Alumni Stories
Stephanie Coltvet
Associate Pastor
Lutheran Church of the Transfiguration
Bloomington, MN
Many people might think that seminary students are very serious and focused on what they're doing. That's true ... but at the same time they know how to have fun. They're regular people just like everybody else.
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Stephanie Coltvet
Associate Pastor
Lutheran Church of the Transfiguration
Bloomington, MN
According to Stephanie Coltvet, "many people might think that seminary students are very serious and focused on what they're doing. That's true ... but at the same time they know how to have fun. They're regular people just like everybody else."
Several years after graduating from Luther, Stephanie now serves as an Associate Pastor at Lutheran Church of the Transfiguration in Bloomington, MN. Looking back on her time living at Luther Seminary, Stephanie remembers the fun she had. "A lot of people might think that it can be a boring place, but it's not. Dorm life and knowing everyone was very exciting. Since Luther is in the Twin Cities area there are many fun things to do. We went to Twins baseball games, out dancing, and did a lot of other things."
Beverly Self
"Going to St. Paul was like going to Mecca," explains Beverly Self, describing her feelings about coming to a place so rich with Lutheran culture.
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Beverly Self
"Going to St. Paul was like going to Mecca," explains Beverly Self, describing her feelings about coming to a place so rich with Lutheran culture. To listen to Self speak of her background, her family, and her views of Lutheranism is to listen to a poet.
Considering her doctoral degree in English literature and master of arts in English composition and rhetoric, it's no wonder that Self's eloquence is equal to her passion. "We have borne out the truth," says Self. "The Lutheran church has the most pure interpretation of the gospel of any church I know."
Self is not making a hollow comparison. She was raised in a deeply religious family that includes Roman Catholics, Methodists, Nazarenes and Episcopalians. In fact, prior to entering seminary, Self was a licensed pastor with the Church of the Nazarene. "But I wasn't sure God had called me to be a pastor," she admits.
While enrolled in Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio, and still searching, Self, with her husband and son, started attending a Lutheran church. It was then that her path revealed itself to her. In her words, "I finally felt the call."
A deeply committed scholar, Self immersed herself in the writings of Luther. "I became a Lutheran because of Luther's articulation of doctrine. I became a 16th century Lutheran!"
"The Lutheran church is awakening to the fact that there are people who know nothing about God," explains Self. She considers that extremely exciting, as well as a challenge. "It calls you to examine your theology and how you express what evangelism means."
"When you say to people 'God loves you, just as you are' that's such an incredible, revolutionary truth. My experience is that people are dying to hear that and dying to see someone who believes that."
Mark Brown
Regional Representative for Jerusalem and the Middle East, Lutheran World Federation
Jerusalem, Israel
The Lord makes strange days for Palestinians and Israelis, locked in a struggle for the same Holy Land.
"It's easier to be a faithful Christian here," he says quietly. "You're prompted every day to wake up and reaffirm that today is the day that the Lord has made."
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Mark Brown
Regional Representative for Jerusalem and the Middle East, Lutheran World Federation
Jerusalem, Israel
The Rev. Mark Brown started April 2004 as Lutheran World Federation's regional representative for Jerusalem and the Middle East.
The Lord makes strange days for Palestinians and Israelis, locked in a struggle for the same Holy Land.
"It's easier to be a faithful Christian here," he says quietly. "You're prompted every day to wake up and reaffirm that today is the day that the Lord has made."
Brown's career issues are peace, justice and poverty. He first visited the Mideast as an undergraduate and returned as a Luther Seminary intern in Egypt. After graduation and ordination in 1982, he joined the ELCA's Division for Global Mission, moving to the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs in Washington, D.C., in 1991. He has organized initiatives to combat poverty, fight HIV, get rid of land mines and cancel poor nations' debt.
He has years of experience in the Mideast. In Ramallah, West Bank, he taught ethics and religion at a girls' school and was assistant pastor at Lutheran Church of Hope, a Palestinian Christian congregation. He also served as director of the Jerusalem office for the Middle East Council of Churches.
With LWF, Brown will go slowly. It may be the only way to go in the anguished Holy Land. Brown's mission is nothing less than peace and justice.
If that makes him a dreamer, he's not alone. "Jesus took sides," says Brown. "He was there for those who were oppressed and those who were suffering."
Jeannine Brown
Assistant Professor of New Testament
Bethel Seminary
St. Paul, MN.
Theologically, Luther is a different place than Bethel— but not that different. Both schools are very confessional and dedicated to the service of the church.
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Jeannine Brown
Assistant Professor of New Testament
Bethel Seminary
St. Paul, MN.
Even though she has graduated, Jeannine Kay Brown (Ph.D. 2002) still has close ties to Luther Seminary.
A member of the Baptist General Conference, Brown is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. "I grew up in a Lutheran church, and it was fairly comfortable to be studying at a Lutheran seminary," she said.
"Some people think there is a great gulf between the perspectives of the two schools but I don't see it that way at all," she explained. "Being there made me defend or at least think through some points regarding the authority of scripture, among other things, but I didn't want a doctoral program that wouldn't give me something to chew on."
