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History of LCM-Crossroads |
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"A Christian Community seeking to understand the intersection of Faith with Life" "Gathered in Grace - Moving Mission The Beginning Years - Daughters of Reformation 1922-24 In 1922, The Mankato State Teachers' College and Dr. & Mrs. Dahl encouraged Lutheran girls to form the Daughters of Reformation under the auspices of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Ms. Agnes Larson was the faculty advisor for the Daughters of Reformation, and she was a key component for getting the club off the ground. In 1922-24, the Daughters of the Refromation existed to: Bring the grils closer to on another: Add to their social life; and Inspire their social life. Get-together parties with fireside singing and dainty refreshments were the vocabulary used to express the concerns and era in which the Daughters of Reformation existed. Daughters and Sons Unite 1924-40 In response to male student interest, the Daughters of Reformation changed the name of the organization to the Lutheran Club in 1924 and invted men to join. By 1926, Miss Adelaide MIller and Miss Agnes Larson encouraged the members of the Lutheran Club to keep in touch with their own particular churches in Mankato. The years 1927-30 brought the Lutheran Club new connections and oportunities to send students as representatives to Regional and International Lutheran Conferences. The three Lutheran churches in Mankato were challenged to send pastors and members to club meetings. Local pastors and prominet local citizens from the Mankato community spoke to the Lutheran Club members during special programs. In the 1930's, the Lutheran Club existed to: - Develop leaders and workers for the school, community, and church Fellowship, picnics, delegates and conferences brought the Lutheran Club a sense of maturity within the campus ministry at Mankato State Teachers' College. Finding the Way with LSAA 1941-55 The Lutheran Club became a member of the Lutheran Students Association of American - a national student movment whose "aim was to discover answers to the pressing problems of Christan students, to thrain for Christian leadership for the campus and to learn more conerning the fundamentals of the Christian faith." (Markey, 1948) In the 1940’s, Lutheran Student Association (LSA) met monthly in the Cooper Hall recreation room on lower campus. The pastors of Bethlehem, Grace and Immanuel Lutheran Churches continued to support the LSA community and encouraged students to participate in annual conferences held at Minnesota public and Lutheran private colleges. In the 1940’s to mid 1950’s, LSA existed to: Bring a closer unity religiously and socially among students of the Lutheran faith. Mixers, choir, history projects, “Christians in Crises” and a charity carnival plunged LSA into a deeper foundation of stability and purpose for Lutheran college students. Growth - Transition -- Identity with LSAA 1956-59 In the fall of 1956, a directing committee was created for the Mankato site and its members included Rev. Jennings Feroe, Rev. Albert H. Guetzlott, Rev. G. Adolph Jons, Mr. Elmer H. Nerge, Dr. Ira Johnson, Dr. Leroy Zell, Dr. Walter Flemming and Miss Signe Sletten. Pastor Jennings Feroe supported and advised Lutheran Student Association in Mankato. Subsequently, the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Student Foundation of Minnesota elected to call a full time student worker. Pastor Feroe’s persistence resulted in the engaging of Nancy Sandvik as the first student worker in Mankato. Nancy worked out of Bethlehem Lutheran’s parish house on Liberty Street on the current Lutheran Social Service Site. Ms. Sandvik was on site for just one school year. In 1957, Mary Jean Nelson began her service as the student worker; she served until 1959. “MJ” as Mary Jean was affectionately known to all and she organized extensive programming which encouraged enthusiastic attendance as noted in the official minutes: “Pastor Feroe requested strong and experienced leadership” and he was pleased with Mary Jean Nelson’s efforts. April 23, 1957, Mankato State Teachers College officially became Mankato State College. The transition of change affected both the college and LSA. The college experienced growth in enrollment, new buildings and the upper campus was established. LSA experienced growth in attendance to worship and activities. Bethlehem Lutheran Church owned the Student House where students gathered to study and plan activities for LSA. Other