Engage the Future: Visions for 2031

(Friday evening, October 7, 2011, as part of Bethany's 130th anniversary celebration, I shared the following visions for 2031 - the occasion of Bethany's sesquicentennial.)

Imagine with me it's October 1881.  Imagine the buzz around Lindsborg.  "Did you hear Swensson's starting his school?"  "Impossible!  This air castle of his will never last a year!"

Fast forward to today where we are celebrating the college's 130th anniversary.  More importantly, we honor the boldness and compelling qualities of our founder, the Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson.  Singlehandedly his dream became a vision and then a reality.  Swensson did the difficult, if not the impossible.  We are here to honor and celebrate Swensson's "air castle," as his naysayers called it.  We are here because it's time to envision our next air castle, our next bold and transformational vision.

Bethany is at a defining moment in its history.  These past four years we have done the difficult, if not the impossible.  On my first day on the job, I declared, "With God's grace, a good plan and hard work, there will be a Bethany renaissance."  And to make that happen, I started asking, "What's next?  What’s the path forward?"

Over the last four years, as we developed and are now executing our renaissance plan, our Call to Action, enrollment has grown each year from 537 in 2007 to 632 this fall.  That represents an almost 18% growth in enrollment and is only the third time since 1970 that Bethany has had four consecutive years of enrollment growth.  Furthermore, it represents the biggest four-year growth since 1970.  Regarding enrollment, I am not here to declare victory, though we have done the difficult.  Quite to the contrary, I stand here to ask, "What's next?  What’s the path forward?"

Helping drive enrollment growth is our progress on freshman-to-sophomore retention, which has challenged Bethany for at least four decades.  Over the last four years our retention has improved from 53% to 59% to 62% to this year's 64%.  On retention, I am not here to declare victory, though we have done the difficult.  Quite to the contrary, I stand here to ask, "What's next?  What’s the path forward?"

Four years ago I arrived at Bethany challenged by a deficit budget.  In fact, for many years over the last 20 years, Bethany found itself trying to compete and survive with deficit budgets.  We all know that is not sustainable.  This year however we have and are expecting a balanced operating budget.  I am not here to declare victory, though we have done the difficult.  Quite to the contrary, I stand here to ask, "What's next?  What’s the path forward?"

I share these bits of information because many of you were critical to Bethany's survival these last 20 years.  To each of you, from my heart, I say, "Thank you!"

But we also invited you to help us celebrate because our future isn't just about surviving – it's about thriving.  And we want you to be part of that bright future as well.  I want to share with you what the Board of Directors, the faculty and staff, the college's leadership and I envision as that future.

Inspired by Swensson, as we look toward Bethany's 150th anniversary in 2031, we must continue to expect from ourselves the difficult, if not the impossible.  We must boldly engage the future and audaciously blaze a path to 2031.

As we look to Bethany's sesquicentennial, a mere 20 years from now, we envision a Bethany that will soar bigger, bolder and stronger, guiding student success and co-creating the best total experience.  Specifically, we envision a Bethany with 1,500 students from 50 states and 50 countries where 25% are international students; 84% of freshmen continue to the sophomore year; and 30% of alumni financially support the college. 

We further aspire for an endowment of $100 million that gives Bethany a competitive advantage in scholarship support for students and discovery support for faculty, staff and students.  We also see a campus that is totally accessible physically and economically; facilities and technology that are state of practice to prepare our graduates for a career of consequence; and a Bethany that embraces and lives with equity and equality throughout the college, most especially in gender and race.

Lastly, we envision a Bethany that is a strategic partner with the city of Lindsborg and together we are a national model of town-gown best practices.

The psalmist wrote, "Show me your ways, O Lord; Teach me your paths."  At Bethany, as a college of the Lutheran church, we ask our students, "What does this mean and what path will you take?"  As we gulped at this bold, audacious vision, we too asked ourselves, "What does this mean for Bethany's future and what strategic paths will we take to get there?"

