Luther Seminary is pleased to welcome Sara Wilhelm Garbers as the new director of admissions. In the following, we invite you to get to know Sara a bit in her own words.
What’s your favorite spot on campus?
The Resurrection Garden, (located adjacent to Northwestern Hall).
Describe your overall goal as Director of Admissions at Luther Seminary.
I want to be part of helping Luther Seminary be a strong place of theological education far into the future. As director of admissions I hope to influence this through the identification of leaders who need to study here, to build deepened relationships with our constitutiencies, and continue to evaluate best practices for admission.
After talking with students and alums, what would you say is the best thing about studying here?
The diversity of the staff, students and faculty, as well as the common commitment to educate leaders for Christian communities rooted in our biblical, confessional, and missional identity.
What’s your favorite Bible passage and why?
I just graduated from seminary so that’s hard! John 3:16, John 10:10 and Micah 6:8 … I love any of the passages that remind us of God’s love, and that challenge us towards freedom and gospel-rooted justice movement.
What kind of books do you read for fun?
I read books that not everyone would think are actually fun. My favorites are books of feminist/womanist and liberation theology, intercultural learning and books of authentic coming to self/awakening stories. Plus an old-school well-written fiction piece is always lovely!
What are you currently reading?
I just finished reading “Poisonwood Bible” and “Dance of the Dissident Daughter.” I am picking up “Three Cups of Tea” and “Generation to Generation: Family Processes in Church and Synagogue.”
Your desert island list: author, singer or musical group, food, person?
Hands down. Person. Andy Garbers, my spouse of more than two years. He is truly my favorite person in the whole world. We did a 10-day road trip last fall down the west coast and at the end, I just wanted to spend more time with him.
What’s your favorite place to be in the Twin Cities?
Northeast Minneapolis (where I live), the Lakes (Isles, Harriet, and Calhoun), St. Anthony Main and (of course!) Luther Seminary
You just received your Master of Divinity. What’s the best thing you took away from that experience?
That God is bigger than I ever thought possible and that following Christ and loving my neighbor requires more of me than I want to give. On a real personal level I experienced a lot of transformation throughout my time at seminary. I found that facing God invites us to face ourselves and, while painful, this is the most freeing thing in the world.
When it comes to theology, what questions or topics interest you the most?
Topics about the intersection of gender and culture, and embodiment. I love reading feminist, post-colonial and other constructive theologies.
You’ve traveled quite a bit. What’s your most memorable travel experience and where were you?
Traveling to San Francisco and specifically to Alcatraz. I could experience the world there. There were so many languages and people. Seeing Alcatraz was the answer to a 20-plus-year dream for me (we were unable to visit on a family trip years ago). I love mystery and love imagining the lives of those who had been imprisoned there. Also, I had a wonderful experience of learning of the American Indian occupation of the island from 1969-1971 in response to the Indian Elimination Act. It is a powerful story of solidarity and I am always fascinated by the stories of the oppressed and marginalized that are forgotten or suppressed.
What has been the best day of your life so far?
There are two—graduating from seminary and getting married. The reason is because there is nothing so beautiful to me as seeing my community come together and experience the wonder first-hand of how great they all are and become friends with each other. Community is such a rich gift.
Name something you’d like to accomplish within the next 10 years.
Become a more wise, humble, and interculturally thoughtful leader. Help Luther Seminary to continue its legacy into the future. Get a Ph.D. Live life and have a posture of increasing gratitude and authenticity toward becoming the person I desire to be.