Mission and Ministry (M&M) Forums

Each Thursday lunch hour during the academic year, in the Olson Campus Center,the Global Mission Institute partners with Cross-Cultural Education to provide special discussion forums. These lunchtime forums are informal gatherings where students and other people from the community can learn about and process through various topics, including cross-cultural ministry, missiology, opportunities for involvement in the global church, and issues of peace and social justice.Faculty and other knowledgeable presenters lead discussions and attendees are welcome to come and go as needed.

The Mission and Ministry Forums are held Thursdays from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Purpose

  • The forums are to connect the seminary experience to wider contexts by bringing to campus resource people in cross-cultural, global mission, and peace & justice areas of interest.
  • The program is to highlight the diversity and expertise of our students, staff, faculty, and community resources by creating times for sharing stories and experience.
  • The forums are to function as a vital link between the Global Mission Institute and the Cross-Cultural Education Program a well as the Mission and World Christianity emphasis.

Immediate Goals

  1. To promote conversation with people in faith, mission, and peace & justice work.
  2. To provide opportunities for learning which have a multi-cultural focus.
  3. To increase the visibility of the seminary's own cross-cultural resource people.
  4. To better connect the campus with other global contexts.

Long Range Goals

  1. To foster a spirit of cooperation and community among those interested in cross-cultural mission, ministry, and learning.
  2. To augment implications of Christian faith and seminary learning.

M&M Forums for Spring Semester 2010:

Thursday, February 11th, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.

Travels in the Holy Land

Come hear from students and faculty about their recent travels through the Holy Land this January. This trip was an international cross-cultural course led by Dr. Gary Simpson.

Location: Campus Center - Auxiliary Dining Room


Thursday, February 18th, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.

Ubuntu: African Way of Seeing the World

Ubuntu is an African philosophy and phrase that literally means "humanity towards others." How does this concept shape a person's view of the world and how can it help form and challenge our own perceptions? Come and hear a presentation and discussion on Unbuntu by Luther Seminary's own Ph.D student Margaret Obaga, who is Kenyan.

Location: Campus Center - Auxiliary Dining Room


Thursday, February 25th, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

My Name is Child of God…Not “Those People”: A First Person Look at Poverty

Come talk to the author of My Name is Child of God…Not “Those People”: A First Person Look at Poverty.  Hear Julia Dinsmore’s personal story of living in poverty in Minneapolis and her work in community organizing.

Location: Campus Center - Seminar Room 2


Thursday, March 4th, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.

No M&M forum today

Due to visit of Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb (He will be preaching in chapel)

Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, world-renowned Lutheran pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem is visiting Luther Seminary! He has served Lutheran Christmas Church since 1988, is a well known Palestinian theologian, and the founder of the DIYAR consortium (which is three institutions that served the Palestinian community in Bethlehem through culture, health and education).


Thursday, March 11th, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.

Casa de Esperanza

In honor of International Women’s Day (March 8th) the Latina organization Casa de Esperanza is presenting! Casa de Esperanza focuses on strengthening communities to end domestic violence. They will be presenting on ways congregations can address this issue. For more information visit: http://www.casadeesperanza.org

Location: Campus Center - Seminar Room 2


Thursday, March 18th, 11:45 A.M.-12:30 p.m.         (NOTE EARLIER START TIME)


Ministry in Czechoslovakia under Communist Rule

Come hear from our own professor Dr. Dirk Lange on his experiences as a Taize brother in Prague under communism.  

Location: Campus Center - Seminar Room 2


Friday, March 19th, 12:00-1:00 P.M.

Parliament of the World's Religions

Come hear from Luther Seminary students about their time at the Parliament of the World's Religions that they attended in Melbourne, Australia. First held in 1893, the Parliament has been held every 5 years since 1993, in cities around the world. The event is designed to cultivate cooperation and harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual communities in pursuit of creating a just, peaceful and sustainable world. This year Luther Seminary students Sarah Anderson (M.Div. ‘11), Aimee Appell (M.Div. ‘10), Stephanie Bliese(M.A. ‘10), Elizabeth Flomo (M.Div. ‘10) and John Klawiter (M.Div. ‘12), accompanied by President Richard and Nina Bliese, attended the Parliament from December 3-7, 2009. For more information visit: www.parliamentofreligions.org

Location: Campus Center- Auxiliary Dining Room


Thursday, March 25th, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Agora Ministries

