THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (ELCA) -- California Lutheran University, one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), inaugurated the Segerhammar Center for Faith and Culture here Feb. 6. Named for the Rev. Carl W. Segerhammar, a founder of the university and well-known Lutheran leader, and his wife Ruth, the center will serve as a forum for inquiry into questions of faith, learning and vocation.
The center will seek ways to establish new connections between the church, academia and the community and promote reflection on what vocation means in American culture and the global community, said Dr. R. Guy Erwin, who is director. Erwin also holds the Gerhard and Olga J. Belgum Chair in Lutheran confessional theology at the university.
The inauguration of the Segerhammar Center was held in conjunction with the university's 21st Annual WinterBreak Conference. The theme was "Religion, the Media and American Culture."
Carl Segerhammar, who died in 1996, held several church leadership positions during his career. He was president of the former Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church's California Conference and later was vice president of the Augustana Lutheran Church. When the Augustana church merged with other Lutheran church bodies to form the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) in 1962, Segerhammar became president of the LCA's Pacific Southwest Conference and served as its bishop until 1975. Segerhammar was once acting president of California Lutheran University, served on its board of regents and was an active supporter of the university until his death.
The LCA, American Lutheran Church and Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches merged in 1987 to form the ELCA.
"Carl Segerhammar's ministry in southern California profoundly affected generations of Lutherans," Dr. Pamela Jolicoeur, provost and faculty dean, California Lutheran University, said at the center's inauguration. She also noted Segerhammar's leadership in ecumenical and interfaith activities in the region.
"I see the center becoming a forum in which scholars, religious leaders from all faiths and lay professionals from different fields and from throughout the world come together in fruitful dialogue," said Erwin. In remarks at the inauguration, Erwin noted Segerhammar's commitment to ecumenism and his interests in the interrelationships of faith and life.
Present for the inauguration were Ruth Segerhammar and the four Segerhammar children: Kathleen Hurty, Kathryn Swanson, the Rev. Karen Parker and the Rev. Kemp Segerhammar.
"We are humbled, honored, excited and thrilled," Kemp Segerhammar said at the inauguration, adding that the establishment of the center meant a great deal to the Segerhammar family. -- -- --
*Lynda Paige Fulford is director of public information at California Lutheran University.
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
