The Next Stage of the Adventure
My heart going boom boom boom….
Yesterday official word began to circulate that the search committee at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia has decided to recommend me to their Board as their candidate for the position of president at that fine school. It is my alma mater, and I have always felt a debt of gratitude to the seminary and my teachers there for the excellent education I received. I’m very excited about both the challenges and opportunities that will come with that position, and honored and humbled by the trust of the committee.
As the plans now stand, I’ll be on the Philadelphia campus the 13th and 14th of May to meet with students, staff, faculty, alumni, and Board. The Board will then vote on the search committee’s recommendation at the end of those two days. If the conversations continue to be as positive and productive as they have been thus far, and all else goes well, we anticipate that I will begin there this fall.
Someone asked me yesterday how I felt as news begin to spread. It has been, quite honestly, hard to describe, but the dominant feelings are two: excitement at what is to come as I look forward to joining the LTSP community and profound gratitude for fourteen wonderful years in and with the community at Luther Seminary. It feels, in other words, like the next step in the adventure. And as I take it, I covet your prayers.
So that, dear reader, is part of what has kept me busy and at times away from this blog over the last month or two. It’s hard to know how the writing I do here will fit into a new set of responsibilities, but I hope to continue to have time to reflect with you on the Scriptures and on how faith intersects with daily life. Thank you – again and always – for reading.
Congratulations to both you and to LTSP. May this be a Ps.16:6 experience for both you and the seminary.
Congratulations. They could not have made a better choice. I think one of my favorite teachers was on the faculty (Robert Jensen) but I am sure he has been retired for years. Bill
We have met, at St Paul’s Lutheran in Glenside. I am very pleased that you might become the president of my Alma Mater.
Congratulations! I will be praying for you and the Board over the next couple of weeks. Blessings in the transition.
Congratulations! It sounds like it has potential to be a wonderful homecoming. And you will definitely have some most excellent colleagues there.
Congratulations David on your new exciting challenge. You will do well!
Please also know that you are making an incredible difference here in south central Alberta, with our church taking on a new strategic planning initiative inspired by your work and inspiration. While I’m not clergy, my fifty-two years of affiliation with the church has indicated the need for increased strategic planning and evaluation emphasis in clergy training. As a senior administrator while in my secular career, the continual practice of this aspect was imperative to success. You will now be in a position to grow these aspects institutionally to the benefit of God’s work.
However the new function materializes, please keep us in the loop so that we can leverage your work and inspiration.
Our prayers are with you and your family in your new life.
Thank you again,
Bill Nicoll
Olds, AB CA
Volunteer Christian Change Agent
David,
Congratulations on your new position. I am sure you will provided wonderful leadership for LTSP. This is a challenging time to become a seminary president in the ELCA with the review of Theological Education taking place and new curriculum plans being adopted by most of our seminaries. I had two interns from LTSP when I was a pastor in Connecticut and grew to appreciate the seminary and faculty.
As a Luther Seminary alum, I also want thank you for your key role you have played in the development of working preacher.org. With you new responsibilities will you be able to still participate in WP? If not, I am hopeful you will find the time to keep your blog.
Blessings as a new chapter of ministry opens for you and LTSP.
Steve
Hope you get the job David I will pray you do. Thanks so much for this blog it has been a real blessing to me and to many others. If you can keep the blog going that would be grand, but if you can’t then that’s okay too as you can’t do more than you are able to or have time for without burn out.
God Bless you and your family.
Your candidacy was announced at Ministerium Day in Jersey and there was much rejoicing… I thought we might roast a pig right there!
I’ve added you to my morning prayer list as you and LTSP do the dance of discernment.
Peace,
Pastor Chris