Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), Oct. 28-30

As I think about my travels, now that I have gotten a year under my belt in this position, what last year were first time meetings and visits of people and places have now become annual reunions. A prime example is this year’s visit to PLU with my colleagues. Not only was I reunited with the campus and surroundings, but more importantly I was reunited with the people. At PLU that's campus pastors Nancy Connor and Dennis Sepper. (See photo with my colleagues Greg Schaefer from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and Heather McClintock from Wartburg Seminary & of course the dog Rudy who was a lobster for Halloween this year.)

Gosh it was great to see them again and catch up on all that has taken place at the school and in their lives since last year’s visit. They are remarkable people and truly exemplify what it means to be really, really good campus pastors — they care for the spiritual and personal needs of the young adults at PLU and you can tell they truly enjoy doing it. They are a great testimony to a vocation in ministry available to prospective students.

And speaking of prospective students, we were able to meet with a number of them in a variety of venues while on campus. We spoke to students following each of the three Reformation worship services we attended on campus throughout the weekend. We also gathered for lunch with a number of students.

One thing I noted was that many students I met at PLU are taking advantage of opportunities for travel abroad. These aren’t vacations; they visit other countries to learn and immerse themselves in another culture. They go with great anticipation and return changed. The world has all of the sudden gotten really big and complex. Luther Seminary requires a cross-cultural experience as part of the curriculum (for most of the degrees), So if you didn’t get such a chance in college, you will probably get one in seminary.

Luther College, Oct. 26

On my recent trip to Luther College (one of 28 ELCA colleges) in Decorah, IA, the question was asked of a group of staff and faculty, "what makes Luther College unique?" And one of the responses was that they are a "welcoming and hospitable community." And it's true. You may be thinking that many groups say that about themselves, but in reality the only people they are welcoming and hospitable to are themselves. Not so at Luther College! I am often a stranger at many places I travel and I can say with certainty that this has been true for Luther College every time I have come on campus, and it is something which the institution should be proud of, indeed. My thanks especially to the campus ministry and vocational formation staff for embodying this quality.

I did not travel alone to Luther College. At 6 AM Luther Seminary President Rick Bliese, Philanthropic Adviser Tom Jolivette and I piled into a car and headed out for what would be President Bliese's first visit to Luther College. Once on campus it was a full day of touring the town, worship in chapel, lunch with religion faculty and other staff, visits with campus ministry and vocational formation staff, supper with campus ministry staff and spouses, and informal and formal meetings with prospective students.

One of my favorite parts of the day was meeting with prospective students (because that is what I do), especially the Diakonos group. Diakonos in the Greek means "one who serves." This group gathers students who are discerning a vocation of service in ministry; many of the students would consider themselves pre-seminary (see photo).



President Bliese shared his faith journey with the students and they had a chance to respond and ask questions. One interesting tidbit I learned was that President Bliese had once been on track to becoming a professional baseball player in his journey from high school to college, but a knee injury set him on a different path. President Bliese's faith journey included many such re-routings — a path ended here but another opened there. He talked much about allowing oneself to be vulnerable during those times of re-routing and seeing where the Spirit might lead next. And hearing his story, it has been a grand and exciting journey indeed. The best part of listening to his faith journey was looking around the room and wondering what God will have in store for those students. The road is wide open.

President Bliese, Tom and I returned back to Luther Seminary's campus late that night, but feeling good about an enjoyable day spent on the campus of Luther College.

View from Vining, 10-18-06

I was recently given a new title as an employee of Luther Seminary: "deployed staff;" which means that I do most of my work from home. As my blog testifies, I do continue to travel, meeting with prospective students where they are, and am on the campus of the Seminary at least four times a month, but the rest of my work I do from my desk in the family room of my own home.

My husband, whom I married in April of 2006, is pastor of a four point parish (four churches sharing one pastor) in Vining, Minnesota. Vining is located in north central Minnesota (between Fergus Falls and Alexandria for those of you familiar with MN geography), approximately 3 hours from the Seminary. Population 68.

Yes, it is the smallest town my husband and I have ever lived in, but as the saying goes, "size isn't everything." In the short time we have lived here we have enjoyed getting to know our neighbors, congregational members, the rhythm of the town and the general area.

