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Lilly grant expands vocational, theological reflection

$447,000, three-year award supports Youth Theological Institute

2014 Youth Theology Institute Seniors
The Youth Theology Institute each year celebrates the accomplishments of its senior class. Here, YTI celebrates the 2014 senior cohort.

(MINNEAPOLIS) — A grant of more than $445,000 was awarded by Lilly Endowment Inc., in a highly competitive grant process, to Augsburg College’s Youth Theology Institute. The award means the Youth Theology Institute can, among other things, develop a fellowship program for youth ministers, including from multicultural and ethnic-specific congregations, and expand participation in the program among youths, congregations, and synods.

“This grant supports Augsburg’s continued commitment to intentional diversity and to modeling what it means to be a Lutheran college of the 21st century, located in the heart of one of the nation’s most diverse zip codes,” said Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow.

“It equips young people with theological and vocational skills and helps them learn what it means to practice their faith, with its commitments to education, radical hospitality and serving your neighbor.” Continue reading “Lilly grant expands vocational, theological reflection”

Explore meaningful work with the Strommen Center

strommen_weekJust what does “meaningful work” mean to you? During the week of Nov. 15-19, Augsburg students are invited to explore this idea through a series of events. Strommen Meaningful Work Week will include the annual etiquette dinner and daily open-house opportunities for students to talk with employers from a variety of disciplines.

The Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work promotes the exploration of vocation, purposeful living and meaningful work by connecting liberal and professional knowledge and skills with talent, faith and core values. Through the Center, students explore career opportunities, get assistance with job searches, and find internships. Continue reading “Explore meaningful work with the Strommen Center”

A writer finds hope at Augsburg

macdonald_templeJeffrey MacDonald says he came to Augsburg on a mission seeking hope.

The journalist and UCC minister was working on a book and heard that Augsburg College was an antidote to the problem he’d been exploring. His question is it possible to offer experiences in the religious marketplace that genuinely shape the heart and character of others?

Recently MacDonald returned to Augsburg, published book in hand, to talk about his work. Thieves in the Temple: The Christian Church and the Selling of the American Soul was released in spring 2010. Continue reading “A writer finds hope at Augsburg”

An accountant or a pastor?

cody_warrenFour years ago, Cody Warren came to Augsburg with the certain sense that he was called to become a pastor. A volunteer opportunity created in Cody a desire to learn more about tax accounting, and it also opened his eyes to new possibilities for exploring his vocation. At Augsburg, Cody majored in Accounting and Religion, was involved with campus ministry, was an orientation leader, worked with academic advising, and was part of the Augsburg accounting and finance club. And in President Pribbenow’s first year, Cody got to trade places with him for a day. He says Pribbenow reversed all his decisions from that day.

What follows is Cody’s senior chapel talk on taxes, vocation, and Bonhoeffer. If you are a graduating senior and would like to share your Augsburg story with us, please email wheelerw@augsburg.edu. Continue reading “An accountant or a pastor?”

Vocatio Chapel Series

vocatio_decArt has always been a part of personal faith lives. From religious icons, to hymns of praise, worshippers have used art as a tool to pray and praise. Songs and hymns give praise to God. Paintings and sculptures depict stories from scripture to let the worshipper understand the story in a new way. Dramas have brought sacred stories to life.

The 2008-2009 Vocatio Chapel Series, “Faith and the Imagination: The Call to the Arts” continues Wednesday, Dec. 10 with organist and Central Lutheran Church music director, Mark Sedio. Vocatio Chapel begins at 10:20 a.m. in Foss Center.

Mark may be well known to the Augsburg community, not only as an alumnus (1976) but also as the organist at Central Lutheran. After completing his bachelor’s at Augsburg, Sedio attended the University of Iowa, St. John’s University, and Luther Seminary. Continue reading “Vocatio Chapel Series”

Vocatio Chapel on Jan. 23 with Alan Padgett

vocatioAugsburg College continues the tradition of the Vocatio Chapel series with Alan Padgett, professor of systematic theology at Luther Seminary speaking in Hoversten Chapel on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 10:20 a.m.

Padgett is vitally interested in the dialogue between theology and science, as well as such varying topics as Christian spirituality, systematic theology, and Christian ethics and the relationship between religion and science. He is currently editor of the online Journal for Christian Theological Research, and he is general editor of the book series, Sacra Doctrina.

Lunch with Dr. Padgett will follow the chapel service at 11 a.m. To RSVP for the lunch, or for more questions about the Vocatio Chapel series, contact Ross Murray at murray@augsburg.edu or x1151.

The Vocatio Chapel series is part of Exploring Our Gifts, funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment. It is a collegewide program dedicated to making the Christian concept of vocation a vital part of Augsburg’s classrooms and co-curricular activities.