activities included Thursday Chapel services, Sunday morning Bible study, the first Wednesday of the month meeting, Church night Open House, the LSA Choir, student retreats called “Ashrams” and non-credit courses taught by Gustavus Adolphus faculty. Packing – Planning – Pastors 1960-67 By 1960, LSA was affiliated with the National Lutheran Council. The students from MSC were invited to meet at the new center located on Fifth and Cherry. LSA had a counselor on staff and the Student House provided a recreation room, piano, TV and small library for all MSC students. Pastor Hoeger was the first Lutheran Campus Pastor sponsored by the Lutheran Student Foundation for LSA. Pastor Hoeger encouraged young adults to attend church regularly and visit elders within the Mankato community. Formally a faculty member at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, Pastor Hoeger instituted a series of courses on “Then Christian Faith and Discipleship.” In 1960 LSA existed to: Cost suppers, parties, sleigh rides and hay rides rounded out the activities which promoted Christian fellowship in the early 1960’s. Then in 1963, Pastor Brooks Anderson briefly followed Pastor Hoeger. LSA moved out of the Fifth and Cherry house and into the new “Luther House” on the corner of Fifth and Warren. Pastor Anderson’s main interest was to remodel and old farmhouse in Vernon Center (about 16 miles from Mankato), so the students would have a Retreat Center in a nature setting. In 1964, hot issues like equal membership of Negro and Caucasian students were areas of concern for LSA students. In 1964-65, Oscar J. Ice was the new campus pastor and he worked on lower and upper campus. The Lutheran students at Mankato were encouraged to worship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church, or Christ the King Lutheran Church. Bible studies, seminars and the Christus Group challenged students to study the gospel as they grew in faith. Students also had the opportunity to sing in the choir or work with the St. Peter Project. The St. Peter Project allowed students to interact with the mental patients at St. Peter State Hospital. Tuesday coffee hour was a highlight every week at the Le Voyageur Coffee House was open to all students in the basement of the Luther House on Friday and Saturday evenings from 9-1. In 1967, Lutheran Campus Ministry missed the sale of the “Luther House” and moved the LCM parsonage on the corner of Highland and Birchwood. This center became known as the “Christus House.” The move to upper campus coincided with the continued growth and development of the Highland Campus. Strengthened and Broken 1967-1981 The Lutheran Campus Ministry offered fellowship within the Le Voyageur Coffee House on campus, which featured folk singers, doughnuts and hot cider. In 1967, LCM worshipped on Sunday morning in Armstrong Hall on upper campus. Arriving in 1967, Pastor Ice accepted a call to the National Lutheran Campus Ministry office. By 1969, the Lutheran Student Foundation moved worship from Armstrong to the Lutheran Campus Chapel and created Campus Mission Extension Center Community. During 1971, while holding meetings in the Christus House and worshipping in the Lutheran Chapel, Lutheran Campus Ministry strived to attract and involve Lutheran students to the center. Though efforts were made to appeal to students such as increasing worship services to Thursday and Saturday nights, results were mixed, The 1971 Katonian sites a desperate cry for student involvement by stating: “The philosophy of Lutherans on Campus has been to take advantage of the interest differences that are in Christian people. They have tried to involve people in different activities that suit them in various types of groups; these include a human relations group, a rapport group, an art group, a drama group, a service group and a Bible study group.” In 1972-73, the Christus House stood vacant and the staff was vacant as well. Lost in the muddle of a transition, Lutherans on Campus merged with the Lutheran Campus Chapel. At this point, the NCLM opted to join forces with the LCMS Ministry. In 1972, Pastor Richard Glover was called to serve as campus pastor. For ten years Pastor Glover worked with a succession of LCMS staff to provide a joint ministry of the National Lutheran Campus Ministry and of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. An NCLM and LCMS worship service were both held on Sunday morning and retreats and studies were jointly sponsored. Pastor Glover’s ministry also included work with faculty and various University committees.
