life together spring 2012

LifeTogether | Spring 2012 1

North Dakota Pastors Minister in Challeng-ing Times PAGE 4

Congregations are Partners in Preparing Leaders – Sending, Supporting, Teaching PAGE 6

WTS Alum Notes PAGE 9

wa r T b u r g T h e o lo g i c a l S e m i n a ry | SPRING 2012

2 LifeTogether | Spring 2012

“You’ll be talking to people who care about the future of Christ’s church.” That was the response from one of my mentors, an experienced seminary president, when I asked about fund raising before I became Wartburg’s president. I’m confident you readers care about the church, and I’m glad to talk with you about it.

Many factors will shape the church’s future—including broad engagement with the gospel of Jesus Christ, deep knowledge of Scripture and the Confessions, attentiveness to God’s world, effective communication, ample resources, and faithful servant leadership.

MissionSeminaries serve in all these inter-related arenas by focusing on the last—the forming of faithful servant leaders for the future of Christ’s church. Wartburg educates women and men to serve the church’s mission as ordained and lay leaders. This mission is to proclaim and interpret the gospel of Jesus Christ to a world created for communion with God and in need of personal and social healing.*

Formative education for leadership happens primarily in Christian families and congregations. As a complement to those, Christ’s church has always formed leaders by gathering people for concentrated learning. That gathering is reflected in Wartburg’s intent to be a worship-centered community of critical theological reflection where learning leads to mission and mission informs learning.*

The Economics of Seminary EducationEducation in community is marvelously effective. It is also expensive. We need classrooms, libraries, residence facilities, information technology, skilled instruction, and supportive infrastructure to do formation in community.

Costs have been covered in different ways over the decades. Always the church has expected sacrifice and financial contribution from the students themselves—not only net tuition and fees that are part of the seminary budget but also personal rent and other living costs. Today the student share is larger. Decades ago, nearly all institutional costs were covered by the regional and/or national church. Now those grants supply 15% of our budget. Gifts from individuals and congregations have always been important, but now they are the largest element of the seminary budget – 37% at Wartburg this year.

Wartburg offers an excellent, much appreciated education and holds costs down through frugality, mentoring, and options. We exercise careful stewardship in all areas, including sustaining a lean staff and faculty. We look for collaborations that are mutually beneficial. We finished our fiscal year with more than a quarter million dollar positive balance! By modeling and instruction, Wartburg shapes graduates who understand Christian stewardship and who learn to practice care with finances in their student years and beyond.

Four Gifts You Can GiveYou care about the future of the church and know the importance of faithful servant leaders. I believe

From the PresidentThe Future of Christ’s Church, Wartburg Seminary, and Financial Gifts


LifeTogether

Spring 2012, Vol. 17 No.1wartburg Theological Seminary

333 wartburg PlacePo box 5004

Dubuque, ia 52004-5004

Phone: 563-589-0200FaX: 563-589-0229

www.wartburgseminary.edu

PRESIDENT: The Rev. Stanley N. Olson, PhD

EDITOR: Janelle Koepke, Director for Mission Support and Communication

MANAGING EDITOR: Jill Kruse, Communication Specialist

DESIGN: Amy Speed, Indigo Design Company

PHOTOGRAPHY: The Rev. Shane Koepke (WTS ‘07)

Life Together is a publication of wartburg Theological Seminary for our alumni and friends. Permission is granted for additional use in congregations. Founded in 1854 and located in Dubuque, iowa since 1889, wartburg Theological Seminary is one of eight seminaries of the evangelical lutheran church in america.

MISSION STATEMENT

wartburg Theological Seminary serves the mission of the evangelical lutheran church in america by being a worship-centered community of critical

theological reflection where learning leads to mission and mission informs learning. within this community, wartburg educates women and men to serve the church’s mission as ordained and lay leaders. This mission is to proclaim and interpret the gospel of Jesus christ to a world created for communion with god and in need of personal and social healing.

Gifts from individuals and

congregations have always

been important, but now they

are the largest element of

the seminary budget – 37% at

Wartburg this year.


you share my conviction that Wartburg Seminary has a vital role to play in forming future leaders. Nancy and I have found four ways to back that conviction with financial support—annual giving, special gifts, planned giving, and talking with others. (See the box below) Will you join us?

Stanley N. OlsonPreSiDenT,

warTburg Theological Seminary

* From the Wartburg Theological Seminary Mission Statement

contents | SPRING 2012

2 President’s Message

4 North Dakota Pastors Minister in Challenging Times

6 Congregations are Partners in Preparing Leaders

8 WTS Alum Serves Church at 100

9 Alum Notes

11 WTS Helps Plan 2012 Youth Gathering

12 A Citizen of the World

13 Faculty and Staff Updates

14 Hay Lift “Blessing” in Texas

15 Bill Link Celebrates 25 Years at WTS

A N N uA L G I V I N G (the wartburg Seminary Fund) – the budget needs $1.45 million in general purpose gifts this fiscal year (by the end of June, 2012), and a little more next year. These dollars pay normal costs. They are foundational. They keep the educational engines running. can you commit $100 a year, or $1,000 a year? have you been blessed in a way that allows you to commit $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, or more?

D E S I G N AT E D G I V I N G – These are given for particular purposes, such as technology improve-ment, accelerated debt retirement, or endow-ment. Donors often draw on assets.

P L A N N E D G I V I N G – wills, trusts, annuities and other arrangements allow most of us to make the largest charitable gifts we’ll ever give. wartburg’s mission continues to benefit from those who have made these commitments in the past. Those of us who make them now are serving god’s future.

TA L k TO OT H E R S – This is the fourth gift we can all give. we know others who care about the future of the church and who might be intrigued to know about wartburg Seminary’s role in that future. Please help them learn the story by telling it yourself and/or connecting us with them.

For more information

about providing for

the future of Wartburg

Seminary, please

contact:

Len Hoffmann,

Vice President for

Mission Support,

at 563-589-0322

or lhoffmann@

wartburgseminary.edu

Leaveat Wartburg Theological Seminary

By including Wartburg in your will today, the impact of your gift will live on through generations of students answering God’s call to ministry.

a Legacy


Wartburg Theological Seminary (WTS) doesn’t offer a course in how to minister to people when their living rooms fill up with water. Nor is there a short course for clergy whose communities are suddenly invaded with too many newcomers.

