wfn.org | Wenzel to Retire as Director of ELCA Seminary Program in Austin

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

December 21, 2000

WENZEL TO RETIRE AS DIRECTOR OF ELCA SEMINARY PROGRAM IN AUSTIN
00-310-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. August E. Wenzel, a former Lutheran
bishop, will retire Jan. 31 as third director of the Lutheran Seminary
Program in the Southwest (LSPS), Austin, Texas.  Wenzel headed the
program for half of its 26-year history.
     Wenzel, 64, was born near Rockdale, Texas.  He is a graduate of
Texas Lutheran College (now Texas Lutheran University), Seguin, Texas,
and Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary (now Trinity Lutheran
Seminary), Columbus, Ohio -- both institutions of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  He earned a master's degree from
Vanderbilt University School of Divinity, Nashville, Tenn., and a
doctorate from Garrett Theological Seminary, Evanston, Ill.
     Ordained in 1964, Wenzel served as pastor of Christ Lutheran
Church, Nashville, and Trinity Lutheran Church, Evanston.  He served as
campus pastor for Texas Lutheran College and as director of the
college's Lutheran Institute for Religious Studies.
     In 1978, Wenzel became bishop of the Southern District of the
former American Lutheran Church, one of three church bodies that formed
the ELCA in 1988.  In the ELCA, Wenzel succeeded the Rev. Herminio Diaz
as director of LSPS.
     LSPS is an extension program of Wartburg Theological Seminary,
Dubuque, Iowa, and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, two
seminaries of the ELCA.  The program is located on the campus of the
Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, near the Austin
Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
     "I see LSPS as a cutting-edge source of theological education in
the ELCA, a frontier mission station in this part of the country,
continuing to exhibit a high level of interaction with our ecumenical
partners," said Wenzel.
     LSPS focuses on preparation of leaders for mission in the
convergence of cultures in the U.S. Southwest.  Students who are not
already proficient in Spanish take a Spanish language course and are
required to take courses related to the Hispanic/Latino experience in
addition to their regular curriculum.
     "Now we are fulfilling the early concept of the ELCA for a program
of theological education in the Southwest," said Wenzel.  "The many
leaders trained here are making a significant contribution to the
ministry of the whole church."
     Wenzel's retirement plans include enjoying his grandchildren and
remaining available to assist LSPS as needed.
         "Wartburg Seminary invites the entire church to join us in
appreciation for Dr. Wenzel's stellar service as director of the
Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest," said the Rev. Duane H.
Larson, president of Wartburg Seminary.
         A search for a new director is under way.  The search committee
includes the Rev. Faye E. Schott, who is associate dean and professor of
systematic theology at LSPS, representatives from the sponsoring
seminaries, as well as representatives from the ELCA's Northern 
Texas-Northern Louisiana, Southwestern Texas and Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast
Synods.  The ELCA's 10,851 congregations are organized into 65 synods
across the United States and Caribbean.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html