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You're Uninvited, An Unfortunate Slight
Abstract: Seminary President acts out Alanis Morissette song.
Pr. Katrina Foster (pictured, left), pastor of Fordham Lutheran Church in Bronx, New York and an alum of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS) was invited to Newberry College for the week of 15-19 September to present two public lectures ("The Church and Human Sexuality" and "The Church and Social Justice: Working in the Community"), teach several classes, and preach in the College Chapel for Wednesday morning services.
Newberry College is near LTSS, and Pr. Foster was also invited to visit the seminary, stay on campus, eat with students and faculty, sit in on classes, meet and talk with students and preach at the seminary's Friday chapel worship. Her seminary visit was coordinated by Rev. Dr. Tony Everett, Professor of Pastoral Care and Dr. Robert Hawkins, Professor of Worship and Music and Dean of Christ Chapel at the seminary.
Thursday morning, Dr. Everett informed Pr. Foster that the invitation to preach on Friday had been withdrawn by the LTSS president Rev. Dr. Marcus Miller (pictured right). Thursday evening, she spoke with Dr. Michael Root, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Systematic Theology, who is reported to have said that the seminary's invitation had been withdrawn because Pr. Foster has declared her non-compliance with the ELCA's policy regarding homosexual clergy. Because she could not now be admitted as a student-candidate for ordination, she would not be allowed to preach.
We feel compelled to point out that ELCA policy articulates expectations of ordained clergy and that among ELCA seminaries there is no uniform policy regarding admission of LGBT students and that ELCA policy articulates expectations of ordained clergy.
Friday morning Pr. Foster met with Dr. Miller, who had apparently received a number of calls and emails protesting the withdrawal of the invitation to Pr. Foster. Our sources indicate that Dr. Miller expressed some frustration, apparently feeling that Pr. Foster had somehow caused the protest.