Like the bold and audacious Swedish-Lutheran pioneers who journeyed here to found this city and this college, our future students' journey through Bethany will require a pathway to follow to success, a compass to provide direction, a map to track progress and one or more guides.

This new, college-defining initiative, which we are calling Bethany Pathway, will launch next fall in 2012 for freshmen and then expand each year until it touches every freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior.  The map will be the Pathway Portfolio and their guide will be faculty and staff serving as discovery partners or mentors. 

As students grow in the success skills of critical thinking, effective communication, information literacy and intellectual curiosity, learning is tracked by a Pathway Portfolio.  This portfolio maps academic work and progress, co-curricular activities and achievements, and professional experiences.  Taken together, the portfolio enables students to reflect and find meaning on the intersection of their paths and passions to demonstrate to prospective employers or graduate schools growth and mastery of these success skills.

To assist students in navigating their pathway is the compass and its four directions of excellence. 

The first direction of excellence is discovery, reflection and vocation.  It drives students’ learning where success will be marked at graduation by critical thinking, effective communication, information literacy, intellectual curiosity and employment or graduate school entry within six months.

The second direction of excellence is servant leadership and follows the example of Jesus of Nazareth who led and served, spanning boundaries in service of a larger vision.  Our graduates will go out spanning boundaries to create new visions as educational, business, entrepreneurial or missional leaders. 

Global citizenship is our third direction of excellence and prepares our graduates to function successfully in a “flattening world," enabling each graduate to appreciate a world view and to develop the ability and desire to become engaged in global issues. 

The final direction is sustainable living and defines success as actively integrating social responsibility, economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and spiritual renewal – people, profit, planet and prayer – meaning our graduates successfully understand how to live a sustainable life and how to lead a sustainable organization.

To achieve this 20 year vision and transform the Bethany experience, we will embark on a series of fundraising campaigns to levels previously unimagined.  For this vision to be realized, Bethany alumni, friends, churches and organizations must answer the call to levels previously unimagined.  Accordingly, we will pursue in this first campaign a stretch goal of $25 million. 

This campaign actually began when our renaissance began more than four years ago, and we've been successful in securing many gifts and pledges toward our goal.  Tonight is the public announcement and I am pleased to share that with the gifts and pledges made in the early phase of the campaign, significant progress has already been made toward our goal.  Gifts and pledges received by the college as of today (10/7/2011) total $13,071,223. 

Beyond just the dollars, however, this campaign also presents an opportunity for everyone to participate.  That is why we are calling it a “comprehensive campaign.”  Comprehensive because the campaign includes gifts to brick and mortar, endowment and current operations.  Comprehensive because any gift made during the campaign will be counted toward the stretch goal of $25 million.  Comprehensive because we need high levels of participation to achieve success.

What does this mean for you?  Simply answered, what path will you take to support Bethany?  Which area of the college has the greatest meaning for you?  If you are thankful for your educational, co-curricular or spiritual experience, please consider giving to facilities enhancements or bringing the chapel and welcome center to completion?  If you are thankful for the scholarships you received to help make your education affordable, please consider giving to the general scholarship fund or establishing your own endowed scholarship?  If you are excited about Bethany Pathway, please consider giving to the Bethany Fund?  This campaign has a place for everyone to help and we need everyone to help. 

Imagine with me it's a few years from now.  Imagine a graduating senior writing the following final Pathway Portfolio entry:

“Tomorrow is graduation!  I can’t believe it’s been four years already.  My last assignment at Bethany is to make my final portfolio entry: a self-reflection piece capturing my four years and how I changed and grew.

“When I arrived to begin my Bethany education, I was overwhelmed with how friendly everyone was.  I immediately felt I had found my new home.  Yet, while I felt at home, I also began to be challenged and knew I was going to be a different person at graduation than I was at orientation.  There were so many things to consider.

