Vine Deloria, Jr. Theological Symposium

The Vine Deloria, Jr. Theological Symposium celebrates the life and legacy of The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) alumni Vine Deloria, Jr. -- author, historian, and activist for American Indian rights. The theme for 2025 -- Challenged and Transformed: A Vision for the Church -- is based on the legacy of Vine Deloria, Jr.

Throughout his work in Indian Country and in his writings, especially his book, Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto, Deloria challenged established systems, to include the Church, the U.S. Government, and anthropological science, by persistently advocating for the validity of Indigenous ways of being, knowledge systems, oral traditions, self-determination, and sovereignty.

Monday, November 10, 7:00pm Central
Symposium Keynote Lecture: “Challenged and Transformed: A Vision for the Church””
Lecturer: The Rev. Robert Two Bulls
Zoom: https://lstc-edu.zoom.us/j/85391987186?pwd=Grf3pw7VhX2UlyVTHpOEbV5MiHhDxq.1

Tuesday, November 11, 7:00pm Central
Panel: “Testimonies and Hopes for the Church”
Panelists: Students of the Theological Education for Indigenous Leaders program at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS)
Zoom: https://lstc-edu.zoom.us/j/85391987186?pwd=Grf3pw7VhX2UlyVTHpOEbV5MiHhDxq.1

Wednesday, November 12, 11:30am Central
Worship
Vicar Wanda Frenchman (Lakota and Lenape), Preaching
The Rev. Manuel Retamoza (Cherokee), Presiding
Zoom: https://lstc-edu.zoom.us/my/lstc.chapel

Wednesday, November 12, 7:00pm Central
Panel: “Allies: Amplification and Action”
Panelists: Bishop Amy Odgren, Bishop of the ELCA’s Northeast Minnesota Synod and Co-Chair of the ELCA’s Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery Task Force; The Rev. Dick Magnus, Former Board Member of the National Indian Lutheran Board and Former Director of ELCA’s Division of
Outreach; Elizabeth Andress, Co-Lead of the ELCA’s Truth Seeking & Truth Telling Initiative on Indian Boarding Schools; and The Rev. Christian Scharen Ph.D., Associate Professor and Gordon
Braatz Chair in Worship at LSTC
Zoom: https://lstc-edu.zoom.us/j/85391987186?pwd=Grf3pw7VhX2UlyVTHpOEbV5MiHhDxq.1

Hosted by PERO Center for Intersectionality Studies at LSTC and ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations

Full details, including speaker biographies, can be found here: https://lstc.edu/event/15th-annual-vine-deloria-jr-theological-symposium/

For more information, please contact Marvis Hardy at marvis.hardy@lstc.edu