The Rev. Gary F. Anderson flanked by President Jack R. Ohle on the left and the Rev. Grady St. Dennis on the right.

The Covenant Award, bestowed annually to an individual who has made distinctive contributions which have strengthened the partnership between Gustavus Adolphus College and member congregations of the College’s Association of Congregations, was presented to the Rev. Gary F. Anderson on Saturday, April 25.

Anderson, a 1963 alumnus of the College, has been a member of the Gustavus Board of Trustees since 2000, and is also a member of the Commission Gustavus 150 task force on faith. Anderson chaired the Presidential Search Committee in the selection of James Peterson as College President in 2003-04. He was also Secretary of the Board in 2004 and a member of the Executive Committee.

Anderson served as senior pastor of All Saints Lutheran in Minnetonka, Minn., from 1982 to 1993 and then Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview, Minn., from 1993-2004. While a full-time pastor, he encouraged his congregations and others to deepen their relationship with Gustavus, both through Gusties Gather events and through other opportunities to serve the College, such as the Association of Congregations.

Born in Morris, Minn., Anderson received his bachelor’s degree from Gustavus in 1963 and his M.Div. from Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago (formerly Augustana Seminary, Rock Island) in 1968. After serving churches in Fort Worth and Houston, Texas, he joined the staff of the LCA’s Division for Professional Leadership in Philadelphia, before moving back to Minnesota in 1982. Following his retirement in 2004, he became interim seminary pastor at Luther Seminary for two years, then worked part-time for the Saint Paul Area Synod ELCA as director of “Crossing Bridges,” a three-year, $2 million mission appeal now in its final year. Recently, Anderson completed a six week interim pastorate at the English-speaking international congregation in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Gary and his wife Mary Ann (Carlson) are members of Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview, Minn. They have two children, Brian and Susan, and five grandchildren.

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Media Contact: Media Relations Manager Matt Thomas
mthomas@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510

Dr. Terence Fretheim will deliver the keynote address at this year’s convention.

The 22nd annual convention of the Gustavus Adolphus College Association of Congregations will be held Saturday, April 25. Gustavus will host pastors and delegates from the 539 Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) congregations from the state and across the country that are current member congregations of the association.

Dr. Terence E. Fretheim, the Elva B. Lovell Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, will deliver the keynote address, titled “Implications of a God in Relationship,” at 11 a.m. in Christ Chapel.

Fretheim earned his undergraduate degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1956. He later went on to earn his M.Div. degree from Lutheran Seminary in 1960 and his Th.D. degree from Princeton Seminary in 1967. Fretheim is the author of numerous books, including The Suffering of God: an Old Testament Perspective, Fretheim Explores Genesis, and About the Bible: Short Answers to Big Questions.

The morning worship service at 9:30 a.m. in Christ Chapel will feature the Rev. Terry Morehouse as homilist and will include music by the Choir of Christ Chapel and the Christ Chapel Bells.

At a noon luncheon, the Rev. Gary F. Anderson will receive the Association’s Covenant Award, given annually to an individual who has made distinctive contributions toward strengthening the partnership between Gustavus and member congregations.

Afternoon workshops will be led by Fretheim, Dr. Mark Throntveit, and Dr. Mary Sue D. Dreier. Throntveit is a professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary and Dreier is associate professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary.

The entire schedule for the day is as follows:

• 8:30 a.m. / Registration and coffee / C. Charles Jackson Campus Center (lower level)
• 9:30 a.m. / Morning Worship / Christ Chapel
• 10:10 a.m. / Welcome and GACAC Business Meeting / Christ Chapel
• 11 a.m. / Keynote Address by Dr. Terence E. Fretheim / Christ Chapel
• 12 p.m. / Luncheon / Alumni Hall, O.J. Johnson Student Union
• 1:10 p.m. / Workshops / Campus Center Banquet Rooms
• 3 p.m. / Closing Reception / O.J. Johnson Student Union foyer

For more information visit gustavus.edu/churchrelations or contact Marilyn Beyer in the Office of Church Relations at 507-933-7001 or mbeyer@gustavus.edu.

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Media Contact: Media Relations Manager Matt Thomas
mthomas@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510

The Rev. Jack Fortin will deliver the keynote address at this year’s Association of Congregations Convention.

The 21st annual convention of the Gustavus Adolphus College Association of Congregations will be held Saturday, April 26. Gustavus will host pastors and delegates from the 523 Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) congregations from the state and across the country that are current member congregations of the association.

The Rev. Jack Fortin will deliver the keynote address, titled “The Centered Life.” In his book titled the same, Fortin exposes the myth of a life in “balance” compared to one that is centered in Christ. Fortin was previously the Executive Director of the Center for Lifelong Learning at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.

The morning Chapel service will feature homilist Rev. Paul Harrington along with performances by the Choir of Christ Chapel and the Christ Chapel Bells.

During the day, Association delegates will elect members to the Board of Trustees of the College and the Board of Directors of the Association. The Covenant Award will also be presented to an individual who has made distinctive contributions to strengthen the partnership between the College and congregations of the Church.

The entire schedule for the day is as follows:

• 8:30 a.m. — Registration and coffee, C. Charles Jackson Campus Center
• 9:30 a.m. — Morning Worship, Christ Chapel
• 10:10 a.m. — Association Business Meeting
• 11:00 a.m. — Keynote Address, Rev. Jack Fortin, Christ Chapel
• 12:00 p.m. — Luncheon, Alumni Hall, O.J. Johnson Student Union
• 1:10 p.m. — Workshops Session I, various locations
• 2:10 p.m. — Workshops Sesstion II, various locations
• 3:00 p.m. — Closing Reception, O.J. Johnson Student Union Foyer

For more information on the convention click here or contact Marilyn Beyer in the Office of Church Relations at 507-933-7001.

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Media Contact: Media Relations Manager Matt Thomas
mthomas@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510

Dr. Mary K. Nelson (‘61)

The 20th annual convention of the Gustavus Adolphus College Association of Congregations will be held Saturday, April 28. Gustavus will host pastors and delegates from the 518 Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) congregations from the state and across the country that are current member congregations of the association.

Dr. Mary K. Nelson (‘61) will deliver the keynote address, titled “Leadership Towards Community.” Nelson is the founder and president emeritus of Bethel New Life Church on Chicago’s West Side and has spearheaded social action programs in that primarily African American neighborhood.

The morning Chapel service will feature the Reverend David L. Johnson (‘62) as homilist and will include the installation of the Reverend Grady I. St. Dennis (‘92) as the College’s director of the Office for Church Relations.

At a noon luncheon, the College’s Drell and Adeline Bernhardson Distinguished Professor of Religion, the Reverend Dr. Darrell Jodock, will receive the association’s Covenant Award. The award is given annually to an individual who has made distinctive contributions toward strengthening the partnership between Gustavus and member congregations.

Afternoon teach-in sessions will showcase several inspirational faculty and student community projects in the areas of teaching, service, and student-led initiatives.

The entire schedule for the day is as follows:

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Media Contact: Media Relations Manager Matt Thomas
mthomas@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510