Archives for November 22, 2021

Dear Luther Seminary Students, Faculty, and Staff:

I am writing to share with you that effective June 1, 2022, Associate Professor of Old Testament Michael Chan will be joining Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, as its executive director for faith and learning.

Professor Chan, who holds  degrees from Pacific Lutheran University (B.A.), Luther Seminary (M.A.), and Emory University (Ph.D.), joined Luther Seminary as assistant professor of Old Testament beginning in fall 2013. He left in 2017 to serve in the U.S. Navy and pursue pastoral work. Chan rejoined the seminary in 2019. 

Luther Seminary cherishes the expertise Professor Chan brought to the seminary and will miss his contributions. He has authored numerous books and is a widely known adult educator and facilitator whose Gospel Beautiful podcast engages a diverse range of scholars, artists, and activists. In addition to his teaching and research, he is deeply involved in a variety of innovation initiatives at Luther. 

We wish him well in his future endeavors.

As executive director for faith and learning at Concordia College, Professor Chan will direct the Lorentzsen and Dovre centers, guide Concordia’s interfaith relationships, and oversee the work of Campus Ministry. He will also serve as a member of the president’s cabinet. Starting in January 2022, Chan will travel to Concordia to lead several conversations about how the college can embrace both its longtime strengths and the opportunity for innovation in its faith expressions as a college rooted in the Lutheran church and open to the wisdom of other faiths.

It has been my privilege to work with Dr. Chan these past two years. This is an exciting opportunity for him, his family and Concordia. I would invite the community to keep the Chans in prayer during this season of transition as well as keeping the community of Luther Seminary in your prayers. 

All transitions provide both opportunity and challenge. I am encouraged that as God is moving in Michael’s life to confirm his call and ministry, God is also at work here at Luther, positioning us to expand our faculty as we look forward to educate Christian leaders who respond to the Holy Spirit’s call to witness to salvation through Jesus Christ and to serve in God’s world.

We remain … 
In Christ’s Service,

Joy J. Moore
Academic Dean

There will be no chapel services held this week because of Thanksgiving break. We will resume with chapel at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 30, in the Chapel of the Incarnation.

Pre-Advent greetings, Luther community!

As we move into a new year according to the Christian calendar, I begin more intentional communication from the Academic Affairs Office. Today’s communication is particularly timely as we prepare for winter and spring classes.

As we continue to navigate COVID-19 realities, we also maintain our commitments to providing robust in-person and online learning experiences with flexibility for the diverse needs (think “safety”) of students, staff, and faculty. With these commitments in mind, the Academic Dean in consultation with the Academic Leadership Committee has made the following decisions regarding the remainder of this academic year:

1.  For all students graduating in May 2022, residential requirements will be waived.

2.  All synchronous courses (in-person or online) in the upcoming winter, spring, and summer terms will count as residential courses. (United Methodist requirements are approved through spring.)

3.  All required courses will be offered in two modalities, in-person and online. (For example, the worship course will be offered online in winter and as an RFS with a synchronous intensive in the spring.)

4. Please be attentive to the modality of the offered course as you register. At this time, students may have to shift registration to a different term for a course in the required modality if the online course is scheduled for another term than the in-person course. Faculty members are developing Hybrid courses, but not all courses are available in the hybrid option for the 2021-22 academic year.

I hope this information is helpful as you plan for the upcoming terms. As more courses are added in additional modalities, we will communicate this information.

With the gratitude of the season for the incredible flexibility and creativity of the faculty and staff as well as the commitment of the students, I remain thankful to serve you at this time of transition.

Grace and Peace,

Dr. Joy
Academic Dean

If you missed Ministry Matters Session 2 – here is the link for a replay.

Ministry Matters Session 2 focuses on spiritual abuse and the LGBTQIA+ community. Tim Schroeder moderated a panel discussion with Jia Starr Brown, Wanda Floyd, Emmy Kegler, Rebekah Jordan, and Steph Newman.

Ministry Matters is a student led six-month series for Christian public leaders to learn about the LGBTQIA+ community, its unique spiritual past, and the amazing opportunities ministry holds for the community. Each session is 90 minutes and will focus on a key topic/issue.

Reported employee cases: 0
Reported student cases: 0
Students in quarantine or isolation: 0

Reported cases only include students and employees who have been on campus within a period of time during which they may have been contagious. According to the CDC this includes two days prior to the onset of symptoms or a positive test.

If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19, or if you are an unvaccinated individual who has been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of that person for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period), please report that to the appropriate person. For employees, that person is Michael Morrow (mmorrow001@luthersem.edu). Students should contact David Fenrick; email deanofstudents@luthersem.edu, or text 651-300-3537.