Message from President Erwin
Dear Friends of ULS:
I am pleased to present the summer issue of UNITED Magazine.
Within these pages we profile a ULS board member who came to the United States from Indonesia; a dedicated alumni couple, both deeply committed to outdoor ministries; and two students – one a member of our Distributed Learning community who lives and works in Washington, D.C., and the other, a residential student in Gettysburg, who is here from Tanzania. ULS is truly a “global” seminary, reaching and connecting with communities far beyond our physical campuses.
In May we celebrated Commencement Day, where ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton and former seminary president Rev. Dr. Phyllis B. Anderson both received the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa. It was a joyous occasion with our graduates and their families joining fellow students, faculty and staff for a day of celebration. Commencement reminds us all why we work and teach at ULS – the experience of seeing graduates leave to go into the world and spread the word of the Gospel is truly inspiring.
This past fall and spring we welcomed two New York Times best-selling authors to our campuses, as well as Asian and Asian-American Ph.D. and Th.D. students and faculty from universities around the world for the annual Asian Theological Institute’s summer intensive.
I recently attended the New England Synod Assembly in Worcester, Massachusetts where a new bishop was elected, and I had been invited to give greetings and preach at opening worship. I was also honored to be recognized as “bishop emeritus” at the Southwest California Synod Assembly. These are wonderful opportunities to catch up with old friends, make new ones, and spread the word about all good things on the horizon at ULS.
There is much to be excited about as we plan for the fall. We welcome Dr. Teresa Smallwood as our incoming Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs, who will also oversee the reinstated Ph.D. program. Dean Jayakiran Sebastian will take a well-deserved sabbatical after serving since 2018 in that capacity.
Our Kindling Faith continuing education program continues to grow with an impressive author lecture series starting this fall on the topic of aging adulthood. Please visit our online calendar at uls.edu to read more about all Kindling Faith events. There’s something there for everyone!
Please also take a moment to read our Alumni News section to learn more about their accomplishments, in addition to the update from our new TULSAA president. We value learning more about what our alums are doing, and you will be impressed by the important work they do for the church and the world.
Thank you for all the gifts you have to offer ULS and for being a vital part of our mission: “Empowered by the Gospel to preach, teach, lead, and cultivate flourishing communities within a just and sustainable world in preparing leaders in the church and community.”
In Christ,
THE REV. DR. R. GUY ERWIN President and Ministerium of Pennsylvania Chair and Professor of Reformation Studies
Board of Trustees Member Profile
Ade Monareh – ULS Board Member Software Quality Assurance Engineer for Cognia
Growing up in Indonesia, Ade Monareh came from a Christian family and was a youth group member at her church. Her husband, who was an elder in an Indonesian Fellowship Church, came to the United States in 2000, where he cofounded Imanuel Indonesian Lutheran Church housed within Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Newington, New Hampshire. The church offers a Sunday afternoon worship service in Indonesian. It is the first Indonesian congregation to join the New England Synod and the first to attain full status in the ELCA. She joined her husband in the U.S. with their two daughters in 2002.
At the time Monareh and her husband joined the synod, she wanted to learn more about how Americans communicate, and thus became further involved with the church, helping Indonesian parents who did not speak English. Pastor Robert Waworuntu, New England Synod Council at the time, suggested she apply for the open lay person of color position. Monareh did so and ended up serving in this capacity for 10 years. As Monareh’s mother taught her, when a person is called by God, they should never say “no.” She was introduced to President Erwin at ULS through Bishop James Hazelwood. Monareh was asked to join the ULS board as the synod representative. “I couldn’t say no,” she said. “I didn’t even tell my husband I was thinking of joining on the board!”
“ My mother always said if God asks you to help, never say ‘no.’ Be who you are, see what you have and do what matters to God.”
Monareh was already familiar with similar responsibilities as a member of the board of Mosaic, an organization that provides services and empowers individuals with disabilities. “Both boards are similar, but in different ways,” she said. “I’m more involved with the money part at Mosaic, serving as a foundation board member. I can see how clients are served through the passion of the staff and administration,” she shared. “My involvement on the ULS board is bigger. I see how the faculty play a vital role in creating church leaders
and hope there can be cross generational conversations about the different ways we worship so we’re all the same in the eyes of God.”
Monareh hopes that lay or rostered leaders can become more aware and understanding of the importance of involving people of different races and ethnicities. She also hopes the church can find new ways to bridge generation gaps among its members. She sees younger church members bringing their small children to worship but wishes for more connection with older members. Her young granddaughter goes with her to church and is enrolled in Christian kindergarten.
Monareh’s granddaughter once asked her, “Do you know what God is?” Monareh replied, “God is my friend.” Her granddaughter asked, “Can God be my friend too?”
