New Students, Fall 2005

Laura Esposito

While playing church as a young child, Laura Esposito "learned the hard way that cats do not want to be baptized."

She was sorely scratched, but undeterred. She asked question after question of her new pastor, who not only answered, but encouraged her to keep asking. She served in a variety of ways, as acolyte and crucifer, as lay reader and communion assistant, as committee member and Sunday school teacher. She was intrigued about this "seminary place where grown ups went to become pastors." And others noticed.

"People would tell me that I should consider going into ministry because they felt I would be a great pastor. I usually ran at the thought, but God is very persistent and there really is nowhere to hide."

Rooted in her home congregation, her sense of call began to grow when she completed a two-year course of study called Diakonia. It was further developed when she participated in the Summer Theological Academy of the Theological Education with Youth program, which is now jointly sponsored by the Lutheran Seminaries in Philadelphia and Gettysburg.

One last attempt to escape God's call by studying something other than religion in college ended with a minor in religious studies. And, after exploring several other seminaries, she found herself most at home at LTSP.

"LTSP has an amazing sense of community," says Esposito. "I particularly enjoy lunch at the refectory when staff, students, and faculty all dine together. Administrators and faculty eat with students and truly converse and listen to what students have to say."