The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America requires pastors and deacons serving in their first three years of ministry to participate in First Call Theological Education (FCTE). Five of the six synods in Region 1 (everyone but Montana in the Northwest and Alaska) have done FCTE together. This year we were at Camp Lutherhaven on beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene. Dr Carmelo Santos was our speaker. Santos is director of theological diversity and ecumenical and inter-religious engagement for the ELCA. He wrote the study on Martin Luther’s Freedom of a Christian which our synod studied this fall.

There was a different ministry director each of my three years at the Div School. My last spring I was with a group of students who interviewed candidates, including Dr Cynthia Linder, who is still there as the director.Every student who came after me, including Luke (above) has sung her praises.