Brian Beckstrom in his blog, “Living Lutheran in college,” today discusses being a pastor at an ELCA college. The ELCA partners with 26 colleges and universities. If you went to one of them, which one was it?
What was it about life at the school that made the experience memorable?
1st, Hi Brian and blessings to you! Great blog!
I graduated from Augsburg College, '98. The memories I hold closely are of the Augsburg Choir & Peter Hendrickson & the whole music dept., the religion dept. (especially Phil II, and Mark Tranvik), campus ministry and Dave Wold, and first and foremost the history dept. (especially Don "Gus" Gustafson).
I had Lutheran leaders as guides and teachers at Augsburg! Their leadership has helped to guide me in years past and today; in my music career (and ministry) and in my long (not yet accomplished) process of getting an MA. And their many great words keep ringing in my ears as I serve on the council at my church.
David Preus called the colleges of the ALC its "crown jewels." I hope that is true of the ELCA, also.
I fear the ELCA neglects its colleges (and vice versa). Today (and maybe not tomorrow without guidance) there is so much talent and leadership in our colleges for our church. And potential! I pray we don't squander these "crown jewels" and again look to them for many of our pastors and lay leadership.
-Cal Hanson
I'm an '05 graduate of Luther College. I loved my experience there, but in the years since I graduated, I have come to value it even more. I have talked to friends who work with youth, observed my younger brother who did not have the same college experience I did, and talked to a person who has served in campus ministry both at an ELCA college and in Lutheran Campus Ministry. The Lutheran colleges connect faith and learning in a way that many of our congregations do not do. The Lutheran college experience also helped shape my VOCATION, not just prepare me for a job (one could argue that it was actually weaker at job preparation, but I've done just fine!). Going to a Lutheran college was not just a way to surround myself with like-minded people of a similar faith background. There were a variety of students of all backgrounds. I was proud to say that the Muslim Students and Allies Association was PART of college ministries. True, there were others who were threatened by the ACADEMIC religious requirements (either lack of interest or a struggle to reconcile academic study with "Sunday school" study) and others who didn't agree with certain aspects of the faith expressions on campus, but I won't trade it for anything.