Not that kind of evangelical; Ailabouni, Eastman leading MLK Day celebration at LSTC; Sacred conversations about racial justice

January 2016 E.pistle
Not that kind of evangelical

A recent article asks "Can Marco Rubio appeal to evangelicals?" It divides evangelicals into the Jerry Falwell wing, the Billy Graham wing, the Jimmy Swaggart wing and assigns each of those wings to a current Republican candidate. It doesn't mention the other evangelicals, like those of us who are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Evangelical, used in the media and in political speeches, has become synonymous with Fundamentalism. When I hear it used that way I want to shout, "But I'm not that kind of evangelical!"

At LSTC we reclaim that other definition of evangelical, the one we use in our denomination's name. It's the first definition in my dictionary: "of, relating to, or being in agreement with the Christian gospel."

The gospel, as I hear it taught and preached at LSTC and in ELCA congregations, shines a different light on the policies that candidates are laying out in their campaigns. I ask myself if what they're proposing will make our society better, serve those in need, welcome the stranger.

Certainly some of us in the ELCA will vote for Republicans and some of us will vote for Democrats. Either way, I pray that our choices will reflect our understanding of the gospel. In that way, I guess I am that kind of evangelical.

Blessings,

Jan Boden, Director of Communications and Marketing, jboden@lstc.edu
Pero Center hosts sixth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day

On Monday, January 18, the Albert "Pete" Pero Jr. Multicultural Center at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago will host "One Body. Many Members: Celebrating the Dream of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." This is the Pero Multicultural Center's sixth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration. Worship begins at 11 a.m. in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC, 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago, followed by a complimentary luncheon and panel discussion about diversity in the church. All are welcome. Please RSVP for the luncheon to afigueroa@lstc.edu.

The preacher for the service is the Rev. Sa�d Ailabouni, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, LaGrange, Ill. Born and raised in Galilee in the city of Nazareth, he came to the US in 1969 to attend Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. After graduating from Luther Seminary, he served congregations in Wisconsin and Illinois. He was the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Program Director for Europe, the Middle East, and the Horn of Africa supporting ELCA missionaries and accompanying sister churches and their leaders.

The Rev. Melody Eastman, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Glen Ellyn, Ill., and chairperson of LSTC's Board of Directors, will preside.
LSTC a partner site for Trinity Institute

Racial justice is a matter of life or death; we can't afford to stay silent and tacitly accept the (mostly) invisible systems that support inequalities, create suffering, and deny human dignity. Rather, we need to have an open dialogue -- a process that starts with listening.

The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago's Albert "Pete" Pero Jr. Multicultural Center is a partner site of the 2016 Trinity Institute, "Listen for a Change: Sacred Conversations for Racial Justice." The Institute runs from January 21- 23 and will be livestreamed at LSTC, 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago. The Rev. Dr. Richard Perry Jr., professor of Church and Society and Urban Ministry, will lead the sessions at LSTC. To register, please contact Dr. Perry at rperry@lstc.edu.

Read more   Trinity Institute 2016

Dr. Yasaye Barnwell
Workshop with Dr. Ysaye Barnwell

Former member of Sweet Honey in the Rock Dr. Ysa�e M. Barnwell leads "Building Vocal Community" on February 13 in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC. The all-day workshop offers singers and non-singers the chance to learn the oral tradition and singing rhythms, chants and songs from Africa and the Diaspora and African American culture. This unique opportunity runs from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The entrance fee is $20. For more information, please contact Francisco Herrera, fherrera@lstc.edu.

2016 Gudina Tumsa Theological Forum at LSTC

"Looking Back, Aiming Ahead: God's Mission Unfolding in the Missional Church" will trace the unfolding of God's plan in the life of the European missionaries that reached Ethiopia with the Gospel, the role of indigenous leaders to further spread this Gospel, the current life and ministry of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) and its vision to reach out to the whole world in the twenty-first century. It also will reflect  "reciprocal mission" -- churches in the Global South reaching out to people and churches in other part of the world (especially the west) as they were once objects of mission.

Sessions begin on Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. and continue at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 27. The free event, sponsored by the Pero Multicultural Center will be held at LSTC. Refreshments, lunch, and dinner will be provided. A freewill offering will be collected. For more information about the forum, contact Samuel Deressa at  sderessa001@luthersem.edu or 651-621-9866.


