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Introducing Adrienne

Adrienne Kuchler Eldridge '02Adrienne joined the CCV staff in Fall 2019 as the Theology and Public Leadership Program Associate. She wears three very important hats at Augsburg: coordinating the TPL undergraduate degree, directing the summer Augsburg Youth Theology Institute, and managing the Public Church Scholars pathway degree.

The Public Church Scholars five year degree pathway allows students who are called to public church ministry an opportunity to complete a BA in Theology and Public Leadership and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) in five years. In this program students will take a deep dive into theological education, leadership formation, engage in what is means to live and work in community through experiential learning, and prepare to be public leaders in the church. This ministry leadership pathway has been generously funded by the Kern Foundation.

Adrienne has served in many ministry and youth leadership capacities since graduating from Augsburg in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in Youth and Family Ministry and a minor in Sociology. Before coming to this position, she served as youth ministry program staff for an urban ministry collaborative in St. Paul, booking agent for a local hip hop artist, assistant camp director for an island camp and retreat center, and served two local charter high schools in administrative leadership and advising capacities primarily supporting students in college and career exploration. In December 2018, she received her MA in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in ethics and leadership from St. Catherine University. In Fall 2019, she also began the exciting journey of teaching undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota in the Leadership Minor program.

Adrienne’s call has always been tied to connecting people and strengthening relationships. As a leader for young people, her work focuses on listening, guiding, and supporting youth in discerning their purpose during transition times in their lives. She has worked with high school students in developing leadership skills, searching for college and career options that fit their purpose, and making connections for putting their purpose into action. She is excited to join CCV and work with undergraduate students as they discern their call to ministry, by growing and developing as strong leaders for the future of the church in our communities.

When she isn’t working, Adrienne loves walking or hiking in parks and woods around the Twin Cities with her family and energetic dog Calvin. Her husband is a middle school music teacher and her kiddo is thoughtful and creative and always has his nose in a book. As a family they enjoy camping, following the latest Star Wars or Avengers stories and media, and making and sharing homemade meals.

Vocation as Path: Following the Questions

Augsburg College hosted Seminary and Divinity School Day on October 28. This event allows regional college students to connect, reflect, and explore theological graduate study options with representatives from 18 top-notch seminaries and divinity schools.

Martha E. Stortz, Bernhard M. Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation, gave the keynote address at the event.

Her message includes several Big Questions for reflection, and is available electronically – Vocation as Path: Following the Questions 

Recently Ordained Auggies!

This summer, three 2010 Augsburg College alumni have been ordained to ministry and began their first calls as pastors in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. These Auggies (who also graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul in May of 2014) are: Michael Buller, Emily Wiles, and Peter Weston Miller.

We asked them to tell us about the congregation(s) where they serve, and what they are most energized about with their call. We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments, and we wish them well in their new vocations as pastors!

Micheal Buller wearing a red stole following his ordination
Pastor Michael at his Ordination.

Michael Buller, Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Abercrombie, ND and Galchutt (pronounce Gal-Shoot) Lutheran Church in Galchutt, ND

My role is solo pastor of a two point parish.  I am very excited about this parish because they are in desperate need of new life. They are “mission re-development sites” which essentially means that they are on the verge of closing. I received mission re-development certification in the ELCA, so we could very well be a good fit for each other.

Since arriving I have discovered that there is a great deal of life in both Abercrombie and Galchutt proper and a great deal of life in the surrounding areas.  For instance we have an educational farmstead near by called Crooked Lane Farms which is only 4 miles outside of Abercrombie.  They have concerts during the summer, gardening classes, crafting classes, any many other activities; super cool stuff, and wonderful people.

In November of 2015 Emmanuel Lutheran will be celebrating 125 years of faithful ministry and we will be making it into a very big event. Finally the two churches tend the grounds of a third church building. St. John’s Lutheran church is located between Emmanuel and Galchutt and is the oldest Lutheran Church building in the Eastern North Dakota synod. We have a joint worship service there each year.

I have a website folks can look at to keep tabs on what I’m up to: it is www.facebook.com/pastormbuller.  There are many other pictures and stories on this site.  Continue reading “Recently Ordained Auggies!”