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!