2025 World Mission Institute
Register for the 2025 World Mission Institute (WMI) is an annual conference held in the spring since 1970. Each year outstanding international speakers and resource persons deal with a significant aspect of Christian mission. This year’s theme is This year theme is “Challenge of Our Age: Migration and Mission”. This event will be held both in person and virtually on March 13, 2025. In person attendees are invited to join us for a meal at 6:00 p.m. on the 3rd floor in the Atrium, followed by the program at 7:00 p.m. in Room 210. A reception will follow the program. Free parking is available in the garage adjacent to the front of the building.
For virtual attendees, please join using the following Zoom link: https://lstc-edu.zoom.us/j/83396895677?pwd=A5IRx7agx7JQ5vWfcq60498vP0ggpv.1
Event Schedule
| Dinner | 6:00 p.m. | 3rd Floor Atrium |
| Program | 7:00 p.m. | 2nd Floor, Room 210 |
A reception will follow the program
Event Synopsis
The U.S. – Mexico borderlands are contested third space within the global economic system. The church is challenged to ask: 1. What is its duty to the migrant neighbor within this context? 2. What does the love of the Crucified and Risen Savior require of the church in response to the duty to care for the migrant neighbor? 3. What are legitimate forms of advocacy for the human rights of transnational migrants who often experience deportation? 4. What does it mean to be a sanctuary church?
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Jay Alanís
Rev. Javier (Jay) Alanís, PhD, is the former Executive Director and Associate Professor of Contextual Theology at the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest (LSPS) in Austin, Texas. He served as pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, his home congregation in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas from 2021-2023. While serving at LSPS for over 20 years, Alanís taught a borderlands theology seminar based on annual intensive travel to the U.S. – Mexico border. The seminar examined the global challenge of asylum and refugee seekers and the pastoral response in addressing human suffering.
Panelists
Mary Campbell
Director of ELCA AMMPARO
Jack Crowe
Founder, Oak Park Family Transitional Shelter
Daniel Soto Gonzalez
Lead Educator at La Jornada Valparaíso
Inquiries regarding WMI may be addressed to:
Dr. Peter Vethanayagamony, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago: pvethana@lstc.edu
Dr. Roger Schroeder, Catholic Theological Union: rschroeder@ctu.edu
Dr. Ken Sawyer, McCormick Theological Seminary: ksawyer@mccormick.edu
Organizer