“My academic advisor was incredible – always around when I needed her and always full of good counsel.  She was a real mentor to me as she guided my class selections and asked challenging questions as I explored different career paths.  I’m starting to understand this vocation idea that Bethany talks about a lot.  Inside each of us is a small voice trying to guide our choices on what path to take.  We just need to stop and listen.

“What I really enjoyed about my first year was the common freshmen courses.  There are four of them and each focuses on a Bethany “direction of excellence.”  I recall it being a pretty fancy term to grasp at first, but simply it’s just how Bethany guides us to find success. 

“The first course is all about a new way to learn that was very different from high school, but awesome.  Instead of the professor talking to us, the professor worked alongside us, like a teaching partner.  Bethany actually calls them a discovery partner.  Because the class was so active and engaging, I never missed and couldn’t wait for more.  My roommate felt the same way.

“What made the course especially difficult – but intriguing – was trying to figure out what things meant.  Through all four years my professors kept asking, “What does this mean?”  At first, I didn’t get it, but after a while it finally clicked and I figured out they just wanted me to learn from what was happening in my classes, on my team, and in my life.  All the time.  How different! 

“The other courses my freshmen year, after the first one on discovery, reflection and vocation, focused on servant leadership, global citizenship and sustainable living.  These ideas are everywhere at Bethany. 

“I had the opportunity to do a mission trip to Tanzania as part of global citizenship and Bethany gave me a scholarship to help cover the costs.  While I was in Tanzania I recognized something important about how small scale capitalism can empower people.  Part of my experience included working with an organization that gave out micro-grants in a quickly urbanizing area.  This was a powerful experience for me and helped me decide the kind of company I wanted to work for after graduation and it helped me get my first job.

“In fact, the man who hired me told me that my resume stood out because of the broad experiences I had in college, like my time in Tanzania and my other EBEs (Experience-Based Education).  He also told me that even though I was interviewing for a sales job the portfolio I brought with me showing what I did and learned at Bethany was unique and impressive.  He said he wished more colleges would teach students how to think and how to learn the way Bethany has.

“Finally, the faculty and staff at Bethany always believed in me and that there was a successful person inside.  I just needed to find that success and bring it out.  With their help, I believe I did!”

Thank you again for all you have done and will do for dear ol' Bethany.  Because of those who love Bethany like you, we can celebrate 130 years of changing lives.  More importantly, however, because of those who love Bethany like you, we will soar to our sesquicentennial bigger, better and stronger, guiding student success and co-creating the best total experience.  This vision and first campaign most certainly represent a defining moment in our history.  They also most certainly represent a clarion call to the many who love Bethany to respond to the ancient Hebrew call to action, "If not me, who?  If not now, when?"

Born in the church, Serving the church

(On June 3, I had the honor of presenting the following remarks to the Central States Synod Assembly.)

“Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all the things that had happened.  While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:13-16, The Road to Emmaus)

In the brief time I have this afternoon, I would like to share with you an emerging re-imagining of what it means for Bethany to be a college of the church and what it means for the church to have a college.  (For today's discussion by the church I mean the Central States Synod.)  This is not yet a complete thought, by no means, but I share it with the hope that it may pique the curiosity of some of you to help me make it a complete thought and eventually a plan.

Let me frame this with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus having left Jerusalem for Emmaus.  Along the way, they meet the resurrected Jesus, though they do not recognize him.

For me, Jerusalem represents the past, what and how it used to be.  On the other hand, Emmaus represents the future to which God is calling us and the Road is where we are today in an unprecedented environment of discontinuous change.

For example, in our church setting, Jerusalem represents what some nostalgically call, "the good old days" ... you remember ... a relatively stable environment with predictable, incremental change; the pastor was found every where - sola pastora; North American churches were denomination-centric; the congregation existed to maintain the flock; and ministry revolved around hatching, matching, and dispatching. .

