In This Issue

 

 

"E.tcetera ..." 

 

    
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On the way     

Civil Rights Memorial,
Montgomery, Alabama

 

LSTC's 2015 Leadership Conference on inclusiveness was heading into its last day when nine members of Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, SC, were killed by a young man who had sat with them for an hour in Bible study. On the morning of June 18, we stopped what we were doing and grieved together.

 

Alums Angela Khabeb, Michelle Townsend de Lopez, and Steve Jerbi gave powerful witness that day to our brokenness and our hope. They spoke sobering truth that we needed to hear about the pervasive racism and unacknowledged white privilege that exists in our society and in our church.

 

Less than a month later, South Carolina removed the Confederate flag from its state capitol. Some good came out of evil. Change is possible. But let's not fool ourselves. We have not arrived. We are on the way. We need to keep talking about race and racism in America and in our church. One place to begin is with the article and study guide in the July Lutheran magazine.

 

As Professor Emeritus Albert "Pete" Pero says, "Water is thicker than blood." Our bond in baptism can hold us together through these difficult and honest conversations. We have the promise of forgiveness, reconciliation, new life, knowing that in Christ we are on the way.

      

Blessings,

 

Jan Boden, Director of Communications and Marketing

[email protected] 

 

Photo credit: The George F. Landegger Collection of Alabama Photographs in Carol M. Highsmith's America Project in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive  


News from LSTC    

 

LSTC student Louis Tillman tapped as leader for climate

Louis Tillman

justice

Last month, LSTC student Louis Tillman joined thousands of marchers to thank Pope Francis for his recent encyclical on climate change. The march, "One Earth, One Family" brought together people of diverse faiths from around the world. It was organized by OurVoices, 350.org, FOCSIV, and others. Tillman was in Rome to be part of the GreenFaith Emerging Leaders Multi-faith Climate Convergence. He was one of 100 young leaders, ages 21-40, selected from around the world. Read more. 

 

 

LSTC PhD student Katie Deaver receives Nancy A. Hardesty Memorial Scholarship

Doctor of philosophy student Katie Deaver has received the Nancy A. Hardesty Memorial Scholarship from EEWC-Christian Feminism Today. The scholarship provides assistance to a student who wants to be in a leadership role that supports and promotes Christian feminism. In her scholarship application, Deaver wrote about her faith and personal connection to God as inspiration for her writing and scholarship in theology and ethics. Her goal is to help make theology "a life-giving and enriching aspect of the daily lives of all people of faith." Read more. 

 

 

Watch the latest LSTC videos

 

2015 Distinguished Alumni

2015 Distinguished Alumni Awards

On June 17, LSTC honored seven of its outstanding alumni. Watch the awards ceremony here.  

 

Reflections on climate change

On May 19, Professors Kadi Billman, Barbara Rossing, and V�tor Westhelle, reflected on A Bishops' Letter about Climate Change published by the Church of Sweden in 2014. The Rev. Dr. Antje Jackel�n, archbishop of the Church of Sweden, concluded the session presented for the LSTC Board of Directors and faculty. Watch the four videos

 

Reformation 2017 - Scherer Lecture by Mart�n Junge

 

Martin Junge

Over the next three academic years, LSTC will hold events in observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The first will be the annual Scherer Lecture presented by LWF General Secretary Mart�n Junge on Oct. 13 at 4 p.m. Rev. Junge will explore the contents of "From Conflict to Communion: Lutheran-Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017," a report of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity. The free lecture is open to the public and will be held on the LSTC campus, 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago.

 

The Guild celebrates 70th anniversary

 

This year, the LSTC Guild celebrates 70 years of helping students. Come celebrate with them at their fall gathering on Sat., Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m. at LSTC. Dr. Ralph Klein, curator of the LSTC Rare Book Collection, will present items from the collection, which includes many works from the Reformation. Learn more about the collection here. A special anniversary luncheon will conclude the fall gathering. The cost of the luncheon is $20. Please RSVP to [email protected] or phone 773-256-0790.

 

 

Are you a Pillar of the Seminary?

 

If you are a Pillar of the Seminary, we'd like to know. If you have made a gift to LSTC in your will, designated LSTC as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, or created a charitable annuity that includes LSTC, then you are a Pillar of the Seminary. Your gift will hold up the seminary's ministry for years for future generations. If you have planned any of these gifts, thank you! 

 

LSTC would like to thank you for your generosity, but we may not know that thanks are in order. Please let us know about your planned gift by contacting Clyde Walter at 773-256-0714 or [email protected]. Thank you! 

 

Tour South India with LSTC, McCormick faculty
At a temple in South India

 

LSTC faculty members Peter Vethanayagamony and Mark Swanson and McCormick Theological Seminary faculty member Ken Sawyer will lead a two-week tour to South India, "History of Christianity in India," Jan. 4-21, 2016. The tour is open to non-seminarians, but limited to 25 total, with priority given to LSTC and McCormick students. The tentative price of $2,500 includes airfare, double occupancy, meals, and sightseeing fees for group outings. Reserve your place on this tour by Sept. 15. For more information, contact Sara Trumm at [email protected] or 773-256-0708.

 

Bangert to conduct Bach B Minor Mass   

 

For 21 years, Mark Bangert led Chicago area professional musicians in the annual Bach for the Sem Concert to benefit LSTC. The final concert was in January 2014, but Mark Bangert has continued to conduct a Bach Cantata Series at St. Luke Church in Chicago.  

 

On September 27 at 4 p.m., Bangert will lead his final concert in that 25-year series, much more than a cantata, he will conduct Bach's B Minor Mass. St. Luke's has declared September "Mass Month" and is offering seminars, Sunday morning education hours and sermons related to the B Minor Mass.

 

Tickets to the concert are free, but must be reserved in advance. The concert even includes a light supper at intermission. Learn more and read Bangert's blog here.  St. Luke Church is at 1600 W. Belmont in Chicago.

Another tribute to Kurt Hendel
Kurt Hendel
 

I took two regular courses with Kurt at Seminex and two independent studies. Whether in front of the class or one-on-one, he was always superb and approachable. As academically rigorous as he was, Kurt never lost sight of training us for the parish.  

 

There was one paper when I had not made a strong enough conclusion. Kurt pointed that out to me and said that I needed to make sure I took care to end a sermon effectively, also. That's one lesson I took with me to the parish, the classroom, and my military career.  

 

- Art Turfa (Christ Seminary-Seminex, 1981, MDiv)

 

Also this fall at LSTC  

 

Paul and Economics Conference - Sept. 18-19 

This international conference organized by New Testament scholars Tom Blanton and Ray Pickett is for  

scholars, seminarians and graduate students, classicists, economic historians, and all who are interested in the study of Paul's letters in their economic contexts. Cost for the two-day conference is $75; $35 for students. To see a detailed schedule or to register go here. Or contact Tom Blanton ([email protected] ) or Ray Pickett ([email protected] ). 

 

 

Pero Multicultural Center Benefit Concert

The Fourth Annual Benefit Concert draws on the gifts of the LSTC community and friends for multicultural worship and music in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC on Sun., Oct. 11, at 4 p.m. Proceeds from the concert help fund programming for the Albert "Pete" Pero Jr Multicultural Center.

 

Fall Seminary Sampler

From Sun., Oct. 25 - Tues., Oct. 27, prospective students have a chance to explore seminary life, talk with students and faculty, and get a good look at Chicago and the Hyde Park neighborhood. This year's Fall Sampler includes an open mic night and poetry slam at the local bar affectionately known as Jimmy's. For more information or to register, contact Scott Chalmers, director of admissions, at [email protected] or 773-256-0726.

 

 

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