Q: What drew you to want to serve on the board?<\/h2>\n\nI\u2019m 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 \u2018why\u2019 is because I think it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u2014Kristen Kuempel \u201902 M.Div.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\nBishop, Northwest Intermountain Synod
\nELCA Region 1 Bishops representative
\nKennewick, Washington<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nIt was an answer to a prayer. I wasn\u2019t praying for Luther specifically; I was praying for a continued tie to Christian education. Luther called, and I received it as an answered prayer.<\/p>\n
\u2014Sean Forde \u201905 M.Div., \u201912 D.Min.<\/strong><\/span>
\nPastor, Christ Church and Preschool
\nELCA Church Council representative
\nDeerfield Beach, Florida<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nMy background is health care. I was a physician, and I\u2019ve 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\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n
\u2014Dean Gruner<\/strong><\/span>
\nRetired physician; retired CEO, ThedaCare
\nELCA Church Council representative
\nGreenville, Wisconsin<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThinking 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\u2019re committed to being diverse.<\/p>\n
\u2014Cynthia Williams \u201907 M.Div.<\/strong><\/span>
\nRiver Valley district superintendent, United Methodist Church
\nELCA Church Council representative
\nMinneapolis, Minnesota<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Cynthia](\"https:\/\/www.luthersem.edu\/story\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/05\/Feature-3-Williams-Luther-Seminary-lg.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCynthia Williams \u201907 M.Div.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Gail](\"https:\/\/www.luthersem.edu\/story\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/05\/Feature-3-Olson-Luther-Seminary-lg.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tGail Olson\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\nQ: How do you define the board\u2019s role relative to the challenges the seminary and all institutes of higher education are facing?<\/h2>\n\nI 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\u2019s role is to bring a variety of voices, experiences, and expertise together to assist leadership in uncovering and overcoming challenges\u2014such as what 2020 brought to the forefront\u2014and create a strategy for a strong future.<\/p>\n
\u2014Barb Ostrander<\/strong><\/span>
\nMarketing director, FAST Global Solutions
\nELCA Region 3 representative
\nGlenwood, Minnesota<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nJust 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\u2019s students are seeking a second career, and we\u2019ve made a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The balance between sustaining the system as it is and then leading it to change\u2014Luther 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.<\/p>\n
\u2014Gail Olson<\/strong><\/span>
\nRetired general counsel, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
\nELCA Region 3 representative
\nSt. Paul, Minnesota <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nWe can\u2019t take anything for granted. We have to ask, \u201cHow do we form leaders for a structure, a church structure, that really doesn\u2019t exist yet?\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u2014Carlos Pe\u00f1a<\/strong><\/span>
\nPresident, Kleen Supply Company
\nELCA Church Council representative
\nGalveston, Texas<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nIn 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\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n
\u2014Tracey Gibson \u201914 M.Div., \u201919 D.Min.<\/strong><\/span>
\nVice president and chief diversity officer, Andersen Windows and Doors
\nELCA Church Council representative
\nBrooklyn Park, Minnesota<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nLuther Seminary\u2019s 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, \u201cWho isn\u2019t coming now?\u201d and \u201cWhat can Luther do so people will want to be there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Ann Svennungsen \u201981 M.Div.<\/strong><\/span>
\nBishop, Minneapolis Area Synod
\nELCA Region 3 Bishops representative
\nMinneapolis, Minnesota<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOne of the important tasks for Luther is going to be continuing to give priority to theological education. Not that the other things aren\u2019t important\u2014they certainly are. But there is a specificity to Luther\u2019s call and to robust theological education. If we abandon that task, you may want to have a big tent but you won\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u2014Jennifer Quanbeck \u201908 M.Div.<\/strong><\/span>
\nPastor, King of Glory Lutheran Church
\nELCA Region 1 representative
\nBillings, Montana<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
I\u2019m 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 \u2018why\u2019 is because I think it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u2014Kristen Kuempel \u201902 M.Div.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span> It was an answer to a prayer. I wasn\u2019t praying for Luther specifically; I was praying for a continued tie to Christian education. Luther called, and I received it as an answered prayer.<\/p>\n \u2014Sean Forde \u201905 M.Div., \u201912 D.Min.<\/strong><\/span> My background is health care. I was a physician, and I\u2019ve 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\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n \u2014Dean Gruner<\/strong><\/span> 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\u2019re committed to being diverse.<\/p>\n \u2014Cynthia Williams \u201907 M.Div.<\/strong><\/span> 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\u2019s role is to bring a variety of voices, experiences, and expertise together to assist leadership in uncovering and overcoming challenges\u2014such as what 2020 brought to the forefront\u2014and create a strategy for a strong future.<\/p>\n \u2014Barb Ostrander<\/strong><\/span> 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\u2019s students are seeking a second career, and we\u2019ve made a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The balance between sustaining the system as it is and then leading it to change\u2014Luther 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.<\/p>\n \u2014Gail Olson<\/strong><\/span> We can\u2019t take anything for granted. We have to ask, \u201cHow do we form leaders for a structure, a church structure, that really doesn\u2019t exist yet?\u201d 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.<\/p>\n \u2014Carlos Pe\u00f1a<\/strong><\/span> 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\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n \u2014Tracey Gibson \u201914 M.Div., \u201919 D.Min.<\/strong><\/span> Luther Seminary\u2019s 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, \u201cWho isn\u2019t coming now?\u201d and \u201cWhat can Luther do so people will want to be there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014Ann Svennungsen \u201981 M.Div.<\/strong><\/span> One of the important tasks for Luther is going to be continuing to give priority to theological education. Not that the other things aren\u2019t important\u2014they certainly are. But there is a specificity to Luther\u2019s call and to robust theological education. If we abandon that task, you may want to have a big tent but you won\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n \u2014Jennifer Quanbeck \u201908 M.Div.<\/strong><\/span>
\nBishop, Northwest Intermountain Synod
\nELCA Region 1 Bishops representative
\nKennewick, Washington<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nPastor, Christ Church and Preschool
\nELCA Church Council representative
\nDeerfield Beach, Florida<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nRetired physician; retired CEO, ThedaCare
\nELCA Church Council representative
\nGreenville, Wisconsin<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nRiver Valley district superintendent, United Methodist Church
\nELCA Church Council representative
\nMinneapolis, Minnesota<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tQ: How do you define the board\u2019s role relative to the challenges the seminary and all institutes of higher education are facing?<\/h2>\n
\nMarketing director, FAST Global Solutions
\nELCA Region 3 representative
\nGlenwood, Minnesota<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nRetired general counsel, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
\nELCA Region 3 representative
\nSt. Paul, Minnesota <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nPresident, Kleen Supply Company
\nELCA Church Council representative
\nGalveston, Texas<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nVice president and chief diversity officer, Andersen Windows and Doors
\nELCA Church Council representative
\nBrooklyn Park, Minnesota<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nBishop, Minneapolis Area Synod
\nELCA Region 3 Bishops representative
\nMinneapolis, Minnesota<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nPastor, King of Glory Lutheran Church
\nELCA Region 1 representative
\nBillings, Montana<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n