hyupsung Graduate School of Theology
Interned at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Walnut Creek, California
 
 
KoschmannHans B. Koschmann
North Carolina Synod
BA, 2005, Gardner-Webb University
Interned at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, North Hollywood, California
Called to Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Lee's Summit, Missouri
 
 
 
 
LeeScott R. Lee
NW Pennsylvania Synod
BA, 2003, Penn State
Interned at Faith Lutheran Church, Whitehall, Pennsylvania
 
 
 
 
Luedtke EErick J. Luedtke
Southeastern Synod
BS, 1999, Bemidji State University
Interned at Hope Lutheran Church, Walnut Creek, California, and Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Walnut Creek, California
 
 
 
 
Craig H. R. LeMay
SW Washington Synod
BA, 2004, Pacific Lutheran University
Project: Sources for Understanding Hospitality
Dr. Carol R. Jacobson, Advisor
 
 
LinesCharlane R. Lines
Oregon Synod
BA, 1995, Ripon College
Interned at United in Christ Lutheran Parish, Fertile, Minnesota
Called to Pella Lutheran Church, Sidney, Montana
 
 
  
 
LukisJason Eric Lukis
Minneapolis Area Synod
BA, 2004, Gustavus Aldophus College
Interned at Davis Lutheran Church, Davis, California
 
 
 
 
 
Margaret MonroeMargaret Marie Monroe (posthumous)
Northwest Ohio Synod
BA, 1978, Cleveland State University
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
StumMartha Neff Stum
Grand Canyon Synod
BS, 1976, University of Arizona
BS Ed, 1978, University of Arizona
Interned at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona
 
 
 
 
 
RobertsBreonna E. Tavenner Roberts
Grand Canyon Synod
BS, 2005, University of Arizona
Interned at Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Oakland, California, and Lutheran Ministry to Nursing Homes, Oakland, California
 
 
 
 
 
SmytheRoberta Louanne Smythe
Oregon Synod
BA, 1980, University of Oregon
BS, 1991, University of Oregon
Interned at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Salem, Oregon
 
 
 
TelyeaWesley Telyea
Oregon Synod
BA, 2006, Pacific Lutheran University
Interned at Christ Lutheran Church, El Cerrito, California
 
 
 
 
 
 
WinelandEmily M. Wineland
SE Lower Michigan Synod
BA, 2002, Hope College
Interned at Sierra Lutheran Church, Sierra Vista, Arizona
 
The Class of 2010:
Master of Arts
 
BaxterJustin B. Baxter
Northwest Ohio Synod
BA, 2002, Bowling Green University
MDiv, 2009, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
A Shared Practice that Mentors the Soul: Communal Gardening
Dr. Martha E. Stortz, Coordinator
A Week of Renewal: Summer 2010
 
Come to a Week of Renewal at PLTS
June 28 - July 2, 2010
 
bridge
You are invited to a week of renewal, including classes, worship, stimulating conversation and restorative time in the company of old and new colleagues in ministry and lay people interested in theology. Set between the Bay and Tilden Park, the Week of Renewal at PLTS is summer school with stimulating classes in the morning and more.
 
COURSES
 
"Ecology and Faith: How Green is the Gospel?"
Mark Brocker, parish pastor, Bonhoeffer scholar, and lecturer, PLTS faculty 
 
"Theology from the Margins in the United States"
Moses Penumaka, Assistant Professor of Contextual Theology, and Director of the TEEM Program
 
"Unleashing the Power of the Bible for Teaching and Preaching"
Steed Davidson, Assistant Professor of Old Testament
 
For more information about costs, housing, and the schedule, for the full course descriptions, and to register, please visit our website.
Creating Cross-Cultural Awareness
 
PLTS is proud to be the recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Gethsemane Foundation to fund faculty participation in cross-cultural experiences.
 
PLTS requires students in the second year of our MDiv program to do a "cross-cultural experience" or immersion in January, and this year students traveled to sites like the Lutheran Center in Mexico City, Chicago, and New City Parish in Los Angeles.
 
Now, we want faculty to accompany them on their cross-cultural immersions, so as to embody better this value in the work we do. Faculty will function both as participants along with the students and as facilitators for daily theological reflection.  In this way, we believe that we can better embody this value in our teaching and learning environment.
An Address by Mary Gundelach
to the PLTS Remember the Future Society
 
I appeal to you therefore, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12: 1-2).
 
Student Christa Compton with board member Judy Larsen and keynote speaker
 Mary Gundelach
Remember the Future
When Paul tells us to be transformed and renewed he is carrying out his long-cherished plan to visit the church at Rome. He lays open the continuities and the differences between the Gospel and Judaism, out of which he had come, and Paul, being profoundly Jewish and Christian, could not deal with the issues confronting him without involving his own religious identity. There is no sharp separation possible between Paul's theology and his ethics. He uses it to inform, to instruct and to guide. In his transformation he had become a mix, and as he traveled about, it helps me to think of him as a "migrant." (I realize this carries particular implications these days, but as I thought about this word, "migrant," I felt the implications would be good for my thought, and I hope the same is true for yours.)