Two recent WTS grads have learned to adapt in such circumstances, and to do it with grace. In Minot, North Dakota, Pastor Michon Weingartner (WTS ’09) saw the Mouse River overwhelm her church building, her own residence, and the homes of over 40% of her parishioners. Further west, in Tioga, North Dakota, Pastor Sandy Anderson (WTS ’06) watched as a different kind of flood — job seekers hungry for high wages but not for necessarily spiritual nourishment — filled up her small town.

How did these two pastors deal with such unsettling circumstances?

For Weingartner, there was nothing to do but rally the troops, roll up sleeves, and staff the barricades. “The Mouse River crested in Minot on June 25 of last year,” she remembers. “My parish, Augustana Lutheran, is a block and a half from the river. We diked the building, but the water still came in.” The main floor of the worship center had standing water.

North Dakota Pastors Minister in Challenging Times

Weingartner’s 250 parishioners may have been lulled a bit by complacency. There had been a 1969 flood that everyone remembered having been of classic proportions. Could this one be any worse? Tragically, it was.

Over half the membership at Augustana are retired. “Most of them live in the flood plain. It’s hard, deciding what to do when you’re older, and then something like this hits you.”

Making things worse, local insurance companies told residents they wouldn’t need flood insurance after the previous flood. So Augustana congregation didn’t have any, nor did most of its members in the floodplain.

The ELCA’s Western North Dakota Synod responded quickly. A “Flood of Love” campaign was organized. So far $300,000 has been raised, synod-wide, and more is coming. Augustana and other flood-damaged congregations will benefit.

Help also came from volunteers. “Some drove up to three hours to get to Minot to help us,” Weingartner says. “And our members who didn’t suffer from the flood were quick to help those who did.”

“There is a strong sense of hope here,” she says. “There’s the grief of loss. And for some who live higher up, there’s ‘survivor guilt’ in some cases.”

Will members stick it out? “We’ll probably lose some who simply feel the need to move somewhere else. But we’re forward looking, trusting, hoping. We’re not complaining.”

AMTRAK passenger trains stop in Minot twice a day. Further west, toward the Montana border, in Tioga, the trains slow down but don’t stop. For Pastor Sandy Anderson, who serves a twin parish (First Lutheran in town, Trinity in the country), nothing seems to move slowly these days. Since 2005, when “the oil stuff ” started, things have gotten hectic — some long-time residents would say downright crazy.

“A few years ago Tioga was population 1,200. Now, suddenly, it’s twice that size,” says Anderson. “When oil was discovered in western North Dakota, the

A Flood of Water, A Flood of Oil

“There is a strong sense of

hope here...there’s the

grief of loss. And for

some who live higher up, there’s

‘survivor guilt’ in

some cases.”

ABOVE Pastor Michon Weingartner and parishoners take a break while cleaning at their

church after the flood.

by michael l. Sherer (wTS ’67) [email protected]

PaSTor michon weingarTner

(wTS ‘09)


companies started drilling and the workers started coming, in huge numbers. You can make $100,000 a year working for one of the oil companies out here.”

That’s created a boom in land prices, the cost of groceries, and, unfortunately, crime. Many old-time residents on fixed incomes can no longer afford to pay their rent. They have to move. And the influx is straining the infrastructure. “Sewage systems, water, electric, are all now inadequate. What used to be a quiet two-lane highway is now clogged with traffic. Our schools are running out of space. Some of our businesses can’t keep employees because they all want to make more money working in the oil fields. We’ve actually had restaurants close because they can’t find help.”

Anderson describes the new reality in temporary housing. “Outside of town you find ‘man-camps,’ modular housing where 4,000 (almost all male) workers live. That’s more people than live in Tioga, even with our population increase.”

Members of Anderson’s congregations are bewildered. Some are angry. Said one, “I used to know everybody here. Now I don’t know anybody.” The locals, which describes virtually all of her members, complain about having to wait long lines for service where a visit to a shop used to be sedate. Says Anderson, “Shopping in a local grocery store is just insane.”

The newcomers don’t pay local taxes. Those who do may think that the high-wage “invaders” are getting a free ride at their expense.

Locals in Tioga, and in dozens of other communities across the western part of the state, are having to learn to adjust. Some aren’t liking it. “For church folk, people are grieving for the old ways,” says Anderson. “They used to enjoy pristine horizons out here. No longer. Now they see tanks and pumps. There’s more noise now. People are feeling a lot of sadness, anger and fear.”

There’s also resentment, in ways one might not have expected. A good Lutheran farmer may be offered a lucrative royalty for mineral rights on his property, and suddenly find himself awash in cash. His neighbor isn’t so fortunate. But the lucky one isn’t

ABOVE

Pastor Sandy

Anderson enjoys the

company of a child

in the “Mothers and

Others” program.

necessarily going to share his sudden wealth with his long-time acquaintances, even if he happens to share a pew with them on Sunday morning.

There’s a lot of negative energy flowing. But a pastor can’t help but ask the logical question: Is this a ministry opportunity?

Anderson says, “Newcomers mostly don’t come to worship at our congregations. Some do. A majority are from southern states. If they want a church, it will more likely be Baptist or Assemblies of God. Tioga has one of each.”

But members of Anderson’s twin parish are resilient. They continue to discuss ways to reach out. One creative program has already taken shape. “We have this absolutely amazing member, Linda Schmidt. She conceived the idea of an on-site ministry called ‘Mothers and Others.’ She realized women and children, brought up here because their husbands came for the oil jobs, are lonely and have no friends. So she recruited a lot of willing members in our congregation — to provide financial support and manual labor. We remodeled the lower level of our church building. These women and their kids come twice a week in the morning. The kids get a playtime. The moms get to meet and talk with one another, and with me. These newcomers are incredibly grateful to the congregation for providing this, and they tell us that, over and over.”

There’s also a need to minister to the long-time members. “People are hurting,” Anderson says. “You need to be gentle with those in grief. It takes a lot of ministry — but it’s good ministry. It’s what we’re called to do.”

The new reality in western North Dakota has opened many new opportunities for ministry, Anderson says. “We are thinking more than we ever did about ‘loving the stranger.’ We used to love people we know, because those were the only people who were here. Suddenly we’re right in the middle of a whole new mission field.”

“ We are thinking more than we ever did about ‘loving the stranger.’ We used to love people we know, because those were the only people who were here. Suddenly we’re right in the middle of a whole new mission field.”

Sherer is editor emeritus of Metro Lutheran Newspaper, a Twin Cities monthly independent pan-Lutheran publica-tion. A 1967 graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary, he is retired and living in Waverly, Iowa.

