Crash Course: Bible

Tammy Devine is a professionally certified coach (ICF Certified), retreat facilitator, and ELCA Deacon—passionate about health, healing, and wholeness. Tammy completed the 2-year program at the Grace Institute for Spiritual Formation. She received her coach training through Auburn Theological Seminary and is a spiritual coach (ICF certified). She earned a Master’s in Leadership from Luther Seminary. Tammy is a registered nurse (BA, Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD) and has served as a parish nurse/coordinator.

Stephanie Luedtke is a minister, educator, and artist. She often combines the three, weaving education and arts through her ministry or ministry into arts education. Stephanie is a rostered Pastor in the ELCA with 25 years of experience in ministry of various sorts, and holds a Master’s Degree in Worship Arts. She enjoys helping people of all ages find meaningful ways to worship, learn, and to be in faithful community together. Through her work in schools, private settings, churches, and at the judicatory level, and independent work as a consultant, coach, and curriculum writer, Stephanie has always tried to follow her passions and assist others in doing the same.

Dr. Michael Chan joined the Concordia College community in June 2022. Before that, he was an associate professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. He joined Luther Seminary after completing his Ph.D. at Emory University and a year of research and teaching at the University of Helsinki. As the executive director for faith and learning, Dr. Chan directs the Lorentzsen Center for Faith and Work and the Dovre Center for Faith and Learning guides Concordia’s interfaith relationships, and oversees the work of Campus Ministry.

Kathryn M Schifferdecker came to Luther Seminary as an assistant professor of Old Testament in 2006. Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2001, Schifferdecker was associate pastor for five years at Trinity Lutheran Church, Arkdale, Wisc., before coming to Luther. Schifferdecker is a frequent contributor to workingpreacher.org and Word & World and the author of Out of the Whirlwind: Creation Theology in the Book of Job (Harvard University Press, 2008). She is currently writing a commentary on the book of Esther.

Jim McGrath has been the Goodwin Chair of New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University since 2002. He began as an associate professor of religion before being promoted to a full professor and later became the Goodwin Chair. With a doctorate in philosophy, Jim has authored several books, such as A to Z of the New Testament, The Bible and Music, and What Jesus Learned from Women.

Dr. Jennifer Hornyak Wojciechowski is assistant professor of church history, and she has been teaching at Luther Seminary since 2019. Prior to this, she taught in the religion department at Augsburg University.

Wojciechowski graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota (2005), received her Master of Arts at Bethel Seminary (2011) and her Ph.D. from Luther Seminary (2019).

She is author of the book “Women and the Christian Story: A Global History” (Fortress, 2022) and numerous articles in publications including Word & World and Minnesota History. Her research focuses on women’s history, American history, and the intersection of religion and social reform.

She is the associate editor of the journal Word & World.

Dr. Anna Marsh returned to Luther Seminary in the summer of 2022 for a two-year position as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Old Testament. She earned her Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and Interpretation with distinction from the Jewish Theological Seminary (New York, NY) and holds an M.A. in Old Testament from Luther Seminary. Her current research and teaching focus on gender and literary criticism of the Hebrew Bible and food and drink in the Bible and the ancient world. She enjoys teaching in congregations and is available for single sessions or multi-week series on various biblical books or themes.