"Theologically, Luther is a different place than Bethel -— but not that different," she added. "Both schools are very confessional and dedicated to the service of the church."
In addition to classroom teaching, Brown is involved in Bethel Seminary's distance learning program, InMinistry. "The distributive learning program is working very well," she said. "We use Blackboard, like Luther. Only a third of the courses are completely distance, so the students get a lot more face time."
Brown's New Testament studies at Luther were guided by Arland Hultgren. James Boyce and Mary Hinkle also served on her dissertation committee. "I had a great experience at Luther," she recounted. "In addition to his helpful work through my studies, Arland paved the way so my dissertation could be published."
Besides being available in the Luther Seminary library, Brown's dissertation is now available as a book, The Disciples in Narrative Perspective: The Portrayal and Function of the Matthean Disciples, published through the Society of Biblical Literature. In the book, Brown argues that while the disciples frequently fail to understand Jesus, they also do not progress toward greater understanding as the story unfolds. She uses this insight to consider Matthew's concept of discipleship.
Brown encourages students who are in the St. Paul area to take courses at Luther when it fits their Bethel schedules. The two seminaries are members of the Minnesota Consortium of Theological Schools.
"I talk Luther up all the time, encouraging Bethel students to take courses through the consortium," Brown said. "We don't have a John course— just one class on all of the gospels— and at the quarter, when we've covered the fourth gospel, I tell the students that if they want the whole story they should take Craig Koester's course at Luther."
The relationship extends to more basic courses, like instruction in Greek and Hebrew as well. "We have just one Hebrew class each year, so students have the choice of taking one of the several sections offered at Luther," she said. "Last year, I had a student from Luther take my intermediate Greek class. Later, I was able to connect with him on his thesis project."
Brown remembers one Luther student who was a little wary to be taking courses at Bethel. "He was relieved when he learned I had gone to Luther. I think it was a good experience for him," she said. "I try to be the bridge between the two and look forward to making more connections."
Daniel Rakotojoelinandrasana
International Alum
I am from Madagascar ... from a village where the first Lutheran Norwegian missionaries made their station. Active involvement with the church gave me the desire to be a missionary and to be involved in the ministry of the church.
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Daniel Rakotojoelinandrasana
International Alum
"I am from Madagascar. I was born into a Christian family, a third or fourth Christian generation. I came from a village where the first Lutheran Norwegian missionaries made their station. Active involvement with the church gave me the desire to be a missionary and to be involved in the ministry of the church.
My passions in ministry relate the church to healing ministry, preaching and teaching. I want to see how the gospel is saving human beings fully, both in the here and now and in the hereafter, with regard to what human beings need individually and as a community.
I learned many things at Luther regarding academics, but also about Lutheran confessions and the 'Lutheran' approach to church ministry. As an international student, coming to Luther was an eye-opener to another world. Luther was different from what I was used to seeing in my country and in my previous educational world. Cultural and technological novelties were big at Luther. Trying to know and to relate to people was a tremendous enterprise.
I plan to ultimately return to Madagascar. Before that, I would like to stay a few more years either in the United States, Canada, or in a mission field."
Paul Koch
Pastor at Pine Grover Lutheran in Roseau, Minn.,
Bethesda Lutheran & Riverside Lutheran
Wannaska, MN
The Luther Seminary community is formed by a good mix of people who are at different places in their lives and have diverse experiences.
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Paul Koch
Pastor at Pine Grover Lutheran in Roseau, Minn.,
Bethesda Lutheran & Riverside Lutheran
Wannaska, MN
Reflecting upon his time as a student at Luther, Paul Koch says, "The Luther Seminary community is formed by a good mix of people who are at different places in their lives and have diverse experiences. Some students live off campus and others live on campus. Some have come right out of college and some have come here after another career.
Generally people find their own niche at Luther -— their own groups of friends. There are a number of interest groups to join and other campus activities. The students do a good job at leading activities and taking the initiative to provide activities that contribute to community life at Luther."
Jon Campbell
The MSM program really gave me a sense of vocation. I grow as a person of faith as I do what I love.
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Jon Campbell
Jon came to seminary well prepared, having spent his youth active in choral music. There are few sacred music programs available in the U.S., and Luther Seminary shone like a beacon. "Just to have the audition was a thrill to me," Jon says. "I was passionately excited afterward. The MSM program really gave me a sense of vocation," he says. "I grow as a person of faith as I do what I love."
A lot of what Jon took away with him from Luther is an awareness of new connections— a personal network that allows him access to industry experts and consultants, but also a sense of being a connector for others. "Being pastoral and musical, I understand the pastor's language and the concerns of theology," he says. "But I also understand the concerns of other groups— the artists and lay members. Because of the MSM program, it's easier for me to be a bridge between the two."
Doing what he loves has brought Jon much joy. One of the delightful surprises has been working with kids. "Although not my specialty in training, the enthusiasm of the young people has been more than I expected," he says. "Adults tend to be a little set in their ways, but kids don't have any prejudices. They don't know something's hard, they just do it." Jon makes daily use of the philosophy he learned at seminary: "Give them something to grow into instead of grow out of. Give them the best."