PaSTor SanDy anDerSon (wTS ‘06)


“When I wasn’t even thinking about seminary, people started telling me that I should be a pastor. It seemed as if I was the last to know,” said WTS senior Master of Divinity student, Cole Bentley when sharing about his discernment process and the role of others in helping to identify his gifts for ministry. Many students name the importance of congregations in various aspects of their theological education. Wartburg Seminary values the many ways congregations are partners. After all, students are sent by congregations, the seminary and students are supported by congregations in a variety of ways, students learn in the context of a congregation on internship, and finally students are sent out to be leaders for the church in congregations and other ministries.

SendingRev. Sarah Moening (WTS ‘00), Interim Associate Pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran, Greeley, CO believes that lifting up leaders with gifts for ministry is important for congregations and pastors. She sees her role as an encourager. “I see it as part of my call to be a witness to the Gospel, to raise up others who are gifted and have a passion for ministry. It isn’t about me and my call but teaching and offering others opportunities to recognize their own gifts.”

In the 12 years since she graduated Moening and her congregations have “sent” four people to seminary. Two are current students at Wartburg Seminary. She said, “It’s because of my own passion for ministry that I encourage others. I couldn’t not do this and that passion shows through and engages people. Often people have it [a call to ministry] in their heart but don’t give themselves permission to think about it seriously. I help them see that many of the hurdles they are placing in front of themselves can be overcome.”

The role of the congregation is important, stressed Moening, as she described the ways the congregation has supported a current student at WTS as well as a high school student who is considering a call to ministry. She said, “Our congregation gets so excited about someone attending seminary. We do a sending service to recognize this transition and name publicly the role of the congregation in sending this person to seminary as a future leader.”

The congregation also has the opportunity to be supportive financially. In addition to contributing to the educational costs for their current students, Our Savior’s is encouraging the gifts for ministry in a young person as well. Last summer a high school youth, who has expressed interest in ministry, attended the Wartburg Youth Leadership School and the congregation’s benevolence committee ensured that this opportunity was possible for him.

Moening emphasizes, “Congregations can do so much to support someone in their journey.”

Congregations are Partners in Preparing Leaders – Sending, Supporting, and Teaching

“ I see it as part of my call to be a witness to the Gospel, to raise up others who are gifted and have a passion for ministry. It isn’t about me and my call but teaching and offering others opportunities to recognize their own gifts.

reV. Sarah moening (wTS ‘00)

”


SupportingSenior Master of Divinity student Jenn Collins almost didn’t come to seminary because of financial concerns. She said, “I prayed to God that there be a way where there seemed to be no way.” One day her pastor shared with her that someone from her congregation wanted to support her financially. Collins said, “It was great when the circumstances were changed so that I could be here. I’m here living into what God is calling me to do and there’s so much joy in that. When thinking about supporting students and the seminary, I would encourage others to see it as being an agent for God’s mission and ministry in the world – I wouldn’t be here without that.”

Many other congregations provide general support to the seminary through their financial gifts. Rev. Tim Koester (WTS ’09) serves at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bloomfield, NE. He said, “Not too long ago St. Mark’s received an estate gift. As the council considered how to best use this bequest, they first agreed to tithe a portion of it. When considering where to give, theological education was raised as an option because they value knowing that leaders are being prepared for service to the church. They understand that theological education is important for the future of the church.”

TeachingFor Master of Divinity students, the third year of seminary consists of an internship where the student spends a year learning in a congregational context. Rev. Michael Short is Senior Pastor at First English Lutheran Church in Platteville, WI and he is an internship supervisor for a current WTS student. “For some of our members being an internship congregation is a reminder we are a part of a larger church. For others they enjoy the opportunity to be that ‘teaching’ congregation, a

place where a young intern can come, learn, make mistakes and pick themselves up and grow from the experience,” said Rev. Short.

First English has served as an internship congregation for the last four years. Abigail Letsinger is the current Intern at First English Lutheran Church, Platteville, WI. In her seventh month of internship she commented, “I have experienced a variety of situations and ministerial opportunities that will continue to present themselves throughout my career. I have been able to learn how the role of pastor traditionally functions, but also allowed to try new things.”

“First English is open to trying new and different things. The two characteristics that I appreciate not only for the interns, but for myself is how they care for their pastor and interns. They welcome us into their homes, they are genuinely concerned for us as a person and our families. Secondly, they are forgiving, allowing us to make mistakes, to try different things and laugh with us if they don’t work out as planned,” said Rev. Short.

Short reflects on his own internship experience, “I had a great time on my internship as I was able to explore all aspects of ministry as I continued to discern if the ‘collar’ fit. I am thankful that the people of First English allow our interns to do the same. To work with me in every aspect of ministry, to try different styles of preaching and teaching as they discern if the ‘collar fits’ and where God is calling them to serve.”

Congregational partnerships are a valued part of the student experience. And, congregations play a critical role in Wartburg Seminary’s mission of forming valued leaders for God’s work in the world. These vibrant partnering congregations further the Gospel of Christ through their sending, supporting, and teaching.

“ When thinking about supporting students and the seminary, I would encourage others to see it as being an agent for God’s mission and ministry in the world – I wouldn’t be here without that. ” mDiV Senior Jenn collinS

MDiv Senior Jenn CollinsRev. Michael Short

“ For some of our members being an internship congregation is a reminder we are a part of a larger church. For others they enjoy the opportunity to be that ‘teaching’ congregation, a place where a young intern can come, learn, make mistakes and pick themselves up and grow from the experience.”

warTburg Seminary TOOLkIT

The wTS Toolkit is a resource for individuals and

congregations to use in conversation about

vocation and for sharing information

and stories about wartburg Theological Seminary. Visit www.wartburgseminary.edu/toolkit to find resources that will

assist you in being a wartburg sender.

reV. michael ShorT


“It was a marvelous experience,” recalls Rev. Reinhard Beckman, when asked how it felt to preach the day before his 100th birthday; “The church was packed; it was just a very wonderful experience.” Beckman turned 100 years old on January 23, 2012. The day before this milestone birthday, he gave the sermon at the Sunday service at Luther Memorial Church in Syracuse, Nebraska.

A century earlier, Reinhard Beckman was born in Phillipsburg, Kansas. His family moved to a farm in southeastern Nebraska a few years after his birth. He went to country school for his primary education and graduated from Sterling High School. Rev. Beckman knew from an early age that he wanted to be a pastor, so he went on to Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa to study two years of pre-theological courses and spent the next three years (there was no internship program at that time) at Wartburg Theological Seminary (WTS). He graduated from WTS with a Master of Divinity degree in 1935. Rev. Beckman feels that WTS prepared him well for ministry. He was ordained on July 7, 1935 and began serving at St. Luke’s Lutheran in Otoe, Nebraska.

