These sessions, led by Pastor John Matthews (formerly of Grace Lutheran Church in Apple Valley) are a follow-up to the sessions last year with Pastors Rolf Olson and Nancy Koester. Whether many of us see Christian Nationalism in our neighborhoods or not, it is a dangerous phenomenon all across our country. As a pluralistic nation that is built-on and dedicated-to the respect and protection of all religious faiths (or none), it is imperative that we confront any movements that privilege one religion over all others, including Christianity.

Pastor Matthews will briefly discuss the history of this unfortunate marriage of church and state, and then indicate ways to counter its growth. 

Rev. Matthews is a retired ELCA pastor, an adjunct instructor at Augsburg University, past president of The International Bonhoeffer Society – English Language Section and Founding member of the ELCA Consultative Panel for Lutheran-Jewish Relations.

You are both. Yes, you! Come and find out why that is good news and meet some other saints and sinners from our past and find out how they help us live out lives of faith today.

Mark Tranvik’s education background includes Luther College, B.A. (1979) Yale University, M.Div. (1982) & Luther Seminary, Th.D. (1992) 

I like to think of myself as a parish pastor at heart. I spent almost ten years (1984-93) as a pastor at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. It was a rich experience, full of struggle and joy. Even today as a teacher I try to keep one eye on the parish pastor or lay leader when I talk about the Reformation or a theological topic. One of my favorite things to do is to visit congregations and lead adult forums. I do not want my scholarship to be divorced from the “real world” of the parish.

I retired in 2020 after twenty-five years of teaching at Augsburg University. That also was a good experience. I learned much from my Auggie students and colleagues. Following my “retirement” I was offered a full-time position in Reformation history and theology at Luther Seminary. My academic interests are in Reformation sacramental theology and Luther’s doctrine of vocation in particular. I look forward to introducing my students to the crazy idea that Luther picked up from Paul: God’s love for the unlovable.

More details coming soon!

Two former pastors will try to answer some of the more pressing questions of our day (also leaving time for some Q and A toward the end of the hour).   

Pastor Paul was ordained in June of 1972, served a congregation in suburban Detroit for 9 years, moved to Apple Valley in 1980 and founded SOTV, where he served for 34 years. He also served as Interim Campus Pastor at Luther Theological Seminary for three years after his retirement.   

Duane Paetznick is a retired ELCA pastor who served at SOTV for 27 years. For many of those years, he served alongside Paul Harrington. 

Reading, singing, and praying the Psalms prepare our hearts for the First and Second Advents of Christ. Also, the theology of the Psalms appears in songs of the season.

Pam grew up in Maplewood, Minnesota. She studied at the University of Minnesota (BA), Jerusalem University College, Bethel Theological Seminary (MA), and Yale University (PhD). She has taught on the faculty of Boston University School of Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary.

Information coming soon!

Information coming soon!

Topic description coming soon!

Pam grew up in Maplewood, Minnesota. She studied at the University of Minnesota (BA), Jerusalem University College, Bethel Theological Seminary (MA), and Yale University (PhD). She has taught on the faculty of Boston University School of Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary.

Information coming soon!

What is an epistle? What went into writing a letter in the ancient world? Join Luther Professor Kristofer Phan Coffman to get a glimpse into the world of Paul and learn more about what went into writing the letters that we know so well.

Kristofer Phan Coffman ’16 M.Div. holds a tenure-eligible New Testament faculty position. Coffman completed his Ph.D. in Classical and Near Eastern Religions and Culture at the University of Minnesota and is the first person of Cambodian descent to receive a PhD in Biblical Studies.

He is the author of the book chapter “Christmas Cookies in Cambodia: The Bible and Race in America” in “Dialogues on: Race” and has written several book reviews as well as academic articles on topics ranging from Norwegian-American Lutheran history to biblical interpretation and translation. In addition to his academic work, he has a keen interest in food and farming. Coffman has written popular articles on responsible consumption and agriculture, translates recipes for the award-winning new Nordic chef Mikkel Karstad and served as copy-editor and translation consultant on the forthcoming cookbook “SAOY: The Forgotten Flavors of Royal Cambodian Home Cuisine” by Chef Rotanak Ros.

The Church at a Crossroads: Learn from college students about the present and future of Christian community at the U of M and beyond.

Lutheran Campus Ministry-Twin Cities is situated amongst 55,000 young adults at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Join the conversation about what we’re learning at LCM about the kinds of Christian communities young adults crave, where young adults find meaning, and what their hopes are for the world.

Pastor Kate Reuer Welton grew up in South Dakota and settled back in Minneapolis after many adventures, including completing a Master of Divinity degree at Harvard Divinity School. Kate was called to serve as Campus Pastor at the University of Minnesota in 2010 and remains excited about proclaiming the Gospel in this lively context and working with student leaders to discern God’s call for our community each year.

Pastor Kate has worked as a community organizer and teacher in a wide range of places including Lutheran Social Service of MN, Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, and Native Arts High School on Lake Street in Minneapolis. Her favorite travel adventures include studying Spanish in Oaxaca and hiking the Annapurna Trail in Nepal with her little brother. Kate is married to Jim, mother to Benjamin and Eleanor, and is an eager gardener in May and June. She enjoys hiking and camping with her family, and the occasional Netflix binge. Her approach to the Christian life? “Awe, wonder, and curiosity.”

Information coming soon!

March 23: The powerful stories of Holy Week–the Entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection–have inspired artists over the centuries to create many beautiful and meaningful images. Over three weeks, we will explore a range of Holy Week and Easter scenes from a variety of times and places in the Christian tradition. Our series begins with the Entry of Christ into Jerusalem. We will also look at the stories at the Last Supper before turning scenes at the Garden of Gethsemane.

March 30: The powerful stories of Holy Week–the Entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection–have inspired artists over the centuries to create many beautiful and meaningful images. Over three weeks, we will explore a range of Holy Week and Easter scenes from a variety of times and places in the Christian tradition. In our second session, we will focus on events from Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane to the Crucifixion at Golgotha. 

April 6: The powerful stories of Holy Week–the Entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection–have inspired artists over the centuries to create many beautiful and meaningful images. Over three weeks, we will explore a range of Holy Week and Easter scenes from a variety of times and places in the Christian tradition. In our third session, we will finish the series by looking at the entombment, the resurrection, and Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances.

Kristin Anderson is a Professor Emerita of Art & Design at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. Her Augsburg courses included art history and architectural history surveys as well as more specialized offerings such as American Art, Scandinavian Art, and Women and Art. She also taught a popular course, The Designed Environment, about the architectural and urban history of the Twin Cities. The class met at a different location for each session, bringing students face-to-face with the buildings and spaces they studied.

A graduate of Oberlin College (A. B.), Kristin has master’s degrees in art history (University of Minnesota) and church history (Luther Seminary) as well as a PhD in American Art, Architecture, and Popular Culture from the University of Minnesota. She meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards in architectural history.

Topic coming soon!

Rachel Wyffels is a Master of Divinity student at Luther Seminary, seeking ordination as a pastor. She currently serves as Communications Coordinator for the Saint Paul Area Synod Care of Creation Work Group and the EcoFaith Network NE-MN Synod. Prior to seminary, Rachel worked with ELCA Advocacy as a Hunger Advocacy Fellow. She graduated from St. Olaf in 2021, where she majored in music and religion and served as president of the St. Olaf Student Congregation.

Information coming soon!