Commencement 2024
Our Commencement Day was held on May 18 at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The day started with a coffee hour hosted by The United Lutheran Seminary Alumni Association followed by the morning Festival of Eucharist with Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton preaching. A luncheon for graduates and their families followed. The afternoon Commencement Ceremony featured the Rev. Dr. Phyllis B. Anderson, who gave the address. Both Bishop Eaton and Dr. Anderson received honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees. ULS is grateful to St. Peter’s for hosting commencement over the years. We are excited to announce that starting in 2025, commencement ceremonies will be held on the Gettysburg campus, with group transportation available from Philadelphia. Please watch for more news early next year!
Read more about Imanuel Indonesian Lutheran Church at htelc.com/imanuel-indonesian-lutheran-church
6.
1. ULS faculty
2. ’24 graduates Veronica Reynolds and Tamara Hill-Bennett
3. Coffee hour hosted by TULSAA
4. Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton preached at the Festival of Eucharist
5. Rev. Dr. Phyllis B. Anderson delivered the commencement address
President R. Guy Erwin welcomed graduates and guests
Rev. Dr. Teresa Smallwood Appointed Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs
The Rev. Dr. Teresa L. Smallwood , the James Franklin Kelly and Hope Eyster Kelly Associate Professor of Public Theology at ULS, has been appointed Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs, effective July 1. She succeeds the Rev. Dr. J. Jayakiran Sebastian, who served as Dean and Vice President of Student Services since 2018. Dr. Sebastian joined the faculty in 2007, coming from United Theological College in Bangalore, India. He will be on sabbatical for the 2024–25 academic year and continue in his faculty role as the H. George Anderson Chair and Professor of Mission and Cultures upon his return.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank Dean Sebastian for his many years of dedicated service and ministry,” President Erwin said. “His commitment to our students, guiding them along their seminary journey and ensuring their success as leaders in the church and the world, has always been paramount among his many responsibilities. Dr. Sebastian’s sabbatical is well deserved, and we look forward to his return in the fall of 2025. I know you also join me in welcoming Dr. Smallwood as incoming dean and share my confidence in her vast experience as a scholar, advocate for social justice and director of the renewed Ph.D. degree in Public Theology and Witness.”
Prior to coming to ULS, Smallwood was a postdoctoral fellow at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee, where she also served as Associate Director of the Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative. She taught at Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Religious Freedom Center in Washington, D.C.; Chicago Theological
Seminary; and Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas. Smallwood began her legal career with Legal Services of Southern Piedmont in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she also worked as a staff attorney for the Children’s Law Center. In 1989 she was an assistant district attorney until founding her own private practice that spanned more than two decades.
“ULS is well-positioned to fulfill its mission with President Erwin, whose business acumen is surpassed only by his visionary leadership and his demonstrated commitment to the wider church community,” Smallwood said. “Our board of trustees takes seriously the charge to guide our institution with wisdom and prowess. Our stellar faculty is full of creative vibrancy and academic excellence, and our administrators and staff have a proven record of meeting challenges, working with our vision in mind, caring for our most valued constituencies, and serving with distinction,” she continued. “Consequently, it is my great honor to have all their support and to join the administration as I embark upon this important journey. I value the mentorship of Dean Sebastian, whose eminently good service inspires me to work hard and to move us ever onward in our values and commitments.”
Smallwood was licensed and ordained to public ministry while serving Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Lewiston, North Carolina. She has published extensively, presented numerous papers and lectures and served as a panelist. She earned a doctorate from the Chicago Theological Seminary; Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University; Master of Divinity from Howard University; and Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
2024 Nolde Human Rights Lecture
The 2024 Nolde Human Rights Lecture was held in March on the Philadelphia campus. New York Times best-selling author Anthony Ray Hinton , who survived for 30 years on Alabama’s death row, discussed his decades-long journey to exoneration and freedom, in addition to his book, The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row.
The fund honors Dr. O. Fredrick Nolde (18991972), who served as professor of Christian
Education and Dean of the Graduate School at LTSP. Nolde was influential in creating the language used in the United Nations Charter and especially the freedom of religion sections in the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” (1948). This fund provides for a biennial lecture on the dignity of human life, and its relation to Christian and spiritual values, and the challenges facing the international community.
Spring Fling in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia campus hosted a Spring Fling in April, extending an invitation to students, faculty, staff and alumni, featuring food, games (and pets!) Thanks to the students who organized this fun event.
ULS Advancement Team on the Road
Our team within the Office of Institutional Advancement is everywhere – representing ULS at synod assemblies in Regions 7 & 8, visiting alumni and donors up and down the east coast, planning alumni events and likely seeing many of this magazine’s readers throughout the year. “Teamwork” is their motto and we are grateful for their hard work and dedication.
