Global University Sessions

These one-hour teaching sessions are led by missionaries, international participants, and others involved in the global and domestic ministry of the ELCA. This year’s GME will offer over 80 sessions in seven time slots.

1-10   11-20   21-30   31-40   41-50   51-60   61-70   71-80   Back to Highlights

1. Let’s Start at the Very Beginning: Accompaniment 101
   Anne Basye and Rafael Malpica-Padilla
What is accompaniment, anyway? What does it mean? How can we explain it? How can we recognize it? Why should we bother? And what does Jesus say? Cover the basics and get up to speed, so you can share the core of this model for mission with others. Rafael Malpica Padilla is executive director of the ELCA Global Mission Unit, where Anne Basye is associate director, global resources.

2. Global Health Ministries: Health-Related Mission Partnerships
   Tom Duke
In many developing countries, Lutheran churches are on the front lines of health crises related to malaria, HIV/AIDS, lack of basic preventive care, and many other risk factors. Large populations depend on church-sponsored health programs, but resources are scarce and infrastructures weak. Find out how Global Health Ministries works to bring human, material, and financial resources to meet these needs, and how partnerships between individuals, congregations, and synods in the U.S. and companion Lutheran churches in developing countries can make a significant difference in "helping the hands that heal." Tom Duke, a retired ELCA pastor, is associate for strategic initiatives at Global Health Ministries.

3. Go to Grow: You Can be a Missionary, Too
   Franklin Ishida
The word missionary carries stereotypes and sometimes negative meanings. What is often forgotten is the fundamental meaning behind mission service, particularly in today's world. All kinds of people are missionaries, who share their gifts and talents as they live out their love of God and church. Learn more about global mission service opportunities and how you can be involved, either in sharing your gifts or as you help spread the word to others interested in service. And you, too, can go ... and grow. Pastor Franklin Ishida, associate director for mission personnel recruitment, comes out of mission: his father is a first-generation Christian in Japan, where his mother was a missionary from the U.S.

4. Opportunities for Global Service with World Mission Prayer League
   Al and Debbie Klaver
World Mission Prayer League is an inter-Lutheran mission organization working in 16 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. WMPL is committed to pray for the growth of Christ's kingdom and to share the gospel in word and deed with those who do not know him. Find out about short and long-term opportunities and internships, and learn about the many different skills, trainings, and professions needed. Come learn how to pray and where you could serve! Al and Debbie Klaver are midwest regional coordinators for World Mission Prayer League. Formerly, for WMPL, Debbie has served as a missionary teacher and counselor in Ecuador, on the Home Council, and as personnel director.

5. 21st Century Mission: Appreciating the Past and Affirming the Future
    David Lerseth and Twila Schock
Come appreciate our mission past and affirm the present relationships with our companion churches. To learn more about the accompaniment model of mission, hear the history of the Malagasy Lutheran Church (FLM). Hundreds of missionaries have served in Madagascar in the past 140 years. Learn how missionaries still serve FLM's thriving ministries in a new way, and about missionaries and projects you can support around the world. Pastor David Lerseth is director for ELCA Global Mission Support, which invites congregations and individuals to support ELCA missionaries and global projects. Pastor Twila Schock , a former ELCA missionary in Europe, will be the new director for ELCA Global Mission Support.

6. 66 Million Lutherans DO make a Difference
   Kathy Magnus
Through the Lutheran World Federation, you and your congregation are present in countless places around the globe every day. This year, the LWF celebrates its 60th anniversary. Come and hear some of the stories of our 60 years of work in sustainable development projects, human rights activities, leadership training, and refugee care, as together we 66 million Lutherans have made and continue to make a difference! Kathy Magnus, Lutheran World Federation officer for North America, previously served in the ELCA Global Mission Unit and as vice president of the ELCA.

7. Mission, Just Do It!
   Richard Magnus and Rafael Malpica-Padilla
Mission is at the heart of who we are as the ELCA. Equip yourself with information about the ELCA’s mission outreach efforts domestically and globally, identify the challenges and opportunities for mission work today, and explore ways to participate in the ELCA’s mission efforts. Pastor Richard Magnus is executive director of the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission Unit of the ELCA. Pastor Rafael Malpica-Padilla is executive director, ELCA Global Mission.

8. Water as a Gift
   Priscilla Singh
Water is God’s gift to all creation for the sustenance of life. Therefore, promoting its preservation, responsible management, and equitable distribution should be understood by all human beings as a significant individual, communal, and corporate responsibility. But today, the majority of the world’s poor people have no access to safe drinking water. The dilemma is further compounded by the increasing privatization of water under the global forces of economic globalization. Christian faith can help challenge such exploitation. Priscilla Singh is the executive secretary for the Lutheran World Federation desk for Women in Church and Society in the Department for Mission and Development.

9. Divine Inspiration: Lutheran World Relief’s Fair Trade Chocolate Project
   Kattie Somerfeld
Where does chocolate come from? What does it mean for a cocoa farmer to own the company that turns her crop into chocolate bars? And how does your participation in the LWR Chocolate Project help dig wells and build schools? Meet the farmers of Kuapa Kokoo and get a sneak preview of LWR’s new chocolate video to debut in the fall. Fair Trade Divine Chocolate samples will be served! Kattie Somerfeld, Fair Trade projects coordinator for Lutheran World Relief, works with Lutherans to put their faith in action through supporting Fair Trade for farmers and artisans in the developing world.

10. New Heaven and New Earth: A Vision through Tears Vitor Westhelle
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” says the spiritual. Explore the significance of one’s location and attitude toward the crosses and suffering in the world. Tears are nothing but the living expression of the pain endured and of our solidarity with those who suffer. Therefore tears are the only windows through which we can see the new heaven that comes to inhabit the earth. The soulful melody of poetry will be our guide as we look through the veil of tears to see what we believe. Vitor Westhelle, professor of systematic theology at LSTC, is an internationally acclaimed scholar, speaker, and author. A visionary poet, he calls forth from the depths a primal sense of what theology should be doing.

1-10   11-20   21-30   31-40   41-50   51-60   61-70   71-80