Friday marks the second effort this academic year to let ourselves be converted from the cloistered assumptions of the seminary to the life and ministry and struggle of congregations and their neighborhoods in the Twin Cities. We do this by gathering on one Friday a month, meditating on scripture and census statistics, and then going from the Seminary (faculty, students, staff) to visit the neighborhood as well as congregations in the neighborhood, hearing their stories and praying as we walk the streets. We conclude with a meal at a local restaurant indicative of the neighborhood's culture. This practice comes from a very innovative seminary in New York, City Seminary, and helps us at Luther continue a trajectory of learning about and from the creative ministries in the Twin Cities, including their grappling with the dynamics of new immigration, poverty, and more. We find our center in the prayer from Jeremiah, that while we are pilgrims in this place, we pray for the peace of the city for in its peace we find our own. Here's more info on Pray and Break Bread.
Anon and +Peace,
Chris
Chris,
This looks great. As an ELCA pastor (though not a Luther Sem grad) I'm proud that a place like Luther, that has been such a solid and steady presence in the church, can continue to push at its own edges, learning from places like City Seminary in NYC. I still wear my City Seminary t-shirt with pride, remembering with both joy and wonder my day spent with the CSNY group on its way to South Africa, as well as sitting in our a meeting with you and Mark and others in NYC. That we went to a jazz club that night seems particularly appropriate, as what CSNY seems to be doing is alot like jazz--innovating and improvising on both theological education and their own vocation for urban ministry.
Riff on, Luther Sem!
Peter
Posted by: Peter | October 21, 2009 at 03:51 PM