From left: Conor Brooks, Vice President of Institutional Advancement; Elaine Milhimes, Associate Director of Advancement Operations and Research; Lisa Dubay, Director of Advancement Operations and Research; Lynn Fry, Director of Alumni Relations and the Annual Fund; and Andrea Oslikova, Senior Director of Major Gifts and Engagement
Spring 2024 Convocation
Spring 2024 Convocation was held on the Gettysburg campus in late April. The theme was “Theodicy,” a theological concept that attempts to justify God in the face of evil. New York Times best-selling author Kate Bowler was a featured speaker and signed books after her presentation. Dr. Natalia Marandiuc from the ULS faculty also presented. There was an Alumni Luncheon hosted by The United Lutheran Seminary Alumni Association (TULSAA) followed by class reunions and awards.
1.
2 The Rev. Carla Christopher receives the 2024 TULSAA Faithful Servant – Outstanding Alumni Award from President R. Guy Erwin. The Rev. Kelley Ketcham (left) nominated Pastor Christopher for the award.
3. 2024 TULSAA Witness to the World – Excellence in Community Ministry Award recipient, the Rev. Dr. Terrence McCarthy, is flanked by his nominator the Rev. Kelley Ketcham and President Erwin.
4. One of the two 2024 TULSAA Celebrated Lifetime Ministries Award winners was on hand in Gettysburg to receive his award: The Rev. Dr. Donald B. Green (center) receives his award from TULSAA Board Vice President the Rev. Jeffrey Laustsen and President Erwin.
5. President Erwin presented Mrs. Gretchen Stuempfle a replication of the plaque for the room in the Wentz Library dedicated to her late husband, the Rev. Dr. Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr., former president of LTSG from 1976-1989.
6. President Erwin gave remarks at the alumni luncheon
Student Profile
Jessica Zurcher
MDiv Distance Learning/Student Body Vice President and former Distributed Learning Campus Council Chair
Jessica Zurcher lives and works full time in Washington, D.C. When discerning a call to fulltime ministry, she sought a program that was local or online, and one that would fit into her work schedule. Enrolling as a Distributed Learning (DL) student at ULS, which Zurcher did in 2021, was ideal. She could study online while working as a grant specialist for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Department at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Zurcher has firsthand knowledge of how the DL community at ULS has developed over the past few years. “It’s been interesting to see how the program has evolved since the pandemic, during which everyone was a ‘DL student,’” she said. “DL students weren’t able to get together in person and many were burned out from being online by the end of the day.”
As the former DL Campus Council Chair during the ’23-24 academic year, Zurcher wanted to continue the good work of her predecessor and find new ways for students to connect.
connect. “Discord is always open,” she said. “For example, students can join to continue a conversation that took place in class or bounce ideas off each other when writing a sermon.” One of Zurcher’s goals is to work with other council leaders to create a dedicated night during intensives to do something special. “Students who are on campus during these weeks want to be there. They want to meet other students and get to know their classmates,” she emphasized.
In her new role as Student Government Vice President, Zurcher will continue to work with DL Council and fellow executive board members to ways to find new avenues for students to connect. DL students are required to complete a residential component on either campus. “We want to create spaces for people to come together and develop long-lasting relationships,” she said. “The beauty of the online community is that things are flexible. There’s no, or a low cost, and you don’t have to reserve space or provide food.”
“ I’m grateful to be able to follow this call - to do it in the place I’ve chosen to live. Not having to uproot the life I’ve built or leave the community I’ve cultivated, I’m grateful to ULS for being one of the forerunners in distance learning.”
Zoom, of course, was one way, but by launching Discord, an online platform in real time that allows students to join and discuss various topics and share ideas, DL students have more opportunities to
As for Zurcher’s immediate future plans, she hopes to graduate in 2026. She does not yet know what parish ministry will look like for her, but she would love to remain in the district area, if possible, and serve that community through ministry.
We thank you for your generosity in partnering with us in our mission of building and sustaining an affirming and diverse learning community of faithful, well-educated leaders. Giving to ULS is easy: Make an Online Gift | Give by Check | Legacy Giving | Stocks & Securities Visit uls.edu/GIVE to learn more or use the enclosed return envelope. Thank you for your faithful partnership!
Author Kate Bowler signed books after her lecture
Updates from ULS Operations
Philadelphia campus
The old boiler in the Schaeffer-Ashmead Chapel needed to be replaced last fall. Rather than install a similar boiler, we elected to use multiple smaller split systems, which had the added benefit of providing air conditioning in the chapel for the first time ever. The replacement of the old chiller in Brossman Center and the replacement of the building’s 20-year-old heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls will take place over the summer.
The IT department is planning an upgrade to a virtual private network (VPN) joining the two campuses, which will result in additional bandwidth dedicated to the intercampus VPN, as well as an increase in available internet bandwidth. This upgrade should be complete by the end of the summer.
Gettysburg campus
The long-awaited signage update is almost complete, transitioning from the old LTSG logo and colors to the current ULS brand.
