Dr. Robin Lauermann Shares Why She Seeks Justice, Serves on Board

Several years I go, I began classes in United Lutheran Seminary’s graduate certificate of theological studies program (CTS). Since then, I have found myself regularly explaining to classmates, professors and those outside of the seminary that, unlike most of the other students in the program, I was not – still am not – seeking ordination. I have pursued the CTS, a combination of scripture, theology, church history and practice courses, for different reasons – and at a more moderate pace than those in my classes, which has allowed me to dig in, savor the learning and integrate it to my life and work. Little did I know, it would align with other elements of my life to result in an opportunity, of which I could not have conceived at the start.

My work as a political scientist has focused on a common mission of empowerment – in teaching, research, service and leadership. From early experiences exposing me to people’s stories, to the ideas and compelling evidence I encountered in pursuing my degrees, I was distinctly aware of the ways across time and place that groups experienced marginalization.

Messiah University, which operates on its missional foundation of reconciliation, centers on the value and dignity of each person as created in the image of God. This value calls us to consider the ways that humans have disregarded, excluded and harmed other children of God and work to restore relationships with them.

As a faculty member and administrator at a faith-based university, I have had the opportunity to interact with students, colleagues and campus guests from different Christian traditions – and better understand my own thanks to my educational training to learn independently. As a lifelong Lutheran who is academically minded, I wanted to be able to gain a deeper foundation to make sense of the church and my own faith today, in my own thinking, my work and the larger world.

As a result, I chose to enter the certificate program with a focus on the vision of the blessed community offered by Dr. King– one that truly welcomes all. My courses – 11 of the 15 thus far – have well exceeded my expectations! My research, writing and discussion in the CTS program has expanded my historical, biblical and theological understanding of Christianity – more broadly and in relation to the way that human sin has led to repeated patterns of exclusion, here and around the world. The faculty and course work, including attention to ELCA writings, has shown me the importance of the church’s leadership in this area, as well as the extensive work that our denomination has undertaken to live out our call to love God and all of our neighbors.

When the then-board president of then-EDLARJ reached out to me to share that someone had nominated me to stand for election to its board, I had nothing short of what I would call Spirit-filled clarity. As we discussed the association and its role, I could not have imagined an opportunity that could quite so combine these distinct threads of my life. My field has brought my awareness to inequities in American society; my work at Messiah and seminary study has given me practical strategies and an ethical frame to facilitate conversation and educate towards change.

The first couple of months of work has introduced me to an amazing network of people on the board, in the association, and in the community with whom I am excited to continue to learn and serve.