About Our Seminary Pastor
Our full-time Pastor to the Seminary Community is the Rev. Dr. John Largen. He is an LTSS alumnus and resides on campus with his wife, Kristin (a theology professor at Gettysburg Seminary), and their dog, Henry. Formerly a parish pastor in Virginia and then Southern's admissions director, Pastor Largen was called to his current position (which is unique among Lutheran seminaries) in 1999. He holds a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Direction degree.
With the faculty and other ordained staff, Pastor Largen seeks to provide a meaningful pastoral ministry to all at Southern Seminary, especially to students, spouses and children. In the context of his Word and sacrament ministry among us, he emphasizes our intentional growth in the spiritual life. This emphasis is based on the understanding that one's own intimacy with God in a prayerful life is the very beginning, source, and core of one's ministry. Each year, Pastor Largen provides a variety of special programs (Spiritual Formation Calendar) to engage the seminary community in the church's rich tradition of prayer and spiritual practices.
The Seminary Pastor is available for pastoral care and conversation, including home and hospital visitation. He welcomes such opportunities. Strict confidentiality is honored. The rite for Individual Confession and Forgiveness (Lutheran Book of Worship pp.196-197) is also gladly provided upon request. Be assured that Pastor Largen does not participate in any of the formal evaluations of students (grades, faculty reviews, candidacy decisions, etc.).
If in the seminary process you uncover a troubling personal or family issue, the Seminary Pastor can make an appropriate referral to a local professional counselor. Discretionary monies may be available for assistance.
As the faces in our seminary community are regularly changing, Pastor Largen welcomes invitations to students' homes and gatherings in order to get better acquainted. The welfare of spouses and children are special areas of concern for him. All members of the seminary community--students, staff, faculty, and family members--may feel free to call upon him. Also, you are invited to drop by his office at any time just to visit and chat.
The Seminary Pastor's office and Administrative Assistant are located on the middle floor of the Beam Building, adjacent to Alumni Hall. (The entranceway into Alumni Hall is on the Main Street side of Beam. No code is needed for this door on weekdays.)
jlargen@ltss.edu
(803) 461-3298
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
Promote Your Page Too
Contact Admissions:
Admissions@ltss.edu
(803) 786-5150
toll free: (800) 804-5233
Fax: 803-786-6499
4201 North Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203