LCMS World Relief/Human Care is offering $100 scholarships to any LCMS rostered church worker who registers to attend “Christian Law Enforcement Chaplaincy — Theology and Practice,” a July 9-13 workshop co-sponsored by Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Peace Officer Ministries. The scholarships reduce the cost of the $295 workshop to $195.
The five-day workshop, to be held on the seminary campus, will offer accredited training for chaplains, peace officers, and pastors, focusing on effective Christian ministry to and through law enforcement.
The main presenter will be Rev. Steve Lee, executive director of Peace Officer Ministries Inc. (POM), a national Christian law-enforcement chaplaincy he founded in 1996. POM produces materials for officers and chaplains, including a special law-enforcement edition Bible and a book by Lee titled Backup on the Beat. Lee, an LCMS pastor, is a former police officer and volunteer federal law enforcement chaplain.
The workshop will explore issues such as adopting a sound biblical theology; understanding law enforcement as a vocation; distinguishing and properly applying Law and Gospel and God’s Two Kingdoms within a law-enforcement context; addressing practical, legal, historical, cultural, and missiological considerations; employing Christian stress management and officer “spiritual survival strategies”; and identifying characteristics of a competent Christian chaplain.
The workshop also will offer a class sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security titled “FEMA AWR160 Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness Level Training for First Responders,” which is designed to teach participants about critical incidents and critical-incident response.
Other presenters include:
- Mike Dahmer, a former law enforcement officer and current licensed engineer with expertise in national security, counter-terrorism, and homeland security.
- Concordia Seminary faculty Dr. Jeffrey Oschwald, associate professor of exegetical theology; Dr. Timothy Dost, assistant professor of historical theology; and Dr. Charles Arand, professor and chairman of the Department of Systematic Theology.
- Julie Weinhold, whose husband, St. Louis County police Sgt. Rick Weinhold, died in the line of duty. The Weinholds were featured in a Lutheran Witness story, “Be There,” in March 2002.
The registration of $295 includes 11 meals. Housing is not included, but on-campus lodging is available.
For more information or to register, contact the seminary’s Office of Continuing Education and Parish Services at (314) 505-7123 or ce@csl.edu. Or visit the seminary’s Web site at www.csl.edu (click on “Academics,” then “Continuing Education Events”).
Posted May 30, 2007
