Lutheran Volunteer Corps experiences significant growth
In mid-August Luther Seminary, St. Paul, hosted the orientation of the largest Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC) group in its history. Almost 150 volunteers descended on Luther. Two new host cities — Atlanta and Detroit/Port Huron — will receive LVC volunteers this summer.
LVC executive director Mike Wilker, program director Joanne Otte, Luther Seminary president Richard Bliese, and former LVCer and current Luther Seminary student Andrew Twiton discuss the in-coming volunteers at the seminary's opening reception.
LVC is expanding to the Detroit/Port Huron area in August 2010, with one intentional community household in each city. The first group of volunteers are pictured front row, from left: Chloe Richardson, St. Louis, Missouri; Selamawit Misgano, Seattle, Washington; Julia Thiesse, Hanover, Germany; Sarah Herrle, Farmington, Minnesota; Katie Pistoresi, Merced, California. Back row: Michael Santerano, Durham, North Carolina; Stacy Robert, Red Wing, Minnesota; and Michigan LVC coordinator Jacqueline E. Williams.
2010 volunteers come from all over the United States, as well as from foreign countries, including Germany and Macedonia.
The Rev. Paul Erickson, Assistant to the Bishop for Evangelical Mission for the St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA, offered the benediction at the opening worship during orientation at Luther Seminary. Erickson is an LVC alum from 1983; he lived in Casa Caritas, an intentional community household in Baltimore.
Incoming LVCers enjoy a picnic on the grounds of Luther Seminary. Some of the Twin Cities volunteers are sitting in the foreground.
Lutheran Volunteer Corps executive director, the Rev. Mike Wilker, welcomes a new group of LVCers to orientation at Luther Seminary in St. Paul.
Atlanta LVC community members meet on the opening day of orientation. Metro Lutheran photos: Bob Hulteen
Tags: Andrew Twiton, Atlanta, Chloe Richardson, Detroit, Jacqueline E. Williams, Joanne Otte, Julia Thiesse, Katie Pistoresi, Luther Seminary, Lutheran Volunteer Corps, LVC, Michael Santerano, Mike Wilker, Paul Erickson, Port Huron, Rev. Mike Wilker, Rev. Paul Erickson, Richard Bliese, Sarah Herrle, Selamawit Misgano, Stacy Robert
