College trio called to serve

Rev Dr Adam Hensley, Dr Wendy Mayer and Rev Thomas Pietsch have joined the staff ranks at Australian Lutheran College (ALC). The trio was installed by LCA Bishop John Henderson at Glynde Lutheran Church in suburban Adelaide in February. Past and present staff of ALC, students of the college and visitors from the wider LCA community joined members of the host Zion congregation at the service.

The new members have joined the college to replace former staff who retired in 2016. Dr Hensley is the new lecturer in Old Testament, replacing Dr Peter Lockwood; the now Professor Mayer (see separate story) has taken on the post of Associate Dean for Research previously held by Dr Jeff Silcock; and Pastor Pietsch is lecturing in Church History, replacing Dr Dean Zweck.

While Dr Hensley and Pastor Pietsch are called specifically to teach in their respective disciplines, Professor Mayer, who is known internationally for her research on early Christian preaching and the life and works of John Chrysostom, has the task of advancing the college’s research culture. Professor Mayer is also the new Director of ALC’s research arm, the Australian Lutheran Institute of Theology and Ethics (ALITE). The mission of ALITE is to initiate, support, and promote research projects based in Lutheran theology and ethics, and to assist in their contemporary application within the Lutheran Church of Australia and beyond. Proposals for research projects can be submitted to Professor Mayer at alite@alc.edu.au