Saturday, March 29, 2014

Just Like WELS - Women Are Running the Show in ELCA -
Single Woman to Head Luther Seminary

No mention of a male husband.


Robin Steinke named president of Luther Seminary

3/26/2014 12:00:00 AM
            CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Robin J. Steinke, Gettysburg, Pa., has been named president of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., effective June 1. Luther is one of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
            "I am humbled and honored to be called to this important work in the life of Luther Seminary and the church," Steinke said in a March 26 seminary release. "I am mindful of the strong legacy that is Luther Seminary. As we look forward, I believe we must work in new and nimble ways to imagine a sustainable future. This effort is complex and multifaceted, yet I can't imagine a more exciting time to be doing this creative work."
            Steinke is the first woman to be named president in the seminary's 145-year history. She succeeds the Rev. Rick Foss, who has served as interim president since December 2012.
            Steinke is dean of the seminary and a tenured professor of theological ethics and public life at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa., an ELCA seminary. She was assistant professor of theological ethics and public life from 2000 to 2003, and was ethics lecturer and director of the seminary's program in Washington D.C., through its Center for Theology and Public Life from 1999 to 2000. From 1999 to 2000, Steinke was associate pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Annandale, Va., and she served an internship at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Akron, Ohio. From 1984 to 1992, she was a financial planner and training manager at American Express Financial Advisors in Atlanta, and middle school band director at Dickerson Middle School in Marietta, Ga., from 1980 to 1984.
            Prior to joining Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Steinke earned a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Cambridge, and a Master of Divinity and Master of Sacred Theology at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, an ELCA seminary. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in music education at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., one of 26 ELCA colleges and universities. Steinke has received numerous awards and participated in a variety of community and regional, national and international academic institutional service.
            Steinke co-chairs the ELCA Theological Education Advisory Council, tasked with exploring the future of theological education. She serves as an ELCA representative to The Lutheran World Federation Council and chairs their Endowment Fund. She is a member of the ELCA Ecclesiology Task Force and serves on a number of other church and academic committees. In June, she will conclude her six-year term as a commissioner for the Association of Theological Schools' Commission on Accrediting.
            "Robin is a proven leader who is uniquely qualified for this position. First and foremost, she has a strong faith and is committed to our mission of educating leaders for Christian communities," said Gus Blanchard, a member of Luther's board of directors and chair of the seminary's presidential search committee. "Her forward-looking leadership skills, ability to build strong, productive relationships, financial acumen and commitment to academic quality, ministry and mission make her a marvelous fit for Luther Seminary. We are thrilled to have her join us as our next president."
- See more at: http://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7655#sthash.HiyY1WT5.dpuf

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Biography:
Dean of the Seminary and Professor of Ethics and Public Life, Prof. Steinke received her doctoral degree from the University of Cambridge, Great Britain after receiving two masters degrees (M.Div. and S.T.M) from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, OH and undergraduate study at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD.

Prof. Steinke began her third five year term as Dean of the Seminary July 1, 2013. She started teaching at the Seminary in 1999 and directed the Seminary’s Washington D.C. program, known as the Lutheran Center for Theology and public Life. Favorite areas of writing and research include the changing shape of theological education, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and issues in theology and public life.

Prof. Steinke is in her 5th year serving on the Association of Theological Schools Board of Commissioners which is responsible for accreditation of the 260 plus member schools in North America. She also regularly serves as chair of accreditation visits for both ATS and the regional accreditor, MSCHE. She is an ELCA representative to the Lutheran World Federation Council and serves as chair of the LWF Endowment Fund.  She also serves as convener of the ELCA/ELCIC Deans meetings. A favorite avocation is playing the trumpet.

Education: B.A., Augustana College, Soux Falls, SD, 1980
M.Div, S.T.M.,Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, OH, 1994
Ph.D., The University of Cambridge, Great Britain, 1999

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http://gettysburgseminary.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html

Friday, July 30, 2010


LWF Unity is in Christ

Unity in Christ, by Robin J. Steinke, LWF Council member and dean, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg


I just finished my first meeting on the new council for LWF. It is such a privilege to serve the church and the mission of Christ in this capacity. I wish that each member of the ELCA could experience the genuine love of Christ experienced here across the cultural, social, economic and denominational traditions. There are clear and longstanding differences on a whole range of theological and social issues. Yet the unity of the Lutheran World Federation, a communion of churches, bears steadfast witness that our unity comes as a gift in Christ. We need not be of the same mind on any of these issues as long as we together confess Christ. I give thanks for my brothers and sisters across the communion of the LWF that we stand together as a public sign of unity in Christ in the midst of difference.

One final note, I also wish that each member of the ELCA could witness the faithful, pastoral and wise leadership exercised by Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson as he so ably served as president of LWF and presided at this assembly. There was great appreciation expressed throughout the communion of churches at this assembly for his Christ centered, biblically rooted, and confessionally sound and pastorally sensitive witness in preaching, teaching and presiding. His leadership was a powerful witness which pointed to Christ as the Center of life, faith and ministry.


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"Brett, do not rush to conclusions about our new sem prez."
"But our new bishop is another matter."
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http://www.icpj-gettysburg.org/newsletter/201007/AU_thanks.htm


Adams Unity Coalition Thanks Contributors to Unity Events
The Adams Unity Coalition wishes to thank the following individuals and organizations for their contributions to the success of the unity events held on June 19-20.
Mark Whitney
Chrissy Habeeb
Sylvia Asante
Rev. Jeanette Leisk, St. James Lutheran Church
Rabbi Carl Choper, Interfaith Alliance of PA
Father Bernardo Pistone and Father Jonathan Sawicki, St. Francis Xavier Church
Lakshmi Viswanathan
Rev. Robin J. Steinke, Dean, Lutheran Theological Seminary 

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Building Inclusive Communities

Member organizations of the Adams County Unity Coalition share an interest in building a community of respect for all peoples regardless of age, gender, class, race/ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, ability, or employment status. The Coalition provides resource-sharing and networking opportunities for member organizations and facilitates collaboration among member organizations to support our individual and collective efforts to promote peace, justice, and unity in Adams County, PA. (Read more about our goals and activities here)