Bethany News
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3/24/08
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2008 Pastor's Institute
The annual Pastor's Institute of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary has been held in various locations throughout the country in order to make it possible for more of our pastors to attend. This year the institute took place at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Lakeland, Florida, March 24-25, 2007.
This year's institute included two presentations. The first presentation was a history of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, the international body of Lutheran churches of which the ELS is a founding member. The presentation was entitled Make Known the Manifold Wisdom of God. The second presentation was on the life and work of Paul Gerhardt, the renowned Lutheran hymnist and theologian. These presentations were delivered by Prof. Gaylin Schmeling.
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2/16/08
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2008 Seminary Marriage Retreat
The Seminary Marriage & Parsonage Retreat took place on February 16, 2007. Prof. Michael and Anita Smith gave a presentation on time management in the parsonage. This retreat is made possible through a special grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. The purpose of this seminar is to prepare the students and their families for life in the parsonage and to increase their awareness of Christian service.
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2/10/08
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Recruitment Night, Spring 2008
This spring our seminary night was held on February 10. Rev. Daniel Basel gave a presentation entitled Why I am Thankful For and Love the Public Ministry.
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12/7/07
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2007 Seminary Christmas Party
Pres. and Mrs. Schmeling invited many guests and friends to their house for the annual seminary Christmas party on December 7, 2007. The guests enjoyed food and drink with the good company of their fellow classmates, coworkers, and associates. The food and fellowship was enjoyed by all.
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10/25/07
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2007 Reformation Lectures: Paul Gerhardt
The 40th Annual Reformation Lectures were held October 25–26, 2007. This year our theme was: The Life and Work of Paul Gerhardt—400th Anniversary.
The two lectures were:
Lecture I
Paul Gerhardt: Pastor and Theologian, by Professor Gaylin Schmeling, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, Mankato, MN
Lecture II
Paul Gerhardt: Poet and Hymn Writer, by Dr. Carlos Messerli, retired professor of Lutheran Music and director of the Luther Summer Music Institute
The Reformation Lectures centered in the important contribution that Paul Gerhardt made to the Lutheran Church and Lutheran hymnody. In his hymns, sermons and other writings, the Gospel always predominates as he applies that Gospel truth to the burdens and struggles of the Christian’s life. He faced the Christian cross, and his hymns offer comfort as we face the Christian cross. His enemies considered him to be as thickheaded as a mule and as stubborn as one, but his friends knew that his strong convictions were based on the salvific Word of the Lord. This divine, sifted in Satan’s sieve, is indeed the sweet singer of Lutheranism.
Each lecture was followed by a panel discussion. The panel members were the Rev. Jerome Gernander, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church, Princeton, Minnesota; the Rev. Thomas Rank, pastor at Center and Scarville Lutheran Churches, Scarville, Iowa; Prof. Mark Harstad, professor at Bethany Lutheran College; and Prof. Dennis Marzolf, professor at Bethany Lutheran College.
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10/14/07
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Recruitment Night, Fall 2007
This fall our seminary night was held on October 14. Dr. Thomas Kuster gave a presentation entitled The Pastor: A man of words, A man of the Word.
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8/27/07
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New Seminary Academic Year
Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary began its new school year with an
opening service on August 27 in Good Shepherd Chapel. Dr. Thomas Kuster,
basing his message on the account of the transfiguration recorded in Mark
9:29, urged students not to be distracted from the focus of their work.
Dr. Kuster displayed souvenirs from Bethlehem and related experiences
visiting Biblical sites in Israel to illustrate how some people lose proper
focus by believing that such items and places convey a special holiness, and
a feeling of being "close to Jesus." Peter lost focus on the transfiguration
mount by suggesting that the place should be venerated. But Jesus set the
example on the way down the mountain by continuing to focus solely on His
work, the redemption of the world, which He would accomplish also for each
of us by His death and resurrection. We then should not be distracted by the
self-importance of being in the seminary or becoming a pastor, but instead
focus on our God-assigned work. Nothing brings us "closer to Jesus" than
attaching children to Him in baptism, distributing His true body and blood
to believers in His Supper, and putting the word of the Gospel into the ears
of those who by it are built up in faith. God in His grace has made that
work ours, and it deserves our full attention.
The teaching staff for the seminary this coming year is as follows: Adolph Harstad, Thomas Kuster, Michael Smith, Erling Teigen, and Gaylin Schmeling. Professor Harstad will teach our Old Testament classes; Professor Smith will teach our New Testament classes; Professor Kuster will teach communication; Professor Teigen will teach dogmatics; and Professor Schmeling will teach history courses.
The seminary enrollment this year numbers twenty-two. There are three vicars, four seniors, nine middlers, five juniors, and one part-time student. The vicars are Brian Klebig at Abiding Shepherd Lutheran Church, Cottage Grove, Wisconsin; Boyd Longshore at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, Minnesota; and Robert Oberg at Redeeming Grace Lutheran Church, Rogers, Minnesota.
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8/25/07
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Opening Picnic, 2007
On Saturday, August 25, 2007, the Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary staff and student body held the picnic inaugurating the opening of the 2007-2008 academic year. After a brief devotion and prayer was given by Pres. Gaylin Schmeling the crowd was entertained by the guitar playing of Prof. Adolph Harstad, who sang several songs from the "oldies" era of American music, and the Seminary Bingo game held by Prof. and Mrs. Michael Smith. The main speaker for the event was the Rev. Craig Ferkenstad, pastor of our Norseland/Norwegian Grove Parish, who presented on the peculiarities of Norwegian church practices. The meal was a potluck provided by the many people who came and fellowship was enjoyed by all.
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6/17/07
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2007 Graduation
On Sunday evening, June 17, 2007, Trinity Chapel was filled for the graduation service of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary. President Gaylin Schmeling served as liturgist, Mr. John Baumann was the organist, and Professor Adolph Harstad preached the graduation sermon. His text was Luke 2:52 with the theme “Jesus Grew—How About You?”
The Rev. J. Kincaid Smith, representing the Board of Regents, presented diplomas to Candidates of Theology Dale Jaech, Michael Muehlenhardt, Daniel Oberer and Andrew Schmidt.
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5/10/07
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2007 Assignments
The call service for Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary was held on Thursday, May 10, 2007 at Trinity Chapel of Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minnesota. This year 7 assignments were made:
Candidates:
Michael Muehlenhardt - Christ Ev. Luth., Klamath Falls, OR
Daniel Oberer - Hope Luth. Mission, Farmington, MN
Andrew Schmidt - Peace Ev. Luth., Lakeland, FL
Vicars:
Brian Klebig - Abiding Shepherd Luth., Cottage Grove, WI
H. Boyd Longshore - Our Savior's Ev. Luth., Albert Lea, MN
Robert Oberg - Redeeming Grace Luth. Mission, Rogers, MN
Special:
Christian Eisenbeis - Czech Ev. Luth. Church, Plzen, Czech Republic
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