Alumni in the News
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August 11, 2011
Holding out hope for a heart: Pastor having to leave state to qualify for transplant coverage
From The Grand Island Independent
By Kay Kemmet
Joseph Javorsky (Class of 2002) is trying to die the same way he lived: with faith.
The pastor at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in St. Paul was told in April that he has less than a year to live unless he receives a heart transplant.
Soon after, his insurance company told him it won't cover the procedure at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
He had two options: stay in Nebraska without treatment so he could stay close to his two young sons or move out of state and try to get healthy.
He chose to move to Florida, where he has family, and get on a heart transplant list.
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June 27, 2011
Our Hometown Rincon: Jerusalem Lutheran Church
From WSAV Television, Savannah, GA
The Rincon area is known for its Sulzberger population- facing persecution and even death; they left Augsburg Germany in 1733 seeking religious freedom.
They landed in Ebenezer- and just one year later the Jerusalem Lutheran Church was born. Monday, in Our Hometown Rincon, News 3's Meredith Ley visits the church and finds its living history.
Under the shade of massive trees sits Jerusalem Lutheran Church. It’s the first Lutheran Church in the United States.
Reverend John Barichivich (Class of 2009) is the current shepherd of the 277 year old flock, and he says the roots run deep.
"Many of my congregation can trace their roots back to the original ancestors---we have names like Ziegler, Gnan, Grovenstien, Kessler --these are all Salzburg names and they are prominent in this area."
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June 22, 2011
UMC Alumni Recognized at South Carolina Annual Conference
Five LTSS Alumni were honored at the 2011 South Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church in Florence, South Carolina. Scott Smoak (Class of 2011) and David McManus, Jr. (Class of 2010) were commissioned as Provisional Elders; Debra Armstong (Class of 2007) and Daniel Flessas (Class of 2007) were ordained as Elders; and Kay Wood (Class of 2009) was ordained as a Deacon. 
June 22, 2011
Daniels Named Bishop of AME Church
From The State
In 1978, a skinny, Liberian teenager with an afro arrived in Columbia to study at Allen University.
So began a 33-year relationship between the Rev. David R. Daniels, Jr. (Class of 1985), a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Columbia. As a result of that relationship, Columbia will host Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and about 4,000 other people next week for a gathering of church leaders.
Daniels chose Columbia as the place where he will celebrate his investiture Monday as president of the Council of Bishops of the Global African Methodist Episcopal Church, the faith's governing body. Sirleaf, who has received political support from Daniels, will be the keynote speaker. The council also will hold a four-day meeting after the investiture ceremony.
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June 6, 2011
James Mauney re-elected bishop of ELCA Virginia Synod
From the ELCA News Service
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. James F. Mauney (Class of 1978 & 2009) was elected to a third six-year term as bishop of the Virginia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Mauney, 58, was re-elected June 3 on the first ballot for bishop at the synod assembly in Salem.
"Christ is the center," Mauney said June 6. "We are baptized into his life and resurrection. We are to be his body and light to the world. We stand together in him. We rise and fall in him. In him all things find their right place and hold together."
Mauney received 276 votes, or 81 percent, of the total votes cast on the first ballot. There were 33 names on the first, or nominating, ballot. Mauney's new term begins Sept. 1.
He was first elected bishop in 1999, succeeding the Rev. Richard F. Bansemer, who retired. Mauney had served with Bansemer as an assistant to the bishop before Mauney was called to lead the synod. He previously served as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Richmond, Va., and associate pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, San Diego.
Mauney and his wife, Lynda, are parents of an adult daughter. They reside in Salem.
June 6, 2011
Apel Named to Synod Staff
From the Indiana-Kentucky Synod Office
Please join Bishop Bill Gafkjen and the Indiana-Kentucky Synod staff in welcoming the Rev. Heather Apel (Class of 2006), Assistant to the Bishop for Candidacy and Synod Assembly Coordination.
April 25, 2011
The Enterprise, Brockton, MA
The Enterprise features the Rev. Mark Peterson's (Class of 2010) congregation, First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Broctkon, during Easter Sunday worship.
April 3, 2011
St. Mark announces new pastor, Pam Northrup
By Shanna Fortier from the Palm Coast Observer, Palm Coast, FL
After a long search, St. Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church selected the Rev. Pam Northrup (Class of 2006) as senior pastor.
Northrup comes to St. Mark by the Sea from Southern Pines, N.C., where she served as associate pastor at Our Saviour Lutheran Church for five years.