For Bethany, our Jerusalem as a college of the church was about 50 years ago when Bethany received 20% of its revenues from the church.  The mission and ministry of Bethany and the mission and ministry of the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church were unquestionably intertwined.  This year, however, Bethany received from congregations, synods, and churchwide about $80,000.  By contrast, that represents less than 1% of Bethany’s total revenues.  On the other hand, in this year's budget, Bethany College awarded slightly more than $1.2 million in scholarships to our Lutheran students. 

So as we walk the road to Emmaus, at what point does the hard question get asked, “Are we still a college of the church and does the church still have a college?” 

Let me digress momentarily to explain that question in the context of public higher education.  That is, a similar conversation is occurring in several states and at those states’ flagship universities.  For example, the University of Michigan receives less than 5% of its total revenues from the state of Michigan.  Similarly, the University of Colorado receives less than 6%.  In both states, and others like Ohio and Arizona, there are calls to admit the reality these are no longer publicly-supported universities and should in fact be privatized.  This is a conversation centered on state money for higher education.

So, if it’s all about money, then let’s admit it and let our church-college relationship follow the path of other denominations.  Bethany College can easily become historically Lutheran.

While I hear the voices to admit reality and move past being a college of the church, I’d prefer instead to believe our relationship is about more than money.  I’d prefer to lead Bethany and our church partners into a conversation that discerns a new model where Bethany and the church re-imagine a shared mission and ministry.  To that end, I’m part of an ELCA task force with six other ELCA college and university presidents who are committed to doing just that.

Put another way, instead of the church just putting a check in the offering plate, which had become the norm, I’d like to see a greater commitment.  Please don’t misunderstand me, we appreciate the financial gifts, but there must be more to our shared mission and ministry than money.

As a former stewardship chair, you may be familiar with the frequently used stewardship metaphor of an eggs & bacon breakfast: the chicken makes the contribution and the pig makes the commitment.  At least as far back as I can see, the church has been the chicken making a contribution, and certainly some very nice contributions.  But what Bethany needs, just like what each congregation needs from its members, is commitment. 

To begin our discernment, let me start and share some possibilities for greater commitment that others have suggested.  These are based on Bethany's gifts of intellectual capital and human capital.

·         Bethany and the church could partner in global ministry through our companion synods – sending mission teams of alumni, students, faculty, and staff alongside church volunteers; or partner to provide scholarship support for students from those companion synods to study at Bethany. 

·         Or, we could partner in social ministry through Lutheran Social Services that might include internships or experience-based education for students. 

·         Or, we could work together in youth ministry to develop our middle school, high school, and college youth in missional leadership for a missional church. 

·         Or, we could partner with Lutheran Disaster Response to offer alternative spring breaks or fall breaks.

·         Or, Bethany could provide staff and/or chaperone’s for high school or middle school youth gatherings or even the ELCA’s National Youth Gathering.

·         Or, between the Synod, individual congregations, and Bethany, we could offer scholarships to students attending Bethany.

·         Or, Bethany and the church could seize the evangelical opportunity presented by Bethany’s 31% of students who self-identify as “no preference” in denominational affiliation.

The possibilities and opportunities are endless, if we are willing to make a commitment to the future together – to share the road to Emmaus.

In the end, like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, I don’t think it’s as important or really matters as much where we were or where we’re going.  What is absolutely important for the journey is that we meet Jesus – and recognize him – on the road.

For me, in the context of Bethany College as a college of the church, we are leaving behind the way it was – the church stewarded Bethany – and heading toward the future – Bethany stewards the church.  However, only when we meet Jesus together on the road to our shared future will we finally know what that means.

Amen.

Farewell to the Class of 2011

 What an incredible adventure you've had these last four years.

When you arrived in August 2007 I had only been on campus a few weeks.  (In fact, some of you have informed me I’m a member of the class of 2011.)  If you remember that Sunday morning when you arrived, you had to park on the field between Alma Swensson and Ana Marm because the Hahn parking lot was being repaved and transformed.  A week later, as part of your new student orientation, this class traveled to Greensburg, Kansas following their devastating F-5 tornado to help with the clean-up and to begin their transformation.

