For more than 50 years the “Friends of the Seminary” has
been a messenger to Lutheran Congregations about their Lutheran
Theological Seminary in Gettysburg. “Friends” have
Coordinators in each Synod, Coordinators in each Conference
and many of our individual congregations have Coordinators
to help the Pastor relay the news, the message and the mission
of the Seminary and theological education.
In addition to raising an awareness of the Seminary’s
preparation of leaders, the Friends of the Seminary have raised
money strictly for students. There have been more than 100
scholarships granted to needy students over the years. In reviewing
scholarship recipients since 1988 we have 94 and only two have
not continued in their ministry and two are serving in areas
of service to the aged or similar program.
Besides scholarships the “Friends of the Seminary” have
provided housing on the campus for large families. These
are often second career students, often with families and
children, who have come to prepare to serve the church. The “Friends” program
has supplied the student lounge with recreational equipment
and needed furnishings for the students to take a few minutes
to relax or catch up with a friend.
When we say “Friends of the Seminary” we mean
YOU. All this is made possible through your gifts, your prayers,
and your interest in the students you send to us. There is
an old saying which goes like this.
A Friend is one, who knows you as you are,
Understands where you have been,
Accepts who you have become,
And still invites you to grow!
This is the friends program. It knows what students are facing, understands
their needs and problems, and accepts the responsibility to be there when students
need them. For the many challenges the “Friends” face we continue
to grow with the churches that support our efforts.
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Making a Difference in Ministry
Even the strongest source needs to be renewed. Batteries
must be recharged. And the same is true for spiritual leaders.
How do they find renewal? Who feeds the spiritual leader?
There are many sources of spiritual and theological renewal.
Some find it in quiet time away, others in recreation to
rest the mind and exercise the body, and still others in
some combination of the two.
Pastors and other church leaders find themselves as do congregations,
in a changing world. How can your pastoral ministry adapt
to new circumstances? How can your church leader gain new
perspectives and ideas to meet new challenges? How can your
congregation catch a renewed vision? It might begin with
a church leader's continuing education event, a seminary
course or sabbatical time for renewal.
Does your pastor receive enough time set apart for continuing
education and renewal? Does she or he take the time needed?
Is it time to talk sabbatical so that your church leaders
can focus in on the next phase of your
congregation's ministry? This kind of support might be the
factor that makes a difference in your ministry.
We thank you, your Pastor and congregation for your
partnership with us in fulfilling our mission to prepare
for the tomorrow. For more information look us up at WWW.Ltsg.edu.
You can call us at 1-800-658-8437 to
speak to us for informative material to distribute in your
congregation.
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Seminary Education is Global
Every seminarian will experience an extended, year long intensive
internship in a ministry setting that helps them understand
ministries in their settings and exercise of leadership
skills. Most of these settings are spread coast to coast,
cutting across urban, small city, suburban and small town
settings. But a few interns are assigned abroad where the
Lutheran Church ministers to the people of God.
Two years ago Jeremiah Sassaman did his internship in Jerusalem,
Palestine. Last year Chad Rimmer completed his internship
in Copenhagen, Denmark. This fall, Elizabeth Brashear will
leave for Berlin, Germany to do her internship at the American
Lutheran Church of Berlin. Beth is an
intelligent, outgoing, and talented student with a pleasing
smile. She went to school in Charlottesville, Va. and did
her college work at Appalachian State University, Miriam
Canon Hayes School of Music and Majored in Sacred Music performance.
She has a deep calling for congregational ministry. Beth's
parents Bill and Ann Brashear and sister Kristin still live
in Virginia. Beth is also an equestrian and has her own horse,
Kruise Kontrol, which she boards on a farm near the Seminary.
Seminarians who have experienced far flung internship settings
bring new and horizon widening insights to their ministry,
for the benefit of the church of Jesus Christ.
Students like Beth, Chad and Jeremiah (now serving in the
Allegheny Synod) are great examples of the leaders being
educated here at your Lutheran Seminary in Gettyburg.
Your prayers and financial support open the door to many
young people of our congregations who are called to become
the future leaders of the church. For more information go
to our web site WWW.Ltsg.edu.
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Ministries that Make a Difference
Gettysburg Seminary believes that its mission is to shape
and educate Spirit filled people for ministries that make
a difference.
If it is true that good ministry makes a difference in the
life of your congregation every day, then it is surely true
that a congregation's good ministry ought to make a difference
in the world.
Gettysburg Seminary provides biblical, theological and practical
insights to help the church's leaders make a difference.
But seminaries do not provide this alone: congregations are
a vital part of the real life training. Congregations provide
teaching parish settings for first year students on Sundays
and internship sites for year-long practical experiences.
It is in the real life settings that excellent leaders sharpen
their skills, instincts and gifts for effective ministry.
So it is in the practice of ministry that leaders learn to
adapt what they know and what they have gathered in formal
education, so that the church may be responsive and surefooted
in adapting ministry to an ever changing world.
Thanks to this comprehensive education, based in theory
and practice, anchored in real life ministry contexts, we
believe that seminary students are prepared to lead ministries
that will make the difference in the communities they will
be called to serve.
Friends
of the Seminary materials for bulletins and newsletters
