SUMMER 2019
HOLY LISTENING WELCOME
STUDENTS BLOOMINGTON, MN CRYSTAL, MN SHOREVIEW, MN WOODBURY, MN
BELLE PLAINE, MN ST. PETER, MN GRAND FORKS, ND MANKATO, MN WEST FARGO, ND BEND, OR FARGO, ND GWINNER, ND
DELAFIELD, WI ST. FRANCIS, WI FOREST CITY, IA PRINCETON, NJ MANHEIM, PA FORT COLLINS, CO CRETE, NE FISHERS, IN ALEXANDRIA, VA BROOMFIELD, CO
LAS VEGAS, NV
SEGUIN, TX SILVER SPRINGS, FL SAN ANTONIO, TX WESLEY CHAPEL, FL
Luther Seminary is thrilled to welcome the first cohort to its experimental accelerated Master of Divinity program, MDivX. The students hail from seven regions and 15 synods of the ELCA, in addition to students from other denominations. We look forward to the entrepreneurial spirit they will bring to the seminary and the church!
Learn more about the program at luthersem.edu/mdivx. Luther Seminary presents its most A spiritual storytelling experiment distinguished award. See page 14. finds success. See page 24.
PHOTO BY BRANDON WOLLER ’20 M.A. CONTENTS
FEATURES LUTHER SEMINARY What we’re hearing from the church 11
Seminary award honors former president 14 On the cover: A water feature near Olson Campus Center offers a tranquil setting for The Sustainers 20 community members to look, listen, and reflect.
Why Jesus 24 All photos are by Courtney Perry unless otherwise indicated.
IN EVERY ISSUE Letter from the president 4 News and events 5 Faculty and staff notes 28 Alumni news 30
SUMMER 2019 3 Luther Seminary educates leaders for Christian communities called and sent by the Holy Spirit to witness to salvation through Jesus Christ and to serve in God’s world.
Editor Laura Swanson Lindahl
Contributing Writers Heidi Hyland Mann HOLY LISTENING Stephen Jendraszak Dear Friends, Katie Langston ’21 M.Div. Emily McQuillan ’19 M.Div. In Mark 4:3, Jesus begins the parable of the sower by saying, “Listen!” Lisa Renze-Rhodes What does it mean to listen in a holy way? John Weirick I think it has something to do with paying attention to what’s being said as Layout and Design well as what’s not being said—listening to what’s happening beneath the words Elizabeth Kästner to discover a deeper meaning than what can be expressed verbally. Denielle Stepka As Christians, listening is an important discipline. We listen to God’s Word in Scripture to discern what God is saying to us in its pages. We listen to the Holy Spirit, which more often than not communicates in a still, small voice. We listen to Luther Seminary, one of the seven one another in our communities, both within and beyond the walls of the church. seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is accredited by the During the past year or so, Luther Seminary has embraced the practice Association of Theological Schools in of holy listening. Our vision calls us to accompany the church in the midst of the United States and Canada and the seismic shifts in the culture around us. We’re living into that vision by building North Central Association of Colleges deeper relationships with congregations and asking better questions to discover and Schools. where God is already moving in our midst, nudging us to stretch in ways we may not see. Story is published two times per year. In this edition of Story, we’re sharing some of what we’ve learned. Explore the seven key themes that congregations and their leaders need to know to be Send correspondence concerning Story faithful and effective in a changing world. Consider a transformative practice to [email protected] or call of sharing and hearing personal stories of Christian faith that we experimented 651-641-3520. with this year. Learn about ways in which Luther Seminary sustaining donors have listened to the Holy Spirit’s call to give generously. Office of Marketing and Communications As we listen together, I have confidence that in Christ we’ll discern the Luther Seminary pathway forward—both as a seminary and as a church. Thank you for joining us 2481 Como Avenue St. Paul, MN 55108 on the journey.
For address or subscription changes, call Peace and joy, 651-641-3448.
Robin J. Steinke President
4 STORY NEWS AND EVENTS
December 2018 COURTESY PHOTO PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE
Honoring Luther Seminary’s NEW GRADUATES
WINTER 2018 May 2019 Luther Seminary celebrated its winter graduates with a special service of holy communion held December 12 in the seminary’s Chapel of the Incarnation. Craig Koester ’80 M.Div., professor and Asher O. and Carrie Nasby Chair of New Testament, preached. At the end of the service, President Robin Steinke led a blessing that included a laying on of hands by the congregation. Community members gathered after the service for fellowship and a midday meal.
COMMENCEMENT 2019 This year’s commencement celebration began with a baccalaureate service in the Chapel of the Incarnation on Saturday, May 18. Presiding at the service was Adam Copeland, director of the Center for Stewardship Leaders, and Amy Marga, associate professor of systematic theology, preached. A reception followed. On Sunday, May 19, the seminary held a joyous commencement service at the newly remodeled Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. The faculty speaker was David Fredrickson ’80 M.Div., professor
of New Testament. The student speaker was Peter Johnson ’19 M.Div. PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE
SUMMER 2019 5 NEWS AND EVENTS
Honoring RETIRING FACULTY
Two faculty members are retiring at the end of this academic year following years of dedicated service to Luther Seminary. Luther is grateful for their commitment to advancing the seminary’s mission and supporting student learning within and beyond the classroom.
• Alvin Luedke Professor of Rural Ministry
• Mark Throntveit ’75 M.Div. Professor and Elva B. Lovell IN FOCUS: Faculty and staff photo Chair of Old Testament PHOTOS BY STEVE HOLM initiative fills frames with festive imagery
Luther’s Employee Engagement Group, which seeks to build community among seminary team members, brought faculty and staff together for a fun photo project with some fairly unexpected results. MID-WINTER Employees posed for photographs with items that CONVOCATION represented their passions, which ranged from music and pets to the arts and the outdoors. Leslie Ortiz, associate director Held in late January, this year’s Mid-Winter for academic affairs, put her photography skills to work, taking Convocation explored the theme of “Give the photos and creating an image collage now on display in Us This Day Our Daily Bread: Food, Land, the Olson Campus Center. and Sustainability.” Participants heard from An unexpected twist for this speakers including Kathryn Schifferdecker, project came when Catrina associate professor of Old Testament and Ciccone ’19 Ph.D., contextual Bible division chair, on topics related to learning coordinator, sought ecological challenges. Attendees also had a way to celebrate her love the opportunity to attend a half-day seminar of the Minnesota State Fair. focused on universal basic income. Mary Hess, Ciccone contacted state fair professor of educational leadership, hosted staff to request a photo with the event with support from the seminary’s their official mascot, Fairchild. Center for Stewardship Leaders.