Other works in progress: a porch replacement for Krauth House; basement bathrooms and bathroom additions in the Refectory; office refreshes in Valentine Hall; new seal coating for the Valentine parking lot; porch work (which is nearly complete) on Schmucker House, along with a new front door and exterior paint touch-ups; and, exterior patch and painting on Lewars House.
News from the Urban Theological Institute
This year’s Preaching with Power annual lecture in March featured the Rev. Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams, Professor of Old Testament at Virginia Theological Seminary and Senior Assistant to the Pastor for Teaching and Preaching at the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.
to right: The Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson from Dare to Imagine Church and Chair of the Urban Theological Institute’s Council of Advisors; Cassandra Ogbevire; Dr. Fentress-Williams; the Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin, ULS President; Earl Roberts; and the Rev. Dr. Quintin Robertson, Director of the Urban Theological Institute. Ogbevire and Roberts, both MDiv students in the Black Church Concentration program, were the recipients of the J.Q. Jackson Scholarship for highest GPA. Congratulations to both for earning this distinguished award!
A Message from ULS Worship Life
We find strength for our journeys in our commitment to gathering in worship as a community. All are welcome at both of our campuses for weekly Holy Communion services and additional student-led prayer. Throughout the year, these worships are recorded and archived on our YouTube page (@unitedlutheranseminary) so they can be viewed by our wider community of supporters and Distance Learners. On each campus after Wednesday Worship, we offer a Community lunch that is free to all.
All are welcome to join us and experience the great preaching, the close relationships, and the wonderful mysteries of faith!
“Forming community is at the core of worship life at ULS. As we are often scattered on Sundays with our own church commitments, it is important to be able to gather around the Word of God throughout the week. Hearing our professors, ULS staff and guests proclaim the Good News and administer the Lord’s Supper helps to center our community and studies on Christ. Through opportunities like Dinner Chapel, Night Prayer, and seasonal events such as Epiphany Apartment Blessings, students are also able to share their many talents to strengthen the spirituality of the community and to engage in fellowship. Students are also encouraged to bring their ideas and help plan worship services that interest them.”
– Brynn Anderson , MDiv student
Doberstein Window in Krauth Memorial Library
The beautiful Doberstein Window rises above the balcony found in the main stacks of the Krauth Memorial Library on the Philadelphia campus. It is a memorial to Professor John W. Doberstein (‘30P) a scholar of pastoral theology and homiletics whose friends contributed funds toward the window in his memory. Professor Doberstein served on the faculty of LTSP from 1947 to 1965. The window was installed in March 1975.
imaginations to determine for themselves what kind of story the artist is telling.
E. Crosby Willet interpreted Lawrence’s design by selecting the finest mouth-blown-pot-metal glass imported from France, England and Germany, along with some comparable domestic glass manufactured in West Virginia, to match in color and texture the sketch the seminary approved.
Philadelphia, Bishop Millicent Hunter, Pastor. The gala event was organized by Veronica Reynolds (’24P) and Regina Richardson (’24P).
Charles Lawrence, an artist at the Willet Stained Glass and Decorating Company in Philadelphia, designed the window, which he considered to be one of his finest accomplishments. The beauty of the abstract design, in addition to the harmonious combination of colors, lies in the fact that the interpretation is left to the viewers. It stimulates their respective
Today, the window overlooks a comfortable study area with cushioned chairs, a couch and table directly below it. On nice days, students and visitors to the library can bask in the sunlight refracted through the window while making use of the vast collection of resources in the library. The next time you are on the Philadelphia campus, take some time to visit—or revisit— the Doberstein Window.
Left
President Erwin joined past alumni and faculty from the Urban Theological Institute, who gathered in May at The Baptist Worship Center in
Alumni Profile
The Rev. Sarah (’05G) and Mr. Chad Hershberger (’10G)
One of Chad Hershberger’s childhood pastors once told him, “If God taps you on the shoulder, make sure you don’t say ‘no.’” He remembered that during his time at Camp Mount Luther in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, first as a third grade student, and then years later, as the camp’s executive director. While attending Pennsylvania State University, Hershberger worked at his institution as a counselor, realizing this kind of ministry was something he may someday want to do full time. Although Hershberger went on to do other work in public relations and as a radio news anchor/reporter on WKOK/WQKX in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, he remained involved as the camp’s board secretary and president. When the director resigned, Hershberger realized, “Here is my opportunity. It’s now or never.” He has served as Camp Mount Luther’s executive director since 2001.
“ The values of outdoor ministry made it a compelling choice. The sense of community—a place where I could be my authentic self and the ways in which everyone is treated with respect is a taste of heaven on earth— a taste of God’s kingdom.”
-Mr. Chad Hershberger (’10G)
Sarah (Voorhees) Hershberger loved her church experience growing up in the Chicago area. Weekend retreats at nearby Lutheran camps were part of what formed and solidified her faith at a young age, and she went on to attend Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. After graduating, she worked as an admissions counselor for Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, and then returned to Luther. The Lutheran heritage in both
of those institutions was an important part of her sense of call to ministry. Looking for a new adventure, she visited the Gettysburg campus and knew it was the right place for her. Since 2017, Sarah has served as pastor of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Grace’s congregation has sponsored various initiatives at Camp Mount Luther during its history.
