Luther’s Board of Directors brings diverse gifts and experience to bear in support of the seminary’s commitment to rigorous academics and faithful innovation
Going where God directs can be humbling and challenging, but discerning that calling in the first place can be complicated—especially for an institution. Members of Luther Seminary’s Board of Directors are many parts of one larger body working to build God’s kingdom and provide wise guidance in today’s complex world.
Story magazine connected with some of the members who are serving their first term on the board. The group comes from a variety of backgrounds—not only church leaders but also seasoned business experts, committed scholars, health care professionals, and nonprofit executives.
What motivates them, and what responsibility or role do they feel that Luther has, not only in the church but for the world? What gives them hope? The answers are as diverse and inspiring as the members themselves.
Q: What drew you to want to serve on the board?
I’m an alumna, and those four years were probably some of the best in my life. It was such a great environment, my mind was expanded, and I got a really solid backing of Lutheran and Christian theology. I really appreciated that kind of exposure and influence for my public ministry. The other ‘why’ is because I think it’s important to give back to the places and institutions that mean so much to me. This is a way I can give back, to help make Luther a place for others like it has been for me.
—Kristen Kuempel ’02 M.Div.
Bishop, Northwest Intermountain Synod
ELCA Region 1 Bishops representative
Kennewick, Washington
It was an answer to a prayer. I wasn’t praying for Luther specifically; I was praying for a continued tie to Christian education. Luther called, and I received it as an answered prayer.
—Sean Forde ’05 M.Div., ’12 D.Min.
Pastor, Christ Church and Preschool
ELCA Church Council representative
Deerfield Beach, Florida
My background is health care. I was a physician, and I’ve been retired for three and a half years. I really thought of (management expert) Peter Drucker, who wrote that you should start with what is the unique contribution you can make. I’m very familiar with Lean (a management style that emphasizes respect for people and continuous improvement); with the combination of my experience with Lean, with innovation, and with business, I thought I could contribute.
—Dean Gruner
Retired physician; retired CEO, ThedaCare
ELCA Church Council representative
Greenville, Wisconsin
Thinking about what Luther stands for, the mission and vision, it aligns with me. I experienced Luther as a place that stretched me, and I became better prepared to serve and to understand what it means to be a theologian. The seminary has tried to continue to be innovative, adaptive, forward-thinking, and especially recently, the board has been intentional with more diversity. That was not the case when I went there; diversity was nominal. Now there is an intentionality to it; we’re committed to being diverse.
—Cynthia Williams ’07 M.Div.
River Valley district superintendent, United Methodist Church
ELCA Church Council representative
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Q: How do you define the board’s role relative to the challenges the seminary and all institutes of higher education are facing?
I joined the board on the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened racial injustice. The importance of innovation during this year that challenged communication and community grew exponentially. Part of the board’s role is to bring a variety of voices, experiences, and expertise together to assist leadership in uncovering and overcoming challenges—such as what 2020 brought to the forefront—and create a strategy for a strong future.
—Barb Ostrander
Marketing director, FAST Global Solutions
ELCA Region 3 representative
Glenwood, Minnesota
Just look at the last year of the seminary changing over to so many online classes and making special accommodations for international students who were faced with their own unique challenges. So many of Luther’s students are seeking a second career, and we’ve made a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The balance between sustaining the system as it is and then leading it to change—Luther has to be at that crossroads of bringing people along that path. The seminary has a special mission in that respect, and the board needs to assist the leadership team to achieve that.
—Gail Olson
Retired general counsel, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
ELCA Region 3 representative
St. Paul, Minnesota
We can’t take anything for granted. We have to ask, “How do we form leaders for a structure, a church structure, that really doesn’t exist yet?” And we have to continue to evolve. When I first got on the board, there were only one or two, at most, people of color; it was really intimidating. Immediately, though, I felt very welcomed, and we have come a long way as a board, as has the leadership team. But the work must continue.
—Carlos Peña
President, Kleen Supply Company
ELCA Church Council representative
Galveston, Texas
In my mind, in my spirit, Luther has the most important job in the whole wide world, and that is to educate those who are going to help shepherd the flock. Now more than ever this is so important. With everything that is happening in this world, Luther is teaching the future leaders. It is more ethnically diverse, gender diverse, LGBTQ diverse, and other dimensions of diversity. It’s teaching all of us to open up our mindset and be more inclusive. Our congregations are not going to be the homogenous ones they were in the past. So how are we going to help engage, have an open mindset, and think through how Christ would consider this responsibility?
