Theology students learn about rural ministry in Sidney

Five seminarians from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago recently spent eight days in the Sidney area as the “hands on” portion of a course on rural ministry. The course is offered yearly by the seminary.

This year marks its twelfth year running. It is co-sponsored by the Nebraska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and organized through the Nebraska Synod Rural Ministry Task Force.

According to Rev. Dr. Terry Baeder, Director of Field Education at LSTC, the class is structured as a “travel seminar,” providing a “hands-on learning opportunity about leadership and ministry ‘on the ground’ in a globally connected rural setting.”

“Most ELCA congregations are in rural settings, and a large number of new pastors can expect to serve their first congregations in those areas,” said Rev. Baeder.

“This course focuses on Christian ministry in Nebraska and offers an occasion to taste rural ministry at its best, as well as an opportunity to witness and discuss major challenges taking place in the rural-global culture,” he added. “It’s in the context of real life that our theological, historical, and Biblical knowledge is formed, nourished, and challenged,” he said.

To that end, students spent time visiting farms, ranches, congregations, governmental offices and agencies, and many other sites throughout the Panhandle. A particular highlight of the trip was a visit to the Cheyenne County Courthouse, where the students met with County Judge Randin Roland, District Judge Derek Weimer, Sheriff John Jenson, and representatives from DHHS and DOVES.

Most of the students in the course are preparing for ordained ministry within the ELCA or one of its partner denominations.

Planning and organizing the students’ visit locally was handled by Rural Task Force members Kent Miller, Bev Adam, and Rev. Eric Alm.