Rev. Beckman has spent his life serving God’s people, and through the decades, has been the pastor at five congregations, and the interim pastor at sixteen more. He has been the chaplain of a nursing home, a chaplain at Boys Town in Nebraska, and worked in public relations for the Oaks Indian Mission in Oklahoma. Even now, at age 100, Rev. Beckman continues to serve the church. When the chaplain at the nursing home

he lives in is unable to be there, Rev. Beckman will lead the weekly worship service, and he also still leads monthly devotionals there too. He continues to be involved with the fellowship group for retired pastors that he began in the 1970’s called the “Amazing Grays.”

Rev. Beckman and his wife Darline, now deceased, had three sons together: Ron (WTS ’64), Jim (WTS ’73), and Don. Two of these sons were influenced by their father’s ministry and went on to become pastors themselves. Even today, Rev. Beckman continues to influence others considering ministry. He is mentoring a potential WTS TEEM student as she navigates her way through the formation process. He reviews her papers and sermons and gives her feedback and is coaching her on how to memorize sermons.

And memorizing sermons is something that Rev. Beckman knows a lot about. As he likes to share, “I have never read a sermon in my life.” He would always write them out, memorize them, and then preach them without any notes. He adds, “I felt more ‘free speaking’ without having to rely on the notes.” Rev. Beckman did not use any notes when he returned to Luther Memorial in Syracuse and gave his sermon the day before his 100th birthday either. He did not need notes, because Rev. Beckman spoke from the heart as he gave thanks for the many blessings God has given him. And it was obvious to all in that congregation, that in his 100 years of life, Rev. Beckman has indeed been a blessing to the church.

WTS Alum Serving the Church at 100!

Rev. Reinhard Beckman

turned 100 years old on January 23,

2012. The day before this milestone

birthday, he gave the

sermon at the Sunday service

at Luther Memorial Church in Syracuse,

Nebraska.

Support Wartburg Shop amazon.com!

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homepage at www.

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E X P L O R E Y O U R C A L L

w w w. w a r t b u r g s e m i n a r y. e d u


’35Rev. Reinhard Beckman, an ordained lutheran pastor of Syracuse, ne, celebrated his 100th birthday on January 23, 2012.

’37Rev. Julius Holm died october 12, 2011. he served Trinity, blanco, TX; Zion, muscatine, ia; hope, Dodge city, KS; St. Peter, Doss, TX; christ, cherry Springs, TX; Zion, moulton, TX. he also chaired the annual summer pastors’ theological retreats at buchanan lake for 10 years.

’43Ms. Dorothy Cornils, wife of deceased rev. eJ cornils died august 13, 2011.

’45Rev. Bertrand Petrick died may 19, 2010. he was a pastor at churches in howell, mi; belgrade, elkton, and Jackson, mn; and readlyn, ia. he served in various ways at bible camp, as advisor for the alc lutheran brotherhood of the former Southwest minnesota District, and with the christian crusader’s radio Program in waterloo, ia.

’46Mrs. Eleanor Sandrock, wife of alum Dr. hans (Sandy) Sandrock died September 30, 2011

’49Rev. Norman Orth died September 28, 2011. he served Faith, coquille, or; Prince of Peace, Seattle, wa; served parishes in chicago, il; Toledo, oh; and richmond beach and Sammamish hills.

’51Rev. Henry Flathmann died november 18, 2011. he served Sweetwater and winters, Shreveport, la; St. Paul and Pasadena.

Rev. Martin Obst died February 10, 2011. he served churches in north Dakota and South Dakota, as well as at beeville, round Top, and boerne, TX. he also served in leadership positions with the Kendall county republican

committee, was President of the boerne chamber of commerce, was a member of the Kendall county historical committee, berges Fest corp board, and received the citizenship award from the boerne lions club. later he served Salem, austin, TX.

’52Rev. Leslie Huebner died September 6, 2011.

Rev. Dwain Olson died December 15, 2010. he served churches in omaha, middleton and waukesha. he was the founding chaplain for the waukesha county Sherriff’s Dept, chaplain for the waukesha Police Dept, and founded the chaplaincy program at waukesha memorial hosptial.

Rev. Marvin Ottmers died January 21, 2012. he served for 58 years at a triple parish of cat Spring, Peters, and wallis; the dual parish of caldwell and Deanville; the single parishes of cransfil gap, wharton, and cave creek; and finally as visitation pastor at holy ghost, Fredericksburg, TX.

’53Rev. Rialto Roesler died February 7, 2012. he served christ, mott, nD; also served churches in carrington, nD; hosmer and colman.

Rev. Robert Weinman died July 12, 2011. he served lake chelan and Tacoma both in wa; Portland and aurora in or; and as chaplain at the hearthstone retirement home in Seattle, wa.

’54Rev. James D. Anderson died December 10, 2011. he served as uS army chaplain at Ft. riley, KS and bamberg, germany; for 20 years as uS army chaplain in the army reserves; at grace, belgrade, mn; First, new richmond, wi; christ english, minneapolis, mn; and at First, colorado Springs, co.

’55Rev. Roy C. Timaeus died april 7, 2011. he served at St. luke’s, new orleans, la; Zion, castorville, TX; St. Paul’s, Freeport, TX; and Trinity, la margque, TX.

’57Rev. Dr. Marving Schumacher died December 21, 2011 in waterloo, ia. he served three different parishes in nD, became bishop of the western north Dakota Synod. later he served churches in grand rapids, mi before retiring in 1992 and moving to iowa. he then served as interim pastor of St Paul’s, waverly, ia.

’59Rev. Robert Adix died June 8, 2011 in rowlett, TX. he served Trinity, Sherman, TX; began a new church in west linn, or; served St. martins, austin, TX; grace, San antonio, TX; grace, ennis, TX; he developed all Saints, arlington, TX; served Joy, rowlett, TX. he also served on the national commission of Seventy, in preparation for the new elca.

Rev. Dr. Edward Paape died December 11, 2011 in Janesville, wi. he served as a mission developer for a new congregation in indianapolis, in to be named hope; served Prince of Peace, Schaumburg, il; served on the board of lutheran welfare Services of illinois and as president for one term; served St. John, Janesville, wi; holy cross, menomonee Falls, wi. after retirement he served interims at clinton, brodhead, oregon, and edgerton all in wisconsin. he also served as Development associate for wartburg Theological Seminary.