—Tracey Gibson ’14 M.Div., ’19 D.Min.
Vice president and chief diversity officer, Andersen Windows and Doors
ELCA Church Council representative
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Luther Seminary’s commitment to racial equity is critical. The ELCA has a spotted history in addressing systems and structures because we are rightfully concerned about who we would lose. But to be a prophetic church, we must be willing to confront our discomfort and to address these forces. As a board we should ask, “Who isn’t coming now?” and “What can Luther do so people will want to be there?”
—Ann Svennungsen ’81 M.Div.
Bishop, Minneapolis Area Synod
ELCA Region 3 Bishops representative
Minneapolis, Minnesota
One of the important tasks for Luther is going to be continuing to give priority to theological education. Not that the other things aren’t important—they certainly are. But there is a specificity to Luther’s call and to robust theological education. If we abandon that task, you may want to have a big tent but you won’t have any tent poles. As Luther does this really important work, to live into who the Spirit is calling Luther to be in this new day, we have to figure out how to be ecumenical, how to have a radical welcome, and how to explain law and gospel in a way that grows legs and actually connects with people.
—Jennifer Quanbeck ’08 M.Div.
Pastor, King of Glory Lutheran Church
ELCA Region 1 representative
Billings, Montana
Q: How do you define the board’s role relative to the challenges the seminary and all institutes of higher education are facing?
I think the role that Luther plays is to be the light that is so needed in the dark world today. When I think about what happened with the protests that took place (calling for justice in the wake of George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police), Luther offered up one of its buildings for people to come and gather, and that never would have happened in the past. We are creating a new space, being more inclusive, opening up, giving people a voice, and reflecting Jesus. The Holy Spirit is alive at Luther Seminary.
—Tracey Gibson ’14 M.Div., ’19 D.Min.
We have an opportunity to share the love of God and the grace of God, but also to help people realize the kingdom of God on earth. If we can understand those concepts we would be in a better place.
—Gail Olson
When I was growing up, if you believed “the right things” and behaved a certain way you could belong. The world has changed. If there isn’t a radical welcome and an articulated sense that you are the hands and feet of God, that you can engage in the world, that’s a missed opportunity. Luther can train leaders to help the church increasingly embody that.
—Ann Svennungsen ’81 M.Div.
Christianity is the best answer to deep questions of life: Love your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and then love your neighbor as yourself. If that’s what we’re called to do, if we’re called to service, then you have to love your neighbor as yourself, but historically we’re not really good at that. You can either get really depressed at hearing that, or you can take a different view and start at the ground floor and say, “What can I do to love my neighbor more than I already do?” Luther can help lead that effort.
—Dean Gruner
To the degree that Luther is helping to equip leaders—and not just equipping but nurturing for a lifetime—we really do have the power to transform the world, and the world is desperately in need of transformation.
—Cynthia Williams ’07 M.Div.
Q: What gives you hope?
I find hope in the fact that God and God’s people keep showing up when it would be easier not to. When we make mistakes, say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, we keep showing up. We could say that God shows up and brings us with God; from the perspective of people outside, we show up and bring God with us, and we keep doing that. It can be exhausting, scary, troubling … but it can also be deeply holy, beautiful, and precious.
—Kristen Kuempel ’02 M.Div.
In all aspects of life, knowing that if I resign myself to letting God work through me, then I don’t have to have all the answers, and I don’t have to be the smartest person. If I can just set my ego aside and work with other faith-filled people, there’s so much hope in that.
—Barb Ostrander
I have been finding hope in the way Luther has begun to see its work in a more expansive way. I’m excited that Luther is creating resources that inspire me as a pastor, that they are genuinely seeing a need and a call to continue to equip Christian leaders with quality, life-giving resources. That gives me hope that I’m not just out here by myself.
—Jennifer Quanbeck ’08 M.Div.
God already has a plan for Luther Seminary; we are just discerning God’s plan. That’s what gives me hope.
—Carlos Peña