ELCA CROSS-REGISTRATION COURSES FOR JANUARY TERM 2016
(as of 8/11/15)
The J-Term Reciprocity Program opens selected J-Term courses to degree candidates in all
eight ELCA seminaries on the basis of cross-registration. Only the courses below are available
for cross-registration.
NOTE: For January Term courses below, registration for course credit is through LTSP, with applicable
course tuition paid to LTSP at LTSP rates. Please understand the following:
 Trips generally require advance registrations and payment of deposits by early Fall. Contact the
host seminary directly to register for the actual trips, make any required deposits, and obtain
advance preparation information.
 Tuition payable to LTSP for trips sponsored by other seminaries is not eligible for the 50% tuition
offset provided for course credit for LTSP-sponsored trips.
 For clarification as to whether a course below will fulfill LTSP degree requirements and for a
determination of the credit that will be received at LTSP, contact Dean Sebastian
(jsebastian@ltsp.edu). Dr. Sebastian may also be able to discern if an immersion trip will satisfy
global, ecumenical, or interfaith requirements and can advise you as to whether or not a followup paper is required for submission to him.
 In the case of on-campus courses, students are expected to contact the host seminary regarding
housing arrangements, the cost of which is the student’s responsibility.
 For further information on courses below, consult the seminary’s website or contact that
seminary’s registrar.
Luther Seminary (www.luthersem.edu)
Registrar Diane Doncits (ddoncits@luthersem.edu)
CD1613-01/02 HOLY LAND-PEOPLE PLACES PRAYERS – TRAVEL COURSE
An introduction to the history, cultures, and peoples of Israel and Palestine. Participants in this course
visit places holy to Christians, Jews, and Muslims, exploring the biblical texts associated with those
places and the opportunities they present for enhancing preaching and teaching. Participants also learn
about current geo-political realities in the region, visiting with Palestinians and Israelis and hearing their
stories, their struggles, and their hopes for the future. The class will include historical and theological
reading, reflection, and discussion. This course will have a significant cross-cultural learning component.
Half course option – CD1613-01
Full course option – CD1613-02
January 12–25, 2016
Instructors: Kathryn Schifferdecker; Karoline Lewis
CONTACT INSTRUCTORS FOR DETAILS
CY4570-01 RELATIONAL MINISTRY AND THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH
A course that examines the theological, historical and sociological bases for relational/incarnational
youth ministry. The course is designed to look at popular understandings of relational/incarnational
ministry, assessing them through a theological understand of relationships. Students will be given the
tools to use a relational/incarnational approach to youth ministry engendered from theological and
strategic perspectives.
Full course
Instructor: Andrew Root
January 12-15, 2016
HC1352-01 LUTHER THE PASTOR – TRAVEL COURSE
An examination of how Luther and his followers taught and practiced preaching, worship, catechesis,
reading the Bible, prayer, oversight, and pastoral care. The course focuses on many of the practical
pastoral issues of the reformation.
Full course
Instructor: Mary Jane Haemig
CONTACT INSTRUCTOR FOR DETAILS
January 1-20, 2016
HC1367-01 CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA – TRAVEL COURSE
An immersion learning experience that provides an in-depth study of the history and theological
contributions of Christian communities of India, including the ancient Saint Thomas Christian Orthodox
community. This course emphasizes Christian life in a multi-cultural and multi-religious context,
ministry, mission, and Christian leadership. As a travel seminar, exposure and participation in the multireligious context will help develop insights and skills for ministry in a religiously, culturally and ethnically
plural world.
Full course
Instructor: Lois Farag
CONTACT INSTRUCTOR FOR DETAILS
January 4-29, 2016
RM4515-01 MINISTRY IN SMALL TOWN AND RURAL (STaR) CONTEXTS – TRAVEL COURSE
Students, together with clergy and lay persons from small town and rural congregations, study issues
affecting America’s small town and rural (STaR) communities. Clergy and lay persons from STaR
congregations and communities are engaged as part of the course. Contexts include southwestern
Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota. Implications for ministry and leadership in these contexts are
explored. Because contexts change, course may be repeated for credit. A $100 non-refundable deposit
may be required. Course may fulfill cross-cultural requirement.
Full course
Instructor: Alvin Luedke
CONTACT INSTRUCTOR FOR DETAILS
WILL MEET AT SHALOM HILL FARM JANUARY 11-17, 2016, AND EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
January 18-24, 2016.