“It’s fun to be married to the camp director,” she said. “My church is able to be involved in projects such as cabin sponsorship, providing new mattresses, curtains and spring clean-outs. We participate in the camp’s ‘Adopt a counselor’ project and have really enjoyed it. The church loved sending care packages to the counselors, and I enjoyed being the delivery person. I got to tell the congregation each week how much they were appreciated. I think it helps them understand being part of the larger church.”
When asked how they’ve seen others in their ministries discern a call and pursue theological education, Chad gave an example of a summer staff member who had attended ULS, became ordained and held a camp ministry internship, later becoming a director. Sarah shared an example of a ULS graduate who was trying to choose between a career in music versus outdoor ministries and committed to the latter.
Camp Mount Luther also has a long history of being closely tied to the Upper Susquehanna Synod, often hiring summer staff through this connection. Sarah sees outdoor ministries as a viable way to connect congregations with the synod. Sarah and Chad have ideas about how partnership between the ELCA and outdoor ministries can be strengthened through ongoing conversations about the benefits of this rewarding vocation and staff training. On this topic, Sarah said, “We’re part of something bigger.”
To learn more about Camp Mount Luther, visit campmountluther.org
Gettysburg Food Pantry Partnership
ULS operates food pantries on both campuses that are always open for students. They are overseen by Deacon Nancy Gable, our Director of Admissions. Victoria Jesswein, Associate Archivist in the Wentz Library, manages the Gettysburg campus food pantry and coordinates donations. We are grateful to partner with the Panera Bread Day-End Dough-Nation© Program, which donated more than $24,000 in 2023 to the Gettyburg pantry. Thank you, Panera, for your faithful partnership!
Kindling Faith Spring Update
Kindling Faith events continue to reach a variety of rostered and laypeople seeking opportunities for growth and faith formation. We are excited about upcoming events, all of which you can access by using a smartphone to scan the QR code below.
There is a series of events still in the development stage: the “Aging Grace-Fully Author Lecture Series.” We received a $250,000 grant from the Lutheran Foundation for Long Term Living (LFLTL) to implement this project.
“This exciting program will feature eight authors over a period of 18 months, who will give lectures on various aspects of aging adulthood,” said President Erwin. “The bulk of the grant will pay the authors’ speaking engagement fees, travel and accommodations. We will also buttress our own marketing efforts to reach the broadest possible audience.”
Kindling Faith will host this series in the Gettysburg campus chapel, which has a livestreaming option so people can also attend virtually. The seminary will collaborate with chaplains of all the church-affiliated senior living facilities within driving distance and leverage our alumni network to market the series to all synods of the ELCA, as well as its full-communion partners for those who cannot attend in person but want to see the presentations in a virtual format.
The event schedule will appear on our calendar soon, so please stay tuned!
Brandee Carrigan Joins ULS as New CFO
Brandee Carrigan joined ULS as Chief Financial Officer in January. Carrigan comes to ULS with extensive experience in the healthcare and nonprofit sectors, specializing in strategic financial analysis, budget planning, revenue allocation and team leadership. In addition to her executive consulting experience, Carrigan worked at Hoffman Homes for Youth in Littlestown, Pennsylvania; J. Terence Thompson in Hagerstown, Maryland; and Washington Township Municipal Authority in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Carrigan has also served as Director of Education and Director of Circle of Life Cooperative at the church organizations Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Frederick, Maryland and Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun in Leesburg, Virginia.
“Brandee brings a wealth of financial leadership experience to ULS,” President Erwin said. “I am confident her varied skills and advocacy for organizational change will be an asset to the seminary and look forward to working alongside Brandee and her team in the Office of Finance.”
Carrigan is based on the Gettysburg campus and makes regular visits to Philadelphia.
TULSAA Spring Update
Greetings from Northwestern Vermont!
As I write to you, we are in the green season of Ordinary Time, the Sundays after Pentecost. I am always so thankful for the predictability of the church year. The time we find ourselves in, however, is not ordinary. This time of year holds great significance for me, as I, like you, pray for peace in the Holy Land. My first visit there was in June 1993. Like many of you, I have made several visits and recognize places in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel where I have visited. I’ve made friends and shared memories. Unfortunately, the Holy Land is not the only place in the world experiencing violence and hardship. As we live the Ordinary Time of the church year and walk in the footsteps of Jesus and His disciples, may we be mindful of the needs of our sisters and brothers whose time is far from ordinary.
I am thankful that ULS continues in the tradition of its predecessor seminaries in preparing people to bear the “Good News” to all parts of the world. I hope you will join me in supporting the work of our seminary and the alumni association however you are able. Please help your alumni association keep in touch with you by updating your contact information on the ULS website at uls.edu/alumni.