She graduated with honors in 2006, from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, in Columbia, S.C.
Northrup begins ministry Sunday, April 3, with two services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
March 29, 2011
Congregations around the Synod use the Super Bowl to reach out to the needy
From the Allegheny Synod's The Lutheran Letter
The Souper Bowl of Caring is an annual event to help local food pantries that takes place across the county in congregations of all denominations on Super Bowl Sunday. Many of the Allegheny Synod's congregations participate in one way or another. Here is one unique story from this year…
The Members of the Geeseytown and Newry Lutheran churches (Geeseytown/Newry Parish) found a fun and unique way to promote their annual Souper Bowl of Caring food drive. Since the Steelers were playing the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl, Pastor Mike Rhyne (Class of 2009) thought it would be fun to enter into a friendly challenge around the Souper Bowl of Caring with a Lutheran church in Green Bay, WI. Geeseytown and Newry entered into a challenge with Atonement Lutheran Church of Green Bay to see which of the churches could gather the most food items and donations in their Souper Bowl drives. Both congregations saw it as a way to support their communities and to show support for their team. Though the Steelers didn't win the people in our communities did. Geeseytown/Newry were able to gather 1004 food items that were distributed to the food banks in Williamsburg and Claysburg. They also raised $313.00 that went to the St. Vincent De Paul soup kitchen in Altoona.
As of February 28, 2011, this year's Souper Bowl of Caring had over 17.9 million youth in over 10,700 congregations collecting over 4 million pounds of food and over 4.6 million dollars for local food pantries. What is so unique about this is that all food and monies collected goes directly to the local communities of the congregations – nothing goes towards the overhead costs of the Souper Bowl of Caring.
For more information, please see www.souperbowl.org.
March 28, 2011
Trexler Named Interim PastorFrom the Charlotte Observer
New pastor: Church welcomes the Rev. Dr. William Bernard Trexler (Class of 1970, 1991) as interim pastor after the retirement of the Rev. Robert Shoffner (Class of 1974). An N.C. native, Trexler graduated from Duke University in 1966. He earned master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. After ordination, he served parishes throughout the Southeast and represented the Lutheran Church in America Division for Parish Services in its Southeast region. In 1995 he was elected second bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod. Trexler has received numerous awards and recognitions for his service in ministry. In 1995, Southern Seminary awarded him the John Benjamin Bedenbaugh Alumni/ae Award for Distinguished Pastoral Leadership. In 1997, Newberry College conferred an honorary doctor of humane letters degree on Trexler, and in 1999 he received an honorary doctor of sacred theology degree from the South Florida Center for Theological Studies. 547 6th St. N.W., Hickory. www.htlchickory.org.Read more
March 21, 2011
Faith leaders rally against anti-immigration legislation
From the Orlando Sentinel
Religious leaders leaders and bishops from across Florida oppose anti-immigrant legislation that will divide communities, separate families, and prevent churches from ministering to those in need. They urged political leaders to instead focus on real solutions that protect our values.
"Creating and passing laws that make it more difficult and even unlawful to provide care and assistance to the immigrant in our midst runs counter to the very fabric of the Christian faith and our moral fiber," said Bishop Edward R. Benoway (Class of 1973) of the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), based in Tampa.
March 17, 2011
Church has new pastor
From the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona, FL
St. Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church in Palm Coast has welcomed a new senior pastor.
Pam Northrup (Class of 2006) comes to St Mark by the Sea from Southern Pines, N.C. where she served as associate pastor at Our Saviour Lutheran Church for nearly five years, according to a press release.
She graduated with honors from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C., in May 2006.
March 15, 2011
Miracles of timing
by the Rev. John F. Merck (Class of 1964)
From The Lutheran
It was 1945 in a rural community near Jacksonville, Fla. My family was gathered around our radio on a damp, chilly winter night to listen to news on the progress of the war. Later, we all went to bed. Just another average day for an average 7-year-old boy.
But in the middle of the night I felt a tug on my blanket. Our dog was vigorously attempting to wake my brother and me. As we got up, I heard strange sounds coming from the attic. I went to my parents' room to alert them. In less than a minute my dad was in the kitchen frantically throwing pans of water at the ceiling in an attempt to extinguish flames moving down the walls. My brother and I were quickly taken...