So when I am not bringing you news of my travels or happenings on the campus, I will bring you the "View from Vining." For example, the Bookmobile stopped in town today. Our town does not have a public library, as a number of the small towns in the area do not, so this provides us access to most of the features a public library would have. It stops, I believe, every two weeks for a half-hour in front of the post office. Reading is one of my hobbies, so I appreciate having this service available to me.

St. Olaf with the President

On October 10th Luther Seminary President Rick Bliese and I visited St. Olaf College (one of the 28 colleges of the ELCA) in Northfield, MN. The history shared between St. Olaf and Luther Seminary goes back since the beginnings of both institutions. Not only has there been a steady stream of students from St. Olaf to Luther over the years (my father being one), but a few professors as well, especially in the area of missions. President Bliese and I went to celebrate and strengthen this partnership.

We arrived on campus a little early so decided to take a walk around the campus. St. Olaf sits "ooup on a hill" with buildings made of beautiful stone and trees galore. On a fall day the view of campus and beyond is gorgeous; it was a great way to begin our visit—UM YA YA!

The rest of our visit was filled with conversations with a variety of groups in which we shared information about Luther Seminary. We met with the President of the college, David R. Anderson, with students and with faculty. Each conversation was a lively discussion of answering questions and giving a fresh view of a dynamic seminary. President Bliese also had a chance to preach in chapel.

It always feels good to reconnect with old friendships and when we left St. Olaf that is what it felt like. It is the seminary's desire to do more of this reconnecting with other ELCA colleges in the year ahead.

One striking new addition to the St. Olaf campus was a wind turbine. When you first see it you can't help but wonder, "what in the world were they thinking?" But in this day and age of exploring alternative energy sources, what better place to educate future minds of the possibilities than a college campus. This wind turbine (see photo) generates 1/3 of the energy for the campus; it was a gift from Xcel energy. Now that's what I call good stewardship!

Southwest Minnesota Synod Fall Theological Conference, Oct. 1-4

Just returned from a few days at a conference with peers and it was nice. Prior to my call to Luther Seminary to work in the Admissions office, I was a parish pastor at Granite Falls Lutheran Church, Granite Falls, Minnesota, part of the Southwest Minnesota Synod of the ELCA. All pastors need to be rostered, (i.e. "on the books") with some synod in the ELCA, and most often it is in the synod in which you serve. Well when I came to work at Luther, I could be rostered anywhere I chose, and I chose to stay with Southwest Minnesota, primary because it was familiar. After eight years of serving in this synod I knew the bishop, synod staff and most of the pastors, and they knew me. When everything else around me was strange — new job, new co-workers, new location, new home - it was nice to keep something familiar.

Each year the bishop, synod staff, pastors and other church professionals rostered in Southwest Synod gather for theological study, worship and fellowship in the fall. This year the gathering was in Mankato, Minnesota. As usual the speakers challenged us, the worship lifted us up and the fellowship reunited us.

Pictured in the photo are some of my good friends and peers. (They preferred to remain anonymous — I am not sure they want to claim association with me.) They are all pastors in Southwest Synod. We went out on the town one night and enjoyed a delightful meal and conversation at an Ethiopian restaurant called the Nile.

Spokane, Washington - Sept. 28-30

In Spokane I attended the Region 1 (which includes the synods of Alaska, NW and SW Washington, E Washington & Idaho and Montana) Regional Youth Council meeting. This meeting brings together LYO (Lutheran Youth Organization) youth leaders and adult advisors from the region to communicate what is happening within their synods, to learn what is happening at the church-wide level and to develop and support programs within the region for high school youth. I was impressed with the youth at this meeting. They hold leadership positions in their synod and at church-wide level. One young lady serves as a youth representative to the council of Bishops in this region and another young lady chaired the entire meeting and did an excellent job.

I met with a few of these individuals (see photo) to discuss the possibility of Luther Seminary and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, CA partnering with them to host events for high school youth in their region around the topics of discernment, vocation and professional ministry. We had a very productive discussion and I am thankful and excited about the possibilities.

I also was among the members of St. Luke’'s Lutheran Church in Spokane for Sunday morning worship and had opportunity to meet with some of the high school youth (see photo which includes their youth director Jerry) to talk about vocation and the variety of options available in professional ministry. One thing that really impressed me about this congregation was the value they place on the youth in their congregation. For example, a newly completed building project includes the most awesome youth room I have ever seen. It is lofted above the gymnasium and looks like the type of family room you would find in an elegant home. Thanks for providing such a space for your youth St. Luke’'s.