We have so much to be grateful for, including students and celebrating their journey at Augsburg University. Senior Theology and Public Leadership major, Kali Kadelbach, preached in chapel on Thursday, November 19th about her journey and call to ministry. Kali says, “I am called into ministry to proclaim God’s call in the world through youth ministry and creation care.” Kali is graduating in December 2020, discerning a call to attend seminary, and currently living out her vocation through youth ministry and eco-theology as the Director of Youth and Families at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Princeton, Minnesota.
Preaching this week in chapel are some of the Augsburg Religion Faculty. The weekly schedule on the Campus Ministry website and we encourage you to follow the Augsburg Campus Ministry YouTube channel for chapel services every week.
On Tuesday, Professor Lori Brandt Hale preached using the text from Micah 6:8 and Romans 12:4-8, focusing on the idea that right now in the world, “It Is All Too Hard.” Lori says, “we are living at a time that requires us to pay attention, all the time. And it is full of messes. This is such an understatement, where do we even start?” There is a global pandemic, climate devastation, racial injustice, systemic racism, and police brutality to name just a few of the things going on in the world.
She also asked, in the midst of all of these things, “is there hope?” While many students come to mind, the current Religion and TPL seniors in the Religion Keystone class are creating projects and reading books in search of their next faithful step. How is God is calling them to respond to the world and their neighbor? Given the vocational discernment and theological reflection our students are engaging in, we can confidently say, yes there is hope!
Do you know a young person interested in studying religion, going into professional ministry, or becoming a pastor? Email Adrienne Kuchler Eldridge at eldridge@augsburg.edu to talk more about ministry programs and how God might be calling you to study at Augsburg! #WeAreCalled #AugsburgUniversity #AuggiePride
Sarah joins a talented group of new Augsburg University alumni with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Political Science.
Throughout her time on campus, Sarah was involved in Student Ministries and the Augsburg Choir and held jobs in the Admissions Office, Religion Department, Division for Mission and Identity, and the tutoring program. Her favorite memory from her time at Augsburg was being invited to join an Interfaith trip to Palestine in her junior year. She loved every religion class she ever took, but especially liked Contemporary Theology with Professor Mary Lowe. She would like to thank all her professors, advisors, and mentors for all of their guidance throughout her time at Augsburg. #auggiepride
Sarah will be attending Luther Seminary starting in June 2020, as a part of an accelerated Master of Divinity (MDiv) cohort. She hopes to work towards ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). #WeAreCalled
Matt came to Augsburg with the goal of completing a degree in youth ministry and four years later that’s exactly what he’s taking with him. But in truth, he says it is so much more than that.
Matt says about his experience that he is leaving with a diverse experience of people, both through class and through various interactions on campus. Matt graduated with honors and is a fine arts scholar. He says, “I’m leaving with knowledge gifted to me from some incredible professors. These past four years I have been impacted by people who have truly seen the best in me, and a God who knows my capabilities to be a leader in this new and strange world. Even though this is not the end of my education, what I have learned here has been key in my development as a minister.” #WeAreCalled
Matt says that Augsburg is an established community of grace and an understanding of vocation that allows me to shape and create my own. “This is an opportunity that only this small little private school in the Cedar-Riverside community could give me.”
We are so proud of Matt and look forward to celebrating him as an Auggie Alumni! #auggiepride
Learn more about our degree in Theology and Public Leadership.
Learn more about our new BA/ MDiv Public Church Scholars program.
Sophie graduated from Augsburg University with a BA in Theology and Public Leadership and a minor in Theater in May 2020. She received departmental honors in Religion with her paper on Creating Congregants: Outdoor Ministry as a Viable Solution to Declining Church Attendance.
During her time at Augsburg Sophie held many leadership positions. She worked as a student assistant in the Christensen Center for Vocation and as a Campus Ministry Deacon and Co-President of AUSM (Augsburg University Student Ministries) with Sarah Hanson (Dec 2019 graduate). She was both a Christensen Scholar and an Interfaith Scholar during her career at Augsburg. Finally, Sophie was graduated with Departmental Honors, thanks to an excellent piece of scholarly work about Spiritual Practices and Camping Ministry.
The last two summers she spent working as a camp counselor in Montana at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp and is pursuing a professional career in ministry. Sophie was accepted into the ELCA YAGM cohort (Young Adults in Global Mission) for 2020-2021. Due to public health concerns they have postponed YAGM for this coming year. Sophie is keeping her options open for future possibilities by applying to seminary to be a rostered Deacon in the ELCA, working at camp, and planning to be a part of the YAGM cohort in 2021-2022. #WeAreCalled
We are so proud of Sophie and look forward to celebrating her as an Auggie Alumni! #auggiepride
Learn more about our degree in Theology and Public Leadership.
Learn more about our new BA/ MDiv Public Church Scholars program.
Beliefs matter … and students taking Vocation and the Christian Faith (Religion 480) traveled with Professor Bev Stratton to El Salvador in January, 2012. Student Katelyn Danelski reflected on what they experienced—visits to churches, universities, and rural communities—and all that they learned about faith and identity in the midst of social injustice, oppression, and conflict. MORE >
“I Believe” projects use art, poetry, and nature to express core beliefs.