’60Carrie Ann Langholz, wife of alum rev. ervin P. langholz died January 4, 2012.

’62Rev. James Matties died January 28, 2012. he served many years for the State board of Probation and Parole, along with 50 years as an ordained minister.

’63Mrs. Marlene Beekmann, wife of alum Dr. Darold beekmann, died December 21, 2011.

Alum NotesWartburg Theological Seminary

Do you know someone who is considering a call to ministry?

Encourage them to:

1. Attend Conference on Ministry November 10 - 12, 2012

2. Take our 6-week on-line course Exploring Seminary July 16 - Aug. 25, 2012

3. Consider our Distributed Learning Programs

4. Arrange a Visit to our campus [email protected]

Fill out a Refer a Student Form if you’d like to refer a student to us! Look for the link on the WTS homepage.

E X P L O R E Y O U R C A L L

w w w. w a r t b u r g s e m i n a r y. e d u


’69Rev. Edwin “Freeman” Cockram died January 5, 2012. he served churches in castle rock, wa and Vancouver, wa.

’74Marilyn Guthrie, wife of rev. Jerry guthrie died april 1, 2011.

Rev. Rodney Haselhuhn died november 10, 2010. he served Salem, longville, mn; St. Thomas, cheboygan, mi; St. matthew, bridgeport, mi; Zoar, Perrysburg, oh; St. Paul, Temperance, mi; and St. Paul, alpena, mi.

’77Rev. Ronald Nelson has accepted a call to First, clarion and First, Dows, ia.

’78The Rev. Dr. Maxwell E. Johnson has recently published; Issues in Eucharistic Praying in East and West. collegeville: The liturgical Press, Pueblo, 2011. co-author with Paul F. bradshaw, The Origins of Feasts, Fasts, and Seasons in Early Christianity, alcuin club collections 86.

’87after seven years in mission development, Rev. Steve Meyer has accepted a call to serve newly organized Journey, holmen, wi.

Rev. Daniel Wee, husband to rev. Kristin wee, died november 11, 2011.

’92Rev. Beth A. Olson has accepted a call to St. Timothy, hudson, ia.

Rev. Daniel Stegen died September 15, 2011.

’96Rev. David Sorenson has accepted a call to Decorah lutheran, Decorah, ia.

’97Rev. Bill Terry died november 10, 2010.

’98Rev. Ronnie Hildahl has accepted a call to Salem united church of christ, new Salem, nD. he also serves as the pastoral care director of the mandan living center and mandan care center, mandan, nD.

’00Rev. David Lund and his wife, Stephanie, welcomed their second daughter into the world nov. 21. Karina mae lund weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and is growing fast.

’01

Rev. Patricia Shaw is serving as interim pastor at calmar, calmar, ia; and Springfield, Decorah, ia.

’02Diaconal Minister Sandra L. Braasch received the lutheran Southern Theological Seminary’s 2011-12 greninger Scholar award, which recognizes a rostered leader

who exhibits excellence in ministry and expresses a desire for further theological study related to special projects or publications in ministry.

’03Rev. Stacey Nalean-Carlson accepted a call to glenwood and canoe ridge, Decorah, ia. She previously served Zion, west union, ia.

’04Ms. Ruth Bradtke, wife of rev. Joel bradtke died September 9, 2011.

Rev. Martin J. Lohrmann’s first book Bugenhagen’s Jonah: Biblical Interpretation as Public Theology will be published in the spring of 2012 by lutheran university Press. more information about the book is available at: http://www.lutheranupress.org/books/bugenhagens_Jonah.

’07Rev. Chris Schoon has accepted a call to First lutheran, chadwick, il.

’11Rev. Steve Bovendam, a wTS Teem graduate, was ordained Jan. 8, 2012. he has accepted a call to baudette lutheran Parish, baudette, mn.

Rev. David Christianson was ordained January 22, 2012. he has accepted a call to upper Pigeon creek, hixton, wi.

Rev. Susan Haukaas was ordained oct. 29, 2011. She has accepted a call to adams lutheran Parish, adams, nD.

Rev. Joan Iker was ordained Sept. 25, 2011. She has accepted a call to St. olaf, cranfills gap, TX.

Rev. Marilyn Larsen was ordained nov. 5, 2011 at St. Stephens lutheran church in Portland, TX. She has accepted a call at resurrection, corpus christi, TX.

Rev. Stephen Martin was ordained Dec. 11, 2011 at Salem, houston. he serves as a military chaplain at the Va hospital in houston.

Rev. Stephanie McCarthy was ordained Jan. 14, 2012 at Zion evangelical in appleton, wi. She accepted a call to serve as Pastor of Family ministries at calvary, willmar, mn.

Rev. katie Pals was ordained Feb. 19, 2012 at our Saviour’s in mason city, ia. She has accepted a call to our Savior’s in Kiester, mn.

Rev. Glenda Pearson, a wTS Teem graduate, has been called to bethany evangelical, ord, ne. ordination took place oct. 29, 2011.

Rev. J. Austin and Tanya Propst have accepted a call to serve as the elca young adults in global missions (yagm) coordinators of madagascar. Tanya serves as a layperson, while austin was ordained into this call Dec. 17, 2011 at lutheridge in arden, nc.

Rev. Arhiana Shek was ordained Feb. 25, 2012 at gloria Dei, iowa city, ia. She has accepted a call to emanuel, Dayton, ia.

This year’s Re-formation and

Renewal event will be held

October 28-30, 2012.

all alumni are encouraged

to attend, and the following class years will celebrate class reunions:

2007

2002

1997

1992

1987 – 25 Year Reunion

1982

1977


1967


1957

1952

1947

Please save the date and plan to attend the banquet

held on Sunday evening, october 28th, followed by continuing education and time with classmates on

monday and Tuesday.

Note: The 40 and 50 year reunions will also be

celebrated at this event.

Alumni Reunion

News

Save the Date!

DISTRIBuTED LEARNING M.DIV. PROGRAMwartburg Seminary has launched an exciting new venture in theological education. beginning in September of 2012, wartburg will offer a new fully distributed master of Divinity (m. Div.) degree. Students in the Distributed learning m. Div. program will complete three years of study through a combination of on-campus intensives and online courses, followed by a one-year internship. in the final year of the five-year program, students will join the dynamic educational and formation process as members of the wartburg campus community.