Thanks to the seminary’s close PHOTOBY LESLIE ORTIZ proximity to the fairgrounds, Ciccone’s request was granted, and Presentation videos are available at her day was made. The cheery Fairchild is neighborly indeed. luthersem.edu/convo.
6 STORY NEWS AND EVENTS
Festival of Homiletics
“Preaching as Moral Imagination” was the topic of the 27th annual Festival of Homiletics. The festival was held May 13–17 in Minneapolis. Throughout the week, more than 1,700 participants were inspired by a variety of faith leaders and influential scholars who gave lectures, taught workshops, and led worship. The festivities also included concerts and a poetry reading. Pastors and other faith leaders enjoyed the chance to engage in fellowship with diverse colleagues and to connect through new learning opportunities.
WORKING PREACHER BOOKS Walter Brueggemann pens first book in new publication line
Fortress Press and Luther Seminary have an exciting new collaborative project called Working Preacher Books. The titles released in this series will be an extension of the material Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
Bishop Rob Wright preaches. COURTESYPHOTO Working Preacher shares on its website. The first volume of Working Preacher Books is available now. Renowned scholar and theologian Walter Brueggemann wrote “Preaching From the Old Testament,” which contains a foreword by Rolf Jacobson ’91 M.Div., professor of Old Testament and the Alvin N. Rogness Chair of Scripture, Theology, and Ministry.
Luther Seminary approved by United Methodist Church University Senate
This winter, Luther Seminary was approved by the United Methodist Church University Senate for the preparation of candidates for ordination in the United Methodist Church without qualification. This renews the seminary’s approval for all United Methodist students seeking ordination to formal leadership positions through their annual conference. NEWS AND EVENTS
The Alworths President Steinke delivers Hulsean Sermon
In February, President Robin Steinke delivered the Hulsean Sermon at the University of Cambridge. Established in 1820, the Hulsean Sermon’s focus is “The Truth and Excellence of Revealed Religion, or the Evidence of Christianity.” Only the fifth woman in history to deliver the sermon, Steinke spoke on “Faith Formation in a Fearful, Fragmented World.” Past Hulsean lecturers include renowned New
COURTESYPHOTO Testament scholar N.T. Wright, former Bishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, and Pulitzer Luther Seminary Prize winner Marilynne Robinson. graduate appears on NBC
Grace Pardun Alworth ’12 M.A. operates Studio 2 Ceramics with her spouse, Jim Alworth. Based in Minneapolis, the Alworths are MARTIN LUTHER committed to using local materials and sustainable practices as much as possible in their business. They recycle clay and partner KING JR. DAY with local stores to reuse shipping supplies. The environmentally In January, Luther Seminary marked Martin friendly practices at Studio 2 Ceramics piqued the interest of Luther King Jr. Day by holding events that producers for the NBC show “Naturally, Danny Seo,” which is aligned with the theme “Learning From Our an educational series for families seeking a healthier lifestyle. Neighbors.” Luther community members Host Danny Seo, a bestselling author and leading authority on visited ministry sites around the Twin Cities to eco-friendly living, filmed a segment with the Alworths to learn listen to leaders who embody King’s legacy about their sustainable artisanal practices and to try his hand at of beloved community. The group returned throwing and glazing pottery. to Luther’s campus for a chapel service led by board member Don Samuels ’01 M.Div. Samuels is a civil rights leader and the CEO of MicroGrants, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit that gives $1,000 grants to low- Flippin’ fellowship income people for the purposes of education, business development, or transportation. The During the 2017–18 academic year, the day ended with a community meal where Luther Seminary student council introduced attendees reflected on their experiences and a new treat: finals week pancakes. This year, shared key takeaways. a tradition emerged as stacks of sweetness TO O PH were served up on special occasions, including at COURTESY Video of the chapel service is available orientation, on Shrove Tuesday, and, of course, during finals. on the seminary’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/lutherseminary.
8 STORY FACULTY APPOINTED Luther Seminary plans TO ENDOWED CHAIRS
150th anniversary Effective in the 2019–20 academic year, three faculty members will assume endowed celebration chair roles.
During the 2019–20 academic year, Luther • Mark Granquist will become the Seminary will celebrate its sesquicentennial. Lloyd and Annelotte Svendsbye Chair Luther Seminary’s current identity in Church History. is the result of a series of mergers that • Lois Malcolm will assume the role of the consolidated separate institutions, the Olin and Amanda Fjelstad Registad Chair oldest of which (Augsburg Seminary) for Systematic Theology. traces its founding back 150 years to 1869. Plans for an anniversary celebration are in • Kathryn Schifferdecker will become the development, and community members will Elva B. Lovell Chair in Old Testament. be invited to participate in multiple events Of particular note is that Malcolm’s that commemorate this milestone. There appointment makes her the first woman to will be historical exhibits and displays along be named to a chair in systematic theology with a new narrative history of
in the seminary’s 150-year history. PHOTOS BY STEVE HOLM Luther Seminary written by faculty member Mark Granquist, published by Fortress Press, Faith and filmmaking and released by December 2019. In April, acclaimed filmmaker and producer Martin Doblmeier visited Luther Seminary as part of the release tour for his new Watch for film, “Backs Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story,” announcements which explores the life of the influential African American of these and other Christian contemplative and civil rights activist. Joe Davis ’18 M.A. activities on the and Heidi Schauer ’21 M.A., both artists, facilitated a conversation seminary’s website and social on the changing role of faith-based media in an increasingly media platforms. secular world.
