Giving thanks, moving forward
by President James Kenneth Echols
 It is my privilege, as president of LSTC, to preside over the awarding of degrees at the commencement ceremony. I have congratulated hundreds of you as you have walked across the small span of floor from where you were a student to where you become a graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
This ceremony is one of the most satisfying and joyful things I do in my role as president. It is, indeed the ritual that marks the fulfillment of the seminary's mission.
It is also my privilege to visit with you and your congregations, to hear how LSTC has shaped the way you carry out your ministry and to see the ways in which it fulfills the vision of the seminary by building up the Body of Christ.
Finally, it is my privilege to meet with many people throughout the church who believe in the mission and ministry of LSTC as much as I do, to thank them for their gifts and to ask for their continued support for our shared ministry of forming visionary leaders to bear witness to the good news of Jesus Christ.
As we near the successful conclusion of LSTC's first comprehensive campaign, Equipping the Saints for Ministry, I offer you my deepest thanks for your generous support. Because of your generosity, we will meet the ambitious fundraising goal of $56 million. Your gifts, given during some of the toughest economic times our nation has ever experienced, have made it possible for LSTC to continue its ministry and to welcome new classes of students preparing for leadership in the church.
The successful conclusion of Equipping the Saints for Ministry provides me with an opportune time to step back from the daily administrative tasks to relax and re-envision the kind of leadership LSTC needs as it moves forward.
 The LSTC Board of Directors has granted me a six-month sabbatical from July 1 - December 31, 2010. During that time, the Rev, Dr. Philip Hougen, who currently serves as the chairperson of LSTC's Board of Directors, will serve as acting president. Ms. Sarah Stegemoeller will step in as acting chair of the board during that time.
I am grateful for this opportunity for rest and renewal. I am even more grateful for your continuing partnership in the mission and ministry of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
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News from LSTC
Saint John's Bible reproduction donated to JKM Library
Benjamin Stewart with
St. John's Bible.  | A seven-volume reproduction set of the Saint John's Bible was donated by the Rev. Dr. James Scherer, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago professor emeritus of missions and church history, to the JKM Library. The first five volumes of the Bible were dedicated in a chapel ceremony on April 27, 2010. The volumes were brought, in procession from the chapel, to the JKM Library.
While on a visit to Saint John's Abbey, I saw the original work and wanted to share it with the LSTC community," said Dr. Scherer at the dedication. When the final two volumes are published, they will be added to the collection at JKM Library. [ Read more ]
1709 Bos Septuagint donated to rare book collection
Ralph Klein with 1709 Bos Septuagint. |
In April 2010, the Rev. Dr. Kenneth W. Johnson (Maywood, class of 1950) gave to the LSTC rare book collection a valuable copy of the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament) that was published in 1709 by Lambertus Bos. Bos (1670-1717) was a professor at the University of Franeker, now in the Netherlands. This university was shut down by Napoleon. Bos provided a textual apparatus that listed the variant readings that were known in his time. The book is in excellent condition, and the restorer hired by Dr. Johnson fitted it with red and green ribbons to close the book, as it was outfitted in the early 18th century. [ Read more ]
New Bible study from Barbara Rossing shares vision of hope in Revelation
In a new ecumenical Bible study, Journeys Through Revelation: Apocalyptic Hope for Today, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Professor of New Testament Barbara Rossing counters frightening popular interpretations of apocalyptic symbols and images in Revelation by showing that it is truly a Christ-centered book of hope. [ Read more ]
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Thrivent Spring Voting Event
If you are a Thrivent member, please participate in the Spring Voting Event, which will run April 19 to May 21, choosing your favorite national ministry online ( www.Thrivent.com/choicevote) or via the business reply care in the spring issue of Thrivent magazine. One million dollars will be distributed to these ministries, i.e. ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response, Lutheran Malaria Initiative, etc., but if more than 15% of Thrivent members participate another one million dollars will be given. In the summer those of you who are notified you have Thrivent Choice dollars to allocate can choose LSTC and/or other specific ministries. Thanks for working with us as we live through these changes. Mark Van Scharrel
Vice President for Advancement |
| Listen to 2010 Echols Preaching Prize sermons
On April 20, three finalists for the James Kenneth Echols Prize for Excellence in Preaching continued the Earth Year at LSTC themes with their sermons on Romans 18:12-25.
