Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Joseph Sittler with a Bench Dedication at Minnehaha Park

On June 28, 2025, friends, former students, and admirers gathered at Minnehaha Regional Park in Minneapolis to celebrate the life and enduring influence of renowned Lutheran theologian Dr. Joseph Sittler. The occasion marked the dedication of a park bench in his honor, set in a spot both beautiful and deeply symbolic, where Minnehaha Creek meets the Mississippi River.

The location was chosen with care. Dr. Sittler often described “nature as a theater of Grace,” and those gathered could see his theology in action as the rushing creek joined the great river. Event organizer Dr. Stewart Herman noted, “God’s Word is active in nature, which to the eyes of faith can be seen when the Minnehaha rushes to the Mississippi. We gather to honor Joseph Sittler’s path-breaking incorporation of ecology into Lutheran theology by sharing, individually, our favorite ideas from his work.”

The gathering was an intimate and heartfelt tribute. Attendees shared personal memories, reflections, and quotes from Dr. Sittler’s life and work, each a reminder of his far-reaching impact on theological thought and Christian witness.

“Dr. Sittler was my advisor and teacher at the D.Min program at the U of C from 1968-72. Without Dr. Sittler’s inspirational teaching and strong support, as I was aiming to become one of the first Lutheran women pastors, I would not have made it.”

— The Rev. Dr. Karen E. Knutson

“I recall Dr. Sittler telling a group of us once how it was good to have a second area of expertise, to deepen our theological reflections; advice I gratefully took to heart in pursuing psychoanalysis.”

— The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey A. Romer (MDiv ’83; DMin ‘90)

“I continue to quote Joseph Sittler more than any other theologian I encountered at LSTC. I recently passed Joe to another generation, quoting ‘Eleanor and the Big Brown Buick’ to my pastor, who was not yet born when I first listened to Joe.”

— The Rev. John E. Schumacher (MDiv ‘78)

The bench now stands as a place of reflection, learning, and inspiration for future generations, much like the theologian it honors. For those who could not be present, the stories and shared words carried their presence to the riverside.

Dr. Sittler’s life and work continue to resonate, reminding all who encounter his legacy that faith and creation are deeply intertwined, and that God’s grace flows through the whole of life, much like the creek into the river.

To learn more about Joseph Sittler’s life, theology, and influence, visit josephsittler.org.