For the last bit of news, the Alumni Association Board elected the Rev. Jeffrey Laustsen (’83P) to serve as vice president, and the Rev. Paul Larson (’21) to fill the vacancy on the board when the Rev. Dr. Donald Green needed to step down. The board and association send Dr. Green our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for his tireless service to TULSAA.
Peace and blessings,
The Rev. Rick Neu (’83P)
Student Profile
Pastor Emmanuel Mchomvu
Master
of Sacred Theology
Emmanuel Mchomvu came to the United States in 2010 to work as an international camp counselor. It was then that he met Rev. Clifton D. Eshbach, an LTSG alumnus and former assistant to the bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod, who took him to visit Camp Kirchenwald in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Mchomvu returned to Tanzania to continue his education, and after 12 years, returned to the U.S. to work as a counselor at Kirchenwald. A subsequent visit to the Gettysburg campus led him to consider attending seminary. Mchomvu returned to Tanzania, where the ongoing conflict with the Konde Diocese had ended. By then, he had applied to and was accepted at ULS, with the help of the Rev. Angela Hammer (’20) and the Rev. Karen Larson (’12G), both of whom were in Tanzania for a visit.
Gender from Tumaini University Makumira in Arusha, Tanzania. While in school, he taught at Matema Lutheran Bible School and served as a chaplain at Manow Lutheran Junior Seminary.
The downside of attending seminary in the U.S. is that Mchomvu misses his wife and two daughters in Tanzania. However, he does get to spend a month with them over Christmas break and time over the summer. He hopes to graduate from ULS in 2025 and will be able to work on his thesis while being home with his family. After that, his hope is to be assigned to one of the congregations in the Konde Diocese in Tanzania.
Mchomvu’s enrollment at ULS marks what is hoped to be the resumption of the relationship with the Konde Diocese or the Lake Tanganyika Diocese (LTD, formerly a mission area of Konde, became a separate diocese in 2014). He is the first Tanzanian student here since 2017.
When Mchomvu was 14, his church pastor asked him to lead Sunday worship. “I have no idea what I am doing,” he thought. “But standing in front of a congregation for the first-time reading text boosted my confidence. I thought, ‘I could do this. I can become a pastor.’ I was fortunate to be surrounded by people who encouraged me.”
“ I had many people supporting me when considering seminary, including those at the Lower Susquehanna Synod. For that, I am grateful.”
Mchomvu’s educational background before coming to ULS includes a diploma in theology from Tumaini University-Iringa College (now University of Iringa) in 2012. He then earned a Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology in Health and
“The fact that you can choose your own classes is very different here whereas in Tanzania, they’re already assigned to you,” Mchomvu said. “There’s also a lot of reading. I didn’t come from a community that read books, so this has been challenging but at the same time, a great opportunity. Another difference is that the instructors at ULS are very friendly.”
We agree and look forward to having more Tanzanian students enrolled at ULS in the future.
Countdown to Bicentennial 2026
More information about plans for the ULS Bicentennial will be forthcoming from the Planning Committee. Watch for updates at uls.edu
Asian Theological InstituteEncouraging PhD and ThD
Asians/Asian Americans Focused on Theological Education
Founded by the Rev. Dr. Paul Rajashekar (Director) in 2007, the Asian Theological Institute (ATI) held its annual Institute in May on the Philadelphia campus. Twenty students from universities around the globe joined seven faculty for a weeklong intensive. The ATI Institute is supported by Lilly Endowment, Inc. Read more at uls.edu/ati
Rev. Dr. Quintin Robertson , Director of the Urban Theological Institute, Black Church Studies Program and Administrative Faculty in Praxis was appointed to the Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in Atlanta in April. The Urban Theological Institute, under his direction, established a satellite certificate site this past spring at Salt & Light Church in Southwest Philadelphia, where the Rev. Cean James (ULS Board member) is pastor.
The Rev. Dr. Nelson Rivera , St. John’s Summit Visiting Professor of Theology and Ethics, attended two meetings of the 13th Round of the Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue in the United States in March and April. Discussion topics included the definition and nature of episkopé (oversight, shepherding, visitation), beginning with the New Testament writings, and ordination, while analyzing documentation on the ministry of the Church from previous national and international dialogues.
The Rev. Dr. J. Jayakiran Sebastian , Dean and Vice President of Student Services/The H. George Anderson Chair and Professor of Mission and Cultures, has received an invitation from the secretariat of the World Communion of Reformed Churches to serve as a faculty member of the Global Institute of Theology 2025, to be held in October 2025 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, immediately before the 27th General Council, which takes place the same month. This will be in the fall semester, after he has returned from his sabbatical. In May, Dr. Sebastian was one of the presenters at the Association of Theological School Global Conversations Webinar Series on the “Global Contexts of Mission and Partnerships.” In April, he gave a
lecture titled “Missiology Today: Problematizing Missio dei ” for the Asian and Asian American study of the history of Christianity at the Candler Foundry (Emory University) in association with the Asian Theological Institute.
