Ecumenism & Leadership

Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop of the ELCA

September 28 & 29
The 2004 Blandy Lectures & Alumni/ae Convocation

As the Seminary of the Southwest and the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest begin their twenty-eighth year of cooperative education for the ministry, it is especially appropriate that our Blandy Lecturer this year is Mark S. Hanson, the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Presiding Bishop Hanson issues a call for courageous leadership in a time when what it means to be "ecumenical" is up for grabs. He knows well what is at stake in being a public leader in such times.

As Lutheran and Episcopal churches learn to live out their Call to Common Mission, this 2004 Blandy Lectures promises to explore how the Church-at-Large might better model for our changing and fragmented culture what it might look like to be in communion with those who appear so different from ourselves.

Blandy Lecturer

Midway through his six-year term as Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Mark S. Hanson comes to the Seminary of the Southwest as our 2004 Blandy Lecturer.

Prior to being elected presiding bishop three years ago, Bishop Hanson served as pastor of three churches in Minnesota from 1973 to 1995. He was elected bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod of the ELCA in 1995 and had been reelected to a second term as synodical bishop prior to his election as presiding bishop of the ELCA in 2001.

A native of Minnesota, Bishop Hanson earned the bachelor's degree from Augsburg College and the master of divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary. He has also studied at Luther Seminary and the Harvard University Divinity School as a Merrill Fellow.

Bishop Hanson writes about

Public Church Reflections

Lutheran Identity

Evangelism

Alumni/ae Convocation Schedule

Reunion Years - 2004, 1999, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1979, 1974, 1969, 1964, 1959 and 1955

Tuesday, September 28

Chapel, Noon, followed by 1 p.m. lunch. Registration 1:00 to 5:30 p.m.

Continuing Education Session 1 -"Reconciliation in the Early Christian Community," with the Rev. Cynthia Kittredge, associate professor of New Testament, 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. in Knapp Auditorium.

Continuing Education Session 2 - "Reconciliation in Today's Christian Community," with the Rev. Greg Rickel '96, rector of St. James' Church, Austin, 4:00 to 5:15 p.m. in Knapp Auditorium.

Reception with sandwiches, fruit and cookies from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.

First Blandy Lecture - "Growing Together, Growing Apart - The Changing Landscape of Ecumenism" with Bishop Hanson, 6:30 p.m. in Knapp Auditorium.

Reception with desserts, wine and coffee from 7:45 to 8:45 p.m.

Wednesday, September 29

Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. followed by panel discussion on "Called to Common Mission" - joint Lutheran and Episcopal ministries by graduates

Alumni/ae Association business meeting, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in Rather House

Eucharist, Noon, followed by lunch at 1:00 p.m.

Second Blandy Lecture - "Public Leadership in a Public Church - The Call and the Courage" with Bishop Hansen, 2:30 p.m. in Knapp Auditorium.

Tea and reception at 4:00 p.m.

Download a Registration Form

Housing

Two Choices by Highland Mall -- Special Rate for Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 27-29

Must reserve by Sept. 13

Phone numbers below for reservations -- Mention: Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest Blandy Lectures

Hilton Austin North -- 1-800-347-0330 or 512-451-5757

6000 Middle Fiskville Road -- Austin 78752 -- $79 per night -- single or double

and

Highland Inn -- 512-467-8163

6000 Middle Fiskville Road -- Austin 78752 -- $45 per night -- single or double

Alumni/ae Association
Steering Committee Members

LOUISIANA
The Rev. Chris McLaren '00

MISSISSIPPI
The Rev. William Livingston '99

MISSOURI
The Rev. Mary Glover '01

OREGON
The Rev. Wes Sedlacek '02
The Rev. William Stroop '02

TENNESSEE
The Rev. Susan Betts Speir '00

TEXAS
The Rev. Jaime Case '94
The Rev. Douglas Earle '84
The Rev. Daryl Hay '03
The Rev. Stephen Kinney '84
The Rev. Patrick Miller '00
The Rev. Rhoda Swanner Montgomery '01
The Rev. James Murguia '98
The Rev. Gregory Rickel '96
The Rev. Cecilia Smith '90
The Rev. Matt Zimmerman '96