There are not enough tears
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As I look at the faces of the victims of the Orlando shooting, there are not enough tears to grieve the loss. My heart is broken, as it was nearly a year ago when hatred lashed out in Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, SC. I ask unanswerable questions: Why? When will the killing end? Then I ask "Where is God in this?" And I find the compassionate heart of God in the lines of people waiting to donate blood. In the crowds showing up to volunteer. In the prayers and words of comfort that may not be spoken in the name of Christ but surely are the heart of Christ. As members of a Reconciling in Christ community, gifted by the gifts of so many LGBTQ colleagues, alumni, seminarians, now is a good time for us to renew our commitment to organize, advocate, and embody the full acceptance and participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and continue to strive to dismantle oppression and injustice. As a community with longstanding and deep relationships with our Muslim brothers and sisters, it is also a time for us to make sure that they are not demonized by the actions of one person who claims Islam as his religion. This Thursday at noon, the LSTC community will gather to remember the 49 brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, mothers and father who were killed. We will pray for their families and friends. We will pray for the injured and all those caring for them, and for Orlando and so many other communities still healing after acts of violence. We will pray that the LGBTQ community may feel safe wherever they live and work and love. We will pray for our church, that through our witness to the Gospel we may be a source of reconciliation and peace in this troubled world. Peace, Jan Boden, Director of Communications and Marketing jboden@lstc.edu |
Congratulations, Class of 2016!
View more photos from commencement. Watch Dr. Richard Perry Jr.'s sermon. |
News from LSTC
Klaus-Peter Adam selected as a 2016-17 Henry Luce III Fellow in Theology
Klaus-Peter Adam, associate professor of Old testament/Hebrew Bible at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, has been selected as one of six Henry Luce III Fellows in Theology for 2016-17. He will be engaged in a yearlong research project, "Love Your Neighbor! Private Hatred and Public Violence." Read more. Rippentrop wins Award of Excellence from Associated Church Press Jan Schnell Rippentrop, Axel Jacob and Gerda Maria (Swanson) Carlson Chair of Homiletics at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, received a first-place Award of Excellence from the Associate Church Press (ACP) for the article "Ready for communion: Living in holy space," published in The Christian Century August 11, 2015. It won in the "Theological reflection, long format, all media" category. Read more. Learn more about the award and find a link to Rippentrop's article. Paul Landahl receives LSTC Confessor of Christ Award
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Paul Landahl
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At its commencement ceremony on May 15, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago presented the Rev. Paul Landahl with the Confessor of Christ Award. The faculty bestowed the award in recognition of Landahl's "tireless advocacy for the rights of diverse individuals and groups, including the poor, people of color, and those in the LGBTQ community," throughout his more than 50 years of ordained ministry. Read more.
St. John's Lutheran Ministries receives LSTC Community of the Cross Award At its commencement ceremony on May 15, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago presented its Community of the Cross Award to St. John's Lutheran Ministries, based in Billings, Mont. The LSTC faculty honored St. John's Ministries for its mission to provide living opportunities within nurturing environments of hope, dignity and love. Read more.
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2016 Leadership Conference and Distinguished Alumni/ae Awards
Public Church, Public Leaders: Women in Leadership
Public church includes the congregation and all the mission we do together in the world around us. We are called to do public church together. We are better together.
