"Choose your own adventure" route

Christine Doidge

When Christine Doidge talks about her route to seminary - and what will come next - she calls it the "choose your own adventure route to ministry." She is a first year student in the master of arts in ministry program and in candidacy to become a diaconal minister.

She chose to move from the Midwest to Portland, Ore., to pursue a career as a commercial interior designer. Christine looked for a church and chose St. James, where she saw faith lived out in a way that was new to her. She says, "Faith was informing my ideals of service and the kind of lifestyle I wanted to live. I wanted to lead a faith-filled life, a spirit-filled life."

Then Christine chose to rethink her work and her lifestyle. She started looking for a graduate program to help her shift into working for nonprofit organizations. She didn't find a graduate program that put together the "faith component and the practical stuff," but she found the ELCA's Young Adults in Global Mission program.

She chose to apply and her year in Southern Africa changed her life. "I found a new perspective on what the church looks like and truly experienced the diakonia concept and connected that to diaconal ministry," Christine says.

Back in Portland, the adventure continued when Christine was hired by St. James and later by an ecumenical campus ministry at Portland State University to strengthen ties between congregations and the campus ministry. "It was a good trial run at diaconal ministry," she says.

Now Christine has chosen to come to LSTC. "I wanted to learn more about my faith and to articulate how the religious side [of what I do] plays into the practical side of things."

As she turns the page to see how the story continues, Christine says, "I wouldn't change any part of my journey. Without each step prior, I wouldn't have gotten to where I am."

Best of both worlds

Daniel A. Sorensen

Daniel A. Sorensen (2007, M.Div)

Lutheran Counseling Network

Pastoral Counselor & Licensed Social Worker Associate - Independent Clinical

When he began his studies at LSTC, Dan Sorensen never imagined the call he has now. Sorensen is a counselor with the Lutheran Counseling Network (LCN), a ministry of the Northwest Washington Synod. Called by the synod, he is also active in congregations, making visits on behalf of LCN and doing pulpit supply.

"This is the best of both worlds. I get to do the fun parts of both jobs. Counseling lets me provide direct service with people. And I get to preach and teach out in the church without having to worry about the church roof leaking!"

Sorensen came to LSTC because of its dual degree program with the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. He is a Navy veteran who wanted to become a Navy chaplain. Earning the dual degree gave him a chance him to do that and much more.

News

Twelve new LSTC students receive full-tuition scholarships

Twelve new master of divinity students at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago have received scholarships that will cover the cost of tuition.

"We are thrilled to be able to offer so many full-tuition scholarships this year," said Scott Chalmers, LSTC Director of Admissions. "They are made possible by generous donors who want to help seminarians complete their studies without taking out huge student loans." [more]

New kind of youth mission trip     

Pastors Yehiel Curry and Dan Hille became friends while they were both students at LSTC. Pastor Curry now serves Shekinah Chapel in Riverdale, Ill., a community just south of Chicago. Pastor Hille serves St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Avon, Conn.

The two of them decided to try a different kind of youth mission trip. Instead of the standard service project mission trip, this summer the youth from St. Matthew came to Chicago, stayed at LSTC, and spent time with the youth from Shekinah Chapel. Next year, the youth from Shekinah Chapel will travel to Avon, Conn., and learn what life is like there. In 2015, the two groups will meet, again, at the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit.

Here's the documentary they made.

You can contact Pastor Hille at dan.hille@gmail.com.

Christian Presence and the Syrian Civil War podcast

Listen to this year's Scherer Lecture, "Christian Presence and the Syrian Civil War" given by Dr. Mary Mikhael on Sept. 24.  

This Sunday  

Cacophony! A worshipful benefit for the Pero Multicultural Center

The Albert "Pete" Pero Multicultural Center presents their annual benefit, CACOPHONY!, Sun., Oct. 13 at 4 p.m. in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC. It combines a powerful worship service with music, dance, bread and wine - and languages from all over this wonderful, colorful church of all times and places. A free-will offering will be collected to benefit the Center's programming for the year, and a reception with music and food will follow. 

