Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto, director of The Center for Lutheran Theology and Public Life and scholar-in-residence at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, received th
e 2009 Friedrich Hecker Freedom Award from the German American Heritage Society of Saint Louis at the organization’s 19th Annual Founders Banquet March 7 in St. Louis.
The award is presented annually to an individual who has contributed greatly to the “promulgation of cooperation and understanding between Germany and the United States.”
Since 2007, Siemon-Netto has led “German Days at the Sem” each year at the seminary. The two-day fall conferences address topics related to German-U.S. relations. Last year’s topic, “German Days II: Faith and Politics in Luther’s Land — And Here” brought notable German officials and speakers to St. Louis. The topic for this year’s event, scheduled for Oct. 23-24, is “German Days III: Faith and the Arts.”
“This prestigious award came as a great and pleasant surprise to me, given that I arrived in St. Louis less than four years ago,” commented Siemon-Netto. “I am obviously very flattered and grateful to the German-American Heritage Society of Saint Louis. The cooperation and understanding between Germany and the United States — and breaking down clichŽs — have been among my important goals during my 50 years in international journalism. Living and working here has made me more fully aware of the huge German influence on the faith, culture, political, social, economic and military accomplishments, especially in the American Midwest. This is indeed something to be proud of.”
As a foreign correspondent in both Europe and the United States, Siemon-Netto has covered events such as the construction of the Berlin Wall, the Cuban missile crisis, the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the Vietnam War. Born in Leipzig, Germany, he received an M.A. degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; a Ph.D. from Boston University; and an honorary D.Litt. degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
The Center for Lutheran Theology and Public Life is affiliated with Concordia Seminary. Its goal is to explain Lutheran teachings — especially the doctrines of the two kingdoms and of vocation — to laity and clergy in conferences, lectures, and publications.
For more information, contact the seminary’s communications office at 314-505-7374 or communications@csl.edu.
Posted March 18, 2009
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