CERTIFICATE IN THEOLOGY AND CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIPwartburg Seminary is now offering a certificate in Theology and congregational leadership. This certificate is designed for clergy and laity who want to strengthen their ministry leadership. The certificate program consists of twelve courses, combining foundational subjects such as bible, theology, and church history with two courses in the area of specialty. Program requirements are completed through a combination of online and intensive courses, allowing students the flexibility to work at their own pace, taking one, two, or three courses at a time.

NEW! To Wartburg Seminary...

To learn more about the new Distributed Learning M. Div. program or Certificate in Theology and Congregational Leadership, please contact [email protected]


WTS Helps Plan 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering

This July, 36,000 high school students, young adults, and adults will come together for the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans, Louisiana for five days to encounter Jesus in the people they meet, the experiences they have, and the communities that are formed. Several members of the Wartburg Theological Seminary community are playing an important role in the planning for this event.

Dr. Kristine Stache, Assistant Professor of Missional Leadership and Director of Certificate Programs and Distributed Learning at Wartburg Seminary is serving as the team leader for “Practice Peacemaking,” an interactive learning component of the 2012 Youth Gathering. Dr. Stache says of her leadership role in the planning of the event, “It is an absolute thrill to work with volunteers from around the globe who give of their time and talents to create this unique experience. Being part of this project is both exhausting and exhilarating, providing additional energy for the work I already am a part of at Wartburg. God is up to some amazing things in and through these students and their adult leaders as they prepare for the gathering, experience the gathering, and go home post-gathering, to live out their lives as faithful witnesses to what they have seen and learned.”

Dr. Stache had a small leadership role within the interactive learning team for the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering. The following year, Heidi Hagstrom, Director of the ELCA Youth Gathering, approached Dr. Stache on behalf of Wartburg Seminary, and asked if the institution would be willing to officially sponsor one of the three major programmatic components for the 2012 gathering. Stache recalls, “I was asked to take on a newly expanded role, combining the interactive center and separate learning components of the gathering in 2009 into one cohesive programmatic piece for 2012.”

After agreeing to the role, Dr. Stache assembled a group of individuals to work with her on her planning team. Among those recruited was Claire Meyer (WTS ’11) of Sinai, South Dakota. Meyer serves as the Director of Faith Formation at Sinai Lutheran Church and Lake Campbell Lutheran Church. Meyer says being a part of the gathering team has been “a dream come true,” and adds, “The Gathering is a movement of God’s Spirit working in the world and I get to be a part of it!” Also asked to work on Dr. Stache’s team was Jessica Liles (WTS ’09) of Rogers, Arkansas. Liles is helping her husband Pastor Joe Liles (WTS ’11) with a new church plant in Bentonville, AR called The Neighborhood Church. Liles says of her involvement on the planning team, “The stories of impact for both the 36,000 youth and the people of New Orleans are so moving, and I am so excited to be a part of planning a space for these stories to continue this summer!”

The excitement for Wartburg Seminary’s involvement in the planning of this summer’s event is shared by the Director of the ELCA Youth Gathering, Heidi Hagstrom. Hagstrom says, “I was thrilled when Wartburg Seminary accepted my invitation to design and manage one of the three program components of the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering. We have never partnered with a seminary in this way before. I am deeply grateful to Wartburg for making it possible to utilize some of Kristine Stache’s time and expertise, as well as some of her students’ imagination, to design learning experiences that promote adolescent faith formation. Many thanks to Wartburg for sharing its resources with the whole church through the ministry of the Youth Gathering.”

LEFT The 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering’s Practice Peacemaking Planning Team

back row: Paul amlin (wTS ‘09), amy Speed, claire meyer (wTS ‘11), molly mullins, gloria Keiser-Dovre (wTS ‘92), lisa brentsFront row: beth hartfiel, Kristine Stache (with landon liles), Jessica liles (wTS ‘09)Not present: William Flippin

”

“ I was thrilled when Wartburg Seminary accepted my invita-tion to design and manage one of the three program components of the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering.

heiDi hagSTrom,

DirecTor, elca youTh

gaThering


Mamy Ranaivoson is what one could call “a citizen of the world.” He was born and raised in Mada-gascar, an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa. He has worked as a missionary doctor in Papua New Guinea. He has studied and lived in Australia, Great Britain, and the United States. He has served in Kenya as the Lutheran World Federation Africa Regional Coor-dinator of HIV/AIDS, while simultaneously serving as the Program Assistant for Health Ministry of the ELCA/Global Mission, two roles that required he travel extensively throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.

During his seven years as a missionary medical doctor in Papua New Guinea, Mamy was the only physician in a Lutheran Hospital that served 50,000 people. On many occasions, he was the last person patients would talk to before they died. Before a person in his care passed away, Mamy recalls he would say to them, “God loves you!” He adds, “In that ministry of witness to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, I found myself wondering about what else I could say to them beyond that; this led me to thinking about theology. Combining the ministry of Word and Sacrament to my vocation as a medical doctor would give me a holistic ministry.” Mamy received a degree from Wartburg Theological Semi-nary in 2001, a Master of Arts in Theology, Devel-opment, and Evangelism (MA-TDE), so when he decided to pursue a Master of Divinity degree, he knew he wanted to return to Wartburg Seminary: “I had no doubt about where I would go to prepare for my calling to a holistic ministry, humbly asking God to use me to be a blessing to others.”

“Combining the ministry of Word

and Sacrament to my vocation as a

medical doctor would give me a

holistic ministry. mDiV Senior mamy ranaiVoSon

Mamy is currently a senior in the MDiv program at Wartburg Seminary and lives in Dubuque with his wife Noelisoa and their son Joseph who is in fourth grade. Mamy and Noelisoa also have four adult daughters: Vola, Sera, Joella, and Clara. Mamy sees great value in the education he is receiving at Wartburg, “My theological training is widening my understanding of God and our callings as Jesus’ disciples. Part of Wartburg’s mission statement says that it is a place where ‘learning leads to mission and mission informs learning,’ emphasizing that God is always in mission; God is reaching out to those who have not yet been touched by the Good News of Jesus Christ. In the Great Commission, Jesus sent the Disciples to go make disciples of all nations. For me, that is the mission of the church.”

Mamy believes that in addition to sharing Christ to others and making disciples, we also “need to reach out to the community where the church is located and engage others in everyday life. Providing meals for the hungry, a community for the lonely, love for those deemed unlovable, and meeting the needs in the community are part of witnessing in deed and word to God’s love in Jesus as the Spirit empow-ers, leads and guides us. Understanding this is a great gift for me. Thank you Wartburg Theological Seminary!”