Dan Kerr, Todd Koch, Jason Chesnut, 2010 James Kenneth Echols Preaching competition finalists, in Augustana Chapel. |
Participants must be a Lutheran student currently enrolled in the master of divinity program at LSTC and a candidate for ordination in a Lutheran denomination. Contestants must have completed or currently be enrolled in an LSTC preaching class. [ Read more and listen to the podcasts ] |
| Events at LSTC
ACTS D.Min. in Preaching presents lectures by Brad Braxton and Anna Carter Florence
On Tuesday, June 29, at 7:00 p.m., the Rev. Dr. Brad R. Braxton will deliver the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Lecture in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC. Dr. Braxton is the former pastor of the Riverside Church in New York City, and he and his family currently reside in Chicago, Ill.
He has served as Associate Professor of Homiletics and New Testament at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville, Tenn., and was the Jessie Ball duPont Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Biblical Studies at Wake Forest University Divinity School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Dr. Braxton is a frequent guest preacher and lecturer at churches and conferences, and he recently lectured in Ghana and preached at Westminster Abbey in London as part of the bicentennial commemoration of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire.
On Monday, July 5, and Tuesday, July 6, the Rev. Dr. Anna Carter Florence will deliver the Don M. Wardlaw Lectures at 11:30 a.m. in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC. Dr. Florence is the Peter Marshall Associate Professor of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Ga.
Dr. Florence is interested in historical, theological, aesthetic, and performative dimensions of preaching and the ways preaching engages other fields and different traditions. Her research focuses on testimony, feminist theology, the role of experience in preaching, and the history of preaching women. She earned the doctor of philosophy and master of divinity degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and a bachelor's degree from Yale University.
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LSTC News Releases
Find LSTC (and hundreds of her fans) on Facebook
LSTC now has an official Facebook page. To find it enter "Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago" into the search box on Facebook. Become a fan and you'll always be able to find us.
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LSTC Celebrates 150th Commencement
Nearly 70 students will graduate from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago when it holds its 150th commencement ceremony on May 16, 2010. Although LSTC has existed for only 48 years, it counts its number of graduating classes beginning with its oldest predecessor school, Augustana Lutheran Seminary.
Pastor Susan K. Ericsson will be the preacher at the commencement service to be held at 2:30 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 5472 South Kimbark, Chicago
We invited your prayers and the prayers of your congregation as these women and men begin a new phase of their ministry. |
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Reunions
Classes of 1960 Reunite this week
The Classes of 1960 will join at LSTC on May 15 and 16, 2010, during Commencement Weekend.
Make a Gift to LSTC
Just by using Goodsearch LSTC receives donations!
GoodSearch.com is a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate.
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Opportunities
- For Your Congregation
LSTC is committed to providing lifelong learning opportunities for members of local congregations as well as for rostered leaders. Many events at LSTC are free.
Upcoming events are listed at our Events Homepage. You may download brief descriptions of the events below, and from this page, download posters for individual events.
Get on the email list to have the events "blurbs" sent to you - drop me a line at jboden@lstc.edu.
"Opportunities at LSTC" emails are sent to congregations at least once a month. | |
Take our Survey
LSTC wants to know what you need and what times of year are best for you to attend conferences or take time for continuing education.
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Each spring, for the next two years, Greencorps will add more gardens to LSTC's campus. Greencorps' mission is "to promote environmental stewardship and improve the quality of life by establishing natural spaces that are safe, healthy and sustainable through hands-on involvement with trainees and public/community partners."