Arriving At a Crossroads 1982-93
Lutheran Campus Ministry once again found itself in transition. In 1982, in response to the breaking of alter pulpit fellowship between the American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, the South Minnesota District LCMS voted to curtail the joint ministry at the Chapel. Sadly and with much regret locally, the decision was made to terminate the relationship. It was time to move on. On June 12, 1982, the Southern Minnesota District voted against a new contract with the Lutheran Student Foundation. By 1986, Lutheran Campus Ministry – Mankato State University, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church and Messiah Lutheran Church decided to use a covenant to join in mission for the benefit of the students, faculty, staff and administrative personnel at Mankato State University and the Mankato Technical Institute. The covenant opened new doors for Lutheran Campus Ministry and it became effective on June 1, 1986. After the merge of the LCA and ALC, Pastor Fred Fritz arrived to Mankato in August 1988. Pastor Fritz connected with people in the Mankato churches and community and he began to receive support from faculty and staff to get Lutheran Campus Ministry back on track. Maverick Baseball Coach Dean Bowyer played an essential role in keeping the ministry above water. Important groundwork was laid for the future of Lutheran Campus Ministry. The first goal of the ministry was to re-establish a worshipping community, which began in September of 1988 in the Student Union. The council adopted a mission statement and Lutheran Campus Ministry – ELCA currently exists to: A new constitution was accepted in the fall of 1988. At a council planning meeting in January 1989, the Campus Council established the goal of attaining a student center for LCM. By May of 1989, the council decided to buy the Crossroads House from the Wesley Foundation. LCM received a grant of $60,000 from NLCM in December 1989. Bethlehem Lutheran Church also gave LCM a gift of $65,000 for the purchase and renovation of the Crossroads house. By May of 1990 renovation began and was completed two month later in July. Currently, the Crossroads house provides a home base for meetings, fellowship and business tasks. It is also the home of five peer residents; they are students who facilitate the work of the ministry under the guidance of Pastor Fred Fritz. These components provide a hospitable community in which to share the Gospel while enriching the lives of all those participating in Lutheran Campus Ministry. The worshipping community of Lutheran Campus Ministry – ELCA had reached a “Crossroads.” On an average Sunday, 50-60 people participate in a worship service held in the Centennial Student Union “Shades.” This room doubles as a university night club and restaurant as well. The vision of Lutheran Campus Ministry at Mankato State includes extension of the existing Crossroads facility by adding on a $325,000 worship center. There are several reasons why LCM believes as a community that this campaign is necessary to expand out ministry while providing a hospitable Christian community at Mankato State. As this project is a substantial economic undertaking, Lutheran Campus Ministry seeks support from the Mankato community, ELCA congregations in South Central Minnesota, and alumni to complete this campaign.
CHIEF REASONS FOR ADDING ON 1. Exponential growth of the Lutheran Campus Ministry – ELCA community over the past five years. 2. The MSU ministry site is geographically separate from the existing ELCA congregations in Mankato. 3. There is a genuine interest in the University community to expand the ministry. This interest provides a positive and challenging mission opportunity. 4. A worship space supports a more visible and cohesive community.
“Gathered in Grace – Moving in Mission” was written by Michelle Simonson. A special “thanks” to Pastor Fred Fritz and Joseph Smith for providing information and making the history of LCM – ELCA in Mankato complete.
Gathered In Grace - Moving In Mission 2: A Time Line By Pr. Fred Fritz
Summer 2004 The Reverend Anne Hokenstad became The Crossroads' Campus Pastor May 2006 Pastor Anne resigned as The Crossroads' Campus Pastor November 1, 2006 The Reverend Dr. Elaine G. Siemsen became the The Crossroads' Campus Pastor Spring 2008 The Reverend Dr. Elaine G. Siemsen resigns as The Crossroads' Campus Pastor Summer 2008 Pastor Kyle Halverson became The Crossroads' Campus Pastor
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OFFICE HOURS :
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Monday - Thursday BUILDING HOURS:
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