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An exploration of church and society produced by the United Lutheran Seminary with campuses in Gettysburg and Philadelphia, PA.
Episodes

Monday Jun 16, 2025
A Lifetime of Ministry Engagement
Monday Jun 16, 2025
Monday Jun 16, 2025
Pastor William Sowers received the Lifetime in Ministry Award from United Lutheran Seminary. He talks about the process of attending seminary and what factors informed him of his final decision to attend. Much of his years in ministry focused on social issues or social ministry. Pastor Sowers shared parts of his ministerial life. He organized and developed the first CROP walk, studied Family Therapy, worked for Tressler Lutheran Services, and developed the program for families of gay children. He is thankful for the award and his years in ministry.

Monday Apr 07, 2025
Walking the Way of St. James
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Pastor A. J. Domines from Christ Lutheran Church, Elizabethtown, PA talks about his recently completed pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James). He shares about his need to have time from the routines of ministry and become more prayerful and mindful of the presence of God in his life. He sees this pilgrimage to be helpful in reading and understanding scripture differently. He describes the history and legend of the pilgrimage along with the personal outcomes of the experience for himself. Domines also the planning and processes of undertaking this “way of St. James.” He sums the pilgrimage as “a walk of all Christians” longing for and experiencing the Kingdom of God.

Monday Jul 31, 2023
The Way of St. James
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Fr. Andrew Durbidge, Rector St. Luke and St. Matthew Episcopal Church in Brooklyn New York Joins us to talk about his recent pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago or the Way of St. James. Each year thousands of individuals start from various points in France, Spain, and other locations to take the journey. This pilgrimage dates from the medieval period. Durbidge used his walking time for meditation and reflection. The walk reinforced his own spiritual growth. He began his 60-mile journey from Camino de Portugues and culminated at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwest Spain. Ending the journey with worship at the Cathedral, Fr. Durbidge noted the emotional impact of the journey in the tearful eyes of his fellow travelers.

Monday Jan 16, 2023
The Top Stories in Religion 2022
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Dr. Teresa Smallwood, The James Franklin Kelly and Hope Eyster Kelly Associate Professor of Public Theology, United Lutheran Seminary discussed her choice of the top stories in religion for 2022. She discussed her concern for Democracy in the United States, the current role of the Supreme Court, religious freedom, the care for children and their health, and the challenges facing the Black community. She emphasized the importance of our mainline churches to educate its members in the Christian tradition in order to counter the forces that are taking away our God-given human freedom.

Monday Mar 14, 2022
Hospitality, Bravery, and Doonesbury: A Conversation with Rev. Eric Shafer
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
The Seminary Explores catches up with The Rev. Eric Shafer, Senior Pastor of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, California before his upcoming retirement. He’s worn many hats in the past decades, including those of parish pastor, communications and fundraising executive leader, mentor, and partner in interfaith initiatives.
An ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, he is graduate of Muhlenberg College and Hamma School of Theology (now part of Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capitol University). Rev. Shafer was recognized with a 2021 Partnership Award from The Westside Coalition for Housing, Hunger and Health in Santa Monica. He serves on the President’s Council of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), is a member of the Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council and is a founder and board member of Students 4 Students Homeless Shelters.

Monday Feb 28, 2022
Educating for Social Justice
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Dr. Russell Dalton, Professor of Religious Education, Brite Divinity School, Fort Worth, Texas, discussed his interest and research in social justice in preparation for a forthcoming book. He shared that his motivation for this research came from the lack of religious education addressing social justice praxis.
In general, religious education may advocate for social justice but not give congregational members the practical tools for addressing social justice in their respective locations. As a model, he has used the educational method of the Freedom Riders of the Civil Rights period in presentations on social justice as well as the of Jim Lawson workshops in Nashville. Both require critical reflection on what participants anticipate happening in their actions It is important for people to know the risks in social justice work and to trust their fellow co-participants in the work. At the conclusion of the conversation, Dalton gives some practical ideas that congregations can use to equip themselves to work on social justice.

Monday Oct 11, 2021
Christians and Muslims Together
Monday Oct 11, 2021
Monday Oct 11, 2021
Dr. Grafton, Academic Dean and Professor of Christian and Islamic Studies, Hartford Seminary, discusses his newest book which he edited, More Than a Cup of Coffee and Tea which was published this year. The book explores some of the important documents and themes that have emerged over the years in the area of Christian-Muslim relations. The book is accessible to both church leaders and laypersons. The global perspective of the book highlights programs and experiences around the world where Lutherans and other Christians encounter and build on the experiences of their Muslim neighbors. In his reflections on seminaries and Muslim issues, Grafton was enthusiastic about the number of seminaries who are including Islamic studies in their courses of studies. He feels that such additions to the curriculum help rostered church leaders to educate congregational members against Islamophobia.

Monday Dec 28, 2020
Top Stories in Religion for 2020
Monday Dec 28, 2020
Monday Dec 28, 2020
Dr. Charles Leonard, Professor of Practical Theology at United Lutheran Seminary; pastor of St. Marks Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, PA talks about the top story for religion in 2020. COVID-19 and its effect on congregational life. The conversation included the pandemic and church membership, connecting members with each other in this virtual environment, difficulties in Christian education, and post pandemic changes to church culture as we have known it in the past.

Monday Mar 09, 2020
An Ecumenical Overview
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Dr. Darlis Swan, the Ecumenical Representative of the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), details the ecumenical movement in the United States. She defined “ecumenical” and went on to share her interest in ecumenism from her seminary studies to her work in the Office of Ecumenical Affairs of the ELCA. She also discussed:
- The transition from the ecumenical movement from the U.S. to the global context.
- Suggested readings on the ecumenical movement
- The involvement of congregational members in ecumenical work
- Ecumenical relationships of the ELCA

Monday Jan 27, 2020
Military Chaplains: Service to God and Country
Monday Jan 27, 2020
Monday Jan 27, 2020
Chaplain Palmer and Chaplain Meeker liken the role of Army chaplains to parish pastors insofar as they are responsible for Word and Sacrament but emphasize the role of “incarnational ministry” in their total involvement in the life of the soldier. Special challenges are the visits to families when a son or daughter is killed, and in recent years the need to address post-traumatic stress. For all this, chaplains must undergo a rigorous course of study in addition to basic training. Both Chaplains Meeker and Palmer encourage seminarians and others to consider a career in ministry to the military.
• Chaplain Glenn Palmer, Chief, Training Development Division, US Army Chaplain Center and School, Ft. Jackson SC
• Chaplain Karen Meeker, Chief, Recruiting Division, Office of Chief of Chaplains, Pentagon, Washington DC