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Opportunities at LSTC“Christians in the Middle East” topic forWorld Mission InstituteKeynote speaker Dr. Peter E. Makari, presents twolectures at the 2012 World Mission Institute onApril 12 -13. At 6:45 p.m. on April 12, Dr. Makariwill present “Christians in the Midst of Change inthe Middle East.” April 13 at 9:00 a.m. his topic is“Kairos—Christian witness in Palestine.” Workshopsled by LSTC’s Dr. Mark Swanson; Dr. MichelAndaros, Catholic Theological Union; and SisterLuma from Iraq follow the morning lecture.To register for the World Mission Institute, contactDr. Peter Vethanayagamony at pvethana@lstc.edu or 773-256-0749.Sacred Texts Study in AprilA Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement forPeace and Justice and the South West InterfaithTeam (SWIFT) will host the annual Sacred TextsConference on Sunday, April 15 beginning at 2:30p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church, 15101South 80th Avenue, Orland Park, Ill. Experts on eachof the Abrahamic scriptures explore “Love of God,Love of Neighbor.” The event is free, but participantsare asked of bring a non-perishable food item for thelocal food pantry. Contact Sara Trumm at strumm@lstc.edu or 773-256-0708 for more details.24th Annual Gospel Choir ConcertEnliven your spirit at the 24th annual LSTC GospelChoir Concert on Sunday, April 15 at 4 p.m. “JesusPromised” features choirs and musicians fromChicago area congregations as well as LSTC’s ownGospel Choir under the leadership of Dr. KeithHampton. A freewill offering at the concert supportsthe Grover Wright Scholarship Fund andthe Rev. Carole A. Burns Scholarship Fund. Formore information about the concert or how tosupport the scholarship funds contact PatriciaBartley at pbartley@lstc.edu or 773-256-0717, orvisit www.lstc.edu/events/music/.more information, please contact Sara Trumm atstrumm@lstc.edu or 773-256-0708.Stewardship workshops in two synodsOn Saturday, April 21, LSTC’s Tithing andStewardship Foundation partners with the NorthernIllinois Synod to present “Responding to God’sGrace.” The workshop will be held at First LutheranChurch, 324 North Street, DeKalb, Ill. From 10:00a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Register for this free workshop byemailing tithing@lstc.edu or calling 773-256-0741.LSTC’s Dr. Ray Pickett, professor of NewTestament, and Dr. Rob Saler, visiting lecturer intheology, will explore stewardship in terms of theBiblical themes of restoration and covenant renewal.A primary focus will be how Luke and the otherGospels narrate the story of Jesus as an alternativevision of life that challenges social systems and practicesthat are not life-giving.Metropolitan Chicago Synod’s stewardshipconference, “Ministry and Money,” will take placeon Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. until3:30 p.m. at LSTC, 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago.The conference will explore practical issuesregarding the relationship between faith and money.Those who attend will gain a greater knowledge ofthe nature of money, how it is best used, and howresponsible stewardship of money can be carried outin the local congregation. Cost is $30 per person(includes lunch), $25 per person (if registrationand payment is received prior to April 16). Registeronline at http://www.mcselca.org/what/stewardship/conference.phpYom HaShoah InterfaithCommemorationHyde Park neighborhood residents who experiencedthe Holocaust will give oral testimonyduring LSTC’s observance of Yom HaShoah orHolocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day onThursday, April 19 starting at 11:30 a.m. ForThe LSTC Gospel Choir2