Think you need to have a degree in religious studies to come to seminary? Think again! Come to the Spring Seminary Sampler February 28-March 1 to meet faculty, students, and others discerning a call to ministry. You'll be able to sit in on classes, learn about financial aid, talk with faculty, and worship with the LSTC community. Housing and meals provided.

Seminary Sampler Night, designed for commuter and local students will be Monday, April 11 from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.

To learn more or to sign up visit www.lstc.edu/admissions/visit/ or contact Scott Chalmers at schalmers@lstc.edu.

Dr. Martin Lohrmann
"Faith. . .and Good Works!" Lutheran Heritage Lecture

The annual Lutheran Heritage Lecture, "Faith. . .and Good Works! The Formation of the Lutheran Church through J. Bugenhagen" will be presented on March 14 at 11:30 a.m. by Dr. Martin J. Lohrmann, assistant professor of Lutheran confessions and Reformation heritage at Wartburg Theological Seminary.

The lecture looks at how Lutheran reformers turned theological convictions into practical realities, drawing on LSTC Professor Emeritus Kurt Hendel's decades-long study of this aspect of the Reformation. Using Hendel's translation of Johannes Bugenhagen's writings, this lecture illuminates Bugenhagen's skills at organizing churches in the 16th century and considers the implications of Bugenhagen's work for global Lutheranism in this early 21st century. The lecture also lifts up Dr. Hendel's legacy as a scholar and teacher of this often-overlooked side of Reformation history and Lutheran church life. This free event at LSTC is open to the public.

Easter Morning by Sadao Watanabe
It's not too late to order your Watanabe calendar

The 2016 Watanabe Calendars have arrived. Your purchase of a calendar supports the William J. and Elizabeth M. Danker Fellowship awarded annually to international Ph.D. students at LSTC.
 
The calendar measures approximately 16.5" by 23" and features a stencil drawing titled "Easter Morning" from 1988. The artwork is by Sadao Watanabe, a well-known Japanese Christian print artist.
 
The cost of the calendar is $20 each, covering shipping and a small portion to the Danker Fellowship. Please consider a gift in support of the Danker Fellowship in addition to your calendar purchase.

How to order
President James Nieman
Listen to faculty and student sermons

Hear recent sermons by Jan Rippentrop, Axel Jacob and Gerda Maria (Swanson) Carlson Chair in Homiletics; James Nieman, president; Harvard Stephens Jr.; dean of the chapel and pastor to the community; Klaus-Peter Adam, associate professor of Old Testament, and other faculty. Hear some fine sermons by senior MDiv students, too: Stacy Gahlman-Schroeder, Nathan Klein, Dave Elliott, and more.

Opportunities at LSTC

All opportunities are held at LSTC, 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago, and are free unless otherwise noted.

 
Manz Organ Series Concert - Feb. 2
Dr. Stephen Schnurr, director of music, Saint Paul's Catholic Church, and instructor of music, Valparaiso University, presents a 30-minute free recital on the Ruth and Paul Manz Organ in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC at 12:15 p.m.
 
Albert "Pete" Pero Multicultural Center Benefit Concert - Feb 14.
Enjoy multicultural worship and music in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC on Sun., Feb. 14, at 4 p.m., as the Pero Multicultural Center presents its Fourth Annual Benefit Concert. Drawing on the gifts of the LSTC community and friends, the concert lifts up the beautiful diversity of the body of Christ. Proceeds from the concert help fund programming for the Albert "Pete" Pero Jr Multicultural Center.
 
LSTC Academic Forum
What are those seminary students really studying? On Feb. 19, hear original research from LSTC students in every degree program at the annual Academic Forum Presentations begin at 9 a.m.

Manz Organ Series Concert
On Mar. 1, Stephen Betancourt, assistant director campus ministry and director of liturgical music, Loyola University, Chicago, presents a 30-minute free recital on the Ruth and Paul Manz Organ in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC, begins at 12:15 p.m.

Events and opportunities
What do you think?

Being responsive, learning the context. Those are hallmarks of LSTC's new curriculum and it's time this publication caught up. I'm testing a different layout that is simpler and more mobile-friendly. Let me know what you think. Jan Boden, Director of Communications and Marketing, jboden@lstc.edu


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