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This year’s Spring Convocation keynote presenters will help participants explore the use of scripture and ethics in making challenging decisions.
Workshops on topics that often give rise to conflict in Christians with convictions will be offered Tuesday afternoon. Dr. Diane Yeager, associate professor of Theology specializing in religious ethics at Georgetown University, will lead the Homosexuality workshop. She is a member of the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality. Luther Reed Professor in Systematic Theology and LTSP Dean, Dr. J. Paul Rajashekar, will lead the Faith Diversity workshop. Dean Rajashekar says, "Issues of religious pluralism challenge us to articulate a relevant and responsible theology that is true to Lutheran convictions and is at the same time open to insights and values of other faiths in dialogue." Dr. Riggins Earl, Jr. will lead "The Academy of Preachers" – sponsored workshop on Preaching and Ethics. Easter Vespers, featuring the Seminary Choir under the direction of Mark Mummert, seminary musician, will take place Monday evening, April 4 at 7:00 in the Seminary Chapel. Leaders for Morning Prayer, April 5, will be the Rev. Leah Schade ’00, presider and the Rev. William Shafer ’80, preacher. Tuesday Evening Prayer will be led by the Rev. Barbara Berry-Bailey’92 and Rev. Riggins Earl, Jr. will preach. The Rev. Rick Summy, '85, will preside and Chaplain Elizabeth Huwiler will preach at the closing Eucharist on April 6. At 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, refreshments will be offered in the Library’s Lower Rotunda and two special workshops will be offered. One topic will be "A Conversation on Campus Renewal." The other topic will be "Celebrate the Past with a Gift for the Future!" Hard Hat Tours of the Learning Center will also be available during this time. Throughout the Convocation, the Timothy Lull Book Sale will be held in Hagan Gym. Auction of select books from Timothy Lull’s personal library will also begin on Thursday, April 7 at www.Ltsp.edu (see Auction link). A new list of selected books will be offered weekly until May 30. The donations go toward the naming of the Lull Common Room and Lounge in the Learning Center. This year’s convocation will feature an afternoon banquet on Wednesday. A highlight of the banquet will be the presentation of the Distinguished Alum Award to Bishop Margarita Martinez, '89, of the Caribbean Synod. Bishop Martinez is the first Latina Bishop in the ELCA. Schedule of Events
* Reservations required -- see registration form. Convocation Registration Registration for the Convocation and for each meal, including the banquet, must be made by mail or through the seminary’s web page. Note that you have two online payment options. You may register using a credit card, or you may promptly send us your payment by first class mail. So that we and our food service provider may adequately prepare for your visit, please register by Monday, March 28, 2004. Due to the logistics of event planning, we cannot guarantee meal and Convocation Banquet reservations received after March 28. Hotel Reservations Hotel reservations must be made directly with the Holiday Inn, Ft. Washington, PA A limited numbers of rooms are being held from Monday, April 4, through Wednesday, April 6, for Spring Convocation participants. A discounted rate of $87 (one to four occupants) is available until March 22, 2004 for all Spring Convocation participants. Reservations should be made as soon as possible before that date. When making your hotel reservation, please indicate that you are attending The Lutheran Theological Seminary’s Spring Convocation in order to receive the discount. The hotel is handicapped accessible. If you have special needs, please indicate this when you make your reservations. Check-in is at 3pm. Check-out is at 11am. Contact information:
Transportation The seminary, in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of northwest Philadelphia, is easily accessible from the region’s major highways. The 30th Street Train Station and the Philadelphia International Airport are both within a half-hour drive or local train ride from the seminary. Rental car, taxi, and local train are available at 30th Street Train Station and at Philadelphia International Airport for those arriving via Amtrak or airplane. We strongly encourage guests to make their own transportation arrangements to and from the seminary, as the seminary’s ability to provide transportation is extremely limited. [Driving and public transportation directions] Questions? Contact the Rev. Ellen Anderson at 800-286-4616 ext.7301, eanderson@ltsp.edu |
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Terence
Fretheim, Elva B. Lovell Professor of Old Testament, has been a
faculty member of Luther Seminary since 1968. A graduate of Luther College,
Decorah, IA (B.A., 1956), Fretheim earned the M.Div. degree from Luther
Seminary in 1960 and the Th.D. degree from Princeton Seminary in 1967.
He is the author of numerous books. Dr. Fretheim will offer a keynote
presentation, Reflections on the Applicability of Old Testament Law
for Christians, on Tuesday, April 5th . He explains, "The law texts
in the Pentateuch are seldom used in the preaching and teaching of the
church. Hence, Christians are not commonly skilled in their use of them
for ethical reflection and practice. We frequently consider these texts
to be either obsolescent or to be strictly applied, and a ‘third way’
of working with them is not often taken into account." Professor Fretheim
will seek to sort out the issues and to develop criteria regarding their
continuing applicability for Christian faith and life
Riggins
R. Earl, Jr., is Professor of Ethics and Theology at the Interdenominational
Theological Center, Atlanta, GA. Professor Earl will offer the second
keynote presentation, "The Christian Ethicist at the Varied Crossroads
of Decision Making" on Tuesday, April 5th. He explains, "The modern
Christian is challenged to make ethical decisions at the crossroads
of denominationalism, racism, gender, class etc., in an age when the
boundaries of denominational identity seem unclear at best. What does
it take to make ethical decisions about homosexuality, race, war, gender,
etc. that are good for the body of Christ but not economically healthy
for my denomination? How do I make clear ethical decisions in a sea
of confusion?"