The Seminary Explores

Dr. Strobert sits down with Dr. Richard Stewart, retired Associate Professor of Church Administration and Practical Theology, Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and Dr. Joseph Donnella, Chaplain of the College and adjunct Professor of Religious Studies, Gettysburg College to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement.

This wide ranging discussion explores the realities of being a member of a minority in the United States. Some topics covered include how people of color (even retired pastors) are often perceived as a threat; living a life in tension; ambivalence vs. practicality; theology beyond traditions; laws may be passed but they don’t change attitudes; and the lessons that Black parents must teach their son’s when encountering police.

Father Recla, then a pastor in New York, took on the role of chaplain in one of the morgues where remains were sent during recovery operations after 9/11, often accompanying body bags to their final destination--sometimes with police or fire escorts. Little was said during these sad journeys, but Recla sensed there was both laughing and crying in the silence.

Ed W. Clark, Superintendent, Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site talks with Dr. Christianson about the business of running a national park.  As the National Park Service celebrates its centenary with the theme “Find Your Park” to encourage us to visit these treasurers of our heritage whether near or far, it prepares to face new challenges. They include maintaining the Gettysburg Battlefield’s 1863 appearance, a maintenance backlog, new land acquisitions, and raising questions of interpretation beyond the battle itself, such as slavery the impact on civilians.

In the ongoing series of podcasts “Science for Seminaries”, Gettysburg Seminary board member Dr. Greg Yothers discusses his own faith and the connection he sees between his faith and his work as a researcher in clinical cancer trials.

Leigh Rydberg, an artist/filmmaker from Minnesota was selected as the April 2016 Artist-in-Residence at the Gettysburg National Military Park. She took a moment away from her work (on a film about First Minnesota soldiers at Gettysburg) and workshops with park visitors to talk with The Seminary Explores. Rydberg’s film and television production credits include Wilson, A Serious Man, The Drop and Boardwalk Empire.

Links:

Gettysburg National Military Park

NPS Artist-in-Residence Program

The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith

energy and the exciting new detection of gravitational waves that was announced

in February.  No one makes physics more

fun and interesting than Craig!

Dr. Kenneth Mott, Professor of Political Science at Gettysburg College explains that beginning with the nomination of Senator Barry Goldwater in 1964 and the passage of the Civil Rights Act shortly thereafter, the two parties have moved away from the “middle” and toward the “more purified” or ideological.  The reasons are complex but are mainly due to regionalism and segregation, as well as social media and an emphasis on individualism.

Award-winning, classically-trained sculptor Sarah Hempel Irani opens her studio for a conversation with Katy Giebenhain from Seminary Ridge Review. She specializes in sacred art and portraiture and works in clay, plaster, bronze, and marble. She has stood at the chalk “x” marking the spot where Michelangelo stood when selecting Carrara marble. Hempel Irani works from live models with oil-based clay and armatures. She studied Fine Art and Classical Studies at Hillsdale College with sculptor Anthony Frudakis and was apprenticed to Jay Hall Carpenter, former Artist-in-Residence at the Washington National Cathedral. Her M.A. in Humanities is from Hood College Graduate School, with a concentration in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. 

Other Resources:

Christians in the Visual Arts

National Sculpture Society