CONNECTIONS Making global

By Keisha T. Dyson

When José David Rodríguez came to LSTC in 1971, his plans were set. After completing his master’s of divinity degree, he would enter a doctoral program and then seek employment at an ecumenical seminary in Puerto Rico and become a professor like his father. He now knows, God had a different plan.

A year into his MDiv program, Rodríguez was invited to teach at LSTC in a new two-year theology program designed for laypeople in the Latinx community. At the time, there weren’t any Hispanic ministry programs in Lutheran seminaries. LSTC’s new initiative was the first of its kind within the American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church in America, and it immediately became popular.

While earning both degrees, Rodríguez helped grow the initiative into what would became known as the Hispanic Ministry program. Although he still hoped to move to Puerto Rico, after completing his doctoral program in 1987, the job was filled. So when a faculty position opened at LSTC in 1990, Rodríguez applied for the role and was hired as a professor of systematic theology.

That same year, he was also promited to director of the Hispanic Ministry program, and it flourished under his leadership. It gained even greater strength in the early 2000s when the Rev. Dr. José R. Irizarry, now the president of Austin Seminary, joined the faculty at LSTC. The pair teamed up and added new dimensions to the program. For example, the doctoral program in ministry, which was offered entirely in Spanish, provided the formation of four faculty members of a theological community in Mexico and the formation for the Lutheran Bishop of Nicaragua, the Lutheran Bishop of

Bolivia, and several pastors in Puerto Rico.

Pointing back to the 1960s when LSTC established an agreement with the Lutheran National Church in Argentina, Rodríguez said, “LSTC has been committed to programs for underrepresented communities, one of them being the Latinx community, from the very beginning.”

He has personal knowledge of this arrangement because his father, also José David Rodríguez, was a faculty member at a Lutheran seminary in Argentina.

“In 1959 my father went to Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary to do his advanced work in the School of Mission. And the connections that the School of Mission made were international, to Japan, China, Latin America, and many countries in Europe. So, the commitment of LSTC emerges from one of its predecessor seminaries and LSTC continues to carry out those commitments and those interests by forming visionary leaders worldwide.”

Looking forward, Rodríguez views LSTC’s move to Catholic Theological Union as a strategic decision allowing LSTC to continue its commitment to global mission and worldwide Christianity. He encourages LSTC leaders to continue thinking creatively about the future and anticipate change so that when it occur, LSTC is ready and able to enthusiastically move forward.

The early 1990s was a time of significant change at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). Many of the seminary’s legends were retiring or pursuing greater opportunities and as their positions opened, the seminary seized its chance to diversify the faculty and executive leadership even more.

For Dr. Kathleen “Kadi” Billman, being one of the first in a generation of new LSTC faculty was an exciting opportunity. In her 1991 interview for the position of professor of pastoral theology in pastoral care with former Dean Ralph Klein and former President Bill Lesher (1978-1997), the leaders painted an aspirational vision of LSTC. They imagined it as a diverse seminary that would become known for preparing people who wanted to go into urban ministry. That vision spoke to Billman’s heart.

“For as long as I can remember, LSTC has dreamt of being an open, welcoming, diverse community,” says Billman. “But it’s really hard work that takes tremendous courage and commitment.”

At the time, LSTC was still primarily white and male but the institution’s plan to becoming more diverse would soon be realized. For example, when President William Lesher announced his retirement in 1997,