Archives for May 9, 2022

In this meditation, Linda E. Webster ’17 M.A. asks, “How open are you to God doing a new thing in your life?” Read today’s God Pause.

Kelly Sherman-Conroy, Ph.D. Candidate
Thursday, May 12, 2022 | 8-10 a.m.
Gullixson Hall, Room 103

The oral examination is a public event open to faculty, students, and staff; however, other than the candidate, only faculty members have speaking privileges.

What is a Ph.D. oral defense? The oral defense is the final step before graduation for Ph.D. degree candidates. The student has finished all research and is presenting a thesis that is an original contribution to the field of scholarship. A copy of the completed thesis is available prior to the defense for those in the Luther Seminary community.

Read “The Reclamation of Lakota Spiritual Sovereignty – Wótȟaŋiŋ Wašté Pté Oyáte.”

We are happy to announce our 14th annual Days of Defense, which will be held via Zoom on Monday, May 9, and Tuesday, May 10. These are the days when students in the M.A. professional degree programs–Leadership in Ministry, Christian Ministry, and Children, Youth, and Family–present their final capstone projects centered on a current issue in their concentration area.

Please join us for either or both days of learning. All times are Central Time. Use this Zoom link; the passcode will be included in the community announcements email.

Monday, May 9: 8:30-11 a.m.
8:30-8:50 a.m. – Obias Gaspal Kilagwa
9-9:20 a.m. – Sharon Bridges
9:30-9:50 a.m. – Yesie Lie
10-10:20 a.m. – Brittany Deal
10:30-10:50 a.m. – Ann Augustin

Monday, May 9: 12:30-3:00 p.m.
12:30-12:50 p.m. – Matthew Martinez
1-1:20 p.m. – Sarah Hembrook
1:30-1:50 p.m. – Nate Bergengren
2-2:20 p.m. – Becky Davidson
2:30-2:50 p.m. – Nixon Mwitula

Tuesday, May 10: 8:30-11 a.m.
8:30-8:50 a.m. – Elijah Zina
9-9:20 a.m. – Frampton Paul
9:30-9:50 a.m. – Charissa Carroll
10-10:20 a.m. – Jen Galley
10:30-10:50 a.m. – Sarah Swagler

Tuesday, May 10: 12:30-3:00 p.m.
12:30-12:50 p.m. – Lusungu Msigwa
1-1:20 p.m. – Stephanie Bowman
1:30-1:50 p.m. – Robin Ferguson
2-2:20 p.m. – Martha Bec
2:30-2:50 p.m. – Eric Mokua

If you have questions, please contact Arlene Flancher, program coordinator, Innovation Team (aflancher001@luthersem.edu).

Reported employee cases: 1
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 Leon Rodrigues (deanofstudents@luthersem.edu).

Contact Tracing Protocol

When an on-campus case of COVID-19 is reported, that person is first asked to stay off-campus and quarantine in accordance with CDC guidelines. In addition, the seminary takes two steps for contact tracing:

1. The Minnesota Department of Health is notified, per guidelines for institutions of higher education

2. The person reporting the case is asked to identify “close contacts”; the close contacts identified are notified of the exposure and asked to follow CDC guidelines for testing and quarantining (quarantine applies only to close contacts who are unvaccinated).