Mamy will graduate from Wartburg in May, and this “citizen of the world” will go out into the world, combining the training he has received in the ministry of Word and Sacrament with his skills as a medical physician to holistically serve God’s people.

A Citizen of the World Wartburg MDiv Student Mamy Ranaivoson

”

wartburg Theological Seminary invites you to join us for 10 days of learning, recreation, and renewal for ministry at our annual luTher acaDemy oF The rocKieS. addressing the theme “reading, Teaching, and Preaching the biblical message in the 21st century,” speakers Dr. Paul Scott wilson, Dr. Stan olson, and Dr. ann Fritschel will stimulate participants’ minds and spirits in the morning. afternoons will be free time for participants to enjoy the many recreational opportunities awaiting them in the beautiful estes Park area.

Register today for the Luther

Academy of the Rockies!

click on lifelong learners link at

www.wartburg seminary.edu


Did you know that Wartburg offers a variety of online courses as part of the Distributed Learning Program, as well as the TEEM and Certificate Program? Online courses are also open to others who may not be enrolled in a degree or certificate program but have an interest in theological education or are seeking continuing education. To learn more about these courses visit www.wartburgseminary.edu and go to Programs and Courses.

Online Learning FALL 2012

Online Masters Degree Courses:early & medieval christianity Dr. Elizabeth Leeper

religion, anthropology, and the human world Dr. Fritz Lampe

hebrew bible content i Dr. Ann Fritschel and Dr. Gwen Sayler

educational ministry Dr. Norma Cook Everist

Online TEEM/Certificate Program Courses:god and the world in christ Dr. Duane Priebe

beyond maintenance to mission Dr. Craig Nessan

revelation in context Dr. Matthew Morohl

Winston Persaud, Professor of Systematic Theology and Director of the center for global Theologies, resumed fulltime teaching responsibilities at wartburg Seminary on January 1, 2012, following a

half-year sabbatical. Dr. Persaud gave three lectures at the elci winter Pastors’ academy during wartburg Seminary’s 2012 January cross-cultural immersion in iceland: “The contemporary crisis of Defining and confessing the gospel” ; “The Paradox of god’s Presence when god appears To be most absent!”; and “how Dare we Speak of god’s costly grace in christ Through the Spirit?” on January 9, 2012, he gave a public lecture, “a Theological reading of Karl marx in the 21st century: retrospect and Prospect,” at the Faculty of Theology, u. of iceland, and on January 13, 2012, he was interviewed by journalist aevar Kjartansson on radio iceland on the subject of his lecture. on January 19, 2012, he made a presentation, “life in christ in the maturing years,” to senior members of St. luke’s lutheran church, middleton, wi, and on the weekend of January 21-22, 2012, he was guest preacher and adult education presenter at our Savior’s lutheran church, rockford, il.

Norma Cook Everist, Professor of church administration and educa-tional ministry, will be the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the academy of religious leadership in Seattle, wa this spring on the topic,

“The Teaching of leadership.” This summer, she will be the keynote speaker at the gathering of Diaconal min-isters of the evangelical lutheran church in canada, to be held in Surrey, british columbia, on the theme, “called to Serve.”

Susan Ebertz, assistant Professor of bibliography and academic research and Director of the reu memorial library, applied for and received a grant to help wartburg Seminary celebrate Theological libraries month

in october of 2011. a mini golf tournament in the library was held to encourage the entire wartburg community to interact in and tour the library. The grant was made available through the american Theological libraries association.

Craig Nessan, academic Dean and Professor of contextual Theology, participated in an international collaboration, meeting in nuremberg, germany on February 26-march 1, 2012 to prepare research

and publication for the 500th anniversary of the reformation in 2017. he co-edited (with Dr. Thomas Schattauer) the Feb 2012 issue of Currents in Theology and Mission on “wilhelm loehe: Theological impact and historical influence.” Professors nessan and Schattauer also have essays in that issue on the loehe legacy

and its significance for the church today. Dr. nessan published a chapter entitled, “The Dean as Teacher and Scholar: Four ways to lead,” in the book, C(H)AOS Theory: Reflections of Chief Academic Officers in Theological Education (eerdmans, 2011). he was a speaker at the conference of united methodist church pastors in Des moines on april 10-11, 2012. Dr. nessan will lead a January term trip to germany on luther, Pietism, and bonhoeffer in January 2013 on behalf of the evangelical lutheran church in america seminaries.

Len Hoffmann, Vice President for mission Support, joined bishop mark narum and representatives from luther Seminary on a tour of western north Dakota. he visited Texas with President Stan olson, where they attended the Texas Tri-Synodical event,

went to a lSPS fiesta, and hosted an alumni donor gathering. he and President olson also hosted alumni events in minneapolis, mn and rockford, il.

Faculty & Staff Updates

“Gathered by God ”

women of the elca bible Study Seminar

May 21 - May 22, 2012

Speaker: audrey west

wartburg Theological Seminary

Dubuque, iowa


The old adage goes, “when it rains, it pours.” Deep in the heart of Texas, they’re not getting rain. In fact, over the course of the past year, Texas has been experiencing one of the worst droughts in its history. But while Texas may not be getting much in precipitation, Pastor Jesus Escamilla, a graduate of Wartburg Seminary’s Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest, and his congregation at San Gabriel Lutheran Mission in Alvarado, Texas have experienced a pouring out of another kind- not of rain - but of generosity. They have been on the receiving end of a flood of kindness all the way from northeast Iowa.

In mid-August of 2011, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly met in Orlando, Florida, and while there, Pastor Escamilla shared with others at the assembly the severity of the conditions in Texas and the toll the severe drought, and resultant wildfires, were taking on Texas’ farmers and ranchers. With the hay crop in Texas destroyed and with no food to feed their cattle, many in the Lone Star State were being forced, out of sheer desperation, to sell off their livestock.

The story of devastated farmers and ranchers that Pastor Escamilla shared at the churchwide assembly made an impact on Pastor Harold McMillin (WTS ’73) of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Luana, Iowa. Pastor McMillin knew the farmers in his congregation in northeast Iowa had been blessed with a bountiful hay crop that summer. He decided to organize a “hay lift” and asked the farmers in his congregation to donate hay that could be shipped to farmers and ranchers in drought stricken Texas. The farmers in his congregation responded generously. Members of Pastor McMillin’s congregation also contributed to the trucking costs incurred in the shipments to Texas, as did Lutheran Disaster Response, which was notified of the hay lift project by bishops in Iowa and Texas.

