Mark W. Bartusch
MDiv, ‘90; ThM, ‘96; PhD, ‘01
Holmen, WI
Pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, La Crosse, WI
Can you share some highlights or meaningful moments from your life since you graduated from LSTC?
I graduated from LSTC for the first time in 1990 (MDiv), and for the third time in 2001 (PhD, Old Testament). From 2000 to 2021 I served on the faculty of Valparaiso University, teaching Theology, Biblical Studies, and biblical Hebrew. From 2017-2021 I was chair of the Department of Theology. In 2021, I resigned my faculty appointment to return to congregational ministry in the La Crosse Area Synod. Since 2022 I have been a member of the LSTC Board of Directors and became Vice Chair in 2024.
How has your LSTC experience shaped your journey?
When deciding where to complete my graduate studies, I looked at institutions that would prepare me to teach and serve in church-related colleges or universities. LSTC’s reputation, faculty, and academic resources were the right fit. And being part of a student body with so many international scholars and church leaders contributed to my evolving global and intercultural perspectives on biblical interpretation and the practice of ministry.