In hindsight, these events were a foreshadowing of your future adventure at Bethany.  Some have even suggested that the class of 2011 has seen the greatest transformation of Bethany College since the early 1970's.

Your adventure and the over $7 million campus transformation you have seen include:

·         The Campus Green project which gave Bethany a new south entrance grounded by the statue of our founder Carl Aaron Swensson, new cobblestone walkways to replace old sections of First and Swensson Streets, a limestone amphitheater in the former Wallerstedt Court, a welcome pavilion and new east entrance, emergency lights across the campus, and renewed landscaping and lawns;

·         In 2007, internet connectivity in the residence halls was a DSL line; that was upgraded later that fall to a T-1 line and this spring the residence halls became totally wireless and connected with a T-3 line;

·         In 2007, there was one smart classroom on campus; today there are 12;

·         When you arrived football was played on dirt, mud, and grass at Anderson Stadium and the soccer team practiced and played on the same grass field; today both play, and at times practice, on artificial turf;

·         In fall 2008 we opened our first apartment-style residence hall, Swede Suites;

·         In 2007, the college’s weight room was about 1,500 square feet, then in winter 2009, the new 10,000 square feet weight room opened;

·         In fall 2009, we finished the three new labs added to Nelson Science; and

·         improvements to Presser Hall and auditorium that included a new elevator and renovated balcony seating.

Some of you will remember that in September of your first year, I lived with you in the residence halls and got to know many of you.  In fact, one of my roommates graduates today.

When you arrived in 2007 Bethany had no formal international study opportunities.  As you graduate we have six: Harlaxton College in England; University of Karlstad and Linnaeus University in Sweden; American Institute of Foreign Studies; Study Abroad Italy; and Studio Art Centers International.  And one of the first Bethany students to study at Harlaxton College graduates with you today.

Several of you were on the choir tour in summer 2008.  One of today's graduates took Quade on his first rollercoaster ride on that tour and several of today’s graduates have babysat for Quade and Thomas.

Another member of the class of 2011 scolded me in an email about the physical plant staff killing a snake.  

For the last four years you have grounded me and inspired me.  Thank you.

During your adventure at Bethany, the college was challenged to raise $1 million for a new chapel and welcome center.  We met that challenge and are now two-thirds toward completing the fundraising for that project.

Sadly, during your adventure, you endured the painful loss of three classmates, who we have honored today.  You were in college as the Great Recession began and bottomed out and as the US elected its first African-American president.

Also, during your Bethany adventure, the Pixar movie, Up, was released.  If you saw the movie, or if you didn’t, the movie begins with the love story of Carl and Ellie and how they met as kindred spirits when they were young.  They share a passion for adventure.  After a full life together, Ellie dies and leaves Carl her Adventure Book.  Carl thinks the book ends on the page titled, “Stuff I am going to do.”  However, Carl learns Ellie had in fact lived out her adventure in full.  While she never made it to Paradise Falls - that was the plan - life got in the way and she loved her life-long adventure with Carl nonetheless.  Ellie leaves Carl with one final gift when she writes at the end of her Adventure Book, “Thanks for the adventure.  Now go have a new one.”

To the Class of 2011, I echo Ellie’s words.  Thanks for the adventure.  Now go have a new one!

Bethany as a college of the church in 2011

(This is a Temple Talk shared at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lindsborg, Kansas on Sunday, May 8, 2011 as they celebrated Bethany Sunday.)

On behalf of the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Bethany College, thank you for the invitation to be with you today. 

Normally, when I have the opportunity to visit a church I spend time talking about Bethany College, who we are, and who our students are.  However, given the deep and broad relationship between Bethany and Messiah, you all probably know more about Bethany than I do. 

Frequently, I also spend time talking about the connections between Bethany and the church I’m visiting. 

I could probably spend the entire service this morning talking about the rich connections that exist, and have existed, between Bethany and Messiah.  The alumni, current and former board members, faculty, staff, and students each have strengthened and continue to strengthen our bond.