The Rev. Dr. Gilson Waldkoenig , the Paulssen-Hale-Maurer Professor of Church in Society, has published an article entitled “Soundscapes and faith” in the July 2024 edition of Currents in Theology and Mission. The Appalachian Ministries Educational Resource Center of Berea, Kentucky, awarded a grant to ULS for Dr. Waldkoenig’s intensive immersion course, Environment and Religion in Northern Appalachia, that meets at Camp Lutherlyn in Butler, Pennsylvania, and explores ministry in the region.
The Rev. Dr. Storm Swain was promoted to full professor. Her new title is The Frederick Houk Borsch Professor of Anglican Studies, Pastoral Care and Theology, as of July 1.
Dr. Natalia Marandiuc, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, was granted tenure as of July 1.
The Rev. Dr. Mark Vitalis Hoffman , The Glatfelter Chair and Professor of Biblical Studies, and the Rev. Dr. Allison deForest , Kraft Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies in New Testament, are leading a ULS-sponsored trip to both Turkey and Greece in January 2025, and you are invited! The group will visit the sites of Paul and the churches of Revelation, ancient Greeks and Romans, other ecclesiastical and cultural highlights and so much more. Departure date is December 31, 2024 and return date January 17, 2025. Find more information and FAQs at CrossMarks.com/2025TurkeyGreece.
Recent Alumni News
Claudia D. Bergmann (G) accepted the invitation of Universität Paderborn, Germany, and is now the W3-Professor of Biblical Theology at that institution.
The Rev. Matthew Beset (’17G) began a call at Christ Lutheran Church in Allison Hill, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, serving as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church as well as Executive Director of the Christ Lutheran Health Ministries. The Health Ministries are composed of a free medical outreach clinic in partnership with Penn State Health, a free dental clinic, and in January, launched the Healthy on the Hill clinic, which is staffed by a licensed nurse practitioner who provides ongoing care to clients. Each year the clinics serve over 10,000 people. In October 2023, the book “American Roulette” was published, and Beset was one of 10 collaborators on it also originating the idea for the book. It is a novel about a mass shooting that follows the lives of eight characters over the course of one day until the event happens. Each character’s story is written by a different author. The point of the book is focus on the humanity in such horror and to change the conversation that happens around gun violence. The book is available anywhere people buy books, and its website is americanroulette.vip.
The Rev. Dr. James G. Cobb, (’73G), was in March named Theologian in Residence at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Williamsburg, Virginia, delivering four lectures on the concept of Christian nationalism, and he preached twice at his college alma mater parish (College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia).
The Rev. James R. Fuchs (’71G) was ordained October 17, 2010, via the colloquy process in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Previous to his ordination, Fuchs was an executive in a private U.S. company co-responsible for the operations of 27 facilities, assigned to work with congregations in severe conflict following Intentional Interim Ministry Training. Over the past two years, Fuchs completed all the coursework with the Ambassadors of Reconciliation and is now completing the number of cases required to receive the designation of Certified Reconciler with the Institute of Christian Conciliation. In fall 2023, his Advent-Epiphany devotional, “Ponderings Of My Heart: Mary the Mother of Yeshua,” was published by Christian Faith Publishing and has received favorable reviews. Fuchs also has received recognition from the Memorial Blood Bank system in the state of Minnesota being one of only 14 people who have donated over 100 gallons of blood products.
The Rev. Bridget Gautieri (’20) in July 2023 was called to be the next Coordinator of the ELCA Wittenberg Center in Wittenberg, Germany. Gautieri was ordained in August 2023 as a Minister of Word and Sacrament at Calvary Lutheran Church in Cranford, New Jersey, and has been working in Wittenberg full time since September 2023. Gautieri is responsible for orchestrating online and in-person seminars that highlight multicultural and diverse voices and theologies. She partners with local congregations to preach, lead worship and strengthen relationships between the ELCA and Lutheran churches in Germany. If you or your church ever come to Wittenberg, please email her at bridget.gautieri@elca.org.
Deacon Deborah Haynes (’15G) was selected in August 2023 to be Executive Director of Food for Others, the largest food bank in Northern Virginia.
The Rev. Steven Jensen (’73P) was contacted by StoryCorps to record 40+ minutes of vignettes of notable events in his career as a U.S. Navy chaplain during a conversation with his friend Andy Gasper, who is Executive Director of the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station. For more information, visit the FriendsofWindwardWoundedWarriors Facebook page.
Mrs. Sylvia Rosemergy (’90G) has lived in England, Cornwall specifically, since 1999. She serves as organist for St. Thomas Church (Church of England) in Heamoor, and also as a reader. Rosemergy would like to reconnect with her classmates, particularly those who were in the same pastoral education class, as well as her teacher James Winjum.
