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Above the Fog
PLTS Newsletter
June 2014 |
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Greetings!
Every year, the East Bay, where Berkeley is located, experiences what locals call "June gloom." It is a meteorological condition. When nearby inland California starts to heat up into the 90s and 100s, the marine layer of clouds is pulled in as far as the hills. So it becomes cloudy during the mornings and afternoons. Since the PLTS campus is 1000 feet high, we experience the clouds as rolling fog. Our tall trees - at least those that are left - catch the fog and return the water droplets to earth. I can feel some nodding heads of those who have spent time here! (If you come to visit in June, bring your umbrellas!)
But even if the weather is gloomy, we are just the opposite. We are bright and cheerful at the experience of receiving your great support this past month. Thanks to you all, we achieved our goal of reaching the $630,000 mark at the end of this shortened fiscal year. We used to close the books on June 30, but with being part of California Lutheran University, we now end the fiscal year on May 31.
Many of you responded to our request to speed up what have typically been June gifts and June transfers of stock. The matching gifts of certain generous donors were met in full!
Of course, it's not too late to send in more gifts. Fact is that we remain open all year round! Our wonderful graduates of 2014 have now gone on to wonderful ministries or holding patterns while bishops arrange first calls, or they are finishing internships through the end of summer. But staff and faculty still populate this hill, that is just as often "in the fog" as we are "above the fog"!
PLTS is your seminary, preparing some outstanding church leaders to serve your congregations. Hence our circle of people who care deeply about the proclamation of the gospel in thousands of specific places in our country and abroad.
 So, God bless you, Rev. Brian Stein-Webber Director of Seminary Relations P.S. A new alum task force is putting together an interactive symposium that will address the realities of Lutheran ministry in the Western United States. The event is scheduled for January 20-22, 2015, here on campus. More information to follow, but the group thought some of you might want to save those dates! |
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Commencement 2014
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Friends and family gathered with faculty and staff to celebrate with the 40 PLTS students who earned degrees, certificates or recognitions of affiliation. Commencement is an opportunity to affirm our participation in God's mission by renewing and passing on the Lutheran Christian faith in contexts marked by diversity and change. These graduates are creative and energetic leaders who enliven the church and advance the frontiers of ministry. In Christ they have been called forth, equipped, certified, and set apart to serve God in the church and in the world.
In order, top down, left to right:
- The Graduating class of 2014
- Dean Bloomquist welcomes those in attendance
- Family members congratulate the new graduates as they exit the chapel
- The Rev. Dr. Jane Strohl delivers the commencement address. (She is currently pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Indiana, PA, and taught many of the graduates during her time on the PLTS faculty.)
- The Chapel of the cross was full of friends and family members who have supported our students over the years.
- PLTS students, faculty, and staff.
At the end of the commencement service, members of the class of 2014 dismissed the attendees with these words:
Go in peace, and love one another,
as God first loved you.
Proclaim to all who will hear
the good news of Christ's coming.
Keep the faith in all you do.
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Alum Spotlight: Rev. Misael Fajardo - Perez, M.Div '13
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Misa grew up in Mexico City, attended Trinity College in the state of Washington and was ordained a few months ago as a mission developer for the ELCA. His call is to begin a new start, currently identified as The Wenatchee Valley Lutheran Latino Ministry (WVLLM). It's the only new start in the Eastern Washington/Idaho synod and it's off to a great beginning!
The purpose of WVLLM is to develop an inclusive Latino community of faith centered in Jesus Christ, in the Valley of Wenatchee that will be engaged in developing leaders, service and advocacy, and building caring and loving relationships. The ultimate goal is to offer hospitality where our neighbors can experience the presence of God through a worshiping community. It is through building community, walking with the community, and listening to the community that our neighbors can come to know Christ. It is through Christ that we can offer this companionship. It is through the love and eyes of Christ that we are able to see our community with compassion and join people in their pain, anxieties, joys, and hopes. As Christians we have Christ to offer in their daily journey on their own road to Emmaus, wherever they may be.
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Student Spotlight: Natalie Faltin, M.Div '15
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 Natalie has been pulled in the direction of pastoral leadership from a very young age. "When I was really little, I would play church or pastor. I got out the piano bench to use as a pretend altar, set it up in the living room with two [unlit] candles and an open hymnal on it, bring out some stuffed animals to act as congregation members, and I would sing the liturgy to them from memory, because I couldn't read the hymnal in front of me yet!"
Natalie grew up as a member of King of Glory Lutheran Church in Newbury Park, California and has fond memories of going to El Camino Pines Bible camp where she learned camps songs she still sings on a weekly basis. In junior high, she began teaching at Vacation Bible School. In high school, when this congregation was without a pastor, she found that no one, not even the retired pastor who was visiting, wanted to lead the pastor's prayers for the opening of VBS. "Since I already had the microphone, I just volunteered to say the prayer" Later that day the visiting pastor pulled aside the VBS coordinator, Natalie and her mom and put words to the call she had not realized yet: "You don't need me here, Natalie is going to be a great pastor someday, she can lead the prayers!"
In the spring of 2004, Natalie was getting ready to graduate from high school and had nearly given up on going to a music conservatory because of out of state tuition costs. She has no idea how or why, but she received an accelerated application from California Lutheran University to apply for that coming fall. Without hesitation - mostly because there was no fee or essay, and because she had trust that the Holy Spirit had something to do with it - she applied and was admitted just a few weeks before orientation.