KAIROS is now Faith+Lead
In April, Luther Seminary announced that its popular line of continuing education classes See the latest at and events, known as KAIROS, was renamed and relaunched as Faith+Lead. The same great faithlead.luthersem.edu. learning opportunities will continue, but with a renewed focus on helping leaders address the core challenge of forming Christian identity and practice in a pluralistic society. In addition, Faith+Lead is introducing new learning formats: digital resources, Facebook discussion groups, curated content from leaders in the field, and learning communities for in-person interaction.
SUMMER 2019 9 The best preaching, portable.
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10 STORY COURTESYPHOTOS
What we’re hearing 2018–19 synod visit snapshots from the church What do Christian leaders need to know, or know how to do, to be faithful and effective in the 21st century? By Katie Langston ’21 M.Div.
n late 2018 and early 2019, faculty and staff teams from On synod visits, teams consisting of one faculty member Luther Seminary visited a dozen ELCA synods across the and one staff member toured congregations, ministry sites, I United States to listen to local pastors, lay leaders, and and neighborhoods to see firsthand what’s happening in synodical staff. The purpose was simple: to discover what the church in rural, urban, and suburban settings. Christian leaders need to know, or know how to do, to be “It was a rewarding experience,” said Professor of faithful and effective in changing ministry contexts. Systematic Theology Lois Malcolm ’89 M.A., who visited The visits were coordinated through the innovation the Eastern North Dakota Synod with Vice President of team, a cross-disciplinary group of faculty and staff Seminary Relations Heidi Droegemueller. “Meeting the whose focus is accompanying churches and their leaders pastors and congregation members brought our work into to discover how to address the challenges of forming sharper focus and made it come alive in deeper ways.” Christian identity and practice in today’s world. The team The innovation team evaluated this qualitative research is headed by Dwight Zscheile ’08 Ph.D., vice president of alongside other data collected through surveys on innovation. “Innovation starts with listening,” Zscheile said. congregational vitality and learning communities. A clear “Before you can know how to help, you have to have a deep picture emerged of seven key themes that churches and understanding of the challenges facing those you serve—in their leaders must learn to address in order to thrive in the this case, Christian communities and their leaders.” 21st century.
SUMMER 2019 11 DEEPEN CHRISTIAN IDENTITY AND PRACTICE In a culture in which Christian faith is no longer assumed, leaders and congregations E THE TH need a Christ-centered identity, embodied in OR E a life of discipleship and nourished through L M spiritual practice. P E “You’d be surprised at how many leaders, not just lay X S members, struggle with this,” said Michael Binder ’17 Ph.D., E affiliate faculty member in congregational mission and leadership. “In our work, it’s becoming increasingly clear that in vibrant congregations there’s a sense of deep connection with God and neighbor that leads to a willingness to grow WHAT spiritually and risk changing. Where church affiliation is about social, cultural, or political affinity, there’s a lack of urgency.”
CULTIVATE WE ARE COMMUNITY OUR LISTENING PARTNERS The polarization of contemporary society came up HEARING 58 ministry sites in 12 ELCA synods again and again as a source of concern 12 large ELCA for congregants and congregations leaders. Congregations must learn how to form Christian communities across cultural, social, generational, and political 15 ELCA synods and episcopal dioceses differences. This happens as communities are willing to meet people where they are and enter into intentional practices 550 pastors via a of mutual listening, relationship-building, Lifelong Learning survey and reconciliation.
33 churches from the Vibrant Congregations INNOVATE FAITHFULLY project Many congregations struggle to innovate because they fear letting 75 lay leader developers go of cherished traditions. But faithful innovation is not about change for its own sake. It’s about being willing to adapt practices to better serve a world in which cultural and social norms are shifting. Congregations need a vibrant spiritual and theological purpose that frees them to experiment. 12 STORY COURTESY PHOTOS
IMPROVE ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP Lack of training in administrative leadership creates frustration for leaders and those they serve, while E THE TH skilled leadership empowers ministry. Leaders need to OR E be trained in organizational leadership, management, L M and administration for a 21st-century world. P E X S E SHIFT MINISTRY MODELS As church participation declines, many churches are experimenting with new organizational models and alternative sources of income beyond congregational WHAT giving. This includes starting, tending, and managing entrepreneurial ways of financing ministry. For example, Grace Church in Nampa, Idaho, has an Etsy shop called Threads of Grace where it sells hand-stitched stoles WE ARE to clergy around the world. The fabric and labor are donated, and all proceeds fund the church’s ministries.
HEARING EQUIP THE SAINTS In many churches, there is an expectation that professional clergy will perform ministry for the people rather than equip all people for ministry. Laypeople need opportunities to develop as disciples, ministers, and leaders. “Some of the most hope-filled sites we visited don’t rely on professional clergy,” said Paul Hanson ’89 M.Div., a Luther Seminary philanthropic advisor and innovation team member. “Other effective congregations focus on multiplying lay leaders, not for committee work but for front-line ministry in the church and world.”
