For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
Where has the summer gone?!
Two weeks ago, members of the Trinity Seminary community were pleased to participate in the ELCA Churchwide Assembly here in Columbus. The Rev. Dr. Rachel Wrenn and I represented Trinity as advisory members to the Assembly. Two of our current ELCA M.Div. students were voting members for their home synods. Other faculty, staff, and students volunteered at the Assembly, and what a joy it was to see so many alumni present as voting members!
Fall Term classes start on August 24. Nine new students will be joining us in M.Div. and MTS degree programs this fall. In addition, we have several new ELCA students who have chosen to affiliate with Trinity for Lutheran formation and for internship while earning their M.Div. at non-ELCA seminaries.
One of our new ELCA M.Div. students is the recipient of a full tuition scholarship from the ELCA Fund for Leaders; she joins four of our interns and two second-year students as recipients of FFL full scholarships. One of our returning ELCA M.Div. students is the recipient of a new Mission Developer scholarship from the Fund for Leaders; she joins three of our interns as recipients of Mission Developer scholarship. On September 30, Trinity’s admissions officer the Rev. Dr. Monica Lowe and I will be in Chicago to celebrate the accomplishments of our newest FFL recipients at an awards banquet.
We’re also thrilled to welcome LSTC doctoral candidate Denise Rector to the Trinity community for the next two years. Thanks to the generosity of the ELCA Quality of Call Initiative, administered by the ELCA Gender Justice and Women’s Empowerment program, she will serve as Doctoral-Scholar-in-Residence, teaching three courses each year while writing her doctoral dissertation. She’ll have an opportunity to introduce herself in a future column.
Trinity Days will take place September 22-23, with alumna the Rev. Imani O’Lear (’05) as the keynote speaker on the theme “Beloved Belonging.” The dinner on Thursday night will be an opportunity to celebrate the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Brad Binau (’81) who retires this fall after 29 years of teaching at Trinity. Dr. Binau will also preach at the worship service on Thursday morning. Registration for Trinity Days is open online.
As Fall Semester begins at Trinity, all signs point toward a fruitful harvest. We pray the same holds true for your corner of the vineyard!
May the Spirit work signs of life and growth in your own ministry!
The Rev. Kathryn A. Kleinhans, Ph.D.
Dean
Trinity Lutheran Seminary forms leaders for Christ’s church at work in the world.