American Seminary: The first year
G’day. How’s it goin mate? (I very much miss not being able to greet people like this)
The first academic year here in St. Louis has recently come to an end. It’s been a long sprint of three terms, starting in late August, and finishing in the middle of May, with just three weeks break over Christmas. Surprisingly, the biggest difference I have noticed between ALC (Australian Lutheran College) and CSL (Concordia St. Lois), is that when you are in term, they work hard, and due to changes in the schedule, we are in class a LOT. At ALC we had a generous split of twenty-eight weeks of classes per year, and twenty-four weeks of holiday, at CSL, this year I will be surprised if I have more than eight weeks of break, total. Now do not mistake this observation as a complaint. This rigorous culture of academic study and practical formation activities has been wonderful to be a part of. President Anker was kind enough to share that he has noticed a significant positive change in me in the ten months since I have been here.
I will attempt not to be laborious with all of the minor details relating to each of my classes, but will share that I have had the pleasure of having Dr. Hensley as my formation lab instructor, and Dr. Pietsch as my first Homiletics professor. Formation lab is a regular class that focusses specifically on the personal formation of candidates for pastoral ministry. In our classes we have a devotion, and a short discussion, followed by small group time to process various parts of the formation process and personal growth. Sessions are also run that address specific elements of the pastoral ministry, from time and stress management, personal development, vocational priority, and many moments of reflection and sharing of wisdom of our professor’s time in parish ministry. Dr. Pietsch in Homiletics brings a distinctly Biblical and Australian approach to a rather Americanized part of the curriculum. With much bigger and louder personalities, American preaching can often focus more on the flare of the delivery than the substance of what the preacher actually says.
In his recent visit here, President Matthew Anker and I were talking about the ongoings in Australia. He was quick to say that it is good and right that we think and pray for our home country of Australia in this time of turmoil. However, all of us should remember that good teaching, sound doctrine, and right practice are also needed in the whole world. The Gospel needs to be proclaimed to all people of all nations. We are very blessed to have good progress and good support of the work being done in Australia, but we should learn from our own recent history that church politics and synodical proceedings should never get in the way of ministry.
I have made comments before, but I will make them again. I am very aware of the critiques of both the LCMS and America in general. Some of these do have some weight and substance to them. However, we could not ask for better friends at this time. There are countless faithful Lutherans who are wanting to see the success of LM-A, as a distinctly Australian Lutheran body, that is completely self-governed and self-sufficient. They want to support us with their prayers and their resources, both financial and otherwise. I have been reading the famous, For Faith and Freedom, by Everard Leske and I can see that there has been an historical issue taken with the firm doctrinal stances of the LCMS, and how this previously had impeded various Australian Lutheran synodical bodies from having unity with each other. However, this firmness in doctrine has enabled the LCMS to stand firm on the Word of God, where countless Lutherans around the world have fallen. Again, the LCMS has many flaws, but our friendship with them should be treasured, as good friends look past each other’s flaws to work towards the common goal of the preaching of the Gospel to all, and the continuation of biblical, faithful, confessional, Lutheran synods worldwide.
On a lighter note, Lucy and Eleanor have had a great year here also. We have been blessed with visits from both sets of parents from Australia and in addition we had Lucy’s mum here over the Christmas break (she has come twice now). Lucy has been working to find a balance between nanny work for the Hensleys, being a mother of an increasingly active pre-toddler, and making the trip from the second floor down to the basement to do laundry. She has enjoyed doing some home baking, including, cooking Christmas cookies using both our families’ recipes, hot-cross buns for Easter (which are not a thing in America), and regular burger rolls as we embrace a modified and healthier version of the stereotypical American diet. Eleanor has been a healthy and active baby and continues to grow well. She turned one in April and is soon to start walking (I am writing this at the start of June). I hope those of you at Wistow were able to meet/see them when they were there in May.
We can’t tell you how much we appreciate all the prayers and support we receive from those of you in Australia. From parcels containing the tastes and smells of home, gifts for Eleanor, to weekly contact and financial support, through to the larger things being dealt with, again I will say, there is no way we could be training in America without the support of the brethren in Australia.
God be with you all in the months to come. I look forward to hearing from and about you all.
Cheers,
Karl, Lucy, and Eleanor Jacobson