Alumni Stories
Deborah Hutterer
Executive Director
Augsburg College
Minneapolis, MN
The prospect of embarking on a four-year seminary education can be daunting. But imagine adding a four-year undergraduate degree requirement to that. That's what Deborah Hutterer (M.Div. 2004) faced when colleagues encouraged her to go into the preaching ministry.
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Deborah Hutterer
Executive Director
Augsburg College
Minneapolis, MN
The prospect of embarking on a four-year seminary education can be daunting. But imagine adding a four-year undergraduate degree requirement to that. That's what Deborah Hutterer (M.Div. 2004) faced when colleagues encouraged her to go into the preaching ministry.
At that time, "I hadn't even attended college," she said. "I thought seminary was an impossibility. I had forgotten that, with God, nothing is impossible."
As though testament to that, Hutterer did get her undergraduate degree, attended seminary and now serves as Executive Director at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN.
When asked what she found most helpful at Luther, Hutterer rattles off a long list of professors and experiences. But one was especially valuable. During her senior year, she was student leader for a research project that was used to start a mission congregation. "It was a valuable lesson in partnerships -- working together as seminary students, professors, synod, the ELCA -- as well as an excellent opportunity to gain skills necessary for contextual ministry," she said.
But education cannot prepare one for everything.
"Although the work here can seem overwhelming at times -- there are so many things I do not know about building projects and building communities of faith -- I do know that God has called me to this place at this time," she said. "The Holy Spirit is blowing in this place and we are all being transformed. That is more than satisfying, it is exciting."
John Nelson
Senior Pastor
Gethsemane Lutheran Church
Hopkins, MN
"Following college I had two choices, go to seminary or move to Vail, Colo., and be a ski bum-- I went to Vail." But God's call followed him there.
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John Nelson
Senior Pastor
Gethsemane Lutheran Church
Hopkins, MN
"When I was little, people would ask me 'Are you going to be a pastor like your daddy?'" recalls John Nelson. His answer? "No!" Now, Nelson serves at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Hopkins, MN.
"Following college I had two choices, go to seminary or move to Vail, Colo., and be a ski bum-- I went to Vail." But God”s call followed him there. "The Lutheran church in Vail asked me to run the mountain top worship services each Sunday," Nelson said. "God was saying, 'Fine, Jonah, you can run, but I'll just put you to work here!'"
He soon became rostered as an associate in ministry and within three years Nelson was "doing everything except presiding over communion. I felt called to serve the congregation more completely." That year, Nelson became one of Luther's first Internet-based students, finishing his entire first year online.
"At seminary I developed a passion for evangelism. I focused on outreach and adult education in order to empower people to live a life of discipleship and mission. This past year, I found a church interested in those same goals."
Still, "the challenge of leading a congregation in mission is much harder than I anticipated," Nelson says. "Remember, there's a cost to discipleship." Nelson likens the challenge to scaling the mountains of Colorado. "I've discovered the climb is much longer than I thought, and I am now much more patient and poised for perseverance than I was when I graduated."
Mary Bosell
Associate Pastor
Burlington Lutheran Church
Burlington, Wash.
Mary Bosell has been on quite a ride since she graduated from Luther Seminary. While she now serves as associate pastor at Burlington Lutheran Church in Burlington, Wash., parish ministry wasn't always the first option in Bosell's mind.
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Mary Bosell
Associate Pastor
Burlington Lutheran Church
Burlington, Wash.
Mary Bosell has been on quite a ride since she graduated from Luther Seminary. While she now serves as associate pastor at Burlington Lutheran Church in Burlington, Wash., parish ministry wasn't always the first option in Bosell's mind.
"My husband, Eric, and I started in seminary with our eyes set on the far horizon," she explained. "Mission is my first love. Taking a position in a parish in America required some mental and emotional gymnastics--I'm still doing some of those."
In 1989, Bosell went with her husband to China to teach English. They ended up living in China and Hong Kong for the next eight years. They both converted to Lutheranism while working for a Norwegian Lutheran mission in Hong Kong. "We were working for a mission and we became converts for the missionaries!" she said.
"In the process of doing interfaith dialogue for the magazine produced by the missionaries, we came to realize more clearly who we are, the roots of our own faith," Bosell explained. "Surprisingly, we found that the clearest expression of our faith is in Lutheranism. I fell in love with Lutheran theology and that's why I came to seminary."
Bosell understands mission to still be at the heart of her call. "To bring that alive in a hundred-year-old parish that's just starting to realize its missional identity in a changing context is a wonderful challenge."
Bosell's commitment to interfaith dialogue has informed her transition into parish ministry. "The first step in a dialogue is careful and compassionate listening-- that's what I'm still doing," she explained. "The next step is to be an authentic presence. That authenticity is the life-blood of your ministry."