Read the rest of Natalie's story here»
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Retired TEEM Alum Visits Wittenberg
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 I was privileged to volunteer two weeks of ministry in Wittenberg, Germany from May 13 through May 27, through the Wittenberg English Ministry (WEM). WEM, now in its 19th year was started by the Rev. Keith Loesch at the invitation of the Lord Mayor Eckhard Naumann of Wittenberg in order to provide an opportunity for English-s
peaking students, tourists and pilgrims from all over the world to worship in English, in the places where Martin Luther preached. Being able to worship in the English language with other Christians enriches the experience of those visiting the place where the Reformation began. Every year from May 1 through October 31, thirteen Lutheran pastors serve for a period of two weeks to provide this ministry. For me it was a joy, a blessing and a challenge that I shall never forget.
During my time in Wittenberg we held nine services with a total of 160 attendees. Those 160 people represented twelve countries: the US, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Australia, Scotland, Canada, Tanzania, Turkey, the United Kingdom and China. Both the Town Church (where Luther was pastor) and the Castle Church (where Luther sometimes preached and lectured) were essentially closed for renovations, so most worship services were held at the Corpus Christi Chapel, pictured right, a 13th century chapel located next to the Town Church.
Another ministry "duty" was to attend the weekly stammtisch (regulars table) at a local restaurant each Thursday evening. These weekly gatherings allow an opportunity for local citizens to come and practice their English with those whose primary language is English. What an incredible opportunity it was to visit with the regular folk of Wittenberg.
For more information about Wittenberg English Ministry, please visit their website.
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Alum Spotlight: Marty Lettow, M.Div '01
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A year ago, Pastor Marty Lettow was due for a sabbatical from his congregation, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Boulder, Colorado. However, there was no budget for it. So Pastor Marty engineered an agreement that he would take one month off with two of his friends to launch a venture: a new craft brewery.
His community of bankers and other executives caught onto the idea and supported him. Marty used part of a recent inheritance and the business trio (a brewer, an accountant and Marty, who was the marketer and manager) opened up their business, Kettle and Stone Brewing Co. They opened up a taproom a couple of blocks from the congregation, and Marty learned much more about the population that doesn't darken the doorway of religious buildings.
Some years ago, Shepherd of the Hills rented out 95% of its campus to the Joshua School, which serves severely autistic children aged eight to seventeen. Church activities during the week are very limited by the tenant, so Marty finds it convenient to balance time in the church office with time at the tap room, tending to the needs of his parishioners in between and as needed.
A few months ago, Marty received an informal phone call from a bigger craft brewery in San Diego, Stone Brewing Co., asking him and his partners to cease and desist from using their name, unless they chose instead not to expand their business. Colorado already hosts one hundred independent craft breweries, but Marty has sensed that the products he produces will become more popular. So instead of agreeing not to expand, he and his partners chose a new name: Vindication Brewing Co.
Marty believes that his business will grow because one of his commitments is to offer chemical-free beer, free of silicone, chemical yeasts and anti-foaming agents. One of his company's tag-lines is "What's In Your Beer?"
Marty also is recognizing the power of beer to enable conversation. He says, "The gospel is at the frayed edges of unorganization." So he acts as a chaplain at his taproom as well, doing many of the same pastoral acts he performs at Shepherd of the Hills.
To contact Pastor Marty, write to martylettow@mac.com.
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Rev. Bill Ottum, M.Div '77: Bill is now serving River of Life Lutheran Church in Chugiak, Alaska.
Rev. Ada Renee Williams, M.Div '13: Ada has been called to serve Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland as the Associate for Parish Life beginning in July.
Carmen Miranda, M.Div '13: Congratulations to Carmen, who was ordained as a pastor on May 24th at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and who is being called to serve Camino de Vida ["Way of Life"] Lutheran Church, also in Albuquerque.
Elizabeth Purdum, MDiv '88: Elizabeth has left Albuquerque, New Mexico to serve Lutheran Church in the San Juans, located in Friday Harbor, Lopez Island and Eastbound, Washington. She flies a chartered plane among the sites each Sunday (even though Beth has a pilot's license as well).
Jill [Gendreau] Rowland, M.Div '94: Jill writes: On May 6 I was certified as an ACPE Associate Supervisor in Austin, Texas. On June 13, I will conclude over eleven years of ministry with Providence Health & Services as a clinical chaplain. On June 30, I will join the Spiritual Care Department at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, Oregon as a clinical chaplain and CPE supervisor. In the photo from the Welcoming the Newly Certified Ceremony, the person on the left is Robin Booth, ACPE Certification Commission Chairperson, and the person on the right is ACPE President David Johnson.
Paul Bodin, former campus pastor of PLTS in the 90s: Paul is leaving Fairbanks Lutheran Church, Fairbanks, Alaska and will begin as interim pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Reno, Nevada.
Rev. Craig LeMay, M.Div '10: Craig and his wife Adrianne welcomed new baby Grace Allen LeMay on May 22, 2014 at 5:15 am, weighing 7 lbs 10 Oz and 21.25 inches long.
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Attention Thrivent Members!
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There is still time! Your simple vote can
help our seminary fund - click here to direct your Thrivent Choice dollars to PLTS. We are grateful for you and appreciate the generosity of Thrivent Financial.
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Donate Today!
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 Your generous support of PLTS helps to ensure that the future leaders of the ELCA church are well equipped to enliven the church, serve the world, and advance the frontiers of theology.
To make a donation to PLTS, please click here, or send checks to: PLTS Annual Fund, 2770 Marin Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94708
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