March 14, 2011
Christ Lutheran in Radford a small church hoping to make a bigger impact
From the Roanoke Times/NewRiverValley.com
Name of church and information: Christ Lutheran Church, 201 Harvey St., Radford
Contact information: 639-2671, www.lutheransonline.com/clcradford
Church hours: Sunday worship, 11 a.m.; Sunday school, 9:45 to 10:30 a.m.. Holy communion is celebrated weekly at the Sunday worship service. Nursery care is provided.
About the staff: The Rev. Stephen Shackelford (Class of 2000) was employed by the church just last month. He is the first pastor to be hired there in two years.
Shackelford, born in Harrisonburg and raised in Virginia by a Lutheran pastor, graduated from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 2000 with a Master of Divinity degree in theology. He was ordained in 2004. Before his service at Christ Lutheran, he was pastor at Glade Creek Lutheran Church in Blue Ridge. He lives in Troutville with his wife, Wanda, whom he married in October. Shackelford is a full-time clinical transporter at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center.
March 9, 2011
Senior Care Franchise to Open in North Carolina
From Always Best Care Senior Services Press Release
Always Best Care Senior Services, named by Entrepreneur magazine as the fastest growing Senior Care franchise system, today announced the company has awarded its seventh franchise in North Carolina and is now expanding into the Northern Piedmont area encompassing Greensboro and communities in northern Guilford and eastern Rockingham counties.
Always Best Care provides non-medical in-home care, assisted living placement services and skilled home health care through a nationwide network of more than 125 independently owned and operated franchised offices.
Always Best Care of the Northern Piedmont is owned and operated by Philip Stringer (Class of 1991), who joined the ABC team in late January, 2011 after nearly 20 years of pastoral ministry.
March 8, 2011
Posted by John Kahler, The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
Bishop E. Roy Riley (Class of 1974), of the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, was the presenter at the Tuesday, March 1 convocation at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP), speaking on the topic "Seminary Education: What the Church Expects?"Bishop Riley provides pastoral and administrative leadership to the 180 congregations and almost 80,000 baptized members of the ELCA on the territory of New Jersey. He has led the New Jersey Synod as bishop since 1991, and was re-elected to his current 6 year term at the 2007 synod assembly.
Click here for viewing and downloading.
February 26, 2011
Life & faith: New book explores pastoral truth-telling
By CAROLYN CLICK, The State, Columbia, SC
The Rev. Frank G. Honeycutt (Class of 1985) , senior pastor of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in downtown Columbia, took a three-month sabbatical to write his latest book "The Truth Shall Make You Odd: Speaking with Pastoral Integrity in Awkward Situations."
The title is drawn from a line by writer Flannery O'Connor, a Southerner who pondered faith and spirituality in her novels and short stories. Honeycutt employs his favorite authors and theologians and his own pastoral story to explore ways pastors and lay people can speak honestly and effectively about living out the Christian faith.
This week, Honeycutt answered questions from The State about his new book:
Question: You write: "Church is the place where we learn the language of Jesus, a language faithfully spoken less and less frequently, even by pastors like me." Is that a problem peculiar to the 21st century or have Christians had this trouble all along?
Honeycutt: In 1967, theologian William Stringfellow wrote: "The weirdest corruption of American Protestantism is its virtual abandonment of the Word of God in the Bible." I think Christians have struggled with biblical fluency in many different eras, but this century, with its inherent media and entertainment diversions that shape and form church people more than we know, presents unique challenges to authentic and mature discipleship. When Christians face disagreements over issues ranging from musical style in worship to sexuality and wars denominationally, many members are only able to respond with their personal feelings on a particular topic rather than any opinion shaped and informed by the biblical witness. This, I think, has indeed changed.
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February 24, 2011
New pastor joins Parish 3 churches
From the Britt News Tribune, Forest City, IA
A new pastor has joined the congregations of Grant, Immanuel and St. John's Lutheran churches in Woden and Titonka.
Pastor Bob Wolfert (Class of 1976), a New York native, said he is eager to begin ministry and to get to know each and every person at the three churches.
Wolfert was born on March 18, 1945, in Rosedale, N.Y. He was one of seven children. At an early age, he and his family moved to Florida.
Episcopal Bishop of Atlanta to Join Faculty at Candler School of Theology
The Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander (Class of 1980) is leaving his post as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta to join Emory University's Candler School of Theology as Professor in the Practice of Liturgy and Director of the Anglican Studies Program. His appointment begins in the fall of 2012."Bishop Alexander brings to Candler a significant scholarly record, as well as extraordinary insights about the needs of the church and the formation of congregational leaders," said Jan Love, Dean and Professor of Christianity and World Politics at Candler. "I am deeply honored that he has chosen to join our faculty and enrich our Anglican Studies Program."
