New Students, Fall 2003

Annemarie Hartner:
Called at Camp

Annemarie Hartner of Marlton, NJ, remembers she first felt the call to serve God professionally as part of a Counselor in Training program at the former Camp Beisler in New Jersey. "From there I was on a mission to learn more about this call and discover more about myself and my relationship with God so that I could guide others on their spiritual journeys," Annemarie says. She became more involved with her home congregation, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, then took part in synodical youth committees. Next it was off to Valparaiso University in Indiana, "a perfect place to spread my wings and discover who God was in my life." She's also been a voting member at a church-wide assembly of the ELCA in Denver, CO. After all those formative experiences, Annemarie was moved to consider seminary, but which one? "At LTSP, I found the students and faculty were friendly and welcoming immediately. I felt like I was part of the seminary family, and I wasn't even a student yet," she says. "The seminary offers a high level of academics and a quality of practical experience that only the city of Philadelphia can supply. This is the place to which I was called."