CONNECT WITH DIVERSE NEIGHBORS “These themes will guide all our innovation work at Luther 10 a.m. on Sunday is Seminary,” said Zscheile. “And there’s more to come! As still among the most our listening to the church deepens, we expect to learn segregated times of the more about what it means to educate leaders for Christian week in many North American communities. communities in the coming months and years.” To connect across multiple dimensions of diversity, congregations need an intentional commitment to intercultural competency, Visit faithlead.luthersem.edu to engagement in the local neighborhood, learn more and join the conversation. and an ongoing practice of listening, presence, and mutual welcome. SUMMER 2019 13 THE WISDOM OF A SCHOLAR, THE HEART OF A PASTOR, AND THE IMAGINATION OF A FAITHFUL INNOVATOR
Christus Lux Mundi Award honors alumnus, professor emeritus, and former seminary president David Tiede ‘66 B.Div. for his unwavering, decades-long commitment to Luther Seminary and the broader church
By Lisa Renze-Rhodes
efore the phone interview begins, he politely from faith to a brief dip into politics; from teaching and asks, “Would you mind if I use a headset pastoral care to the church of the past and of the future; since our conversation will go an hour?” from educational and fundraising innovations at his “Of course not,” you reply. “Not at all.” beloved Luther Seminary to a Jack Benny reference that This discussion should go smoothly, you he cracks himself up with, and so you laugh along. think to yourself. It’s an hour that could be played on a loop to find BThen he promptly hangs up on you. things on a third or fourth listen that were missed the first “That didn’t work, did it?” he asks with self-effacing few times. Because while he’s expansive in his thoughts laughter after he picks up on the first ring when you call about so many things, the one thing Tiede, president back. “Sorry about that. Let’s just go without.” emeritus of Luther Seminary, doesn’t want to dwell on is It’s easy to picture gentle laugh lines taking shape at the Christus Lux Mundi Award he’s receiving. the corner of David Tiede’s eyes when the smile in his voice “It’s lovely, of course,” Tiede said. “And I don’t have makes its way across the miles. Counselor, coach, and false modesty—we did good stuff during my time there. cheerleader, Tiede is a purposeful listener and thoughtful My discomfort is only that there are so many other people responder, eager to engage in rich dialogue that sweeps for whom this award would fit so beautifully.”
14 STORY David and Muffy Tiede
He is equally humbled and inspired by past recipients. Still, there’s a common thread that unites these two The annals of Christus Lux Mundi Award winners include men who both happen to be alumni of Luther Seminary’s the likes of Gudina Tumsa ‘66 M.Div., general secretary of class of 1966. There’s a deep connection between the the Lutheran Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus. African pastor who wrote, “In every situation and in every Tumsa was a vocal dissident of Emperor Haile Selassie event, both divine and demonic elements are at work,” and later of the new political leadership that took control and the American pastor who says that in any situation of the country in the mid-1970s. He voiced concerns about it’s good to ask, “What in heaven’s name is going on?” and the class system and government oppression there, and he “What in hell is going on?” was unapologetic in his pursuit of the faith and in helping People who know him well say those questions others build lives centered on gospel teachings. Those are in many ways indicative of what makes Tiede so beliefs and actions made Tumsa a target, and in July 1979, unparalleled, laying open the nexus of not only who he is he was abducted off the street and killed by Derg soldiers. but why. It would be impossible, Tiede said, to deny the ways in And they lead to insight into the reasons behind which Tumsa embodied the Christus Lux Mundi spirit. Tiede’s selection to the Christus Lux Mundi corps. True.
SUMMER 2019 15 CALLED TO QUESTION, CALLED TO ANSWER “He’s got the wisdom of a scholar, the heart of a pastor, and the imagination of someone who is perpetually curious about what God is doing in the world,” said Robin Steinke, president of Luther Seminary. “He cares about what God is doing in and for the world through the church. But the thing that draws all of that together, and why it’s so rare, is that it’s combined with the humility of someone who is rooted in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Steinke said that commitment to Christ and the church continues to resonate through Tiede’s work and the example he sets. “One of the things that might be curious is that after he retired he was willing to step in to very complicated situations,” Steinke said. “He could have relaxed in Arizona. The name of the He could have just taken a step back and put his feet Christus Lux Mundi Award up and enjoyed doing a lot less. But he chose to stay in service to the church through leadership roles that are derives from the Latin inscription carved in often so complex.” the stone lintel above the main entrance to Through his continued scholarship and relationship Gullixson Hall, the home of the Luther Seminary stewardship, Steinke said, Tiede continued to build and library. That inscription (translated “Christ empower leaders of and for the church. the light of the world”) articulates the central “He’ll laugh and say he’s failed retirement three or purpose of Luther Seminary. four times,” Steinke said. “But there’s something deeper The Christus Lux Mundi Award is the there, something really substantive about who he is and most distinguished award presented by who he and Muffy (Tiede’s wife of more than 50 years) Luther Seminary, reserved for limited use to are together.” honor the witness and service of those who What theological education has to offer to the church have manifested the light of Christ during and to the world, how that education is provided, and their career, either in the pastoral office or as the means by which it’s made available to those who are laypeople. The criteria of the award are: called—those ideas fuel his thinking, Steinke said. 1. Recognized public evangelical leadership in Especially given the changing needs of the church. the church and the world When Tiede began his work in the church, seminary education was often fully funded by a denomination. 2. Exceptional stewardship of abilities, talents, And once a pastor was connected to a congregation, time, and/or other resources on behalf of that pastor was able to raise a family and enjoy a secure the mission and ministry of the gospel lifestyle. Now, fewer and fewer congregations can afford a full-time pastor. School is rarely fully subsidized. Even the 3. Continuing motivation and encouragement modalities of education have changed, as students find of others to creative service on behalf of themselves telecommuting to classes while juggling other the church life demands. 4. A minimum of 20 years of faithful service It was Tiede who gathered teams within and beyond either as a pastor or as a lay leader in Luther Seminary to begin the process of changing not the church only the way theological education was delivered but also how it was defined. Their adaptations would touch
16 STORY every corner of the institution—from its classrooms to its through Bible study and worship services. congregational partners. The “rich and substantive weekends” succeeded in engaging attendees’ “hearts and minds in real LISTENING ACROSS THE CHURCH conversation on things that mattered to them,” Hansen Change came neatly packaged on the fronts of poster said. “We were engaging people deeply.” boards, carried into family rooms and living rooms The staying power of those weekends extended well throughout Minnesota and parts of the Midwest by a beyond the formal close of the retreats. group of fundraisers and educators who had no way of “It was really kind of a ripple effect,” Hansen said. knowing if what they were doing would work. Churchgoers and community members cared about A few hundred cups of coffee later and the team knew who would be preaching on Sunday, she said, and whether they were on to something. the messages from that person would resonate with young Though fundraising had been a successful part of people enough to encourage fidelity to the faith. Luther Seminary for some years, Kathy Hansen, former “Would they have someone who could help their vice president for seminary relations, said that during children and grandchildren understand Jesus and have a Tiede’s presidency the seminary moved in a direction that relationship there and stay in the church?” she asked. “It was revolutionary. was their own personal congregations they were thinking “He asked the all-important question, ‘Who is the of. We created a movement of people whose hearts were Luther Seminary customer?’” Hansen said. “What we came deeply committed to Luther Seminary,” Hansen said. to understand was that the customers of Luther Seminary were the congregations of the church.” Once that information was unlocked, Hansen said, the traditional ways of securing support were no longer sufficient. “As part of his introduction he would say, ‘I’m a school teacher,’ and I always thought that summed him up so well,” Hansen said. “At heart he was a teacher. He understands how to share information, but also how to engage people and draw out their best thinking. That humility, that directness—we always said we’re not fancy, we’re going to speak with people plainly and directly. We were just people talking.” Those informal but informational conversations with what Tiede jokingly called his “Ross Perot boards” evolved, and in time included weekend-long retreats that brought together donors, seminarians, THE NEXT GENERATION OF LISTENERS theologians, alumni, and other key stakeholders. These Solidifying a support system for Luther Seminary was only events eventually were named Leadership Circle Retreats one of Tiede’s overarching concerns. (and even continue today). The weekends often had Were the seminarians who were graduating best themes, and featured opportunities for donors, faculty, prepared for the needs of the congregations who awaited students, and administrators to dig deep together into them? What’s more, was Luther situated to provide what topics like ensuring the faith of the church’s children, while those graduates needed? also participating in spiritual enrichment of their own In typical Tiede fashion, he went straight to the sources.
