Leaders for a public church 

What does it mean to be a "public church"? What does it mean to prepare leaders for a public church? These are not new concepts, just a newer way of talking about something that you -- and LSTC -- have been focused on for a long time.

Public church is heart of both LSTC's new strategic plan and the seminary's new curriculum.

The strategic plan talks about public church this way:

...Aligned with our Lutheran heritage, LSTC longs for a church that follows the cross of Christ into every place God is found, joyful or sorrowful. A public church does not remain at a distance from the wounds of our world but instead fully shares that plight and brings an alternative word of lasting life. We resist the caricature of church as uninformed or uninvolved. We want faith communities equipped for a more credible, gracious, and effective witness to the gospel in the many ambits of life they encounter. .  

The entire plan is available online here.  

You may be interested in what President Nieman, Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda (who literally wrote the book on public church), and four faculty members had to say about public church at the May 2014 Board of Directors meeting.  

How are you leading in or encouraging your congregation to be a public church? Those are stories I'd like to share. Email me or post to LSTC's Facebook page discussion.

There will be more about the new curriculum in the August E.pistle.

Blessings--

Jan Boden

Director of Communications and Marketing

jboden@lstc.edu

Honor outstanding alumni 

Each year, six outstanding alumni receive LSTC's Distinguished Alumni Awards. Do you know an outstanding alum who should receive this honor in 2015? Nominate her or him by Sept. 15.

The Alumni Board will review nominations and choose the 2015 Distinguished Alumni at its fall meeting.

You may nominate more than one person. View photos from this year's awards ceremony.

Join Menn and Rossing on World of the Bible Tour

Sign up now for this extraordinary tour of the Holy Lands led by Esther Menn and Barbara Rossing Jan. 5-19, 2015. Almost everything is included in the $3,800 (estimated) cost of the tour -- airfare, lodging, two meals a day, land transportation, site entrance and tour guide fees and tips. To sign up, email Esther Menn at emenn@lstc.edu. More details are here.

Fear Not: Risks, Ministry and the Gospel podcasts

Heidi Neumark

If you weren't able to come to the June 2014 Leadership Conference, you can listen to podcasts of the two keynote addresses and the panel responses to them. You can also hear President Nieman's introductory remarks and Dr. Ralph Klein's sermon.

 View photos from the event here.

We are still tallying the results of the Matching Gift Challenge. What we can tell you is that since 2004, gifts to the Annual Fund have tripled! Thank you for all that you make possible through your gifts: keeping tuition low, providing scholarships, and meeting for day-to-day operating expenses. Make a gift online.

Faculty online 

Watch videos of Kurt Hendel's sermon and Bible studies at the Northern Illinois Synod Assembly (scroll to links). While you're there,you can enjoy photos of the ordination service of 2014 LSTC grads, Jana Howson and Daniel Wynard.

Barbara Rossing preached  and

led Bible studies at the Northern Texas/Northern Louisiana Synod Assembly. Watch video here and here.

A Grand Day out in Chicago and Hyde Park

Watch our new video about the city and neighborhood we love.

Thanks to Paul Knutson, facilities operation manager at LSTC, (MFA in Cinema from DePaul University), who created it.

September events at LSTC

Timothy Wengert Lecture, "Matthew's Gospel for the Reformation" Sept. 5  

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton preaches in chapel Sept. 8 at 11 a.m.

Scherer Lecture, "Coptic Mission in a Changing World," Sept. 22

Music that Makes Community, Sept. 25-27. Register here.  

Bach Organ Project, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m.  Learn more and buy a ticket here. 

Opportunities at LSTC       

September                Hispanic Heritage Month

Sept. 2                       Fall Semester begins

Sept. 2, 12:15 p.m.     Manz Organ Series Concert

Sept. 3, 11:00 a.m.     Opening convocation

Sept. 4-10                  Lutheran World Federal Hermeneutics Conference

Sept. 5, 7:00 p.m.       Timothy Wengert lecture

Sept. 8, 11:00 a.m.     ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton preaching

 in chapel

Sept. 22, 4:00 p.m.     Scherer Lecture, "Coptic Mission in a 

 Changing World"

Sept. 25-27                 Music that Makes Community Workshop

October                      Arab/Middle Eastern Heritage Month

Oct. 4, 9:30 a.m.          LSTC Guild Fall Meeting

Oct. 7, 12:15 p.m.        Manz Organ Series Concert

Oct. 12, 4:00 p.m.        Albert "Pete" Pero Jr. Multicultural Center 

 Benefit Concert

Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.        Third Annual Albert "Pete" Pero Jr. Lecture

See details on all opportunities at LSTC here.

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