REL-100, Intro to Christianity, was just about the least interesting class I had in my undergraduate career. Why? Because the culture of CLU perpetuates it as such. I waltzed into that classroom my first day of classes at CLU and didn't even give it a chance. In particular, I didn't give my professor a chance. He was old and his powerpoints had animations and sounds. That was enough for me. I trucked through that class paying little attention and maybe even missing a few (I know you can hardly believe that). I think it was at 8am or something, as all boring classes inevitably are.
Once that class ended, I gave little thought to that professor, if only to make sure to not register for his section of a different class. But as I continued in the Religion department and spent time with professors in discussion outside of the classroom, I found that this man was interesting. I heard that he'd been a bishop in the ELCA and that he'd ordained gay pastors when it was NOT the thing to do. I heard that he resigned from being bishop because of this, and in order to fight harder for the rights of LGBT clergy. I googled him, and found that he was a pioneer in the liberal ELCA. I learned much more from this man than my REL-100 experience would have you believe.
This man's name was Rev. Dr. Paul Egertson, and he died today.
He was a progressive voice in a generation that would not hear him. As the generation that has heard him, it is our responsibility to go forth into the ELCA that he has helped to shape, and to continue to fight along the lines he laid down. I am proud to have been a student of his, and to be joining the ranks of ordained clergy in the ELCA, in order to effect the same kind of change.
Rest in peace, Dr. Egertson. We'll take it from here.
Once that class ended, I gave little thought to that professor, if only to make sure to not register for his section of a different class. But as I continued in the Religion department and spent time with professors in discussion outside of the classroom, I found that this man was interesting. I heard that he'd been a bishop in the ELCA and that he'd ordained gay pastors when it was NOT the thing to do. I heard that he resigned from being bishop because of this, and in order to fight harder for the rights of LGBT clergy. I googled him, and found that he was a pioneer in the liberal ELCA. I learned much more from this man than my REL-100 experience would have you believe.
This man's name was Rev. Dr. Paul Egertson, and he died today.
He was a progressive voice in a generation that would not hear him. As the generation that has heard him, it is our responsibility to go forth into the ELCA that he has helped to shape, and to continue to fight along the lines he laid down. I am proud to have been a student of his, and to be joining the ranks of ordained clergy in the ELCA, in order to effect the same kind of change.
Rest in peace, Dr. Egertson. We'll take it from here.