SUMMER 2019 17 He put a call out to alumni, asking generally and “The 1990s were a period of anxiety about the specifically if Luther Seminary was providing what changes that we were going to need to address,” Malcolm graduates needed to be successful pastoral leaders said. “The church no longer had the privileged place in within the church. The grads weren’t shy in responding. society that it used to have.” “He got hundreds of letters back,” said Daniel This meant traditional rationale and beliefs were Aleshire, retired executive director of The Association of no longer sufficient for the justification of theological Theological Schools. education. New arguments needed to be made, and that started with the faculty’s public debate of just what Luther Seminary was going to A leader can work in a way that commit to being. draws attention to the individual “If you lose the theological depths we stand for, we lose our reason for existing,” she said. or empowers other people.” It was the faculty who first articulated that argument, Malcolm said, and they continue to —Daniel Aleshire, retired executive director be a voice of the mission today. of The Association of Theological Schools She says the years have softened the arguments and now many “see Tiede as a hero.” And because of those letters, Aleshire said Tiede “He is an exemplar of presidential leadership, not “began seeing what alumni valued, what they experienced, only for a seminary, but for other deans and provosts to and what they could now see they needed.” [articulate] why the academy needs to exist to benefit Tiede also recognized the need to empower and society,” Malcolm said. encourage the faculty to express their ideas in order to define, then secure, a sustainable future. As a former ONE MISSION, MANY VOICES faculty member, he understood faculty engagement and Tiede didn’t limit animated conversations to the faculty. support were critical for any lasting success. Looking back, Hearty discussions with his administrative cabinet he said he knew the passion and expertise those educators members were also good opportunities for Tiede to listen would bring to bear on the process. and reflect—two things, Aleshire said, that Tiede excels at. “They are fine scholars, and they have persisted “A leader can work in a way that draws attention to with curriculum reforms for three decades as the church the individual or empowers other people,” Aleshire said. continues to change. The arguments, turf battles, and “David consistently worked to empower others.” competing visions are intense. You can hardly imagine how The instinct to champion those around him is born fiercely such smart, committed people can go at it when of an internal peace that comes because of and through the stakes are so high,” Tiede said. his faith, Hansen added. “He has a kind of self-confidence Lois Malcolm ‘89 M.A., professor of systematic and inner security to be very open to other people’s theology at Luther, said faculty needed and valued the perspectives, other people’s ideas.” opportunity—the responsibility—to help shape what the This creates opportunities for those around him to future of the school could and should be. She agreed that live the teachings of the gospel, she said, without exactly discussions on a revised mission statement were, at times, replicating what Tiede does. “fractious,” because of the passion everyone brought to “There are multiple ways of looking at the same the conversation and individuals’ deeply held perspectives. central truth—he’s not threatened by people looking at It was crucial, Malcolm said, that the seminary these things from multiple perspectives,” Hansen said, faculty had the opportunity to publicly plant a flag about adding that the very notion of inviting many ideas into a what they considered their non-negotiables. Ultimately, larger conversation “is in fact very biblical.” everything centered around two halves of what would be And she’s convinced that a large part of the comfort the one Luther Seminary: The confessional (the internal others find in Tiede is because regardless of who he identity) and the missional (the external focus beyond one encounters, people feel heard after he’s engaged with church to a larger community). them.
