FALL FOCUS
During our pastoral vacancy, Bethel is focused on assessing our ministry in terms of addressing questions such as “Where might God be calling Bethel to action?” Our Fall Bethel Zoom Forums will provide Bethel members and friends with opportunities to look at the rich variety of our current ministries, increase our awareness of Bethel’s community context, look at our social justice ministry commitments, and more.
October 2021
Theme: Our October theme is “Loving Our (Academic) Neighbors” which acknowledges the fact that Bethel’s “parish” includes Washington University and Fontbonne as well as a number of academic institutions at which Bethel members and friends are engaged. That is to say that our Parish Ministry Profile (sent to the ELCA and to interested pastoral candidates) as well as the new Pastor will need to note that the mission of Bethel foundationally includes engagement with higher education in STL.
“What Inspires Me about German Language & Literature”
Dr. Evelyn Meyer, Bethel Member & Associate Professor of German & Associate Chair, Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Saint Louis University
Wednesday, October 6, 7 PM
Evelyn is one of the actively involved Bethel members who are engaged in the academic arena at a number of area colleges and universities. She will be sharing with us what inspires her about her academic pursuits.
Her research interests include Germanic medieval literature and culture; (illuminated) medieval manuscripts; construction of gender, race and the *Other* in literature and culture; the application of media & technology to second/foreign language acquisition; and integration of social issues in the teaching of literature and culture.
Evelyn’s Honors and Awards include the “2016 Best Article in Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German Award” by the AATG (American Association of Teachers of German), with collaborator Lee Forester, Ph.D. of Hope College. The article for which they received his award is “Implementing Student-Produced Video Projects in Language Courses: Guidelines and Lessons Learned,” Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German 48:2 (2015): 192-210. The Award Presentation was at the Annual AATG/ ACTFL Convention, Boston, MA, November 19, 2016.
Evelyn is also the author of a number of publications.
“What Inspires Me about Teacher Education“
Dr. David Light Shields is a member of Bethel and, most recently since 2010, David has been teaching at St. Louis Community College at Meramec, where he currently is Professor of Education and Director of Teacher Education as well as Lead Faculty for Teacher Education at the Wildwood Campus
Wednesday, October 13, 7 PM
David is another actively involved Bethel member who is engaged in the academic arena at one of our area colleges and universities. He will be sharing with us what inspires him about his academic pursuits.
A quotable quote from David summarizes his passion for educating: “We have too often equated excellence of education with the quantity of the content learned, rather than with the quality of character the person develops.” (Character as the Aim of Education)
As a teacher who practices what he teaches (and preaches), David continually receives sterling student reviews, such as: “Dr. Shields is a true philosopher of education. If you intend on entering the profession you are doing yourself a disservice by taking any other professor. His lectures are impactful yet concise, his tests are fair and accurately measure your ability to meet MIPEC/DESE requirements, and his teaching style is an exemplary lesson in and of itself.”
David is the author of more than 125 publications, some co-authored with Brenda Light Bredemeier.
Among his honors is the 2017 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Missouri Community College Association.
“What Inspires Me About the Study of Economics”
Dr. Gail Heyne Hafer is a member of Bethel and is a Professor in the Department of Business and Economics at St. Louis Community College Meramec. She has taught at colleges and universities for over 30 years.
Wednesday, October 20, 7 PM
Gail participated in the Teaching Innovation Project of the American Economics Association where she focused on infusing cooperative learning activities into the college classroom. More recently, she has participated in NSF projects to expand participation of community college faculty in the economics profession and to encourage Team-Based Learning. She currently serves as a member of the Economic Education Advisory Board of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank and is featured in the Fed’s “Women in Economics” podcast series.
Outside the classroom, Gail has published two curriculum guides for early elementary students with her sister Miki Heyne—Do a Zoo and The Gingerbread Man and several studies with husband, Rik. She has presented on teaching strategies at a variety of conferences including the American Economics Association, Robert Morris, the Professor’s Conference of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, and the Lilly Conference on College Teaching.
Long ago, Gail earned a bachelor’s degree in General Business from Hendrix College and a Ph.D. in economics from Virginia Tech with additional graduate work in statistics at Penn State. She and Rik continue to enjoy talking economics even 44 years after their first chat.
”Rooted & Open: a Lutheran Leads Interfaith Engagement @ WashU”
The Rev. Callista Isabelle, is a member of Bethel, was a former ELCA Church College Chaplain at Muhlenberg College, and currently is Director for Religious, Spiritual and Ethical Life at Washington University in St. Louis.
Wednesday, October 27, 7 PM
As the Director for Religious, Spiritual and Ethical Life, The Reverend Callista Isabelle implements an office that supports the religious, ethical, and spiritual life on campus, including interfaith understanding, dialogue, and pastoral care. She coordinates the Office for Religious, Spiritual & Ethical Life Affiliates, including LuMin and 20 others, and works with the student Interfaith Alliance.
Pr. Callista will share with Forum participants the blessings and challenges of overseeing programs about diversity and inclusion on a nationally ranked secular campus while being rooted in our Lutheran heritage.
Pr. Callista earned her Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, and a certificate from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College. Callista is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Prior to joining the Washington University community, Callista served as Associate University Chaplain at Yale University, College Chaplain at Muhlenberg College, and Interim Pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in St. Charles, MO.
She is the author of Embodying Confidence and Grace, a handbook for presiding ministers (Augsburg Fortress)