Theological Education With Youth

The new issue of the ELCA’s magazine for ordained and lay leaders, Lutheran Partners, focuses upon the work of all eight seminaries are doing to strengthen theological education for young people. TEY is a part of this exciting movement within the seminaries of the Church to offer places of theological conversation and discovery for high school youth. The best testimony to the vitality of TEY and programs like it is offered in an article by Laura Esposito, LTSP Class of ’09 and a past participant in TEY’s Summer Theological Academy. Laura describes her experience in the Academy as “Two weeks of truly being me, exploring faith, exploring vocation, and learning about spiritual gifts…” To read more of Laura’s article and learn more about TEY and all the programs of the ELCA’s seminaries, go to www.elce.org/lutheranpartners.

2007 Affirmation of Baptism Festivals

This past fall youth from congregations throughout the region gathered to explore their baptism and the Christian’s call to peacemaking. At Gettysburg, the youth, along with seminarians and faculty, reflected upon the violence

which surrounded the seminary in the Civil War and how Christians reacted to it. LTSG Professor Warren Eshbach offered a reenactment of Civil War era Gettysburg farmer Brother Sherfey giving a window into how conflict has real impact upon the lives of even the innocent around it. Along with seminarians the youth reflected on real and tangible ways that they can witness to the peace of Christ. Youth and small group leaders in Philadelphia gathered for worship around the baptismal font in LTSP’s beautiful chapel. From there they explored baptism from a global level to a local and personal level. The reflection of one Affirmation of Baptism Festival stated simply and powerfully what TEY offered in these two events; “The best part was getting to know my small group and talking about my faith with them.” The Holy Spirit at work!