The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade (’00P & ’14P) was named President of the Academy of Homiletics (AOH) for the 2024 term. Dr. Schade is Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky. The AOH was founded in 1965 and now has nearly 300 members spanning every corner of the globe. Homiletics is the study of writing and preaching sermons. AOH membership is open to teachers and doctoral graduate students of homiletics. Dr. Schade has been involved with the AOH since 2010, when she was a Ph.D. student. She was elected to the organization’s Executive Committee in 2021 and served as second vice president in 2022 and first vice president in 2023. “Preaching Builds Bridges” is Dr. Schade’s theme for her tenure. “This year, we will consider the many and various ways homileticians and preachers build bridges, especially to historically underrepresented groups, as we move from the margins to the mainstream,” she said.
Alumni
“We will welcome the questions, observations and recommendations they have for crossing divides and interrogating the structures that undermine inclusivity, access, and representation of different perspectives.” For more information, visit https://lextheo.edu.
The Rev. Emilie Theobald-Rowlands (’08P) recently celebrated the 15th anniversary of her ordination and the 1-year anniversary as pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. Previously, Theobald-Rowlands served as the transitional interim pastor for St. John Lutheran Church in Lakeville (McZena), Ohio. Theobald-Rowlands lives in Strongsville, Ohio, with her husband Matthew and their 4-year-old daughter Elizabeth.
The Reverend Darrell L. Tiller (’20) was called in September 2023 to serve as Rector of the Historic St. Philips Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, New York, in the Diocese of Long Island. Since November 2020, Tiller has served as Priest-In-Charge at Grace Epiphany Episcopal Church Philadelphia and was ordained in June 2019 as a transitional Deacon to the Sacred Order of Priests in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. Tiller served as a transitional Deacon at the Historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, his sending parish, and as Deacon and Curate at The Church of the Good Shepherd-Rosemont. Before being ordained, Tiller dedicated his professional life to the service of young people through education—working in public and private schools, supervising music and arts staffs and facilitating access to higher education. Of particular importance was helping to serve those with limited resources gain access to the transformational possibilities of education. Tiller’s theological education includes the Boston University School of Theology and the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. He was a Bonnie Van Delinder Fellow and received a Master’s of Divinity and diploma in Anglican Studies from The United Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia.
In Memoriam
With hope in the power of resurrection, we share news of the death of the following alumni/ae. Rest eternal grant them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.
The Rev. James B. Miller (‘49P)
The Rev. Vernon F. Squire (‘51P)
The Rev. Peter W. F. Nodyne (‘52P)
The Rev. Carl H. Greenawald (‘53G)
The Rev. C. Roger Burkins (‘54P)
The Rev. Edward C. Harshbarger (‘56G)
The Rev. Helmut H. Kaffine (‘56G)
The Rev. Paul Baranek (‘57P)
The Rev. Charles W. Claus (‘57G)
The Rev. Peter G. Grimes (‘57P)
The Rev. Dr. Donald G. Sukosky (‘57P)
The Rev. Dr. Charles M. Heaps (‘58G)
The Rev. Nelson R. Sulouff (‘59G)
The Rev. Dr. Elton P. Richards (‘59P)
The Rev. Donald R. Piper (‘60G)
The Rev. Dr. Robert G. Hughes (‘62P)
The Rev. James D. Koones (‘62P)
The Rev. Dr. William N. Nicholson (‘62P)
The Rev. Melvin J. Hammer (‘64P)
The Rev. George E. Keck (‘64P)
The Rev. Stephen F. Yelovich (‘69G)
The Rev. Dr. Robert G. Goehrig (‘70G)
The Rev. Raymond W. Michener (‘73G)
The Rev. Dr. David J. Roppel (‘73P)
The Rev. Frederick H. Faust (‘74G)
The Rev. Frederick C. Heitzenroder (‘74P)
Mr. William L. Schmid (‘74G)
The Rev. Hyacinth J. Mordey Imhof (‘75P)
The Rev. Eugene F. Sharkey (‘77P)
The Rev. Arlene K. Greenwald (‘79P)
The Rev. Robert G. Kaltenbaugh (‘79G)
The Rev. Dr. Christopher N. Hershman (‘84P)
The Rev. Hugh J. Daley (‘85G)
The Rev. Muriel N. Heichler (‘86G)
Mrs. Pearl W. Hoffman (‘91G)
The Rev. Henry K. Johnson (‘92G)
The Rev. Dr. David K. Louder (‘94P)
The Rev. Danny N. Bodine (‘00P)
Deacon Jacqueline J. Mize-Baker (‘00P)
The Rev. Linda M. Thomas (‘01G)
The Rev. Cosmos Moenga (01P)
List as of 6/1/24
P and G distinguish the former LTSP and LTSG