Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Day 2

This morning I met with area clergy, interns and South Dakota Synod staff for breakfast and conversation. I appreciated very much this opportunity to thank them for their partnership with Luther Seminary, to update them about the new things happening at the Seminary, and to invite their questions and comments.

Kevin Stillson, the missionary for the “Answer the Call” initiative by the South Dakota Synod was also at the breakfast and shared what he is doing with this ministry. “Answer the Call” is a program that encourages and educates young men and women in the South Dakota Synod about church vocations and what is possible for their future. It also supports those who have made a decision to seek a church vocation and does so by offering financial help, providing mentors, and prayer.

I wish to extend my thanks to Bishop Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl and Assistant to the Bishop Pastor David Larson for this opportunity and for their wonderful hospitality.

Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Had a quick, but wonderful visit to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. By invitation of Campus Pastor Paul Rohde, I was able to preach in morning chapel and help serve Holy Communion. Afterwards I met with perspective students in his office and had a few afternoon appointments with students as well. As always it was a delight to meet these students, answer their questions about seminary and hopefully bring some clarification as they work through the discernment process.

I also had a chance to meet Sarah Sumner-Elsenbraun, one of our interns, who is serving as Assistant Campus Pastor. She had just returned from taking a group of students on a mission retreat to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation during the college’s fall break.

Seminary and Divinity School Day at Gustavus Adolphus College

This event happens every two years and alternates between being hosted at the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., or St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn. Students from eleven other colleges near these two schools and the University of Minnesota schools are invited to attend. On this day college students can meet with representatives from a variety of seminaries and divinity schools across the country as well as attend workshops covering topics pertinent to attending these schools.

It was a wonderful event. Those of us representing the ELCA seminaries had many good contacts with perspective students.

The event ended with a banquet and keynote speaker, who this year was Brad Anderson, vice chairman and CEO of Best Buy. Mr. Anderson actually attended Luther Seminary at one point in his twenties, but as he freely confessed, only lasted 18 months. Though he was a PK (pastor's kid), seminary was not God’s calling for him. He did share though, how he meshes what he learned at seminary and what he does now.

The best quote of the evening though was this when Mr. Anderson mentioned that the president of Best Buy was retiring and that he, too, attended seminary. Mr. Anderson's comment was something to this effect: "if you can't make it at seminary, we have a place for you here." Not a bad offer, Mr. Anderson!

Luther College and Minnesota State University, Mankato

Our morning began with chapel in the "Center for Faith and Life (CFL)" at Luther College, Decorah, IA. My colleague Louise Johnson preached and one of the campus pastors at Luther, Mike Blair presided. We were not only graced by a good word from God, but the Viola Choir provided special music, it was glorious.

We had opportunity throughout the day to meet with perspective students as they visited us in the CFL narthex or met us individually by appointment.

Over lunch we met with another of the campus pastors at Luther, David Vasquez, and a few of the religion faculty: Kristin Swanson, Jim Martin (see picture) and Karla Suomala. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to be in conversation with them about spiritual trends they see in students and how best the seminary can work with students who come from their programs. It was an honest and meaningful conversation.

Our evening ended with a brief stop at the Lutheran Campus Ministry Crossroads building on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. There we met with Campus Pastor Ann Hokenstad (see picture) and a few students. It was wonderful to meet Pastor Ann and see the LCM worship facility; other Campus Ministries would be jealous.

One side note: While at worship at Luther College, the president of the college, Richard Torgerson sat behind me and my colleagues. After we all introduced ourselves to him I informed him we were calling ourselves "Chicks on Tour" since it just so happened on this trip all of us were women.

Upon hearing this, his face lit up, and he told us we had to go to downtown Decorah and visit the "Decorah Chick Hatchery" and get their tee-shirts. So we did (see picture, which also includes the proprietor); it was just the touch we needed to make our travels together complete. Thanks Pres. Torgerson!

Wartburg & Luther Colleges

October 11, 2006 (Happy Birthday to my brother Mark)

Our morning began by meeting the religion faculty of Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa for breakfast on campus. It was a great opportunity for us to meet them, to thank them for the partnership the college and seminaries share in raising up leaders for the church, to talk to them about current spiritual trends they see in students and to ask them what things they think the seminaries should hear. Their answers were thoughtful, honest and meaningful. My colleagues and I have great and helpful information to take back to our seminaries.

