![The Seminary Explores](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/637406/Seminary_Explores_itunesrgb.jpg)
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An exploration of church and society produced by the United Lutheran Seminary with campuses in Gettysburg and Philadelphia, PA.
Episodes
![Expanding Neighbors: Engaging with People Across Many Waters](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/637406/Seminary_Explores_itunesrgb_300x300.jpg)
Monday Jul 15, 2024
Expanding Neighbors: Engaging with People Across Many Waters
Monday Jul 15, 2024
Monday Jul 15, 2024
Mark Staples shares his reflections from his experiences as a photojournalist for the Lutheran Church in his newly published book, Neighbors Revisited: a church journalist’s life lessons learned from people of other cultures. He particularly focuses on his travels to several countries on the African continent and Asia in the 1980s. The catalyst for the book comes from Staples’ reading of Martin Luther’s writing on the neighbor and from Staples’ observation of the fear and hatred that is so prevalent within the United States and the world today. Staples listens attentively to the stories that people related to him. He describes the worship-life and hospitality to the stranger that had a profound effect throughout his travels. From these experiences, his worldview changed and expanded dramatically. Staples goes on to share his calling to this vocation and encourages young people to consider the profession of a photojournalist.
![Top Stories in Religion for 2023](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/637406/Seminary_Explores_itunesrgb_300x300.jpg)
Monday Mar 11, 2024
Top Stories in Religion for 2023
Monday Mar 11, 2024
Monday Mar 11, 2024
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](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/637406/Seminary_Explores_itunesrgb_300x300.jpg)
Monday Feb 26, 2024
An American Theologian Teaching in Ghana
Monday Feb 26, 2024
Monday Feb 26, 2024
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.
![What’s Significant about Chairs and Doors? Building Diagnostic Skills in Physicians](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/637406/Seminary_Explores_itunesrgb_300x300.jpg)
Monday Feb 12, 2024
Monday Feb 12, 2024
Lisa Erdman, Postdoctoral Scholar in the President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at the Penn State College of Medicine, talks about her current teaching and the role of everyday objects in communication between patients and healthcare providers. Health humanities is an emerging, interdisciplinary field of study that examines how the arts and humanities can offer a deeper understanding of the illness experience and well-being in healthcare. An artist, educator, and researcher, Erdman holds a Doctorate of Arts from Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland. Her productions have received numerous awards, including funding from the Arts Council of Finland. She has participated in residencies at the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing, China, the Hungarian Multicultural Center in Budapest, and the Centre for Health Education Scholarship at the University British Columbia, Canada.
To learn more about the field of Health Humanities see the book, Health Humanities.
![The Emotional Voltage of Their Lives](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/637406/Seminary_Explores_itunesrgb_300x300.jpg)
Monday Dec 18, 2023
The Emotional Voltage of Their Lives
Monday Dec 18, 2023
Monday Dec 18, 2023
Author Joseph Bathanti (LSU Press, Mercer University Press) details the writing program, Brothers and Sisters Like These, he and Dr. Bruce Kelly started at the Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina.
Bathanti is a creative writing mentor for Carlow University’s MFA program. He is Professor of English at Appalachian State University, serving as the McFarlane Family Distinguished Professor of Interdisciplinary Education, as an affiliate faculty appointment in Appalachian Studies & The Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Peace Studies, and as the Writer-in-Residence of Watauga Residential College. The author of many books including The Act of Contrition (short stories, 2023), he is a co-editor of The Anthology of Black Mountain College Poetry, which is forthcoming from University of North Carolina Press.
Joseph Bathanti grew up in Pittsburgh. He came to North Carolina in the mid-1970s as a VISTA volunteer to work with prison inmates. His degrees are from University of Pittsburgh and Warren Wilson College. He is a former poet laureate of North Carolina.
Watch the Brothers Like These film.
![Global Lutheranism: The Lutheran World Federation 2023](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/637406/Seminary_Explores_itunesrgb_300x300.jpg)
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Global Lutheranism: The Lutheran World Federation 2023
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Monday Dec 04, 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.
![The African American Presence in Gettysburg: The Black History Museum](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/637406/Seminary_Explores_itunesrgb_300x300.jpg)
Monday Nov 20, 2023
The African American Presence in Gettysburg: The Black History Museum
Monday Nov 20, 2023
Monday Nov 20, 2023
Jane Nutter, the President of the Gettysburg Black History Museum, talks about the development of the museum. She emphasizes the fact that the museum goes beyond the presence of African Americans in Gettysburg during the Civil War. The museum highlights the Blacks in Gettysburg before, during, and after the War. She notes that the museum contains artifacts from various individuals and families of color including photographs, furniture, and documents. The community was enthusiastic to contribute to the collection. In a sense, due to segregation, the Black community established its own vibrant society and community life that included its own American Legion, the Elks, and community events.
![Reflections on 50 years of Pastoral Ministry](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/637406/Seminary_Explores_itunesrgb_300x300.jpg)
Monday Nov 06, 2023
Reflections on 50 years of Pastoral Ministry
Monday Nov 06, 2023
Monday Nov 06, 2023
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.
![Simone de Beauvoir : A Voice That Continues](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/637406/Seminary_Explores_itunesrgb_300x300.jpg)
Monday Aug 14, 2023
Simone de Beauvoir : A Voice That Continues
Monday Aug 14, 2023
Monday Aug 14, 2023
Dr. Elizabeth Viti, Professor emeriti of French Language and Literature at Gettysburg College discusses the life and times of Simone de Beauvoir, the French writer, intellectual, philosopher, and activist of the 20th century. Beauvoir’s life was vibrant. Viti notes Belvoir’s long-time friendship with Jean-Paul Sartre. Beauvoir was a prolific writer with numerous publications that span various areas. Her book, The Second Sex, published in 1949, places her as an important figure in women’s’ rights and feminism. In fact, it has become a classic in feminist literature. Viti notes that Beauvoir’s work continues to be important for our time as we struggle with women’s and human rights. When one considers what might be Beauvoir’s legacy, Viti is emphatic on the Beauvoir’s concern about gender.
![The Way of St. James](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/637406/Seminary_Explores_itunesrgb_300x300.jpg)
Monday Jul 31, 2023
The Way of St. James
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Fr. Andrew Durbidge, Rector St. Luke and St. Matthew Episcopal Church in Brooklyn New York Joins us to talk about his recent pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago or the Way of St. James. Each year thousands of individuals start from various points in France, Spain, and other locations to take the journey. This pilgrimage dates from the medieval period. Durbidge used his walking time for meditation and reflection. The walk reinforced his own spiritual growth. He began his 60-mile journey from Camino de Portugues and culminated at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwest Spain. Ending the journey with worship at the Cathedral, Fr. Durbidge noted the emotional impact of the journey in the tearful eyes of his fellow travelers.