18 STORY That ability to simultaneously consider the micro and willing to read them, learn them, and live them. the macro of any situation is what Charles Olson, longtime “Astute listening is a very complex task,” he said. Luther board member and founding member of the “What you bring with listening is a huge witness of the love seminary foundation, recalls about his time with Tiede. of God for all people.” “Always there was a smile on his face and interest in If Tiede is remembered only for intentionally listening, whoever it was that came onto campus,” Olson said. “He well, that’s just fine by him. was a master at relating to people, just a true master. “As long as it is clear that together we are listening for People liked him—they just had automatic quick respect the Spirit of Christ,” he said. for him.” “What I would hope would come through, as you’re Olson said Tiede was “a preacher, a teacher, and a telling this story, would be about the calling of Luther planner for the future.” Seminary, not about David Tiede,” he said. “Maybe David “If he wasn’t clear about what someone was saying, Tiede is a servant in this story. he would get down into that conversation a little bit. He “What I hope, what I know, is that I believe the calling would ask questions and really hear what someone was of Luther Seminary, and what’s needed from it is not explaining.” ambiguous. How to do it—to prepare the next generation And Olson said Tiede did it in such a way that it was a of listeners so the church will be adept and adroit and conversation, not an interrogation. able to engage what’s really happening in the world—well, The secret? that’s hard. “Well, it’s all about listening,” Tiede said. “So let’s speak to it with a word of promise, and hope, What he’s always hoped for, worked toward, believed which the gospel is.” in, is the blueprint for life the Gospels map out for those
Christus Lux Mundi Award Recipients
2019 DAVID TIEDE 1997 ARLEY BJELLA PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF LUTHER SEMINARY FORMER LUTHERAN BROTHERHOOD CEO 2005 WENDELL FRERICH 1995 CONRAD BERGENDOFF AND WILLIAM SMITH FORMER PRESIDENT OF AUGUSTANA COLLEGE, EMERITUS PROFESSORS AT LUTHER SEMINARY ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS 2004 GUDINA TUMSA (POSTHUMOUSLY) 1993 ANDREW HSIAO GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE ETHIOPIAN PRESIDENT OF LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, EVANGELICAL CHURCH MEKANE YESUS HONG KONG 2001 HENRY HORN 1992 ALVIN ROGNESS WORSHIP PROFESSOR, PASTOR, AND AUTHOR PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF LUTHER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 2000 MARJORIE BLY RETIRED ELCA MISSIONARY 1998 EDNA AND HOWARD HONG SØREN KIERKEGAARD SCHOLARS AND TRANSLATORS
SUMMER 2019 19 COURTESYPHOTOS
THE SUSTAINERS
20 STORY THE SUSTAINERS Luther Seminary supporters ensure future church leaders can pursue their call to ministry
By Heidi Hyland Mann
They differ in profession, life stage, location, and their connection to Luther Seminary. But Drew Yackel ’14 M.Div. and Angelica Matthes Yackel, Margaret and Pete Rude, and Kathie and Ron Nielsen ’67 M.Div. share a passion for Luther’s mission and a firm grasp of what it takes to sustain an organization. In fact, the seminary calls them—and hundreds of others—“Sustainers” because they give monthly by automated means to Luther’s Sustaining Fund, providing more than half of the seminary’s operating revenue.
SUMMER 2019 21 HONORING INNOVATION LS E During 16 of the past 35 years, the Yackel family has K C A included a Luther Seminary student. Drew Yackel’s father Y E H graduated in 1988, becoming a Lutheran pastor. His T mother attended as a second-career distance learner for eight years; she graduated and was ordained in 2009. Soon after, Drew himself became, in his words, a “pipeline student,” going straight from college to seminary along what was once the typical path—two academic years on campus, internship, and a final year of study. He feels Luther’s academic program innovations help make it “the flagship seminary” of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. “One reason I want to give to Luther,” he said, “is because they’re trying new things and experimenting, not just to be ‘cool,’ but for the right reasons, in bold and faithful ways.” Drew, who now lives in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, and serves Urland Lutheran Church, said he feels fortunate to be in a position to give to Luther Seminary. “It’s not just a way to give back, but to pay it forward. Luther Seminary is going to be key for the future of the church, partly due to the plurality of its leaders. We need a place like Luther, where there’s innovative thinking going on from top scholars and faithful teachers who really care about our witness to the gospel and passing that on to the next generation.”
MAKING CHRIST REAL Margaret and Pete Rude of Redding, California, are connected to Luther Seminary through both “the next generation” and the one before theirs. Margaret’s father graduated from Luther in 1959, and this spring, 60 years later, so did their son Erik Rude ‘19 M.Div. “We support the church and other Christian organizations, but we didn’t think about the seminary until our son went there,” said Pete, a civil engineer. “Then we became aware of Luther’s financial need and of the critical shortage of pastors.” Pete believes the cost of attending seminary contributes to the shortage. Recalling how the church paid much of the cost for his father-in-law to attend seminary and recognizing how things have changed TH E R since that time, Pete told himself, “Put your money where UD ES your mouth is,” and with his wife decided to give on a continuous basis. Margaret is principal and director of a charter school she founded 20 years ago. Her experience as an educator undergirds her passion to support Luther with sustaining gifts. “I understand budgeting; I understand planning; I understand long-term goal setting and measuring progress on those goals—all things I’m sure the seminary does, too,” she said.
22 STORY Margaret also sees their automated giving from another angle: “How do you make Christ real? That’s part of the mission and heart of the Lutheran church— how do we make it relevant so [people] want to have a relationship with Jesus? That’s long-term planning. The seminary has to be able to forecast revenue for three to five years. The only way to do that is to have sustaining givers. That allows the seminary to look at long-term impact for training the next generation [to make] Christ NS SE real to people.” L IE N E 10% H T A HOMECOMING of Luther donors The seminary is so much a part of are Sustainers Ron and Kathie Nielsen’s lives that they moved to the Twin Cities after his retirement from parish In all, almost 10% of Luther donors are and outdoor ministry, and Sustainers. Their unrestricted gifts fund hers from a special education day-to-day operations, faculty salaries, career. Relocating to Maplewood, Minnesota, allowed scholarships, and more. them to be closer to seminary friends and able to attend “Sustained giving is all about commitment,” convocations, workshops, and other on-campus events Drew Yackel said. “I see Luther Seminary easily. They even held their 50th anniversary celebration as committed to its mission, so I want to at the seminary—fitting because the Nielsens married be part of that group of faithful supporters while Ron was a Luther student. and sustain the life of the institution. The “I love the church,” Ron said, “and the seminary is one mechanics of sustained giving just make it of the tools that sustains the church. If we didn’t have easier. We can ‘set it and forget it,’ so giving the seminary, we wouldn’t have pastors.” doesn’t waver with the ups and downs of Kathie affirms the other ministries of the seminary, personal finance.” too. “We’ve had speakers from Luther at church [events]. Automated giving is easily set up using I attended several classes through the Lay School of a bank account or credit card and can be Theology, and I loved it,” she said. stopped anytime by contacting the seminary. The Nielsens have been sending annual or semi- annual gifts to Luther for quite a few years. “But it’s easy to put off,” Ron admitted. “So we went to monthly and automatic. From years of camping ministry, which To learn more about becoming a is very development-related, I know it’s easier to raise Sustainer, visit luthersem.edu/give. money for a crisis. Special projects are needed, but without regular general operating funds, we’d be in trouble. It’s so important to take care of what we’ve got.”