Pacific Lutheran Seminary (www.plts.edu)
Contact Christopher Evans (cevans@plts.edu)
Urban parish immersion—need details
The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (www.lstc.edu)
Registrar Pat Bartley (pbartley@lstc.edu)
No courses yet announced
The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (www.ltsg.edu)
Registrar Marty Stevens (mstevens@ltsg.edu)
Central American Study Tour (1.5 cr or 3 cr)—Michael Cooper-White and Maria Erling
Personal Financial Literacy (1.5 cr)—Marty Stevens
Lutheran Theological Seminary Saskatoon (www.usask.ca/stu/luther)
Contact: registrar.lts@usask.ca
No courses yet announced
The Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University
(www.ltss.lr.edu)
Associate Dean Ginger Barfield (ginger.barfield@lr.edu)
No courses yet announced
Trinity Lutheran Seminary (http://www.tlsohio.edu/)
Registrar Lee Richards (lrichards@tlsohi.edu)
No courses yet announced
Wartburg Seminary (www.wartburgseminary.edu)
Registrar Kevin Anderson (registrar@wartburgseminary.edu)
Holy Lands (see attachment) [Thomas Schattauer]
January 4-20
Tanzania [Ann Fritschel]
A cross-cultural immersion course that will explore the people and ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania. We will be located primarily in the Meru Diocese. Topics that will be explored
include mission, leadership and Gospel proclamation in a religiously pluralistic and constantly changing
context. We will also explore the synod companion program and the theology of accompaniment and
reflect upon what we learn for mission and ministry in the United States context. The trip will be
approximately 16 days and will cost between $2500-3000. For further information, contact the
instructor.
The Borderlands: Mission in a Latino Context (Texas-Mexico)
First-time students will spend up to three weeks in the January term observing, participating in, and
considering the church in mission along the Texas/Mexico border and in various Spanish-speaking
contexts throughout Texas. Experiential learning occurs with trips to the Texas/Mexico border and in
Latino/a congregations throughout Texas . Students learn about the history, culture and contemporary
realities of Latinos/as to gain skills in intercultural dialogue and ministry that they can transpose to other
cultural settings. Course hosted by the Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest in conjunction with
the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas.
Instructor: Javier Alanis, jalanis@lsps.edu
Contact Person: Troy Troftgruben, ttroftgruben@wartburgseminary.edu
January 4-22, 2016
Milwaukee [Winston Persaud]
Ten-day immersion sponsored by the Greater Milwaukee Synod. Ask Dr. Persaud for more details. While
many of the local costs are covered, previous experiences have had a fee of at least $800 in additional to
travel expenses. (We do not know yet the 2016 fee, as it will also likely vary based on the number of
participants.)
Instructor: Winston Persaud, wpersaud@wartburgseminary.edu
Dates not yet known. (For perspective, the dates for 2015 were January 3-12.)
The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (www.ltsp.edu)
Registrar René Diemer (registrar@ltsp.edu). Submit housing requests to Alice Popovic
(apopovic@ltsp.edu).
SGN454 Johns Island Service Travel Seminar (1.0 LTSP unit)
Instructor(s): Robert Robinson, rrobinson@ltsp.edu
Leadership. Knowledge. Experience. The John’s Island Trip is centered in a student organized work trip
to John’s Island, South Carolina. In preparation for the trip students taking this course will meet six times
during January term to learn the deep history of the Sea Islands, to study the Gullah culture of the
region, to investigate the economic and social forces that are reshaping the islands, and to plumb the
depths of the religious life of the people of the islands. Learning will continue during the trip itself, in
conversation with neighbors on the islands and in presentations by local resources. The deepest learning
will occur through working with those served by the trip, by immersion in their culture.
Trip will take place during final week of January; students will meet as class at least six times
(probably evenings) prior to trip. Dates to be announced.
SGN490 Faith, History and Finance: The Spirituality of Business and the Business of Spirituality (1.00
LTSP unit)
Markets have spiritual implications for good and ill, and spiritual practices and conflicts shape markets
for better and worse. Congregational, social ministry, and other non-profit leaders increasingly draw
inspiration from entrepreneurial models, and social entrepreneurs increasingly share with spiritual
leaders a long-term focus on justice and sustainability. What are the historical and current best practices
to foster flourishing and sustainable congregational and agency finance? Attention will be given to
traditional sources of revenue, budgeting, development (e.g., philanthropy and grant-writing), and
broader social trends. Students will engage in a practical project with deliverable outcome for a
congregation or agency.
Jan 19–22, roughly 8:30 am–5:30 pm, plus an ongoing online project component
Dr. Jon Pahl, jpahl@ltsp.edu
Dr. T. L. Hill, tl.hill@temple.edu
Contact Dr. Pahl for details.
ICS473 Hip Hop, Faith, and the Prophetic (1.00 LTSP unit)
An exploration of the history and growth of Hip Hop culture with a focus on diverse faith expressions
within Hip Hop. Over the last thirty years, Hip Hop has emerged as the largest cultural movement not
only in the United States but throughout the world. It is a multicultural, international, dialogical space
that serves as a historicizing, reflecting, critical, and at times prophetic voice on behalf of and to all
aspects of society. The class will explore the affirming and challenging reactions from faith communities
towards this complex cultural movement and especially Hip Hop’s relations with different Christian and
Muslim communities.
Jan. 11–15; 8:30 am –5:30 pm
The Rev. Dr. Charles Howard, choward@pobox.upenn.edu