This was such a great bunch of faculty and a wonderful testimony to the type of top-notch teaching that is going at our ELCA colleges. In the short time we were with them we could tell that they care very deeply about the spiritual life of their students, that they are committed to grounding them in the Lutheran faith, and that their students experience and understand a whole myriad of ways their lives and faith can impact the world for the good. Thanks be to God for the calling of this faculty to the ministry they do at Wartburg College.


See picture - (from left to right, back row): Fred Strickert, Chip Bouzard, Brian Jones, Krista (Wartburg Seminary), Larry Trachte, Louise Johnson (Philadelphia Seminary); (from left to right, front row) Ramona Bouzard, Rebecca Thurman, Kit Kleinhaus, Melissa James, Shelley Allen (Southern Seminary), Stacey Anderson (Trinity Seminary)

We were supposed to attend the "Introduction to the Parish" class that afternoon, but it was called off due to something called "Out Fly." "Out Fly" comes from the German words Oust Fluk/Flug (something like that) which means "excursion." It has a long tradition at the school, it happens once a year in the fall, no one knows when it will happen, but basically school gets called off for the day. Today was the day. "Happy Out Fly!"

In the evening we visited the campus of Luther College, Decorah Iowa, another of our fine ELCA colleges in Iowa. We met over pizza with Pastor Amy Larson and 16 perspective students. Once again we experienced a great question and answer time, and once again I forgot to take a picture, so I am going to give you the first names of the students who attended; and I have a request: will you pray this prayer for them?

Gracious God, send your Holy Spirit to John, Ben, Dana, Nathan, Daniel, Laura, Gretchen, Nathaniel, Adam, Niki, Tom, Kayla, Derek, Malory, Edwin, and Adam, to guide them and lead them during this time of discernment in their lives. Continue to strengthen their faith, deepen their beliefs and make them bold in their witness of you in their lives. Make their time at college a productive and joyous one as they are stretched in mind and body. Watch over their families wherever they may be and hold all for whom we pray in your care. Amen.

"Chicks on Tour"

I am on the road again with my colleagues and we have titled this trip, "Chicks on Tour," because it is all women. See photo: from left to right: Louise Johnson, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia; Shelly Allen, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary; Me; Krista Johnson, Wartburg Seminary; Stacey Anderson, Trinity Seminary.

Our first stop was on Sunday night, Oct. 9th at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St Paul, MN) Lutheran Student Movement/Lutheran Campus Ministry's evening worship service followed by a meal.


We gathered with Campus Pastors Lisa Simonsen and Jerie Smith, U of M students and other guests; it was a delightful evening.



The next morning we were off to Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN. There we joined the community for chapel. I preached and met with perspective students for lunch. An enjoyable morning.

After lunch we headed south to Iowa and Wartburg College in Waverly. There we met with perspective students at the OPII (pizza place across from the college) for pizza and pop. During the meal we talked with the students about what a seminary education has to offer. We covered the nuts and bolts of the candidacy and application processes and enjoyed a great question/answer time. I unfortunately forgot to take pictures of these lovely students and us chowing and talking--my apologies--and they were a good-looking bunch, too.

Tomorrow it is back to Wartburg and then on to Luther College in Decorah, IA.

On the road in the state of Virginia

A note of apology to my colleague from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. In my last few entries I have misspelled “Louise” Johnson’s first name. It is not “Louis” but Louise. She has already forgiven me, what a great colleague.

When the annual meeting of the ELCA Admissions staff people ended on Monday night, Oct. 3rd, the next morning we broke off into three groups and headed out to visit colleges in Pennsylvania and Virginia. My group (see picture: Tom Henderson, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary; Me; Krista Johnson, Wartburg Seminary; & Louise Johnson, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia) was off to Virginia and to Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; Roanoke College, Salem; and James Madison University, Harrisonburg.

Virginia Tech: met with Lutheran Campus Ministry’s Bill King and Joanna Stallings and the Lutheran Campus Ministry group. Enjoyed a wonderful meal of chicken quesadillas cooked by one of the students, presented a program on discernment followed by discussion, question/answer time and ended with worship. My favorite question of the evening was from a student who is a cadet: “How do I live out my vocation as a soldier?” A few thoughts from Martin Luther weighed in on the answer as well as great insights from the students.





Roanoke College: Set up our display table outside the cafeteria and spoke to interested students who stopped by. Had lunch with Campus Pastor Paul Henrickson and Assistants to the Bishop, Pastors Dave Delaney and Chip Gunsten.


