Faculty anniversaries

A festival service was held during chapel on October 17 to thank God for the 25 years of ministry Professors John Hartwig, E. Allen Sorum, and Paul Zell have enjoyed.

Hartwig, at the seminary since 1995, is the library director and teaches courses in German and preaching. Sorum was called to the seminary in 2004 as director of the Pastoral Studies Institute and to teach courses in New Testament. Zell has served the seminary since 2002 teaching New Testament and practical theology courses.

President Paul Wendland presided at the service and Professor emeritus Richard D. Balge, who had taught the celebrants, preached from 1 Thessalonians 1:3 under the theme “We Remember.” Balge told the honorees, “We are thankful you are gifted and learned men, but most of all we are thankful you are men of faith.” The chorus sang “The Beauty of the Lord,” the 1983 class hymn composed by classmate Pastor Bryan Gerlach with text by classmate Professor Norval Kock.

Three other professors are observing milestones in their seminary ministry. John Brug has been teaching systematic theology and Old Testament for 25 years, Forrest Bivens has been teaching systematic theology and Old Testament for 15 years, and Daniel Leyrer has taught pastoral theology and New Testament for 10 years.

What blessings we have received from these gifts of our Lord. To him be the glory.