Next week

Leading Multicultural Congregations Lecture and Workshop

At 10:00 a.m. on Mon., Oct. 14, Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, Milton B. Engebretson Associate Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism at North Park Theological Seminary presents the 2nd Annual Pero Lecture. The topic is "Leading Multicultural Congregations." Those attending will be invited to break into two groups at 11:30 a.m. to address issues related to Christian Education in Multicultural Congregations. The free lecture and workshop, sponsored by the Albert "Pete" Pero Jr. Multicultural Center at LSTC, will be held in Room 350 at LSTC.

Missional Leadership and Environmental Stewardship conversations

Join the Green Zone at LSTC for conversations surrounding stewardship and care for creation with the Rev. Dr. Johan Bergh, the Lutherans Restored Creation Coach for the Greenfaith Certification Program for Congregations.

• Mon., Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m. in Room 350: "Getting Personal: Environmental Leadership and the Five Marks of an Evangelical Leader."
• Tues., Oct. 15, 12 p.m. in the Refectory: "Getting Theological: Luther as Environmentalist."
• Tues., Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m. in Room 350: "Getting Practical: Introduction to the Greenfaith Certification Program for Congregations." For more information, contact Jim Schaal at greenzone@lstc.edu or 773-818-1143.

Continuing our conversation on race

On Thurs., Oct. 17 at 4 p.m., the LSTC community continues the conversation about race that we began in July. Hear that first session here. Join us for a meal and conversation in the LSTC Refectory. For more information, contact Dr. Cheryl Pero at cpero@lstc.edu or 773-256-0774.

Mark your calendar

Invite someone you know to LSTC's Seminary Sampler

Many prospective students decide to come to LSTC after they have had a chance to visit and experience it for themselves. If you know someone who is considering seminary, invite them to attend LSTC's Seminary Sampler Oct. 20 - 22. They may register here or call 773-256-0726.

Christian-Muslim Interfaith Dialogue Series

On Wednesday evenings, Nov. 6, 13, & 20,from 7 to 8:45 p.m., discuss interfaith hospitality, hot topics in Christian-Muslim relations, and building relationships through our sacred texts. First Presbyterian Church, 219 West Maple Ave, Libertyville, Ill., is hosting this collaboration of A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice, McCormick Theological Seminary and First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville. To make reservations for a light supper served Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m., please call the church office (847-362-2174) or contact Rev. Roberta Dodds Ingersoll at roberta@boxp.net.

Lutheran Heritage, Mexican Ancestry and the Future of the ELCA

The Rev. Dr. Javier "Jay" Alanis, executive director of the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest, will present the Lutheran Heritage Lecture, "Lutheran Heritage, Mexican Ancestry and the Future of the ELCA," at LSTC on Nov. 19 at 11:30 a.m. It is free and open to the public. The Lutheran Heritage Lecture Series is designed to provide a contemporary perspective on the Lutheran tradition.

Thank you, donors!

LSTC signs thank you cards

Some schools call it "Tuition Run-out Day" but we like to call it Donor Thank You Day. That comes each year around October 15, about 13% of the way through the school year. If LSTC relied only on tuition to pay the bills, that's as far as we'd get. But you, generous people of God, make the rest of the school year possible through your gifts to LSTC.

Students, faculty and staff will be signing and sending thank-you postcards to our donors the week of October 21. We are grateful!

You may make a gift right now here.

Opportunities at LSTC       

Oct. 13, 4 p.m. - Pero Multicultural Center Benefit Concert

Oct. 14, 10 a.m. - 2nd Annual Pero Multicultural Center Lecture

Oct. 14, 11:30 a.m. - Multicultural Workshop: Christian Education

Oct. 17, 4 p.m. - Arab/Middle Eastern Heritage Month Conversation and Meal

Oct. 20 - 22 - Seminary Sampler

Oct. 21, 4 p.m. - "Defamation"

November - American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month
Nov. 4, 5 p.m. - "Travels with Meredith," Pero Multicultural Center
Nov. 5, 12:20 p.m. - Manz Organ Series Recital
Nov. 11, 11 a.m. - Kristallnacht Service of Remembrance and Repentance
Nov. 12-14 - 4th Annual American Indian/Alaska Native Symposium  

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