News from LSTCLSTC restructuring to remain strongin missionOn January 3, Interim President Philip Hougen andBoard Chairperson Sarah Stegemoeller announcedthat the seminary is restructuring several departmentsand making budget cuts that will help LSTCremain financially sustainable in a rapidly changingeconomic environment. Personnel changes includeelimination of eight full- and part-time staff positionsand shifts in job responsibilities for severalother positions to deliver student services more efficiently.“LSTC will continue to be strong in its missionof forming visionary leaders,” Hougen said. “We aresix months into proactive planning, the EnvisioningProcess initiated by LSTC’s Board of Directors in2011, to find new ways to keep delivering excellenttheological education. The first goal of that processis to make sure that LSTC remains financially sustainable.These difficult, but necessary budget cutsand personnel changes bring us a step closer to thatgoal.”Hougen added that the personnel transitions willbe handled as fairly and compassionately as possible.Laid off workers will receive a severance package andfunds to assist with job searches. In a letter to theLSTC community, Hougen said, “We recognize, celebrateand honor the ways in which all of these peoplehave contributed to LSTC’s ministry and missionand lament the decisions that the current economicreality forces on the seminary.”LSTC is outsourcing Finance Office services toQuatrro FPO Solutions. Jon Klausa, is LSTC’s newchief financial officer. Carmen Rollins is serving ascontroller. Nate Ramsey was hired in late January asstaff accountant.Administration of the master of divinity andmaster of arts programs and responsibilities forCommunity Life will change July 1. Two tenuredfaculty members have volunteered to take a onesemester leave of absence in the 2012-13 academicyear. Centers at LSTC will be required to be self-sustainingbeginning July 1, 2012.As the Envisioning Process continues, the facultyis in conversation about LSTC’s curriculum andhow it could better serve the needs of congregationswhile also addressing the financial challengesfaced by students. A task force is reviewing managementand maintenance policies and practices forLSTC’s housing. Through that process, they will alsodevelop an economically feasible long-term plan forclassroom and administrative space. LSTC continuesto explore opportunities for collaboration withValparaiso University, the Covenant Cluster andother ELCA seminaries.“The kind of theological education that LSTCoffers and the type of leaders it provides the churchare so important that we must ensure that the seminaryis sustainable into the future. LSTC’s missionis God’s work that we do in this place. We trust thatGod is present in the people and in our planning,”Hougen said.Bread for the World president to preach at2012 CommencementThe Rev. Dr. David Beckmann (Christ Seminary-Seminex, 1974, M.Div.), president of Bread for theWorld, will be awarded an honorary doctorate andwill preach during LSTC 2012 commencement. Theschool’s 152nd commencement will be held Sunday,May 13, 2012, at St. Thomas the Apostle CatholicChurch, 5472 South Kimbark Avenue, Chicago, at2:30 p.m.“LSTC is honored that David Beckmann hasagreed to be the preacher for the 2012 commencementworship,” said LSTC Interim President PhilipL. Hougen. “In recognition of his tireless efforts onbehalf of poor and hungry people, LSTC’s facultyvoted, unanimously to present Dr. Beckmann withthe Doctor of Divinity, Honoris Causa, the highesthonor it can bestow.”Since 1991, David Beckmann has led Bread forthe World’s efforts to strengthen U.S. policy to overcomehunger and poverty in the United States andglobally. Bread for the World is a collective Christianvoice urging our nation’s decision makers to endhunger at home and abroad.In 2010, Beckmann received the World FoodPrize, the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for individualsand institutions working to alleviate hunger.That same year he published the book, Exodus fromHunger: We Are Called to Change the Politics of Hunger,which chronicles both progress and the work yet tobe done to overcome hunger worldwide.To learn more about David Beckmann and Breadfor the World, visit www.bread.org.3
Page 3: LSTCEPISTLEWinter 2012 • Volume 4
Page 7 and 8: Six named 2012 LSTC Distinguished A
Page 9 and 10: Sacred Soil, Living Water, Holy Air
Page 15 and 16: Giving thanks for Paul F. Cornelsen
Page 17 and 18: Middler Kwame Pitts, second from ri
Page 19 and 20: First semester provides test for ne
Page 21 and 22: FACULTY NOTESOn December 1, student
Page 23 and 24: FACULTY NOTESVítor Westhelle, prof
Page 25 and 26: CLASS NOTES1963Phil Hausknecht,(May
Page 27 and 28: TRANSITIONS (AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS)Go
Page 29: 1100 East 55th Street • Chicago,

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