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President Nieman greets the assembly at Rockefeller Chapel on October 28. He is wearing a shawl given to him by LSTC international students as a sign of honor.LSTC’s staff is talented and loyal. They knowwhat they are doing and I admire what they are ableto do with limited resources and in what have beenstressful circumstances.The board of directors is very impressive. Theyhave appropriately tried to address how to fulfill theschool’s vision in the long run.Finally, LSTC has a great location that has hugeappeal for the students. The academic resources inthe neighborhood are a huge asset. It’s urban and it’sdiverse.What strengths do you feel you bring to your roleas president of LSTC?Of course this was something the Presidential SearchCommittee asked me, so let me share some of thethings I told them.I’m a good problem-solver. Throughout my ministry,I’ve unfortunately come into some messy situations.So I’ve learned how to tease apart a problemto see where the real problem lies and then I’m ableto help find a solution.I’m good at strategizing for change over the longrun or helping people discover the strategy they canwork with.I realize that I’m in a long period of adjustment—thereare a lot of things I need to learn aboutbeing president of LSTC. There are a lot of separatecomponents now—finances, budget, admissions,curriculum, fundraising—but after enough time, Iwill begin to see how all of those things are related.What we do in one of those areas affects all the others.I think that’s another strength—seeing how theparts relate as a whole.I have an extensive background in and commitmentto theological education.As far as character is concerned—I’m a faithfulperson—both to other people and in terms of myfaith. I’m a thankful person. I’m aware of how I havereceived so many blessings and I think I give peopleways to recognize the blessings that they havereceived.Everyone at LSTC has faced a huge amount ofchallenge. One of the most important things thatneeds to happen is to re-stabilize. In my first year,it’s important for us to rebuild our trust -- in LSTCand in our future. If we can step back with somecalm, we will be able to appreciate the huge numberof resources we have. We also should acknowledgethat it’s not a loss if we have to do less.8
What do you see as the steps toward stability?The first is pragmatic. As much as possible, we needto stick to the budget/economic plan that we’ve laidout for LSTC. That way we’ll know the base fromwhich we’re building.Another way to stabilize is to say “thank you” topeople: publicly and privately to acknowledge thework that the faculty and staff do. The people herehave a huge commitment to the school. It’s importantto acknowledge that.As we move forward together, it will be importantfor us to apologize to one another when we dothings wrong—to say, “I’m sorry that I made yourwork more difficult” or “I did that wrong, I’m sorry.”I also think I need to genuinely convey to peoplethat I am a reliable and trustworthy person.At the seminary, we talk a lot about call stories,would you share your call story?It’s not big or magnificent. I admire people who arenew to the faith or have been alienated and comeback to Christianity. That’s not my story, though.I grew up Lutheran and as far back as we can traceour German ancestry the family has been part ofLutheran parishes.I was a member of an American LutheranChurch (ALC) congregation growing up. When Idecided to go to seminary there were three ALC seminaries.My uncle, a bishop’s assistant, told me that Ishould go to Wartburg Theological Seminary becausethat’s where German Lutherans of my stripe went.I didn’t receive any advance materials fromWartburg. I applied and my letter of acceptance wasan unsigned mimeographed form letter. I had neverbeen to that part of Iowa until I drove to Dubuqueto start classes.That’s just the way things were then—seminariesdidn’t “court” students, as we do now. Of course,I’m glad that’s changed. We should interact morewith folk discerning their calls and let them knowwhy the church needs them.You served a parish in Alaska for four years, couldyou tell me about that experience?That was my second call and JoAnn’s first. Weweren’t entirely sure about going to Alaska, butthat’s where the bishop sent us.I was in an urban parish working with theIñupiaq people. It was such an important time—it focused me on cross-cultural congregationallife. I was also head of a social service agency inAnchorage. It’s a young state. When we were there,the governor was 34 years old. If you were a youngperson coming there, you were immediately given alot of responsibilities.JoAnn and I were heavily involved in ecumenicalactivities, youth activities, and we helped planthe new synod’s first assembly. Our time in Alaskatransformed my life and what I later chose to studyin my doctoral research.You taught homiletics and then practical theology.Can you tell me about practical theology?Ordinarily people think about theology - like systematictheology - as a body of written materialfocused on a particular idea or concept. The materialis a result of theological reflection on what are classicproblems of the faith. This kind of reflection isreally a secondary enterprise—a stepping back fromlife. It’s good and necessary.Practical theology is a primary activity. It focuseson what happens in disciples’ lives. How do we liveour beliefs in our actions, in our bodies, in groups?It looks at what a congregation is saying theologicallyby the way it organizes its budgets, in the hymnsit sings in worship, in the way it fights and resolvesits conflicts.Practical theology, in terms of seminary curricula,typically has been a compressed way of referringto teaching skills to pastors. But that’s a small partof what practical theology is—those are only thepractices of the leaders, and only part of the picture.I’m interested in how the leaders encourage eachdisciple to live out his or her faith.I don’t think we have any definite idea wherethe world is going or what the church is going tolook like in 20 years. Sure, we can chart the demographicsand trend lines, but what does that mean?Who knows?What we can do—and there is an identifiablebody of practical wisdom that we can use—is tostrengthen people in their own faith lives. It’s moreabout the character of our leaders and foundationsthey need to build.To hear more about Ministerial Wisdom, view President’Nieman’s inaugural lecture on LSTC’s YouTube channelVideosfromLSTC, http://www.youtube.com/user/VideosfromLSTC/feed?feature=context-cha.9
Page 2 and 3: PRESIDENT’S LETTERDear friends in
Page 4 and 5: Opportunities at LSTCNew work by Da
Page 6 and 7: News from LSTCAlbert H. Keck Jr., L
Page 8 and 9: Companions on the journeyAn intervi
Page 12 and 13: We are the Lord’sLSTC remembers N
Page 14 and 15: LSTC Gospel Choir celebrates 25 yea
Page 17 and 18: 1974University of Chicago permits
Page 19 and 20: www.lstc.edu/voices/videos/2012-10-
Page 21 and 22: Munderloh FoundationThe Munderloh F
Page 23 and 24: Ayse Arslan and Tanveer Azmat recei
Page 25 and 26: Fresh Faces at LSTCBy Rachel Wind,
Page 27 and 28: Partnership with Hispanic Theologic
Page 29 and 30: FACULTY NOTESSatterlee presented
Page 31 and 32: Other recent facultypublicationsRay
Page 33 and 34: CLASS NOTESSolvakia. Bishop MilanKr
Page 35 and 36: Clockwise from upper left: Dr. Vito

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