History of the Lay School of Ministry

1992-3 Under the leadership of Dick Bruesehoff (assistant to Bishop Knutson) a group of pastors (Greg Kaufmann, Don Wisner, James Homme, and Dick) gathered to envision a program in the Synod that would take seriously our belief in the ministry of all the baptized, and of life long learning. It was believed that to meet the varied ministry needs of the coming millenium, the Synod needed to equip all its ministers (the baptized) in a very intentional way. The Lay School of Ministry grew out of that conversation. Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls agreed to host the LSM, and its members offered to provide free housing for all participants who needed it.

1993-4 The first class of the LSM began. Faculty included Prof. Marc Kolden of Luther Seminary (systematics and church history), and Pastors Don Wisner (worship), Greg Kaufmann (Biblical studies), and Dick Bruesehoff (spiritual formation).

1994-5 In addition to year 2 of the first class, a second group began, with the addition of two new faculty. Their course work remained the same, with Prof. Gary Simpson of Luther Seminary handling the systematics piece and Pastor Mary Jorgensen taking the Biblical studies.

1995-6 The third group of LSM students formed. Since Marc Kolden was named Academic Dean of Luther Seminary, his place on the teaching team was taken by Lois Malcom, also of Luther Seminary.

1996-7 Due to the number of laity interested in becoming the fourth group to start the Lay School of Ministry, two new groups were started. In order to provide enough faculty, the Rev. Dale Freberg was invited to teach the Biblical material, along with Mary Jorgensen. The rest of that teaching team remained the same.

1997-8 With the departure of Rev. Bruesehoff to Chicago, the Rev. Keith Holste, a D-Min student at Luther Sem. and a pastor in our synod, was asked to teach the Spiritual Formation piece for both years. The fifth LSM class also began this year.

1998-9 In addition to the 6th LSM class beginning their two year course of study, several other firsts occurred. A governing board comprised of past participants was formed. The need for continuing education for past participants was also addressed in two ways. First, a third year option was offered in the area of "biblical evangelism." The faculty was comprised of Rev. Mark Olson, Rev. Dale Freberg, and Rev. Carm Aderman (Assistant to Bishop Bob Berg). Second, the board decided to offer two overnight retreats each year (one in the Fall and one in the Spring) to past participants. Luther Park Bible Camp was chosen as the site.

1999-2000 Enrollments of 22 first year, 23 second year and 18 "third" year students. The topic for Year three was "Who is Jesus?" and the extra Track B has a focus on Christian Education, led by Ruth Lundblad. We continued the tradition of a Fall and Spring Retreat. The Fall Retreat featured Pastor Greg Kaufmann, who taught his course on the "Formation of the New Testament Canon." The Spring retreat featured Dr. Gary Simpson, who answered the question, "Is there a Lutheran Ethic of Marriage?"

2000-2001 Enrollment - 24 first year students, 21 second year and 12 Continuing Education. The Continuing Education theme was "Our Neighbor's Faith." Friday night Pastor Dale Freberg led the group in a study of Acts. Saturday mornings Luther Seminary faculty and guests explored different world religions. The Fall Retreat was on Judaism, led by Dr. Helaine Minkus. The summer retreat, held at Lake Wapogasset Bible Camp, featured Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe of our companion synod in Malawi.

2001-2002 Enrollment - Year one 26, year two 23, and 28 continuing education. The Theme for the Continuing Education year, taught by Rev. Jeanne Dahl of Luther Seminary, was "Luther and Contemporary Church Issues." The theme of our retreat, held in April at Luther Park, was "Food and the Bible." It was lead by John Kurshner, Greg Kaufmann and Nancy Lund.

2002-2003 Enrollment - 26 first year, 21 second year and 39 continuing ed. students. Continuing Education studies Revelation on Friday. Saturday the topic was Science and the Faith. This was led by Augsburg College, Luther Seminary, University of Minnesota, UW-EC and ELCA Churchwide staff. This is the first year where Continuing Ed. students could choose either Friday or Saturday topics, or both.

2003-2004 Enrollment - 38 first year, 28 second year and 38 continuing ed. students. Continuing Education studies Genesis on Friday with Rev. Dale Freberg. Saturday the topic is Christian Ethics taught by Dr. David Fredrickson of Luther Seminary. Students could choose either Friday or Saturday topics, or both.

2004-2005 Enrollment - 19 first year, 38 second year and 27 continuing ed. Continuing Education changed its format this year, offering weekend long classes with the same professor and topic. Continuing ed. offered three different topics: Grief and Loss/Substance Abuse (two sessions), Islam (two sessions) and Biblical Translation (5 sessions). Continuing ed. participants were able to take one, two or all three topics. Our Fall Retreat was at Chetek Lutheran with Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe from Malawi. This two day retreat centered on church music, church history and day to day life in parishes in Malawi. A part the cost of this retreat for many participants was covered by a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

The Lay School of Ministry Board was pleased that 67 past participants signed up for the Continuing Education class for the 2005-2006 LSM year. 27 first year students and 17 second year students were enrolled.

As we did last year, the Board decided to again combine the Friday evening and Saturday morning classes into one. Courses ran Friday evening from 7-10 PM and Saturday morning from 8:30 - Noon. This allowed us to bring in some exciting faculty members from around the country who are knowledgeable about our topics.

The theme for this year was Martin Luther and the Reformation Era.