In the brief time I have this morning, I would rather like to share with you an emerging re-imagining of what it means for Bethany to be a college of the church.  This is not yet a complete thought, by no means, but I share it with the hope that it may pique the curiosity of some of you to help me make it a complete thought and eventually a plan.

Let me frame this with today’s Gospel about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.  As you will hear later in the Gospel reading, the two disciples have left Jerusalem for Emmaus.  Along the way, they meet the resurrected Jesus, though they do not recognize him.

            For me, Jerusalem represents the past, what and how it used to be.  For example, just 50 years ago, Bethany received 20% of its revenues from the church.  The mission and ministry of Bethany and the mission and ministry of the Augustana Church were unquestionably intertwined.

            Next, the road to Emmaus represents the future, the path we are traveling, or where we are headed.  Last year, Bethany received from congregations, synods, and church-wide about $200,000.  By contrast, that represents less than 2% of Bethany’s total revenues.  However, in that same budget, Bethany College awarded slightly more than $950,000 in scholarships to our Lutheran students. 

            So as we walk the road to Emmaus, at what point does the hard question get asked, “Are we still a college of the church?” 

Let me digress momentarily to explain that tough question in the context of public higher education.  That is, a similar conversation is occurring in several states and at those states’ flagship universities.  For example, the University of Michigan in 2004 received less than 8% of its total revenues from the state of Michigan.  Similarly, last year the University of Colorado received less than 6%.  In both states, and others like California and Washington, there are calls to admit the reality these are not public, state-supported universities and should in fact be privatized.

Along the same lines, there are some in the Bethany community who are calling on me to help the Board of Directors admit reality and “secularize.”  Or at least admit reality and remove the restrictions that currently exist as a church-related college.

            Wow!  There’s a heavy question to ponder.

While I hear those calls, I’d prefer instead to lead Bethany and our church partners into a conversation that discerns a new model.  I’d like to suggest that Bethany and the church re-imagine our shared mission and ministry.  To that end, I’m part of an ELCA task force with six other ELCA college and university presidents who are committed to doing just that.

Put another way, instead of the church just putting a check in the offering plate, which had become the norm, I’d like to see a greater commitment.  Please don’t misunderstand me, we appreciate the financial gifts, but there must be more to our shared mission and ministry than money.

As a former church stewardship chair, you may be familiar with the frequently used stewardship metaphor of breakfast.  The chicken makes a contribution and the hog makes a commitment.  At least as far back as I can see, the church has been the chicken making a contribution, and certainly some very nice contributions. 

But what Bethany needs, just like what each congregation needs from its members, is commitment. 

Some opportunities for greater commitment that others have shared include

·         Bethany and the church partnering in global mission through our companion synods – sending mission teams of alumni, students, faculty, and staff alongside church volunteers or scholarship support for students to study at Bethany from those companion synods. 

·         Or, we could partner in local mission that might include internships in social ministry organizations for students. 

·         Or, we could work together to develop our youth – middle school, high school, and college – in missional leadership for a missional church. 

·         Or, Bethany, with our 24% racial and cultural diversity, could “teach” the ELCA how to move toward a more diverse membership.

·         Or, Bethany and the church could seize the opportunity presented by Bethany’s 31% who self-identify as “no preference.”

·         Or, Bethany could provide staff and/or chaperone’s for the ELCA’s National Youth Gathering and its 34,000 high school attendees.

The possibilities and opportunities are endless, if we are willing to make a commitment to the future – to getting to Emmaus.

Like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, we are figuratively on the road most days moving from point A to point B.  But frankly in the end I don’t think it’s as important or really matters as much where we were or where we’re going.  What is absolutely important for the journey is that we meet Jesus – and recognize him – on the road.

For me, in the context of Bethany College as a college of the church, we are leaving behind the way it was – the church stewarded Bethany – and heading toward the future – Bethany stewards the church.  However, only when we meet Jesus on the road to our future will we finally know what that means.

Amen.