Pastor Escamilla says he is grateful to the many partners who made the hay lift possible and have helped his congregation in Alvarado, “All of the credit for the hay lift goes to Pastor McMillin, the people of his congregation, the bishops, and Lutheran Disaster Response.” He adds, “We have received a total of six shipments of hay, five of them from Pastor McMillin’s community at St. John’s in Luana, Iowa and one from Glenwood Lutheran in Decorah, Iowa. The families that have been helped in our congregation in Alvarado are a total of 13.”

While Pastor Escamilla is not sure how much more hay will be received by the members of his and other congregations in Texas, he is grateful for what has already been given to them, and he hopes that he and others will continue to see the needs of the community and strive to serve them, “Everyone that received the hay has been helped in a way that they can only describe as a blessing, how GOD moved the people in Iowa to do what they did. I feel blessed to have been a small part of this Hay Lift ‘Blessing.’ I pray that GOD will move us all again to fill the necessity of his people.”

Hay Lift “Blessing” in Drought Stricken Texas

LSPS is a program of wartburg Theological Seminary and

the lutheran School of Theology in chicago.

LSPS trains leaders through the Theological education for emerging

ministries (Teem) program of the elca. its primary focus is equipping women and men for

mission in Spanish speaking contexts throughout the church.

Visit www.lsps.edu to learn more or to support this program.

Pastor Jesus Escamilla

luTheran Seminary Programin The SouThweST


We, at Wartburg Seminary, gather and send leaders for the sake of mission in the world for the sake of the Gospel. We celebrate the gathered students through the years. We celebrate generations of faculty and staff who have given of their time, talents, and passion for this shared mission. And, we celebrate this castle and its grounds tended to so graciously by our maintenance staff.

WTS graduate, Pastor Tim Koester (WTS ’09), recently returned to Wartburg Seminary for a visit. He shares of his time on campus, “I parked in the back lot and came in through the shop to see the guys and that started my visit off just right.” Tim is not alone, as many Wartburg visitors make the shop a first stop on their visit to campus. And with a warm smile, a knowing nod, a sincere chuckle, and a genuine handshake, Bill Link, Wartburg’s Superintendent of Maintenance, graciously shares his dose of Wartburg hospitality. His recipe for hospitality begins when one approaches our well groomed campus and well kept buildings, but his true ministry occurs even deeper in his natural love for the students, staff, and faculty of Wartburg, where he has shared his daily work and wisdom for now just over 25 years.

“Bill Link is a gentle, wise chap, who exemplifies what it means to be a servant of Jesus Christ who makes so many of us in the WTS community better at our vocations and whose ministry is remembered with thanksgiving in remote villages and big cities across the world,” shares Rev. Winston D. W. Persaud, Phd, Professor of Systematic Theology and fellow WTS volleyball player with Bill.

Bill, of course, blushes at such praise in his quiet and gentle way and says of his own daily work, “I don’t do anything special. Other than doing my best to be there for people with whatever they need.” These needs have ranged from broken faucets to broken marriages through the years. And all the while, Bill shares that he just keeps praying that the Lord will help him to meet people where they have needs. Bill has been surprised through the years that God would use a Catholic farm boy to help people in the religious life and to get them through seminary.

His years at Wartburg have not been without challenges, from pager emergencies, that 25 years ago got his heart pumping, to creative carpentry projects that have taken some head scratching and shared wisdom. Yet through all of these times, Bill believes that he has learned not to fight the grace of God, but instead simply gives thanks for his wife, Jean, and their three children, who have given joy and support through these years and have always understood when he has had to run off to Wartburg to push more snow or tend to another false fire alarm. He gives much thanks and appreciation to the maintenance staff and student crews who have worked with him through the years, and Bill is quick to point out that Ken Veach is coming up on 24 years here and that he gives daily thanks for Ken, his maintenance partner – what a team!

Bill has been told by students that he is one of the most influential teachers at seminary. He downplays this, yet he feels proud that he can be a part of the crucial leadership formation of students in trying to help people to see another side of the church that they don’t always see or connect, like the importance of lawn work or electricity repair. But it is not only his maintenance skills that students through the years have noticed. It is the polite, friendly way that he sets an example in daily life. Bill says, “I am strong in my religion and I learned to work hard from my parents and on our farm. Of course, I have learned from the wonderful people at WTS through the years. I stay at Wartburg Seminary because I can serve the mission of spreading God’s Word and God’s teaching by living and working alongside others, who do the same.”

We give thanks for this living saint among us for his daily work, for his years of institutional memory, and for his abiding generous gift of hospitality.

Bill Link – a master in the art of fixing

The most patient man I have ever known:

Bill Link

I have seen work crew persons mow signs instead of grass,

and chew up mower blades and other things,

through it all Bill would just smile and say,

“Well now we have that to fix today.”

And without any fuss or scolding the person,

he would go about doing so, all the while teaching the crew member “the art of fixing.”

And the pastoral candi-date with whom Bill was working learned so much more than how to repair a machine.

PaSTor Ken gibSon (WTS ‘95)Written January 2012


Bill Link Celebrates 25 Years of Serving Wartburg!by reV. amy currenT (wTS ’97)


Upcoming Events:

TRI-STATE FORuM April 26, 2012, Wartburg Campus

WOMEN OF THE ELCA May 21-22, 2012, Wartburg Campus

LuTHER ACADEMY OF THE ROCkIES June 18-28, 2012, Allenspark, CO

WARTBuRG YOuTH LEADERSHIP WEEkEND June 21 - 25, 2012, Wartburg Campus

CERTIFICATION SCHOOL Sept. 26 - Oct. 3, 2012, Wartburg Campus

For more information on these events, visit www.wartburgseminary.edu

333 warTburg PlacePo boX 5004DubuQue, ia 52004-5004

non-ProfituS Postage

PAIDPermit #477Dubuque, ia

Matching Gift Challenge

As a new donor, making your first gift to the Wartburg Seminary Fund, your gift will be matched 1:1.

We invite you to renew your support to the Wartburg Seminary Fund if you have not given recently (since July 1, 2010). Your gift will be matched 1:1.

Thank you for your ongoing support to the Wartburg Seminary Fund. The increased amount of your gift will be matched 1:1.

New

Renewed

Increased

Your gift will be matched when received by June 30, 2012!For more information go to www.wartburgseminary.edu or call (563)589-0336

life together spring 2012

Documents

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regional andor national

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lifetogether spring

readers care

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