Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg Names Cooper-White President

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa., has named the Rev. Michael L. Cooper-White to become its 12th president while the school begins its 175th anniversary this summer. Gettysburg is one of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
The seminary's board of directors elected Cooper-White, 49, at a special meeting April 6.
"We are excited about the many gifts Pastor Michael Cooper-White brings to the office of president of Gettysburg Seminary, including a collegial way of working together with people, a breadth of knowledge of the ELCA, a depth of understanding of the issues facing the Church and the Seminary, a commitment to quality theological education, and above all a love for our Lord and his Church," said the Rev. Judith A. McKee, board chair, Grace Lutheran Church, York, Pa.
Cooper-White is currently executive assistant to the presiding bishop of the ELCA and director of the ELCA's Department for Synodical Relations, Chicago. He served as mission developer of Angelica Lutheran Church, Los Angeles, and assistant to the bishop of the ELCA's Sierra Pacific Synod and the Pacific Southwest Synod of the former Lutheran Church in America.
The Rev. Kirk W. Bish, assistant to the bishop of the ELCA's Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, Pittsburgh, and chairman of the seminary's search committee, said he saw in Cooper-White a "spirit of excitement about theological education" and "an effective, competent and caring administrator, faculty chair and pastoral role model for the community."
Born in Fergus Falls, Minn., Cooper-White graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., in 1971, and earned a master of divinity degree from Gettysburg Seminary in 1976. He completed a pastoral internship with the Lutheran Church in Chile, South America.
"It is with great joy that I embrace this call from God and the church to return to my 'alma mater' and serve as the 12th president of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg," said Cooper-White. "I am deeply honored to be invited to serve in partnership with the board of directors, dean, faculty, staff and student body in leading the oldest Lutheran seminary in the Americas into the 21st century.
"I see Gettysburg as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's most historic seminary, whose best day is tomorrow," he said. "This great school is well poised to serve the church in the 3rd millennium."
"LTSG will continue its tradition of making strong contributions in theological education for laity and in preparing future pastors and other rostered leaders for our church," Cooper-White added.
Cooper-White succeeds the Rev. Darold H. Beekmann, who will retire July 31 after serving 10 years as the seminary's president. Since 1979 Beekmann had served as bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota District of the former American Lutheran Church and the ELCA's Southwestern Minnesota Synod.
Founded in 1826, the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg is the oldest Lutheran seminary in North America. Buildings on campus played important roles during the Civil War's Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. The 52-acre campus is located adjacent to Gettysburg National Military Park.
Cooper-White is married to Pamela, an Episcopal priest who began this year on the faculty of the ELCA's Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. They are parents of three children. He also enjoys being a pilot with a commercial pilot certificate and a flight instructor's rating, and serves as chaplain with the Civil Air Patrol. -- -- --
The seminary's Web site <http://www.ltsg.edu/> includes a photo of Cooper-White at <http://www.ltsg.edu/sem/mcw.jpg>.

EDITORS: "Darold" is the correct spelling.

* The Rev. John R. Spangler is director of communication for the
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.

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