SUMMER 2019 23 or a few years now, Luther Seminary professors Lois Malcolm ’89 M.A. and Kathryn Schifferdecker have F felt a sense of urgency around a troubling trend: many mainline Christians, including seminarians, don’t know how to talk about their faith with people beyond the walls of the church. It’s not that mainline Christians’ faith isn’t deeply felt; over the past 18 months, Luther Seminary has conducted surveys with 3,900 church members through a new tool called the Spiritual Life Inventory, and 96% say that God is present in their lives. However, when it comes to talking about their experiences of faith, only 10% say they’ve taught another person how to follow Jesus in the past year, and 76% haven’t shared stories of where God is showing up for them each day. So Schifferdecker convened a group of faculty to explore what could be done to help seminary students become more comfortable sharing personal stories of Christian faith—and, through the students, influence the larger church. “We went to dinner and brainstormed,” Malcolm said. “Eventually, we landed on an idea for a semester-long series called ‘Why Jesus.’ We’d invite members of the community to speak about their experiences with Jesus, and open up space for those listening to share their stories as well.” At the same time, three leadership groups on campus independently expressed interest in experimenting with spiritual storytelling, including the enterprise leadership team, the innovation team, and Spirit Lab, a student-led organization that works to deepen spiritual formation at Luther. The faculty group, Spirit Lab, and the innovation team decided to work together on making Why Jesus a reality. “The Holy Spirit was bubbling up in multiple places at the same time,” said Bethany Ringdal ’19 M.Div., a member of the Spirit Lab leadership team. “I’ve learned not to ask twice when things come together so beautifully!”
24 STORY To learn more about Luther Seminary’s Spiritual Life Inventory findings and how contemporary church members live out their faith in their daily lives, visit faithlead.luthersem.edu/sli.
Tim Jackson ‘21 M.Div. shares his story of faith as part of Luther Seminary’s new Why Jesus series.
SUMMER 2019 25 ‘WHY ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES JESUS MAKE IN YOUR LIFE?’ The experiment was simple. For 10 weeks, a faculty member, student, or staff member took a half-hour over lunch each Wednesday to respond to two questions: Why are you a Christian? What difference does Jesus make in your life? After the storyteller spoke, those in attendance broke into small groups to reflect on what they’d heard. A handout helped guide the discussion with several prompts: • What caught your imagination in the story you heard? • Where did you see God at work in the storyteller’s life? • What difference did Jesus make in your life this week? The group received funds from the student council, Spirit Lab, and the Aus Lecture Memorial Fund, an endowed lectureship that focuses on evangelism, to provide lunch to anyone who came to listen and share. Distributed learning students, or those who were unable to attend the sessions in person, watched videos of the speakers’ stories that were posted afterward in a private online community. The experience was deeply meaningful for both speakers and participants. “I looked forward to it every week,” Deb Gelerter ’21 M.Div. said. “This was what I thought seminary would be like all the time—sharing stories and connecting on an intimate spiritual level. I had really been missing something like this.” For Ben McDonald Coltvet, web content manager, it deepened the sense of shared purpose and created community on many levels. “I found the lunches were a great “‘Why Jesus?’ is a crucial question we all need way to connect between staff, faculty, and students,” he said. to be asking in this time, when many folks are “We so rarely take the time to listen deeply and to hear how more comfortable talking about ‘spirituality’ than Jesus has made a difference in each of our lives.” specifically about Christian faith,” Schifferdecker The Luther Seminary community agreed that the practice said. “The way we answer this question will shape was important; it will continue as a part of the shared life of the direction the church takes in the coming the seminary in the coming academic year. decades.”
WHY ‘WHY JESUS’? The collaboration group that put Why Jesus together discovered that the experiment did much more than help Try it yourself students gain experience talking about their faith. It engaged Why Jesus is a simple practice you can do in large the core challenge facing the church in the 21st century, a or small groups, formally with a congregation challenge that the seminary has identified through a robust or informally with family and friends. Listen to listening process (see page 11). The challenge is: many of our some of the stories shared this past semester and churches don’t know how to cultivate Christian identity and download a free PDF guide to the practice at practice in today’s world. faithlead.luthersem.edu/why-jesus.
26 STORY The church is changing. What is God calling us to do about it?
FAITHFUL INNOVATION Discover and embody innovative ways to lead SUMMIT the church.
Minneapolis July 24–26, 2019 The Faithful Innovation Summit is designed to help you define and address the ministry challenges you face. Explore big questions during the Faithful Innovation Summit: Gather with fellow Christian leaders, • What does it mean to foster innovation for the hear stories of innovative experiments in sake of the gospel? a variety of ministry settings, and build • Where is God already at work to transform the relationships with other passionate leaders church? like you. • What does faith formation look like in the 21st century? • How do we get from where we are now to Join others on this journey forward: a more hopeful future? faithlead.luthersem.edu/summit
SUMMER 2019 27 FACULTY AND STAFF NOTES Adam Copeland, assistant professor of leadership and a study tour with participants from Luther and Wartburg director of the Center for Stewardship Leaders, successfully seminaries to the Luther sites in Germany. He gave adult defended his doctoral dissertation, “Crowdfunding for a education presentations at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Cause: Rhetorically Oriented Action Research with Faith- Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, Luther Memorial Church in Related Organizations” at North Dakota State University. South St. Paul, Minnesota, and Bethel Lutheran Church in In addition, he presented on stewardship at Montreat Hudson, Wisconsin, during Spring 2019.