The September 9-10, 2005 session was presented by LSM founder, Dick Bruesehoff, Director of Leadership Support with the Division For Ministry of the ELCA. His first topic area was roots of Lutheran spirituality. He also took us on a visual tour of Reformation sites.

November 11-12, 2005 session was presented by Kathryn Kleinhans from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. She focused on Luther's The Bondage of the Will, with attention to the themes of sin, necessity, and salvation. She also ed the issues of sin, forgiveness and penance with some applicability to current issues.

Our December 9-10, 2005 we met with Professor David Lose from Luther Seminary. He presented on key ideas of Luther with particular focus on Luther's doctrine of two kingdoms. How did that doctrine play out then - the peasants war - and how does it play out now?

The January 13-14, 2006 session was presented by Professor Timothy Wengert of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Professor Wengert spoke on the formation and importance of the Book of Concord. Professor Wengert is the editor of the current edition of the Book of Concord we use as a text in LSM. He also touched on Philip Melanchthon.

The February 10-11, 2006 session was presented by Darrell Jodock, Professor at Gustavus Adolphus College and chair of the Teaching Theologians of the ELCA. His topic will be Other Themes in Luther and their Relevance For Today. By other, Darrell means, themes in addition to Justification By Grace Through Faith. Darrell will talk about the importance of "God active in the world" and about its implications for our vocation in the world. Other themes covered will include: Luther's theology of the cross, the centrality of community and the importance of creation.

In March 10-11, 2006 our focus was on the life and importance of Martin Luther with Professor Kurt Hendel of Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.

Our April 7-8, 2006 session was to be with Jane Strohl, Professor of Reformation History and Theology at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) in Berekely, CA. Her topic will be "Other Voices of the Reformation." Who were the people that the Lutheran Confessions label as "our opponents" and what were their positions? Included will be: The Catholic Reformation and the Council of Trent, the Reform tradition, both the Zwinglian and Calvinist movements, the Anabaptists, and the radicals. However, due to health issues, Professor Strohl was rescheduled for the Fall of 2006. In her absense, Companion Synod Coordinator, Diane Kaufmann spoke on the recent Malawi Choir tour and Arlan Bergquist spoke on our Synod's gift of a portable church to the Texas-Louisianna Synod in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Bonus: Our guest presenter for the May 12-13, 2006 session was Mphatso Thole (Companion Synod Coordinator, Malawi.)

Professor Jane Strohl - PLTS came for a special summer retreat session held in Rice Lake and taught the course she missed due to illness - all Lay School participants were welcome.

For the 2006-2007 LSM year we experienced our first low enrollment year and didn't begin a new first year class - second year graduated 24 and continuing ed had over 30 attend. Faculty changes included Don Wisner retiring and the Board was pleased that Pastor David K. Anderson from Immanuel in Eau Claire took the worship class. Pastor Mary Jorgensen switched from teaching Biblical Studies to Spiritual Formation.

The Continuing Education topic was The Apostle Paul and the First Century World.

September: Dr. David Tiede (Augsburg College) Dr. Tiede, a recognized Lukan scholar, introduced us to the Paul and the first century world using the book of Acts as his lens. Luke's Acts could very well be titled the Acts of Peter and Paul, with Peter dominating the first 12 chapters and Paul the (CHANGED FROM THEN) final 16! How can Luke's Paul inform our own calls to be active in loving service in the 21st century?

October: Dr. Darrell Jodock (Gustavus Adolphus College) and Dr. Karla Suomala (Luther College) Drs. Jodock and Suomala, both experts in Judaism, introduced us to Paul the Pharisee. Herod's (CHANGED FROM HEORDS) temple wasn't destroyed by the Romans until 71 CE, and since Judaism was still a key player on the world religious scene until that time, and since Paul claims to be the best Pharisee that ever lived...well sort of....they introduced us to the various versions of Judaism of that time, and what that meant for Paul as he travelled from one city to another.

November: Dr. Phil Quandbeck III (Augsburg College) Dr. Quanbeck, leader of study trips to Greece, and participants in archeological digs, and an expert on Paul's use of Greek rhetoric in his letters, introduced us to the urban context of Paul's ministry. How Paul did his ministry in the different cities of Greece and Asia Minor (modern Turkey) was Dr. Quanbeck's focus. He also shares stunning slides of the ruins of the cities Paul visited.

December: Dr. David Rhoads (Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago) Dr. Rhoads is Paul! He has memorized a number of NT books, including Galatians. When Dr. Rhoads stands in front of the class and "talks us through" the entire book the letter comes alive. Dr. Rhoads shared how Paul's lens on why the cross is good news colors how we see the different Gospel's take on the same issues.

Jan. - May. Dr. David Fredrickson (Luther Seminary, St. Paul) The LSM was pleased to welcome back once again Dr. Fredrickson. An expert on Paul, and a frequent traveler to the cities Paul visited, Dr. Fredrickson shared his insight with the class as he took the group through the seven genuine letters of Paul.

2007-2008 - Continuing Education. . The topic was "From Exodus to Jesus: A Look at the History, Literature and People." Faculty included Phil Ruge-Jones, Texas Lutheran; Dennis Olson, Princeton Theological Seminary; Esther Menn, LSTC; Ralph Klein, LSTC; Gary Stansell, St. Olaf College; Jim Aageson, Concordia, Minnesota; Monte Luker, Southern Seminary; Paul Hanson, Harvard and Casey Elledge, Gustavus Adolphus College.

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