For Alexander, this move is a return to academia. Prior to his 2001 election as the ninth bishop of Atlanta, he had an extensive career in theological education that spanned two decades, most recently as Norma and Olan Mills Professor of Divinity in Liturgics and Homiletics at the University of the South's School of Theology from 1997-2001, and as Trinity Church Professor of Liturgics and Preaching at General Theological Seminary in New York from 1990-1997. Alexander has been an adjunct professor at Candler for a number of years, giving him an insider's view of the school.
Read full news release here
January 20, 2011
Saint Mark's Lutheran Welcomes Pastor Seth Gibson
from Asheville Citizen-Times
ASHEVILLE — Pastor Seth Gibson (Class of 2010) joined St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 10 N.
Pastor "Seth" looks forward to walking with the church through the changes associated with the growth plan. "Being part of this process of discernment and change in seeking the Lord's vision for St. Mark's in 2011 and beyond is an honor," Gibson said.
Pastor "Seth" looks forward to walking with the church through the changes associated with the growth plan. "Being part of this process of discernment and change in seeking the Lord's vision for St. Mark's in 2011 and beyond is an honor," Gibson said.
January 11, 2011
Alumnus Releases BookAutonomous: 21st Century Look at the African-American Baptist Church
by the Rev. LaMont Johnson ('09)
In all of Christianity, there is no denomination whose faith identity is as diverse as those of the African American Baptist Church. Although the notion of the African American Church as one unified body is misleading and unreal, the African American Baptist Church as an institution is a very true and formidable reality. The African American Baptist Church, formally identified as the Black Baptist Church is not a single faith or tradition, but it is different traditions and expressions of worship with central, core beliefs that give it an identity as an institution.In Autonomous, the reader will notice five levels of interconnectivity within the African American church: the Local church, Association, State Conventions, National Conventions, and World Alliance/Fellowships. The history, doctrines, structure, and traditions herein are laid out in everyday terms. Why? Because a person should understand what they are connected to. In a time of extreme pluralism and transience, people change faith traditions as frequently as they do addresses. One day they are Baptist, the next Presbyterian and then Non-denominational. For the new and lifetime member of the African American Baptist Church, this book will serve as an easy read and an excellent resource.
The Rev. LaMont J. Johnson has been preaching for nearly 20 years, and is now the proud pastor of the Providence Baptist Church in Rockingham, North Carolina. A graduate of Virginia Union University (B.A), Lamont also holds degrees from Richmond Virginia Seminary (M.A), Shaw University School of Divinity (M.Div) Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (S.T.M) and is completing a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew School of Theology. He and his wife Mindie, along with their children Lamont, Tiana, and Andre, reside in Greensboro, NC.
Book Available March 1, 2011
January 10, 2011
Jacob Receives Distinguished Service Award
News from Central Florida Assoc. for Marriage & Family Therapists
The Rev. Dr. Mel Jacob (Class of 1986), Executive Director of Lutheran Counseling Services, Winter Park, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Central Florida Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (Florida Association for Marriage and Family Therapy). He received this Award on December 2nd that read "For Your Integrity, Professional Competence, and Commitment to the Marriage and Family Community." Dr. Jacob exemplified the standards set for this award with his many year of leadership and with his commitment to his clients and to the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. Congratulations on this well deserved honor.
GO! Challenge become Journey
by Pastor Ruth Ann Sipe (Class of 2008), Richfield, North Carolina
From the ELCA Board of Pensions
Determined to earn my $300 from the Board of Pensions, I began the GO! Challenge in late June. I soon realized that I was doing pretty well in many areas — getting enough sleep, and thanks to the bounty of our garden, getting plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables each day. But the options related to exercise were ominously blank.
As I neared the end of my four weeks, determined to introduce some exercise into my life, I attended a Christian Education committee meeting at church to discuss plans for VBS. Since I just arrived at Mt. Zion in late May, there were no plans in place. But the chair of the committee suggested that night that we consider a health or exercise theme. I knew at that moment that God was speaking to me about my need for exercise!
Contact
Sandra Cline
Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations
scline@ltss.edu
803-461-3252
4201 Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203