For Bosell, growing into the needs and demands of parish ministry has been a process of discovery. "I've had to reinvent myself in all kinds of ways," she said. "I never signed on to do youth ministry, yet I have become willing to do that. This is my mission field."
Parish ministry, like missionary work, might require a person to learn a new language. "Are you willing to learn a new dialect?" she said of youth ministry. "I've decided that I will learn to speak a dialect-- youth-- in order to communicate the gospel to this segment of the population. At that point, ministry becomes less about my desires and more and more about giving them Jesus."
Bosell is in dialogue with her context as well, building relationships that have been a source of joy. "I've been working quite a bit with a Hispanic mission down the road," she said. "Through Tierra Nueva (New Earth), I came into contact with a man named Gonzalo. I invited him to our Lenten soup suppers; he's the only person of color in our church.
"After he got used to the idea, he started coming to our morning worship, even though his English is quite poor," she added. "I had a conversation with him about enrolling in English as a second language classes, but he explained that his main problem is profound hearing loss in one ear.
"Just this morning, though, I got him connected with someone in the congregation who has access to free hearing analysis and hearing aids!" Bosell exclaimed. "The first step is getting him the hearing aids; the second step is to get him those ESL classes-- the good people of this congregation will be excited about that.
"It is my privilege to share the wealth and let them participate in this story of redemption."
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."
Krista Lind
Director of the Student Resource Center
Luther Seminary
My being an AIM gives the church an opportunity to affirm the gifts I see in myself and to know that I am not alone.
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Krista Lind
Director of the Student Resource Center
Luther Seminary
If you're interested in preparing for service as a rostered leader in the ELCA, Krista Lind is someone you'll want to get to know. Luther Seminary's Coordinator for Candidacy and Placement, Lind was rostered as an Associate in Ministry (AIM) after receiving her Master of Religious Education degree in 1997.
She assists master of divinity students in the candidacy and call process through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She also provides job search resources for master of arts students.
Lind strongly believes that the work of professional lay ministry is vital to the future of the church. "The seminary not only prepares folks for ordained ministry, which is still an essential need for the church, but also challenges folks of many denominations to seek out new avenues of leadership through their theological education. This is what excites me and encourages me to keep learning and growing as a leader in this community."
"My being an AIM gives the church an opportunity to affirm the gifts I see in myself and to know that I am not alone," she said. "The church has recognized my gifts, lifted them up for leadership in the church and has in turn promised to be my support along the way."
Krista urges people interested in developing their skills for lay ministry to "use every opportunity to test out your calling. Remember that God calls people to many and varied tasks in the world and even if you are not feeling called to ordained ministry, God is calling you to do something. So rise up as a called child of God to seek and serve God's people as you have been gifted to do."
If you're interested in learning about professional lay ministry through the Associate in Ministry program, visit www.elca.org/dm/candidacy/roster.html#aim.
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."
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."
Kristine Stache
Doctor of Philosophy Student
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Kristine Stache
Doctor of Philosophy Student
"The first on-line course I took was the Pentateuch course with Dr. Richard Nysse. It was a combination class, meeting on site once a week with discussion groups working online. I chose the course because I was already working full-time and had a child at home. Finding a class to fit my schedule was difficult."
"The second course I took was completely online. It was on the Book of Matthew. In fact, I didn't see the course instructor until after the class had ended. It was also a positive experience for me, since my family size had increased and my schedule at work was getting more difficult. The online course allowed me to work in the evenings, after my children were in bed."
"This helped me accomplish what I needed to do at school, as well as meet the needs of my family."
Olga Auchenbach
Master of Social Work & Master of Arts, International Alum
From their genesis in Jerusalem, churches have always struggled with how to integrate social and theological concerns. For Olga Auchenbach (MA/MSW 2002), this integration was achieved through a unique program administered jointly by Luther Seminary and Augsburg College.
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Olga Auchenbach
Master of Social Work & Master of Arts, International Alum
From their genesis in Jerusalem, churches have always struggled with how to integrate social and theological concerns. For Olga Auchenbach (MA/MSW 2002), this integration was achieved through a unique program administered jointly by Luther Seminary and Augsburg College. In addition to the Master of Social Work, Auchenbach earned an M.A. in Leadership & Mission.
The two degrees required for the program are most often taken successively. Auchenbach chose to complete the seminary degree before beginning the social work program at Augsburg. At Luther, Auchenbach earned the MA in Leadership for Mission in which she developed a concentration in pastoral care and counseling.
A native of Slovakia with a background in the humanities, Auchenbach saw in the program an opportunity for theology to be used in practice. "I wanted to go beyond a theoretical knowledge of the Bible to apply Scripture in a practical way," she said. "This program allows for theology to be used in practice."
