Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary installs new president
Contributed by Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary

Students of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and The Rev. Paul Summer, chairman of the Board of Trustees (right), applaud their new president, The Rev. Dr. Marcus J. Miller, at his installation service. President Miller was installed during a festival Eucharistic on Saturday, November 4, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Photo courtesy of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary

Festival Eucharist and Installation of the Rev. Dr. Marcus J. Miller as president of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary took place at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Saturday afternoon, November 4. Participants in the service included officials of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), representatives of the seminary community, delegates from other denominations, and President Miller's family. President Miller assumed duties as president of the seminary in August 2006.

At the installation service, Bishop David A. Donges of the South Carolina Synod, served as presiding minister. The Rev. Dr. Stanley N. Olson, executive director for Vocation and Education of the ELCA, preached and represented Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson. The Rev. Paul H. Summer, chairman of the seminary board of trustees, was the installing minister. Rebekah W. Costello, master of sacred theology candidate, served as assisting minister. Scripture lessons were read by Jennifer Miller Erickson, daughter of the president, The Very Rev. Philip C. Linder, dean of Trinity Cathedral, and The Rev. Dr. Mark R. Ramseth, president of Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.

Katherine Miller, the president's wife, presented the Eucharistic elements along with daughter Jennifer, and son, The Rev. Joshua M. Miller, who also helped distribute the elements. The seminary choir sang under the direction of the Rev. Michael D. Costello, adjunct instructor of liturgical ministries. Dr. Robert D. Hawkins, professor of Worship and Music, was the organist and preparer of liturgy. President Emeritus, The Rev. Dr. Mack C. Branham Jr., presented emblems of the office to the new president.

After the service, guests attended a formal reception at Embassy Suites Hotel. Two other inaugural events were held to celebrate President Miller's installation. A lecture was delivered by The Rev. Dr. Richard Lischer, professor of preaching at Duke University Divinity School on the topic "Lord, Teach Us to Pray: The Seminary as a School for Prayer" on Friday, November 3. A concert by the King Moravian Church Choir and Band was presented on Sunday evening, November 5 in the seminary's Christ Chapel. A buffet reception followed.

President Miller served as bishop of the Northeastern Ohio Synod prior to coming to the seminary. He has also pastored two congregations: The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Brooklyn, Ohio, and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mt. Vernon, New York.

President Miller earned the doctor of ministry and master of sacred theology degrees from New York Theological Seminary. He graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, with a master of divinity and received his bachelor of arts from Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He also holds a certificate of completion from the Pastoral Psychological Institute of Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland and has attended the Indiana University Fundraising School for Non Profits. Thiel College, Greenville, Pennsylvania honored him with the doctor of divinity degree in 2005.

Katherine Miller is a former registered nurse who pursued studies in music education and was a middle school band director for 20 years prior to moving to South Carolina.

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary was established in 1830 to educate faithful interpreters of Christ's Gospel as servant-leaders for God's mission in the world. The student body of around 200 is representative of all sections of the U.S. and also includes international students. While it is a denominational seminary, there is a strong ecumenical character to the enrollment with approximately one-fourth of the students coming from denominations other than Lutheran. Southern Seminary seeks to be inclusive in its outreach, welcoming students of all traditions and cultures. One of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the seminary partners with the Lutheran Theological Seminaries at Gettysburg and Philadelphia through The Eastern Cluster of Lutheran Seminaries to equip capable and committed women and men for the public ministries of the Church.