Mary Jane Haemig, professor emerita of church history, received an award of commendation from the Concordia Historical Institute for her essay “Henry Melchior Muhlenberg’s Catechetical Efforts in Colonial America, 1742–1752,” a chapter in “Teaching Reformation: Essays in Honor of Timothy J. Wengert.” She completed four years as president of the Lutheran Historical Conference in October 2022. Her article on Luther’s Advent and Christmas postils of 1522 was published in the summer 2022 issue of Lutheran Quarterly. Her chapter on Elisabeth Cruciger, the first female Lutheran hymn writer, appeared in “Women Reformers of Early Modern Europe.” She also taught adult forums at Roseville Lutheran Church in November 2022 and at United Lutheran Church in Red Wing, Minnesota, in December 2022.
One book chapter and two articles by Mary Hess, professor of educational leadership, were published during 2022. She is author of a chapter, “Teaching Formation in a Digital Age,” in “Formation of Teachers for Catholic Schools: Challenges and Opportunities for a New Era” by Leonardo Franchi and Richard Rymarz; “Shifting Epistemologies, Shifting Our Stories—Where Might We Find Hope for a World on the Brink of Climate Catastrophe?” in the July 2022 issue of the academic journal Religions; and “Loving Enough: Choosing Universal Basic Income Over the Myth of Individual Wealth” in the winter 2022 issue of Word & World. Hess also was chosen to participate in Vanderbilt University’s Solidarity Circles project, a peer network of clergy, faith leaders, and organizers interested in the solidarity economy.
Cameron Howard, associate professor of Old Testament, was the keynote speaker for the ELCA South Dakota Synod’s Fall Theological Conference in September 2022. The topic was “Biblical Faith in Tumultuous Times.” Howard spoke about Old Testament texts written during times of upheaval and their relevance to the church today.
Karoline Lewis ’94 M.Div., professor and Marbury E. Anderson chair of biblical preaching, has had two new books published this year: “Belonging: Five Keys to Unlock Your Potential as a Disciple” and “Preaching the Word: Contemporary Approaches to the Bible for the Pulpit.”
Amy Marga, professor of systematic theology, was interviewed for the October 21, 2022, episode of the podcast “Currents in Religion,” which is jointly sponsored by Baylor University’s Religion Department and Baylor University Press. She talked about her new book, “In the Image of Her: Recovering Motherhood in the Christian Tradition.”
Steve Thomason ’15 Ph.D., associate professor of spiritual formation, is the author of “The Visual Preacher: Proclaiming an Embodied Word,” published by Fortress Press in July 2022. The book is part of the Working Preacher series.
Beverly Wallace, associate professor of congregational and community care, presented at the Gender Justice Consultation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa in March. In April, she traveled to the Faculdades EST, an important training and research center in Brazil, to re-establish and revive a relationship between African American and African diasporic Lutheran theologians in Brazil.
In October 2022, Fortress Press published “Women and the Christian Story: A Global History” by Jennifer Wojciechowski, assistant professor of church history.
Dwight Zscheile ‘08 Ph.D., vice president of innovation and professor of congregational mission and leadership, Michael Binder ‘17 Ph.D., assistant professor of congregational mission and leadership, and Tessa Pinkstaff, project manager for Faith+Lead Academy, are authors of “Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God Into a Hopeful Future,” published by Fortress Press in April.
In Memoriam
Paul Martinson ’61 B.D., professor emeritus of Christian missions and world religions, died on August 18, 2022. He was the first holder of the Fredrik A. Schiotz chair in Christian missions and religions.
Troy Nelson ’95 M.Div. died on January 21. He ministered to congregations in Minnesota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He also served in contextual learning at Luther Seminary for three years.
James Nestingen ’71 M.Div., ’78 Th.M., professor emeritus of church history, died on December 31, 2022. He wrote and spoke prolifically on Luther’s catechisms and confessional Lutheran theology.
Read more from Summer 2023
- Listening and learning
- Meeting Jesus at the park
- An updated education for a changing church
- Act two
- A visual calling: The story behind the most-popular cartoons at Luther Seminary
- Families honored as garden of resurrection is relocated
- Faith+Lead reaches new audiences
- In Honor of retiring faculty and staff
- Working Preacher hits 1M+ podcast downloads
- New faces on campus
- 2023 Commencement
- Why is your favorite stole meaningful?
- Faculty and staff notes
- Alumni news