September 21st. The Lutheran Center hosted a breakfast to launch our academic year of events for the All-Community Read. St. Olaf Professors, Dr Anton Armstrong ’78, Dr. Anthony Bateza and Dr. Deanna Thompson ’89 spoke about their chapters in the book and held a conversation with staff, faculty, and student colleagues during the breakfast. The event was co-sponsored by the Center for Innovation in the Liberal Arts (CILA).

November 30. Dr. Marit Trelstad ‘89 (above) of Pacific Lutheran University led a conversation entitled “How do we align and critique values in our teaching and mentorship?” at a lunch co-sponsored with the Center for Innovation in the Liberal Arts (CILA). Discussion centered around the ways in which our values and the values of our institutions show up in our teaching.

December 6th, Associate Director Peter Schattauer ‘08 and Interfaith Fellows Sophia Bloch ‘24 and Tove Trelstad-Larsen ‘24 led the Taylor Center’s monthly Out for Lunch discussion as part of the Lutheran Center’s All-Community Read: Flourishing for All. The discussion centered around the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people at St. Olaf, particularly in a religious setting.

January 25, 6:30 – 7:30 pm – Scholars and St. Olaf alumni Dr. Anton Armstrong ’78 (St. Olaf College), Dr. Marcia Bunge ’76 (Gustavus Adolphus College), Dr. Deanna Thompson ’89 (St. Olaf College), and Dr. Marit Trelstad ’89 (Pacific Lutheran University) led a session for alumni about the All Community Read book. Each of the presenting scholars was an author for the book.

February 22, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Finding Comfort in Change

An interactive event to engage students around tools – both theoretical and practical – to manage difficult emotions in times of transition. Transferring to St. Olaf, deciding a major, making summer plans can all be stressful. Interfaith Fellows from the Lutheran Center and Peer Educators from the Wellness Center joined participants to dig into options for reflection and finding both comfort and purpose on their paths.

February 29, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in the Trollhaugen Room — The Faculty Governance Committee and the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values and Community co-hosted a workshop on academic freedom in practice at St. Olaf entitled When Does Loving Your Neighbor Conflict with Freedom of Inquiry? 

Tuesday, April 2nd – Lutheran Center Interfaith Fellows will present at the Inclusive Excellence Summit sponsored by the Office of Equity and Inclusion. Their presentation, entitled “Rooted and Open: The Significance of Religious Diversity in Lutheran Higher Education,” will focus on the importance of religious diversity at St. Olaf. To find the time, please check the Inclusive Excellence Summit website.

Learn more about All-Community Reads in previous academic years:

2022-2023: Mni Sota Makoce: The Land of the Dakota by Dr. Gwen Westerman
Winter 2021/22: Heidi Neumark: Hidden Inheritance: Family Secrets, Memory, and Faith
Spring 2021: Chris Stedman: IRL
Fall 2020: Eboo Patel: Acts of Faith