Greg Kaufmann receives LSTC Distinguished Service Award
May 20, 2021
Greg Kaufmann (Christ Seminary-Seminex, 1977, MDiv) was presented the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) 2021 Distinguished Service Award May 19 during the spring Board of Directors meeting held via Zoom.
Maryjeanne Schaffmeyer, chairperson of the board’s Marketing and Fundraising Committee, said, “When Greg’s nomination for the Distinguished Service Award came to our committee, I thought, ‘This is so right.’ The rest of the board had the same response.”
Gordon Braatz, who succeeded Kaufmann as chair of the board’s Academic and Community Committee, said, “When your bishop appointed you to the board, he clearly had in mind the old adage, ‘If you want something done, ask someone who is already busy.’ Greg has served LSTC with insight and sensitivity in countless ways. . .For all that you are and all that you have done we say thank you. For the outpouring of faith and hope and love that is your life, we say, ‘Thanks be to God.’”
In his remarks at the awards ceremony, Kaufmann thanked those who helped shape his faith journey. He said, “I’ve been able to live out my baptismal call to serve God by serving the neighbor and God’s amazing creation in so many ways and in so many places. One that I never dreamt would land in my lap was serving on the board of directors of LSTC for nine years.”
Kaufmann concluded his remarks with a challenge to everyone who attended the ceremony: “Use the gifts God has given you to make a difference in the world. Your baptism is God’s call to you, yes you out there in Zoom land, to impact those around you with God’s grace, forgiveness and love. I give thanks that LSTC, and the seminaries that merged to form it, have done this faithfully for 161 years.”
Kaufmann recently concluded nine years of service to LSTC as a member of its Board of Directors. He continues to serve as a member of the Review Committee, supporting the work of the President in conjunction with the board. For his entire tenure on the board, he was a member of its Academic and Community Committee and served as its chairperson from 2012-2019. LSTC benefited from his passion for and commitment to lifelong learning and his extensive experience with theological education in his roles with the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin.
His current role is as a synod minister in the area of leadership where he assists with the call process, does financial reporting of the Siebert Grant Faithful Innovations Network, is the liaison to the synod’s Lay School of Ministry and its Resource Center. Since 1993, Kaufmann has been the Bible professor for the Lay School of Ministry.
In addition to his synodical responsibilities, Kaufmann also is the director of the ELCA’s Select Learning. He recently completed work on their video course, “How We Got the New Testament.” He serves as co-leader of the Leadership Team of the ELCA’s network of lay schools. He is on the ELCA’s Life of Faith Initiative. Kaufmann served on the leadership team for the ELCA’s Book of Faith Initiative.
The Distinguished Service Award is conferred by the LSTC Board of Directors on an individual or couple for exemplary service to the mission and ministry of the seminary.
Contact
Sandra Nelson
Vice President for Advancement