An NPR news story that aired September 9 about Lenny Duncan, author of “Dear Church: A Love Letter From a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the U.S.,” included excerpts from his reading at Luther Seminary on September 19, 2019. NPR’s report, focused on Duncan’s work at Messiah Lutheran Church, where he is leading […]
Book Recommendation: The Trial Narratives: Conflict, Power, and Identity in the New Testament
Professor of New Testament Matthew Skinner is author of “The Trial Narratives: Conflict, Power, and Identity in the New Testament,” published by Westminster John Knox Press in 2010. In the book, Skinner analyzes all four accounts of the trial of Jesus, as well as trials of his followers, including Paul and Stephen, showing how the […]
Finding Our New Normal
In Jeremiah 29, God has a word to the people who have been exiled from Jerusalem in Babylon: “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce … seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in […]
Book Recommendation: Journeying in the Wilderness
Terri Martinson Elton, associate professor of leadership at Luther Seminary, is author of “Journeying in the Wilderness: Forming Faith in the 21st Century.” Published in February by Fortress Press, the book argues that leaders must embrace contextual faith formation in response to the disruptive changes of 21st-century life. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, “Journeying […]
God Sightings
Luther Seminary’s vision statement, adopted in October 2017, is this: “The Holy Spirit calls Luther Seminary to lead faithful innovation for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a rapidly changing world.” Over the past few months, I’ve been struck by the “rapidly changing world” part of our vision statement more than ever […]
Professor Michael Chan Writes About Yearning for Normalcy for Church Anew
Professor Michael Chan recently wrote “Return to Normalcy and Other Fleshpots” for the Church Anew blog. Reflecting on our current environment and our desire to return to “normalcy,” he reminds us of how the Israelites yearned to return to Egypt during their years of wandering through the desert. He asks: “Are we willing to exchange […]