Conference Center in North Carolina, led an officers’ retreat at Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, and led part of a retreat for the graduating students Mary Hess, professor of educational leadership, contributed at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Copeland chapters to the books “Global Perspectives on Catholic published an article in The Christian Century magazine and Religious Education in Schools,” “Teaching Race: How to a Scripture commentary for a project from Westminster Help Students Unmask and Challenge Racism,” and “Values, John Knox Press. He also joined the Collegeville Institute Human Rights, and Religious Education.” She published Board of Directors. “Adaptive Action as a Form of Reflective Practice in Pastoral Leadership,” in Reflective Practice: Formation and
Supervision in Ministry, Vol. 38, 2018. At Luther Seminary’s In January, Terri Elton ’98 M.A., ’07 Ph.D., associate Mid-Winter Convocation, she presented the workshop professor of leadership, was a speaker at the ELCA Youth “Sustaining Stories.” Ministry Extravaganza in Jacksonville, Florida. Elton taught a class on formation for the lay school of the Great Lakes Lois Malcolm ’89 M.A., professor of systematic theology, Presbyterian Conference in March, was a speaker for the gave “Forgiveness and Reconciliation” presentations at Lutheran Social Service of North Dakota manager training Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley, Arizona, this in April, and was a keynote speaker for the Gustavus April. In addition, she recently published the article “Beauty, Adolphus Faith Conference in April. Then, in May, she Pathos, and Apostolic Bodies” in the Winter 2019 edition presented at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bismarck, of Word & World and “Luther’s Biblical Hermeneutics as North Dakota, and led a training on confirmation ministry Ethics” in the Studies in Christian Ethics journal. for the Eastern North Dakota synod.
At the beginning of June, Amy Marga, associate professor Mark Granquist, professor of the history of Christianity, of systematic theology, presented her paper “Reading organized and presided over the Biennial Conference of the Romans With Barth for a Postcolonial Era of Theology” Lutheran Historical Conference held at California Lutheran at Colloque Karl Barth 2019, an international theological University in Thousand Oaks, California, in October. Later conference in Geneva. that month, he also was a guest lecturer at Johannelund
School of Theology in Uppsala, Sweden. In January, he led
28 STORY Andrew Root, associate professor and Carrie Olson Conference in the Western North Dakota Synod, and then Baalson Chair of Youth and Family Ministry, published in May he presented at the Northern Great Lakes Synod “The Pastor in a Secular Age: Ministry to People Who No assembly. He is directing missional leadership cohorts Longer Need a God.” that began this spring at Luther for Episcopal bishops and Episcopal priests. He is also co-leading the Lilly Grant- funded Leadership for Faithful Innovation project that This January, Dwight Zscheile ’08 Ph.D., vice president includes 50 pastors from six ELCA synods, and the Faithful of innovation and associate professor of congregational Innovation Learning Communities initiative involving mission and leadership, was a keynote speaker for the multiple synods and dioceses. Winter Theological Education Event in the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin. In February he spoke at the GIFTS
PRESENTS
The Craft of Preaching Karoline Lewis Joy Moore Matthew Skinner An experience in all things preaching October 7–9, 2019 Hosted by Karoline Lewis Gloria Dei Lutheran Church St. Paul, Minnesota
luthersem.edu/preaching
SUMMER 2019 29 ALUMNI NEWS Submit your own alumni news at LUTHERSEM.EDU/ALUMNI
1950s Wisconsin. It was at this church that her classmate Sandee Kosmo ’89 M.Div. served as the first female Theodore Homdrom ’50 B.Th., ’59 M.Th. passed away associate pastor from 1989 to 1995. April 3, 2019. He was a retired, anti-Apartheid missionary to South Africa. Robert Vevle ’55 Certificate of Theology, passed away 1990s September 11, 2018. Mary Brown ’91 M.Div. worked as an organizer to relaunch Luther Seminary’s Preview Day event. 1960s Joanna Carlson Swanson ’92 M.A. published “Bold Visions, Daring Dreams,” a book about her father Edgar M. Carlson’s A. Joseph Everson ’65 M.Div. published “The Vision of the work in higher education and as the ninth president of Prophet Isaiah: Hope in a War-Weary World.” Gustavus Adolphus College.
Eric Berg ’99 M.A. teaches philosophy at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois. This spring, he was elected president 1970s of the faculty at the college. Marc Wermager ’70 M.Div. passed away January 21, 2019. Leland Wilkins ’75 M.Div. passed away October 26, 2018. 2000s In January, Gaylan Mathiesen ’06 Ph.D. served as a guest Since his retirement, Steve Woita ’76 M.Div. has served professor at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, in interim ministries. He is pastoring a community in Indiana. He taught a course on Christian theologies in Asia. northern Israel.
Kari van Wakeren ’08 M.Div. published the children’s book 1980s “Bubble Wrap Girl.” Roy Harrisville III ’80 M.Div. published “The Faith of St. Paul: Transformative Gift of Divine Power.” 2010s Austen Hartke ’14 M.A. was awarded a 2019 Bush Fellowship, Shirley Kindem ’83 M.A. passed away March 24, 2019. a program that honors leaders who are keen to grow Ron Duty ’86 M.Div. co-edited and contributed an article professionally and tackle issues within their field of interest. to the book “Lutheran Theology and Secular Law.” Andy Twiton ’14 M.Div. was called to be the pastor of Trinity Julie Brenden ’89 M.Div. is serving as the first female Lutheran Church in Madison, Wisconsin. lead pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Eau Claire,
30 STORY The listings in this publication include notifications received before May 10. ALUMNI NEWS Blessings IN WORD AND DEED
For more than 25 years, Luella Zibell has devoted her time to support Luther Seminary.
As a volunteer, she has faithfully served by:
• helping at fundraising events
• writing personalized birthday and ordination cards to alumni and donors
• performing administrative tasks
• hand-sewing quilts for campus residents
Lu and her husband, Donald, also have contributed to the Sustaining Fund and were among the first donors to join the Heritage Society. Through their actions they have become permanent stakeholders in the seminary’s mission to educate leaders for Christian communities.
You, too, can support the seminary with a personal touch that reverberates throughout the community.
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