Leading Lutheran Higher Education in a Secular Age

Religious Identity, Mission, and Vocation at ELCA Colleges and Universities

Brian Beckstrom

Lutheran colleges and universities occupy a distinctive space in American higher education. In an age where the dividing line between sacred and secular has become blurred, Brian Beckstrom argues that their "rooted and open" approach, combined with adaptive theological leadership, could be the best hope for faith based higher education. To do so, he provides an overview of Lutheran higher education, its history, and identity, and combines surveys of students, faculty, and staff at Lutheran institutions with leadership theory and theological reflection. Leaders at Lutheran colleges and universities will find it to be helpful in understanding their mission, identity, and vocation in a secular age, and navigating the changing cultural environment that challenges the church and higher education alike.

Lexington Books / Fortress Academic

Pages: 212 • Trim: 6½ x 9¼

978-1-9787-0603-3 • Hardback • June 2020 • $111.00 • (£85.00)

978-1-9787-0604-0 • eBook • July 2020 • $45.00 • (£35.00)

Subjects: Religion / Education, Education / Higher, Religion / Christianity / Lutheran, Religion / Theology

Leading Lutheran Higher Education in a Secular Age

Religious Identity, Mission, and Vocation at ELCA Colleges and Universities

Hardback

eBook

Summary

Lutheran colleges and universities occupy a distinctive space in American higher education. In an age where the dividing line between sacred and secular has become blurred, Brian Beckstrom argues that their "rooted and open" approach, combined with adaptive theological leadership, could be the best hope for faith based higher education. To do so, he provides an overview of Lutheran higher education, its history, and identity, and combines surveys of students, faculty, and staff at Lutheran institutions with leadership theory and theological reflection. Leaders at Lutheran colleges and universities will find it to be helpful in understanding their mission, identity, and vocation in a secular age, and navigating the changing cultural environment that challenges the church and higher education alike.

Details

Lexington Books / Fortress Academic

Pages: 212 • Trim: 6½ x 9¼

978-1-9787-0603-3 • Hardback • June 2020 • $111.00 • (£85.00)

978-1-9787-0604-0 • eBook • July 2020 • $45.00 • (£35.00)

Subjects: Religion / Education, Education / Higher, Religion / Christianity / Lutheran, Religion / Theology

Author

Brian Beckstrom is dean of spiritual life and campus pastor at Wartburg College.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Lutheran Higher Education in a Secular Age

Chapter Two: A Brief History of Lutheran Higher Education

Chapter Three: Secularization or Reformation?

Chapter Four: Adaptive Leadership Challenges for Higher Education

Chapter Five: Adaptive Leadership Challenges for Lutheran Institutions

Chapter Six: Adaptive Theological Challenges for Lutheran Leaders

Chapter Seven: Research Results

Chapter Eight: Humanism and Identity Stew

Chapter Nine: Mission, Identity and Vocation

Reviews

The identity and vocation of Lutheran colleges and universities in relation to their religious tradition has become increasingly contested in recent decades. This book offers a rich exploration of what is at stake. It digs into the history, reveals important insights from recent research, and mines Lutheran theology for hopeful and faithful avenues forward in a secular age.
— Dwight Zscheile