Nain Lectures

In a Christian’s journey through life, apparent conflicts between science and Scripture will arise. This presentation will explore a variety of scholars’ approaches to understanding and making sense of these differences, including Job, the apostle Paul, St. Augustine, Johanne Kepler, Martin Luther, C.S. Lewis, Martin Galstad, and Paul Boehlke. We will discuss the role of humility, respect, and the importance of presuppositions. We will also discuss some pitfalls to avoid that may detract from the sharing of the gospel when we have conversations with our friends, family, and neighbors about our faith. In the end, our focus should be, just like Mary, on the “one thing needful.” 

 

Dr. Daniel Ebeling is a Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) chemistry and environmental science professor. Dan was granted three patents for DNA sequencing-related technology and chemical sensors and has authored and co-authored more than a dozen articles for peer-reviewed journals. As an undergraduate at WLC, he conducted research in atmospheric chemistry at MIT with WLC professor, Keith Beyer, and Nobel Laureate Mario Molina. While earning his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he conducted research for the Human Genome Project. Dan completed his Ph.D. in three years and returned to teach chemistry at WLC. For more than a decade, he’s collaborated with an engineering firm in California, providing opportunities for students to work on projects funded by NASA, the EPA, NSF, and NIH. He regularly conducts research with his wife, Angela, a soil scientist and professor at WLC. The couple earned second majors in Mandarin Chinese and have co-presented at conferences in China. They and their four children are members at St. John’s Lutheran in Wauwatosa.

 

Dr. Angela Ebeling is a professor of biology and environmental science at Wisconsin Lutheran College. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from WLC and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in soil science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Before accepting the call to teach at WLC, she spent a year at the University of California–Berkeley, teaching soil science and conducting post-doctoral research investigating paleoclimate records in calcium carbonate deposits on Atacama Desert rock using carbon and oxygen isotope analysis. Angela has spent almost 20 years conducting research about the beneficial reuse of waste products such as manure and biosolids. Recently, she has also completed graduate coursework in applied statistics from Marquette University.  She presents annually at the Soil Science Society International Conference on work done with WLC undergraduate students. Angela’s research interests involve environmental and agricultural pollution, specifically relating to the availability of phosphorus from biosolids, manures, septage, and other organic wastes; she also is interested in understanding the effects of these amendments on soil health and water quality.

 

In the late 1840s, there were already several Lutheran church bodies with congregations in the Milwaukee area. What led three pastors from Germany to begin a new Lutheran church body in 1850? What challenges did the fledgling Wisconsin Synod face in the early decades of its existence? What developments helped chart it on a course that have contributed to what we see in WELS 175 years later?

These questions (and others) will be considered as we examine the beginnings of the Wisconsin Synod and see God’s grace at work.

 

Speaker: Rev. Otto chairs the WELS 175th anniversary committee (2025). Since 2011, he has served at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, where he teaches church history and education and is the dean of students. Previously he served congregations in Michigan, California, and Wisconsin. He is also the chairman of the WELS Historical Institute and serves on the Commission on Inter-Church Relations. He has previously served on the Commission on Worship, the Commission on Lutheran Schools, the WELS Hymnal Project, and as a writer for Forward in Christ.

With this hymnal 'the Wisconsin Synod has finally come into its own' (CrossAccent, Summer 2023).  Learn about (and sing!) hymns in Christian Worship from WELS poets and musicians, along with some of the contributions from the wider Christian church of the 21st century.

 

Speaker: Dr. Jeremy Bakken has been Director of Worship and Sacred Music at Northwestern Publishing House since September 2016.  He participated in the development of Christian Worship as a member of the Hymns Subcommittee, contributed four tunes to the new hymnal (along with several harmonizations), and has played a key role in developing support resources, especially the Easy Hymns Accompaniments and Musician's Resource. Jeremy serves as adult choir director and liturgical ensemble coordinator at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waukesha.  He holds music degrees from Wisconsin Lutheran College (BS, 2004), University of New Mexico (MM, 2013) and University of Southern California (DMA, 2022).