How can we live a transformed life? How do we make the decisions that show God's way into our lives? And for today's focus, how do we take action to remember the future for this seminary?
 
Faculty Blogs
Farewell, Ryan Roberts
 
RobertsThe Admissions Office bids farewell to Ryan Roberts, MDiv 2009, at the end of May. Ryan has been a great asset to Admissions and to PLTS for the past year, working as the Admissions Assistant. He has blessed the office with a wealth of computer knowledge and skill, and a ready familiarity with and love for not only PLTS but the Graduate Theological Union as well. 
 
As such, Ryan was able to dive right in, offering steadfast service and the use of his gifts in many aspects of the admissions process, in everything from database management to running the office and supervising an in-flux group of student workers; from planning and helping to host PreviewPLTS and Orientation events to offering his fresh perspective on life and study in the faith- and academic communities here; to ongoing gracious interaction and conversation with prospective students by phone or email or in person; plus so much else besides.

We wish Ryan and his wife Breonna (MDiv 2010) and daughter Rosie all God's richest blessings and guidance as they venture off into the future anticipating call and ordination as pastors in the ELCA. 
In Memoriam
 

The Rev. William P. Crouser (MDiv 1957) died on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at the age of 77.

 
Pastor Crouser was born in Sacramento, California. He earned a BA from San Jose State University, in 1954 and an MDiv from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1957. He was ordained in June 1957.
 
He served as a military chaplain in the US Navy. In addition, he served Central Lutheran Church, Morton, Washington; All Saints Lutheran Church, Manteca, California; St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Pleasant Hill, California, and Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Northern California (Mt. Cross) as Executive Director. He retired in December 1987.
 
He is survived by his wife, Sandi; children Debbie Connell, Mary Crouser and Martha Crouser, a granddaughter and a grandson. 
  
A memorial service was held Saturday, May 1, at 10:30 am at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, 2500 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062.  
 
John and Linda Krauskopf shared this tribute to Pastor Crouser.
 
The Rev. Melissa Lundquist (MDiv 2003) died on April 20 from complications following rotator cuff surgery the previous week.
 
Melissa was born June 25, 1953 in San Diego, California.  She attended San Diego State University and earned a Masters degree in Special Education. For over 25 years, Melissa taught adults with mental and physical disabilities in the San Diego Junior College system. In 1997 she enrolled at PLTS. After her ordination, she served at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in La Mesa, California, and at Faith Lutheran in Elko, Nevada.
 
Melissa is survived by her husband of 10 years, Dennis; sons, Jim and Bill; her half-sister, Caroline Storey;  daughter-in-law Vanessa; granddaughter-in-law Jemma; grandson-in-law Jackson; a large extended family; and the hundreds of people she touched in her lifetime.  
 
Blessed be the memory of these servants of God.
 
Updates
 
Jana Deiss (MDiv 2002) writes, "In January of this year, I received a call to Mission Development and on February 21, was installed as Pastor Developer of Table of Grace Lutheran Church in Bethel, Alaska. Bethel is the largest city in southwest Alaska with a population of about 6000, and serves as a regional hub for more than 50 Native villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. We are off the road system here: the only way in or out is by plane or boat when the Kuskokwim River ice breaks up. This year, that happened on May 17. Adrian, the kids and I are loving life here and I am feeling really blessed to be doing the work I do, and putting my best gifts for ministry to good use." For more info, see this article. Jana will be on furlough and available for pulpit supply and/or adult forum presentations the first four Sundays in July in Oregon, SW Washington and northern California congregations.
 
Peter Hanson (MDiv 1994) received his Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree along with PLTS alumna Robyn Provis (MTS 2003) from the Episcopal Divinity School, which is in Cambridge, Massachusetts, (not Minneapolis, as previously reported). Congratulations to both of you!
 
David Kyllo (MDiv 1979) has left the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago where he served as Director of Chaplaincy for the past 21 years. On April 25th he was installed as the pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Deerfield, Illinois. This has been a change after much prayer, thought, and consideration. His wife, Nan, and I visited PLTS on March 11th on a trip to California and had opportunity to be in the Chapel of the Cross for a few moments in thankfulness for this new direction in life. In April, David had opportunity to see Tom Wirt and David Monson, fellow PLTS graduates, at an Association of Professional Chaplains Conference in Schaumburg, Illinois, where he had been the local arrangements committee chair. They shared fond memories.
 
Fred (Ernst F.) Tonsing (BD 1966), Professor Emeritus of Religion and Greek at California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California, published his history of the university for its 50th anniversary in October, and a companion volume of recollections of early professors and alumni/ae. He also published the 50th anniversary history of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Thousand Oaks on April 10th.

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