The Seminary Explores

The Call to Serve: Reflections on a life in Public Ministry

Dr. Warren Eshbach is the recipient of the United Lutheran Seminary, Called to Lead – Excellence in Parish Ministry Award from the Alumni/ai Association. He talks about his Lutheran educational history although he is a member of the Church of the Brethren. He recalls his theological studies on the Gettysburg campus and their importance as he continued in ministry over the years. He emphasizes the importance of theology in helping one to think critically. Eshbach life in ministry included: parish pastor, District Executive Minister, and adjunct faculty member. For anyone contemplating ministry, he advises them to learn to listen; try to understand “the other.”

Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Forward to 2025

Pastor Fritz Foltz, Pastor emeritus St. James Lutheran Church in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, centered the conversation on the 2024 election of Donald Trump. He discusses the 2024 presidency and the support of Trump by many conservatives from the perspective of the Manhattan Declaration. It was a joint statement among Roman Catholics, Evangelicals, and Pentecostals pledging to work together to put common religious beliefs into civil law. Foltz explored the gap between the Trump administration and the call of the gospel. 

Walking the Way of St. James

Pastor A. J. Domines from Christ Lutheran Church, Elizabethtown, PA talks about his recently completed pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James). He shares about his need to have time from the routines of ministry and become more prayerful and mindful of the presence of God in his life. He sees this pilgrimage to be helpful in reading and understanding scripture differently. He describes the history and legend of the pilgrimage along with the personal outcomes of the experience for himself. Domines also the planning and processes of undertaking this “way of St. James.” He sums the pilgrimage as “a walk of all Christians” longing for and experiencing the Kingdom of God.

Top Stories in Religion for 2023

Dr. William Avery, Professor Emeritus of Stewardship and Parish Ministry, shares his thoughts on three top issues from the previous year, 2023: The Hamas-Israel conflict, the exit of from church participation, and clergy burnout. He reminds us that that the Middle East conflict is not recent but has its roots from the biblical period. From his years of teaching and research, Avery suggests that the membership in our American congregations started to decline in the early 1960s. Avery indicates that the issue of clergy burnout has developed from lack of communication between the clergyperson and the congregation. While these issues are troubling, Avery leaves the conversation with words of hope.

An American Theologian Teaching in Ghana

Dr. James Thomas, Retired Associate Professor of Worship Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University, talks about his recent experience in teaching at the Good News Theological Seminary in Ghana. He shares his experience with students in the classroom as well as in the field experiences. Although he had been to Ghana previously, this experience exposed him to the deep division between Muslims and Christians. He also comments on his taking more time to listen to various individuals he encountered. In addition to his teaching duties, Dr. Thomas talks about the various congregations he attended where he preached and taught during his semester of teaching. His comments on his experience and his suggestions to considering teaching on the African continent will be helpful to faculty members considering teaching there.

Global Lutheranism: The Lutheran World Federation 2023

Andrew Taminger, a third-year seminarian at United Lutheran Seminary, talks about his attendance at the Lutheran World Federation Assembly (LWF) in Krakow, Poland. After a brief introduction to the history of the Federation, he continues by sharing his personal highlights of the Assembly along with some of the discussions including climate change, women’s rights, disabilities, and gender issues. He goes on to discuss the tensions that were present in the deliberations including the use of languages and the concerns of youth. He describes a youth strike that took place at the Assembly. He concludes the by sharing some of the seventeen resolutions that were passed for the ongoing work of the LWF.

 

Reflections on 50 years of Pastoral Ministry

The Rev. Dr. James Cobb reflects on his 50 years of ordained ministry. He describes the congregations to which he had been called along with their significant contributions to ministry. Many of the years in the pastorate he shared as co-pastor with his wife, Pastor Judy Cobb. While he has been centered in parish ministry, he shares his involvement in the life of the church beyond the congregations such as a member the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In addition, he published several books which developed out of his life in the parish. Cobb goes on to describe the changes and challenges he has observed over the years in parish ministry. Although he is retired, Cobb shares his continued involvement in ministry through volunteer activities, interims, and supply preaching.

A Pope Retires: What Went Right; What Went Wrong

Dr. Christopher Bellitto, Professor of History, Kean University, author of 101 Questions and Answers about Popes and the Papacy suggests that the resignation of Pope Benedict and the election of Pope Francis had few if any precedents to follow. It will encourage future popes to do the same because of age or infirmity, but we’ve learned that some mistakes must be addressed to avoid uncertainty over who is true pope: dress and insignia, name and forms of address, publishing or being interviewed on controversial topics.

Dr. Bellitto is the author of ten books, including most recently Ageless Wisdom: Lifetime Lessons from the Bible (Paulist Press, 2016), along with 101 Questions and Answers on Popes and the Papacy (Paulist Press, 2008), and the companion volumes, The General Councils: A History of the 21 Church Councils from Nicaea to Vatican II and Renewing Christianity: A History of Church Reform from Day One to Vatican II (Paulist Press 2001-2002). 

 

Hospitality, Bravery, and Doonesbury: A Conversation with Rev. Eric Shafer

The Seminary Explores catches up with The Rev. Eric Shafer, Senior Pastor of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, California before his upcoming retirement. He’s worn many hats in the past decades, including those of parish pastor, communications and fundraising executive leader, mentor, and partner in interfaith initiatives.

An ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, he is graduate of Muhlenberg College and Hamma School of Theology (now part of Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capitol University). Rev. Shafer was recognized with a 2021 Partnership Award from The Westside Coalition for Housing, Hunger and Health in Santa Monica. He serves on the President’s Council of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), is a member of the Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council and is a founder and board member of Students 4 Students Homeless Shelters.

 

Epiphany and Insurrection: Educational Challenges

On the anniversary of the January 6, 2021 insurrection, Rev. Dr. Norma Cook Everist, Distinguished Professor of Church and Ministry, emerita, Wartburg Theological Seminary, discussed the meaning of being political, the separation of church and state or the separation of religion and government. She uncovered the meaning of Christian Nationalism and the importance of Christian education in combatting this and similar ideologies. With all the divisions within the United States, Everist suggests building a trustworthy environment so that we can be different together. She concludes with the vocation of the church in these challenging times in our nation and the world.