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Mission Statement
The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago forms visionary leaders to bear witness to the good news of Jesus Christ.
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 Tell me a story
Are you like this, too? I find that if I'm not reading a book (or two - or three) I feel malnourished, as if part of my brain is gasping for narrative oxygen. Stories show me the world (and other worlds) and the people (and other creatures) that inhabit it. They illuminate what is and what might be.
Several years ago, Joy McDonald Colvet, (2001, M.Div.) as LSTC's director of admissions, invited students to share their stories of life at LSTC on a blog. It's called Taste and See and it's still going strong.
These bloggers have taken me with them through their comforts and discomforts, classes, candidacy, internships, assignments and call processes. They tell me things about life at LSTC that I don't experience from my little part of the seminary, but that I very much need to know. It's their stories that give meaning to what I do at LSTC.
During the 2012-2013 academic year LSTC will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. LSTC was officially founded in September 1962. "Many Voices, One Story" is our theme for the year. Your story - at LSTC and what you have done since then - is part of that one story.
Tell me a story. Tell me your story at LSTC and after LSTC. How has your sharing the good news of God's love made a difference in the world? How has that bearing witness made a difference in your life?
I love a good story.
Blessings,
Jan Boden Director of Communications and Marketing
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From Augustana to Paris
Pastor Ken Stenman
(1964, M.Div.)
 Networking happens in the Church as well as in business. Because I served as pastor of the United Christian Congregation in Stockholm from 1974 to 1979, I was given the opportunity to serve as Pastoral Assistant at the American Church in Paris.
It happened this way. The English Speaking congregation in Stockholm, Sweden, related to the Augustana Synod and the Church of Sweden. When the Lutheran Church in American came into being, the congregation in Stockholm came under the Division for World Mission and Ecumenism. I was the first pastor to be called by the DWME to serve that congregation in Stockholm.
When I returned to the States, I accepted a call to be senior pastor of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn, Ill. After 21 1/2 years there, I retired. One of the well wishes I received was "you will find a place to serve as pastor during retirement." I questioned that. ("Oh, ye of little faith.") I did pulpit supply, served several "crisis intervention interims," but the opportunity to serve as a pastor at the American Church Paris fulfilled the "prophesy" that I would serve as pastor during my retirement. Read more.
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 "Your sin smells to high heaven."
Student creates "Luther Insulter" site
In his Theology of Martin Luther class, Dr. Kurt Hendel encourages students to be creative with their final project. Some students have created paintings, others communion vessels. Tyler Rasmussen's medium is the World Wide Web. Using the "Shakespeare Insulter" website as his model, he created the "Luther Insulter" website as his final project for the class.
Rasmussen researched insults leveled by Luther and set up the site to provide a new barb each time a visitor clicks on the "Insult me again" button. Now you, too, can be insulted by the Great Reformer. Go to http://ergofabulous.org/luther/. (No, we don't know what Rasmussen's final grade was in the class.)
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Dr. Oswald Bayer to deliver Heritage Lecture
On March 26, the Rev. Dr. Oswald Bayer, professor emeritus of systematic theology at the University of Tübingen, Germany will present the 2012 Lutheran Heritage Lecture, "A Public Mystery." The free public lecture begins at 11:30 a.m. in LSTC's Common Room. Read more.
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"Jesus Promised" 24th Annual Gospel Choir Concert Enliven your spirit at the 24th annual LSTC Gospel Choir Concert on Sunday, April 15 at 4 p.m. in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC. "Jesus Promised" features choirs and musicians from Chicago area congregations as well as LSTC's own Gospel Choir under the leadership of Dr. Keith Hampton. A freewill offering at the concert supports the Grover Wright Scholarship Fund and the Rev. Carole A. Burns Scholarship Fund. Read more. |
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Interfaith Events
"Love of God, Love of Neighbor" theme of Sacred Texts Conference
On Sunday, April 15, from 2:30 - 5:00 p.m., A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice and the South West Interfaith Team (SWIFT) present an exploration of what our scriptures say about love of God and love of neighbor. Faith United Methodist Church, 15101 S. 80th Ave., Orland Park, Ill., hosts. Muslim, Christian, and Jewish scholars will make presentations and lead discussion. [Download PDF poster]
Yom HaShoah Interfaith Commemoration
Hyde Park neighborhood residents who experienced the Holocaust will give oral testimony during LSTC's observance of Yom HaShoah or Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day on Thursday, April 19 starting at 11:30 a.m. in LSTC's Common Room (350).
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Stewardship Events
"Responding to God's Grace"
On Saturday, April 21, LSTC's Tithing and Stewardship Foundation partners with the Northern Illinois Synod to present "Responding to God's Grace." The free workshop will be held at First Lutheran Church, 324 North Street, DeKalb, Ill., 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. LSTC's Dr. Ray Pickett, professor of New Testament, and Dr. Rob Saler, visiting lecturer in theology, will explore stewardship in terms of the Biblical themes of restoration and covenant renewal. A primary focus will be how Luke and the other Gospels narrate the story of Jesus as an alternative vision of life that challenges social systems and practices that are not life-giving. Pre-registration requ ested.
Email tithing@lstc.edu or call 773-256-0741.
"Ministry and Money" Stewardship Conference
Metropolitan Chicago Synod's stewardship conference, "Ministry and Money," will take place Saturday, April 28, 2012, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at LSTC. Presenters Philip D. and Janet T. Jamieson will explore practical issues regarding the relationship between faith and money. Cost is $30 per person, $25 if registration and payment are received prior to April 16. Register online.
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Opportunities at LSTC
March 19, 9:00 a.m. - Identity and Context - Leadership Lectures by Nadia Bolz-Weber and Linda E. Thomas
March 20, 9:00 a.m. - noon - The Role of Business in a Faith-based Organization
March 26, 11:30 a.m. - The Lutheran Heritage Lecture by Dr. Oswald Bayer
April - European-American Heritage Month: The Water Is Wide.
Apr. 12-13, (Thursday 6:45 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m.) - World Mission Institute, "Christians in the Middle East" - Dr. Peter E. Makari
Apr. 15, 2:30 p.m. - Sacred Texts Conference at Faith United Methodist Church, Orland Park, Ill.
Apr. 15, 4:00 p.m. - Chapel Music Series - LSTC Gospel Choir Concert
Apr. 19, 11:30 a.m. - Yom HaShoah Interfaith Commemoration
Apr. 21, 10:00 a.m. - Responding to God's Grace Stewardship Workshop - First Lutheran, DeKalb, Ill.
Apr. 28, 8:30 a.m. - Ministry and Money Stewardship Conference
Find more information about these and other events at the LSTC web calendar.
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