current Catalog - Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

CENTERSthe national ecumenical Hispanic Summer Program (1980-present) and housingits office at LSTC (2001-present), and collaborating with Wartburg TheologicalSeminary in the Latino/a track of the program of Theological Education forEmerging Ministries (TEEM) with offices at the Lutheran Seminary Program of theSouthwest (LSPS) in Austin, Texas.The work of the center began in 2006 when LSTC received a three-year grantfrom the ELCA to create a multicultural center. It was to recruit and preparecandidates from under-represented racial and ethnic cultures in the ELCA forrostered leadership in the church.This partnership emerged from a long andproductive relationship between LSTC and the ELCA (as well as its predecessorbodies) in preparing visionary leaders from these constituencies.In 2011 the LSTC Board of Directors approved changing the center’s nameto the Albert “Pete” Pero Jr. Multicultural Center to honor the multiculturalcontributions and legacy of the Rev. Dr. “Pete” Pero, professor emeritus ofsystematic theology.An important initiative of the Pero Multicultural Center is to provide academicemphases that enrich the program of studies for LSTC students interested inspecific cultural ministries. In 2009, the LSTC faculty approved a Hispanic/Latino/a ministry emphasis as part of its M.Div., M.A.T.S. and M.A.M. degreecurricula. In May 2010, the faculty approved comparable emphases for theAfrican Descent and Asian American communities; in December 2011, the facultyapproved an American Indian and Alaskan Native emphasis. Upon successfulcompletion of the requirements, the student who has focused on a particularemphasis will receive a special certificate during commencement.The Pero Multicultural Center develops programs, events, and activities toenrich the curriculum of LSTC’s degree programs and to provide lifelong learningopportunities for lay persons. It works with the Field Education Office, churchwideagencies, synods, cluster Lutheran and ecumenical seminaries, congregations, andcommunity organizations to identify multicultural human resources, congregations,immersion experiences and opportunities for internship, ministry in context, andother possibilities for multicultural theological and ministerial formation.Zygon Center for Religion and Science (ZCRS)The Zygon Center for Religion and Science (ZCRS) is dedicated to relating religioustraditions and scientific knowledge in order to gain insight into the origins, nature,and destiny of humans and their environment, and to realize the common goal ofa world in which love, justice, and responsible patterns of living prevail. Seeking toharness religion and science together in this shared purpose, ZCRS takes its distinctivename from the Greek word for “yoking” or “joining.” Established in 1988, ZCRS isa partnership of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) and the Centerfor Advanced Study in Religion and Science (CASIRAS). ZCRS is a leading center inthe field and the only such center directly associated with a Lutheran seminary. Thecenter shares its offices with Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, the oldest peerreviewedacademic journal in the field.80