Auchenbach learned of the MA/MSW program through her work as a translator for Dr. Paul Berge, an emeritus professor at Luther. Auchenbach received scholarships through the ELCA and the Lutheran World Federation. On her experience at Luther, Auchenbach says, "what I enjoyed the most about studying at Luther was the fellowship that I had with other students and the variety of countries represented there. There were opportunities to learn so much about the Church on a global level."
"There was a large community of international students so I didn't feel I was alone when I began my studies here. It was helpful for me to find friends who were able to listen and learn about another country. I was also able to formulate friendships that are going to last. The community at Luther Seminary was very welcoming to international students so the transition was not too difficult."
She has been pleased with how the two degree programs work together. "Because of the awareness and willingness of the faculty and staff at both Augsburg and Luther, I've had opportunities to utilize both my seminary education and my social work training," she said. "This has allowed me to work with my clients in a holistic way.In several situations, I have been able to facilitate conversations in which clients were able to discuss their spirituality; this helps them meet their goals and to grow as people."
Auchenbach has been working at the Christian Recovery Center, an agency that assists people who have suffered sexual, emotional or physical abuse, through spirituality-based approaches. "A lot of my clients would come with issues that had underlying theological dilemmas: 'Does God hate me?' 'Am I a person that matters to God?' Having the knowledge-base to have a conversation about those issues was useful," she said.
Social work is a diverse field that addresses many different issues. Auchenbach hopes to bring some of this diversity into the missional awareness of the churches she serves. "We tend to neglect to see problems that we as the church could meet as the body of Christ," she said. "I am excited about the potential uses for the education I received at Luther and Augsburg."
Auchenbach and her husband, Josh, plan to return to Slovakia. "My dream is to develop a program or center that can use pastoral care and counseling to meet the social needs of the communities surrounding our churches," she said.
One community of special concern for the church in Slovakia is the Roman population, known pejoratively as Gypsies. "Because of the stigma attached to the population, they lack services and are often not employed," Auchenbach said. "Our church has been trying to reach out, but there is a social aspect --- housing, welfare, education --- that needs to be dealt with as well."
Paul Nynas
Pastor of Children, Youth & Family Ministry
Hope Lutheran Church
Fargo, North Dakota
For Paul Nynas, both seminary education and pastoral ministry are all about teamwork.
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Paul Nynas
Pastor of Children, Youth & Family Ministry
Hope Lutheran Church
Fargo, North Dakota
For Paul Nynas (MDiv, 2003), both seminary education and pastoral ministry are all about teamwork. "My time at Luther gave me the opportunity to meet and find mentors like Rollie Martinson as well as meet classmates with whom I could be in conversation about ministry and share my passion and ideas," he said. "Those were opportunities to talk about theology, talk about life, and grow."
Nynas, now Pastor of the Children, Youth & Family Ministry at Hope Lutheran in Fargo, North Dakota, benefited from Luther Seminary's partnership with Youth Leadership, Inc., by working toward a certificate of concentration in youth and family ministry.
"It's difficult to pinpoint one part of my seminary education that has benefited me more than any other. It's a good experience that causes you to stretch your thinking," he explained. "It was the mix of practical and classroom experience that was helpful for me. My Youth Leadership internship and my pastoral internship were both instrumental in shaping my present ministry."
After graduation, that practical experience kicked into high gear. "I work on a team of pastors. We all share pastoral responsibilities like preaching, teaching, visitations, responding to crises, along with weddings and funerals," Nynas said. "And in a 7400 member church with two campuses, that's quite a bit."
"The other part of my job is to think big-picture --- conceptually and theologically --- regarding the shape children, youth and family ministry can and should take here," he added.
That sort of visioning isn't just a matter of sitting at a desk and coming up with new ideas. "Really, it involves a lot of listening," Nynas explained. "Asking the right questions, building relationships with my staff, meeting and being with people --- those are the most important aspects of what I do."
These relationships form the foundation for Nynas as he seeks to be part of a ministry team. "To be part of a team, you need to know how to communicate well, share responsibility, and build trusting relationships with your colleagues," he said. "Within our team, it's exciting to see how our personalities and leadership styles are the same and how they're different, and to see how these fit together to further God's mission."
Working with a team comes with challenges as well. "Sometimes you think it would be easier to just do something, but working on a team means that you have to value the opinions and priorities of others," Nynas explained. "It means checking a lot of pride and ego at the door and continuing to listen. This is about building relationships in Christ rather than just directing a program."
As a young minister, Nynas is conscious of the fact that he isn't reinventing the wheel. "I'm not building this program from scratch. I've entered into a ministry that was already dynamic and I'm trying to find ways to continue its growth and expansion," he said.
"We're constantly exploring new and creative ways to proclaim the Gospel to the young people we serve."
