Rev. Robert Paul Roth, ’45, Luther Seminary professor emeritus of systematic theology and ethics, died March 23 at his home in Wayzata, Minn. He was 91.
Roth served at Northwestern Seminary in Minneapolis from 1961 to 1990. From 1968 to 1976, he was Northwestern Seminary’s academic dean until the merger with Luther Seminary, where he continued teaching and served as the director of the graduate school.
Jesus used the festival to give one message to his disciples—and to us: If you are looking for joy and harvest, even in shaky times, “come to me; believe in me.”
It’s this message that marks the professors and teachers at Luther Seminary. Today, they are equipping a whole new generation of leaders with joy for the harvest.
The most common question we get: “So, what was the favorite place you visited?” Our answer: “All of them!” My husband, Kevin Bergeson, and I—like all the other brave souls who intentionally spent a year outside the United States on the Graduate Preaching Fellowship—may have a hard time naming one place. Hong Kong, Istanbul, Israel-Palestine, England, Scotland, Sweden and Norway—all in 11 months? As we crash back into the States with broken suitcases and messy passports, we have spent a year, with Bible and camera in tow, studying how the global church sees the gospel in everyday life.
On May 29, Luther Seminary celebrated its 142nd Commencement at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Degrees were awarded to 148 students, including 77 Master of Divinity and 35 Master of Arts recipients. There were 19 Doctor of Ministry graduates recognized. Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy degrees were also awarded.
As long as she can remember, the Rev. Susan Masters, ’08, has interpreted through sign language. She began by interpreting for her sister, Vera, who is deaf—whether ordering French fries at McDonald’s or helping her sister converse with neighbors. Later, Susan became a professional interpreter to pay bills as she worked toward a master’s degree in clinical social work.
It was her knowledge of both American Sign Language and the Lutheran faith that first won her a position as an interim lay minister at Bread of Life Deaf Lutheran Church in Minneapolis from 1996 to 1997. She returned to that position again for one year in 2001.
On June 24, nearly 50 ELCA pastors gathered in the library of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They were preparing to process into the first of two memorial services honoring the Rev. Paul Youngdahl, their colleague, mentor and friend.
What happens in Vegas doesn’t necessarily stay in Vegas, at least as far as the church is concerned, Jerry Routh, a Las Vegas resident and Luther Seminary donor, said about a unique, three-week pilot course. This missional study of the church in the west brought seven students to Las Vegas last January.
On May 5, more than 200 donors and students gathered for the Blessings event. Blessings is an annual opportunity for scholarship donors of named endowed or current scholarship funds and the students they support to gather together for dinner and a worship service.