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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