James Madison University: Met with Pastor Kathleen Haines and Lutheran Presbyterian Campus ministry group at the Episcopal House just off campus--ecumenism at work. We were also joined by an admissions person from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, I believe. Enjoyed a meal together (everyone loves to get their picture taken while eating—-oh well!) and had a wonderful discussion with question/answer time on the topics of vocation and discernment.

An added bonus to our travels was seeing some unique sights outside our hotels. In Blacksburg there was a Superman in a telephone booth. The ladies and I were waiting for Clark Kent to come out, but for some reason he never showed.

And in Harrisonburg, there was the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile! We had hoped for a ride, but no luck!



I am now sitting in the Dulles airport in Washington DC waiting to board a plane that is now an hour late. The joys of travel!

ELCA Seminary Admissions Staff

Since yesterday, I have been attending the annual meeting of the ELCA Seminary Admissions staff people, held this year at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. These people all work in the admissions offices at one of the eight ELCA seminaries across the nation. All of them are pictured in the photo above. Can you match their faces with their names and the seminaries they represent? One hint: I am not in the photo. (Someone had to take the picture.) The answers are in the photo below. Don't look! No cheating, now! Good Luck.

Brian Halverson, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Krista Johnson, Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, IA
Greg Schaefer, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, CA
Stacey Anderson, Trinty Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbus, Ohio
Louise Johnson, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
Nancy Gable, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
Jim Cobb, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
Ron Olson, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
Rick Summy, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
Heather Devine, Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, IA
Tom Henderson, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, SC
Shelley Allen, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary


P.S. The piece of art work we are standing in front of was outside the Chinese restuarant we ate at. No clue why it was there or what it is. I am sure it looked better lit up at night. Or, maybe not.

Okay, here's the answer! You didn't peek, did you?

Gettysburg, PA

I am in Gettysburg, PA for the annual meeting of the ELCA Seminary Admissions staff people. The location of the meeting rotates from seminary to seminary and this year it is being held at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, in Gettysburg, PA of all things. Whose claim to fame, by the way, is that more people have died on the campus of this seminary then any other ELCA seminary (probably ANY seminary for that matter, let’s hope). For those of you who are a little concerned at the moment and have just temporary forgotten your American history, a major Civil War battle (more men died here than in any other battle fought in North America) was fought in Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863) and the seminary sits on a portion of that field.



Speaking of the battle field, I had an opportunity this afternoon to visit there. It is a National Park. My visit was a fascinating and yet very humbling experience. But before I get to that I did began the morning by going to church.

Two of my colleagues and I attended St. James Lutheran and had the opportunity to celebrate with them through the preached Word and through Holy Communion. After worship we had the pleasure of meeting the two pastors of the congregation as well as two members who are professors at Gettysburg Seminary (see picture: back row left to right: Prof. Nelson Strobert, Christian Education; Pastor Michael Allwein; Pastor Lois Van Orden; Prof. Gerald Christianson, Church History; front row left to right: Me, Shelley Allen, Associate Director of Admissions Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary; Louise Johnson, Associate Director of Admissions at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia). It was a wonderful worshiping experience.

Back to the battlefield: I did the self-guided auto tour that took almost two hours to complete. The tour takes you geographically day by day through the battle allowing you to stop at key areas along the way. One of the things that fascinated me the most is how much of a role geography played in the executing of this battle. It was basically fought between two ridges (Seminary Ridge & Cemetery Ridge) with the killing taking place in the valley between as each army advanced. There are also all kinds of monuments along the tour, most honoring brigades from different states. I was hoping to find the Minnesota monument, and I did.



The Minnesota contingent, though small (262 men), played a key role in holding back the Confederate Army so the Union Army could regroup and reinforce, but it was also at a huge sacrifice (only 47 survived).

The tour ended at the Gettysburg National Cemetery, which was dedicated on November 19, 1863. President Abraham Lincoln was asked to attend the dedication and to make "a few appropriate remarks." What was spoken by him that day later became known as the Gettysburg Address. Powerful stuff!

Our annual meeting began this evening, and will continue through Tuesday. I look forward to our collaborative work and also cherish time with colleagues.

I want to end on a personal note. The day before leaving on this trip (Friday, September 30 at 10 PM), I got engaged. Yes, I know it is hard to believe with all this traveling I do that I find time to date. His name is John Okan. He is a recent graduate of Luther Seminary and on September 1st began his first call in Northern Minnesota; he was ordained on September 17th (see picture). And in case you are wondering, yes he did indeed get down on one knee and even got prior permission from my father. Isn’t that sweet?!