CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. August E. Wenzel, a former Lutheran bishop, will retire Jan. 31 as third director of the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest (LSPS), Austin, Texas. Wenzel headed the program for half of its 26-year history.
Wenzel, 64, was born near Rockdale, Texas. He is a graduate of Texas Lutheran College (now Texas Lutheran University), Seguin, Texas, and Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary (now Trinity Lutheran Seminary), Columbus, Ohio -- both institutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He earned a master's degree from Vanderbilt University School of Divinity, Nashville, Tenn., and a doctorate from Garrett Theological Seminary, Evanston, Ill.
Ordained in 1964, Wenzel served as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Nashville, and Trinity Lutheran Church, Evanston. He served as campus pastor for Texas Lutheran College and as director of the college's Lutheran Institute for Religious Studies.
In 1978, Wenzel became bishop of the Southern District of the former American Lutheran Church, one of three church bodies that formed the ELCA in 1988. In the ELCA, Wenzel succeeded the Rev. Herminio Diaz as director of LSPS.
LSPS is an extension program of Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, two seminaries of the ELCA. The program is located on the campus of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, near the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
"I see LSPS as a cutting-edge source of theological education in the ELCA, a frontier mission station in this part of the country, continuing to exhibit a high level of interaction with our ecumenical partners," said Wenzel.
LSPS focuses on preparation of leaders for mission in the convergence of cultures in the U.S. Southwest. Students who are not already proficient in Spanish take a Spanish language course and are required to take courses related to the Hispanic/Latino experience in addition to their regular curriculum.
"Now we are fulfilling the early concept of the ELCA for a program of theological education in the Southwest," said Wenzel. "The many leaders trained here are making a significant contribution to the ministry of the whole church."
Wenzel's retirement plans include enjoying his grandchildren and remaining available to assist LSPS as needed.
"Wartburg Seminary invites the entire church to join us in appreciation for Dr. Wenzel's stellar service as director of the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest," said the Rev. Duane H. Larson, president of Wartburg Seminary.
A search for a new director is under way. The search committee includes the Rev. Faye E. Schott, who is associate dean and professor of systematic theology at LSPS, representatives from the sponsoring seminaries, as well as representatives from the ELCA's Northern=20 Texas-Northern Louisiana, Southwestern Texas and Texas-Louisiana Gulf = Coast Synods. The ELCA's 10,851 congregations are organized into 65 synods across the United States and Caribbean.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
