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The Tumult of the 1968-69 academic year
by Kurt Johnson
M.Div. Class of 1969
 Seminary and church leaders said in the early 1960s that the reason for deciding to locate LSTC in the turbulent inner city was to give future pastors a real taste of the secular world. That declared goal turned out to be a serious understatement of a situation that no one had anticipated. Most of the members of the graduating class of 1969 were not on campus when the school opened for its inaugural year in the fall of 1967. For that class, 1967-68 was the academic intern year. But in August 1968, most of the students in the class traveled to Chicago (many of them for the first time, with most of them coming from small-town and rural backgrounds). [ Read the rest of Kurt's Story ]
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Planning your legacy
With the markets in turmoil, planning for the here and now seems daunting enough; planning for the after-I-die is even less appealing. Nobody likes talking about death, telling relatives what they're going to inherit or wading into estate planning jargon. But if you haven't determined the ultimate distribution of your investments and property, you won't control what happens to your assets when you die-and your family will be forced to make hard decisions without your guidance.
This is why estate planning is so important, no matter how small or large your estate may be. It allows you, while you are still living, to ensure that your property will go to the people and charities you want, in the way you want, and when you want. It permits you to save as much as possible on taxes, court costs and attorneys' fees; and it affords the comfort that your loved ones can celebrate your life and mourn your passing without being simultaneously burdened with unnecessary red tape and financial confusion.
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Highlights from LSTC commencement
On May 17, eighty three students graduated from LSTC's five degree programs or received certificates of study. Seventeen students received master of arts or master of arts in theological studies degrees, 38 graduated with master of divinity degrees, and six completed their master of theology degrees. Nine students graduated from the doctor of ministry programs and 11 students received their doctor of philosophy degrees. Over 20 graduates were international students. Follow this link for a full list of graduates in each degree program.
This year, six master of divinity students completed emphases: Joshua Ebener and Michelle Townsend de López completed the Hispanic/Latino Ministry Emphasis. David Fleener and Kristina Mitzman completed the Biblical Emphasis. Gwen Sefrhans completed the Environmental Ministry Emphasis. And Meagan Sherman-Sporrong and Joshua Ebener completed the Urban Ministry Emphasis.
Philip Mathai and Mary (Joy) Philip became the first married couple to graduate in the same year from LSTC's Ph.D. program.
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Opportunities at LSTC
ACTS D.Min. in Preaching Program Public Lectures
Tuesday, June 30, 7:00 p.m., Augustana Chapel at LSTC - The Rev. Otis Moss, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, will present a public lecture as part of the ACTS Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Monday, July 6 & Tuesday, July 7, 11:30 a.m., Augustana Chapel at LSTC - The Rev. Dr. Jana Childers, dean of the San Francisco Theological Seminary and professor of homiletics and speech-communication, will present the Wardlaw Lectures as part of the ACTS Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program. She will also lead worship and preach on Wednesday, July 8 at 11:30 a.m.
Epic of CreationMondays, September 14 - December 7, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., LSTC Common Room (350) - Public lectures by scientists and theologians trace the "Epic of Creation" from biblical and "big bang" perspectives. Free and open to the public. For more information visit the Zygon Center for Religion and Science web site: www.zygoncenter.org/epic.html
Inauguration of Gordon A. Braatz Chair in Worship & Lecture by Gordon Lathrop
Wednesday, September 23, 11:00 a.m., Augustana Chapel at LSTC - Benjamin M. Stewart will be installed as the Gordon A. Braatz Assistant Professor of Worship.
2:00 p.m., LSTC Common Room - renowned scholar of worship and liturgy, the Rev. Dr. Gordon Lathrop, Charles A. Schieren Professor of Liturgy, Emeritus, at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, will present the free lecture, "On the Four Gospels and the Christian Assembly." A reception follows the lecture.
Chapel Music SeriesSeptember 27, 4:00 p.m., Augustana Chapel at LSTC - Jazz with Schweitz and Friends kicks off the fifth annual Chapel Music Series with an afternoon of jazz variations on sacred and classical music. A freewill offering will be collected.
Earth Year at LSTC
September 30, 7:00 p.m., Augustana Chapel at LSTC - Chicago-area environmental activist and founder of Blacks in Green, Naomi Davis, will speak on "Ecology and Environmental Justice for Communities of Color." Blacks in Green is focused on getting African Americans from across the country involved in green economic development. Free and open to the public. |
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News you should know...
The Rev. Dr. Raymond Pickett elected to LSTC faculty
The board of directors of the Lutheran School of Theology, on the recommendation of the faculty, elected the Rev. Dr. Raymond Pickett to be professor of New Testament at the seminary, effective September 1, 2009.
"Dr. Pickett is an outstanding New Testament scholar and teacher, whose skill in teaching the Bible has caught the attention of Christians in many circles of conversation--biblical scholars in the academy as well as pastoral colleagues, seminary students, and lay leaders seeking to root their lives and ministries deep in the scriptures," said Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Kathleen D. "Kadi" Billman. [ Read more ]
Krentz, Lutheran Confessions, and Echols Preaching Prize winners named
Three annual prizes to recognize excellence in scholarship and preaching by students at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago were awarded during the commencement ceremony on May 17.
Bridget L. Illian (2008, M.Div.) a master of theology student, received the Edgar Krentz Award for Biblical Interpretation for her paper, "Toward Understanding the Tongue in the Letter of James." Benjamin Dueholm (2009, Certificate of Studies), received the Lutheran Confessions Prize for his paper, "Pious Words from a Forked Tongue: Exegetical Temptation and False Religion in Lutheran Tradition." Joshua Ebener (2009, M.Div.) received the James Kenneth Echols Prize for Excellence in Preaching. The three sermons presented by finalists for the prize may be heard at http://www.lstc.edu/audio/voices043009.html.
LSTC's Web of Creation Awarded Grant from the Lutheran Community Foundation
Thanks to a grant from the Lutheran Community Foundation Creation Care: Environmental Initiative, LSTC's Web of Creation and the Lutheran Earthkeeping Network of the Synods (LENS), will develop a program for ELCA congregations and their members to embrace actions for care of creation in substantive and meaningful ways. The program, Lutherans Restoring Creation, will enlist the cooperation of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) churchwide leadership, the denomination's synods, and its seminaries. It will offer hands-on workshops and training for congregations and clergy as well as webinars and other online resources. [ Read more ] | |
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Reunions
LSTC hosts 40- and 50-year reunions
Members of the LSTC Class of 1969 and the Classes of 1959 from LSTC's predecessor seminaries gathered on campus May 15 - 17 in two separate reunions.
Both groups shared their recollections of their years at seminary and told about the ministries in which they have been engaged since graduation.
On Sunday, May 17, the 40- and 50-year graduates joined the LSTC community for the commencement ceremony and Eucharist at St. Thomas the Apostle Church.
Watch for details in the months ahead for reunion plans for the classes of 1960 and 1970.
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The Rev. Dr. Kurt Hendel, carrying a mace given to LSTC by Christ Seminary-Seminex, led the graduates to their places in the front pews. Members of the class of 1959, faculty, and members of the board of directors, followed them and filled the pews on either side of the graduates. Finally, the worship leaders took their places at the front of the sanctuary and the Rev. Dr. Barbara Rossing greeted the assembly in the name of the Risen Christ.