Come learn from Pastor Cherian Puthiyottil about Agora Ministries, which is a cross-cultural outreach ministry, resource and center located in Minneapolis.  This ministry draws congregations from different cultures together through partnerships and hosting relationships. For more information visit: http://www.agoraministry.org

Location: Campus Center - Seminar Room 2


Thursday, April 8th, 12:00-1:00 P.M

Lutheran Malaria Initiative through the Minneapolis Area Synod

Come learn about the Lutheran Malaria Initiative (LMI) and how congregations in the area are involved in the fight against malaria worldwide. The LMI is bringing together and uniting the ELCA, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the Lutheran World Relief to help children and families around the world that are suffering from this huge world health issue. For more information visit: http://www.mpls-synod.org/news/interacts/mar/lmi

Location: Campus Center- Seminar Room 2


Thursday, April 15th, 12:00-1:00P.M.

Mazahua Valley Ministries with Tacho and Sally Dominguez

Come learn from the founders of Mazahua Valley Ministries (MVM) that serves as a resource for churches in the Mazahua Valley in Mexico. The outreach ministries they house at the MVM campus is a variety: from the Bible Institute and Children's library they have on campus, to being a camping retreat and a host to to many congregations missions trips. Also Sally and Tacho have been a great source for the people in the area for facilitating fair trade (they have been at multiple GMI Fair Trade Fairs).

Location: Campus Center- Seminar Room 2


FRIDAY, APRIL 16th, 12:30-1:30P.M.

Human Rights: Theological Challenges and Practical Consequences

“William Schulz has done more than anyone in the American human rights movement to make human rights issues known in the United States.” From the refugee camps of Darfur, Sudan, to the poorest villages in India; from the prison cells of Monrovia, Liberia, to the business suites of Hong Kong to Louisiana’s death row, Dr. William F. Schulz has traveled the globe in pursuit of a world free from human rights violations.  As Executive Director of Amnesty International USA from 1994-2006, Dr. Schulz headed the American section of the world’s oldest and largest international human rights organization. Dr. Schulz is currently a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC, where he works in the area of human rights policy.

For more information, visit: http://www.americanprogress.org/experts/SchulzBill.html

Location: Campus Center - Auxiliary Dining Room


Caring for Creation Week

April 19th-23rd, 2010

Celebrating and learning how to be good stewards of God's creation during the week of Earth Day! Check back for more events to be added to the week!

Events:

Monday, april 19th

Tuesday, April 20th

Global Fair Trade Fair- 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Join us for the Spring fair held Tuesday-Wednesday, April 20th-21st from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in the Olson Campus Center Commons.  Some of the handcrafts sold come from Lutheran World Relief's Handcraft Project, the nonprofit handcraft program of SERRV International. The LWR handcraft project approaches poverty reduction through the areas of livelihoods, environment, and health (see LWR Sustainable Rural Development for more information). You help support this great non-profit, sustaining our environment and helping those in need by buying fair trade items.  Cash or check only, please. 

Wednesday, april 21st

Global Fair Trade Fair- 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in the OCC Commons

Thursday, april 22nd - Earth day!

M&M Forum from 12:00-1:00 p.m: Earth Day with Luther Seminary's Green Group

It's Earth Day! Come learn from your fellow community members about efforts that protect our environment and how we can be good stewards of our resources on campus. Location: Campus Center - Seminar Room 2

Friday, april 23rd

Outdoor Worship Service

Come to the field to participate in an outdoor worship service led by your student council members. Location: At Sandgren Field


Thursday, April 29th, 12:00-1:00 P.M.

Global Canvas

Come learn about the global canvas with Luther Seminary's own Artist-in-residence Charles Hoffman!

Location: Campus Center - Seminar Room 2


Thursday, May 6th, 12:00-1:00 P.M.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration!

Come learn and celebrate this fun Mexican holiday with us! This is also a time for us to thank everyone who participated in the forums this year!

Location: Campus Center - Seminar Room 2


Upcoming M&M Forums



Thursday, March 18

TIME CHANGE: 11:45-12:30 P.M.

Prof. Dirk Lange, Ministry in Czechoslovakia under Communist Rule.

Friday, March 19

Parliament of the World's Religions

Thursday, March 25

Rev. Cherian Puthiyottil, Agora Ministries

Thursday, April 8

Lutheran Malaria Initiative (MAS) through the Minneapolis Area Synod