FACULTY - Hans Wiersma
Assistant Professor
A lot of what I enjoy about teaching at Augsburg College stems from what I enjoyed about being a full-time pastor: teaching Bible, Theology, and Ministry. I appreciate the give-and-take involved between teacher and learner as they investigate biblical texts, analyze theological concepts, explore Christian history, and consider issues related to Christian vocation and ministry. And I like the occasional humorous, off-the-cuff remarks, like the one from the student who asked "What Would Jesus Drink?" during an interesting conversation about churches that use wine and churches that use grape juice for Holy Communion. Such comments lighten the load of what can otherwise be some pretty heavy subjects: religion and faith.
However, what I enjoy most about my role at Augsburg is working closely with students interested in ministry and church work. Although I remember my own days as a summer camp counselor, as a youth director, as a youth pastor, and finally as a "youth and family" pastor as if they were yesterday (or at least the day before yesterday), my reason for liking my present role is more than nostalgic. Put simply: I consider it a privilege to be a part of the biblical and theological formation of those who will be leaders in Christian ministry in the decades ahead.
My post-graduate work was in the area of church history, with a focus on issues related to ministry during the Reformation period. (My dissertation is a biographical study of a German pastor who worked closely with Martin Luther.) My on-going scholarship involves relating ministry themes in pre-modern Christian history to the doing of ministry in a (post-)modern context--especially ministry with those in their "first third" of life (ages 0-29).
In the
end, I think I just enjoy working with the kinds of people who are
curious about and involved in this odd little vocation called
"Christian Ministry" (or, as it’s often called these days, "Church
Leadership"). I'm going on my third decade of involvement with
ministry/leadership; over the years there have been many challenges and
rewards, and many great people along the way. As a relative newcomer to
Augsburg's faculty, I'm looking forward to many challenges and rewards
in the years ahead, as well as many more great people along the way.