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Tuesday, Oct. 11 thru Thurs., Oct. 13, come to LSTC to learn from an eclectic group of public church leaders who are national leaders for young adults, refugee resettlement, charity, and advocacy. You will gain a network of powerful women leaders while you discover actionable steps for engaging people in ministry to make a difference in the world. Build community with friends and alumni at the alumni/ae dinner on Tuesday night. On Wednesday night, celebrate the 2016 LSTC Distinguished Alumni/ae at an awards presentation and reception. Linda Hartke, CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, and Rozella White, ELCA Director of Young Adult Ministries, are the keynote speakers. LSTC Dean of the Chapel will preach and preside at Wednesday Eucharist and Mikka McCracken, Director of Planning and Engagement for ELCA World Hunger, preaches at the closing worship serivce. Cost will be $175 for the full conference and alumni/ae dinner; $100 for Wed. only; $100 for 2013-2016 LSTC graduates; $25 for alumni dinner. No charge for Distinguished Alumni/ae Award ceremony and reception. Registration begins in May. Details here. Contact Jen Thomas at jthomas@lstc.edu. |
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Two share Echols Preaching Prize
In late April, two outstanding preachers delivered sermons on the same text from Revelation for the James Kenneth Echols Preaching Prize. At Commencement, Drew Yoos and Chris Michaelis learned that they both received the 2016 prize. When you watch the sermons, you'll understand why they share the prize. Congratulations to Drew and to Chris for their excellent sermons! Pictured: Drew Yoos and Chris Michaelis
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New books from LSTC authors
Reading Luther from other contextsVitor Westhelle has published a new book, Transfiguring Luther: The Planetary Promise of Luther's Theology, which considers the effect of Luther's theology when read and interpreted within contexts that do not share the cultural and political history of Europe. Such a reading transfigures the figure of Luther in ways that are remarkably in tune with the spirit of the Reformation, thus rekindling it. Transfiguring Luther is available from Wipf and Stock Publishers.Collection of A.J. Muste's writings for the ChurchJeffrey Meyers (2015, ThM), a PhD student at LSTC, has published The Way of Peace: A.J. Muste's Writings for the Church. It is the first collection of Muste's writings to appear in 50 years. Muste is recognized as one of the most influential social activists of the 20th century. He was a pioneering labor leader, he helped lay the foundations of the civil rights movement, and he was tireless in working for peace, justice, economic equality, and the protection of civil liberties. Pastor Muste's life and work were shaped by his Christian theology. This collection gathers his sermons, speeches, articles, and other works for religious audiences. It is available from Wipf and Stock Publishers. Christian Practical WisdomJames Nieman is one of five authors who collaborated on the new book Christian Practical Wisdom: What It Is, Why It Matters, with Dorothy C. Bass, Kathleen A. Cahalan, Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, and Christian B. Scharen. After first showing what Christian practical wisdom is and does in several real-life situations, the authors tell why such practical wisdom matters and how it operates, exploring reasons behind its decline in both the academy and the church and setting forth constructive cases for its renewal. The book is available from the published and from Amazon
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Faculty blogs We Talk. We Listen. Join the conversation about diversity that is curated by the Rev. Dr. Linda Thomas, professor of anthropology and theology. Elyssa Salinas, Inez Torres Davis and Ray Pickett are recent contributors. Wild SparrowsDr. Lea Schweitz and guests consider the spirituality of urban nature. Don't just look at the gorgeous pictures. Read about sluggish faith and stealing lilacs and join the conversation. Rossing on "The New Tree of Life" For the last year, Dr. Barbara Rossing has been focused on researching and writing about how we can retrieve two biblical images that have been overlooked: metaphors of abundant life and the tree of life for the healing of the world. Read about it in her post on the Enhancing Life blog. A Q & A tells more about the background and methods of her project. |
You loved it in print, now get it online! Currents in Theology and Mission, the journal published quarterly by LSTC and Wartburg Theological Seminary, went digital in January. The April issue focuses on the Eco-Reformation celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. Dr. Kadi Billman, Craig Nessan and Samuel Giere edit the journal. Barbara Lundblad edits Preaching Helps. Get yours here. |
The Church needs LSTC students, LSTC students need you
If you have been following ELCA news about theological education, you know that our church is putting new energy into developing leadership for generations to come. You are part of that mission at LSTC. Your gift to the Annual Fund helps every LSTC student by keeping seminary as affordable and accessible as possible. To make a tax-deductible gift, click "Make a gift now." Our students and our church thank you!
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Looking ahead - Events at LSTC
All events are held at LSTC, 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago, and are free unless otherwise noted. LSTC Guild Annual Fall Meeting and Luncheon - Oct. 1, 9:30 a.m. $
Scherer Lecture, "Reading the Bible in a Global Context," Dr. vanThanh Nguyen - Oct. 5, 4 p.m.
Financial Literacy and Prophetic Witness Training, Darryl Dahlheimer and LSSMN - Oct. 7 & 8 $20 donation for non-students
Albert "Pete" Pero Jr. Multicultural Center Benefit Concert - Oct. 9 $
Albert "Pete" Pero Jr. Annual Lecture - Oct. 10
Leadership Conference - Oct. 11-13 $ (see details above)
Distinguished Alumni Awards and Reception - Oct. 12, 5 p.m.
Rick Steves' documentary premiere, "Rick Steves' Luther and the Reformation" - Oct. 21 (freewill offering will benefit Bread for the World) |
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