Shaun Halland
Music Leader & Choir Director
Edina Community Lutheran Church
Edina, MN
"I grew up in a congregation that fostered young musicians and have always felt 'right' in that setting," Halland said. His undergraduate degree qualified him for many church music positions, "But I felt ... I needed a stronger foundation of education before I would feel comfortable serving a congregation."
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Shaun Halland
Music Leader & Choir Director
Edina Community Lutheran Church
Edina, MN
Halland spent two years as a high school music teacher when he felt called to make music in church.
"I grew up in a congregation that fostered young musicians and have always felt 'right' in that setting," he said. His undergraduate degree qualified him for many church music positions, "But I felt ... I needed a stronger foundation of education before I would feel comfortable serving a congregation."
His search for a graduate program began and ended with Luther. "The combination of the theological grounding at Luther Seminary and the practical musical education at St. Olaf proved to be a great draw. The opportunity to work with teachers who are devoted to the idea of educated church musicians was extremely enticing. So it had to be Luther!" he said.
Initially, it was the opportunity to study with St. Olaf faculty that attracted him to the program. But from the time of Halland's audition, Luther's Paul Westermeyer has made an impression on him. In addition to his "great care and concern for each student in the program," Halland said, "Dr. Westermeyer brings an incredible wealth of knowledge and professionalism to the program at Luther." The entire MSM faculty is "second to none ... when it comes to the development of church musicians," Halland said.
While he misses the classroom, "much of the church musician's work is education, so in many ways I have been able to combine both passions in my work," he said. He hopes to have more teaching opportunities in the future.
For now, the church is his focus. His goal for his work is to "ensure that each member feels ... they can participate in worship," he said. "If I enable 'user-friendly' worship that engages each member, I feel as though I am doing what I was called to do."
Jill Abenth
There's the call that's inside of you and there's the call that comes from other people. I listened to both.
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Jill Abenth
Jill Abenth says she came to Luther Seminary for herself.
"I had been turned on by a couple of (college) religion classes, and wanted to study more," she said. "But I soon realized that I was being prepared for work that I would do for others."
Her work as a director of Christian education and the encouragement of that congregation helped her see where her gifts were. "There's the call that's inside of you and there's the call that comes from other people. I listened to both."
Abenth received her master of arts in Christian education in 2003 and will continue her part-time Christian education ministry. She feels Luther Seminary has helped her become more comfortable talking about God and finds herself more able to do so in a "conversational, everyday way with everyday people."
Abenth never envisioned her current situation when she enrolled at Luther Seminary. She's glad she didn't wait until she had it all figured out.
"A lot of people wait to come to a place like seminary until they think they've got it all figured out," she said. "But I've discovered that it's really been a place for me to come and explore."
Dorothy Tate
Volunteer Curriculum Developer
Being a Christian means getting out of your comfort zone and stepping into God's kingdom.
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Dorothy Tate
Volunteer Curriculum Developer
The Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis has a reputation for epitomizing the worst of urban life. But in the last decade or so, it has gained similar attention for the high-caliber people who have collaborated to address the neighborhood's problems and make it a model of urban revitalization.
Luther graduate Dorothy Tate (M.A., 2004) is one such person. Twelve years ago, Tate began volunteering at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 25th and Columbus in the Phillips neighborhood.
Like many churches, Messiah offered one traditional and one contemporary service, with distinct communities of parishioners growing up around each. Some found the lack of connection between the two troubling. So they decided to try blending the two communities by offering a class between the services.
Tate volunteered to develop curriculum for a lectionary text class. Each Sunday, participants read and discussed texts for the coming week, helping prepare them for next week's sermon. Tate supplied information about the Hebrew and Greek texts, providing further study for well read "long-time Lutherans," she said. Participants were encouraged to do further reading on the texts at home as well.
Now in its sixth year, the class has been well received. "The participants like it," Tate said. "People are excited about it." Likewise, Messiah's pastors think it's a great idea, including Tate's husband, Earnest Tate, a 1994 Luther graduate.
Tate's goal is not to present the lessons but to train others to do it. "This is what discipleship is about," she said.
Attending Luther was particularly helpful in this regard. Tate had participated in Bible studies before but lacked the confidence to take a leadership role.
"My comfort zone was not there before I had formal training. But I had the will and desire," she said.
A life-long Methodist, Tate most appreciated the systematics classes for the overview of Christian teaching and exposure to theologians they provided.
Her time at Luther also helped her address some misconceptions. One she kept hearing was that "Your works are what are required for you to make a transformation," she said. Another was an emphasis on judging. "We spent way too much time on judgment things ... and not enough time on what Jesus would want us to do."
An ethnically and economically diverse community like Phillips provides ample opportunity to do "what Jesus would want us to do." Neighborhood residents "have really special gifts," Tate said, but cannot exercise them because it is often a struggle for them to secure basic necessities like food and shelter.
Completing an M.A. degree – including both Hebrew and Greek – in just two years was tough, Tate said. But, as her work in the Phillips neighborhood has shown, being a Christian, she said, means getting out of your comfort zone and stepping into God's kingdom.
