New England Pastor John K. Stendahl receives LTSP's Muhlenberg Award

Celebrating with Pastor John Stendahl, right, the awarding of the Muhlenberg Medal are, from left, seminary trustees Pastor Rolf Hedberg and Sonja Hegymegi, and Professor Robin Mattison, Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek at LTSP and a voting member of the New England Synod.

The Rev. John K. Stendahl, pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Newtons in Massachusetts was awarded the seminary's coveted Muhlenberg Award for exemplary service in pastoral ministry. The award was conferred during the June assembly of the New England Synod in Sturbridge, MA.

"This pastor has been identified to us as one especially known for deepening congregational faith and expanding congregational horizons," Mark Staples said of Stendahl in announcing the presentation at the assembly. Staples, LTSP's director of communications, was representing the seminary's President Philip D. W. Krey for the occasion. "This synod has looked to this pastor for leadership on its synod council and candidacy committee, and as a voting member to the ELCA's churchwide assembly," Staples continued. Stendahl's deep concern for ecumenical matters and Jewish-Christian dialogs was also noted.

Other attributes mentioned included Stendahl's hospitality, his capacity for teaching grace and gentleness in the face of human error and shortcomings, his preaching style enabling people to hear or see something they've not noticed before, his pastoral ministry style to people in distress, his concern for people across generational lines, and his skills as a scholar and writer who is committed to social justice. Bishop Margaret Payne assisted in the conferring of the medal.

In his acceptance remarks, Stendahl said he was surprised and humbled by his selection. He spoke of his gratitude for being able to serve the church.

The Muhlenberg Award was created in 1992 on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the ministry on North American shores of Lutheran Patriarch Henry Melchior Muhlenberg. Muhlenberg's 45-year ministry of founding congregations, consulting, preaching and teaching serve as a model for recipients of the award medal.