Platinum
Multiethnic Symposium
Hope for the Church, Hope for the Future
1.5 and 2.0 Generation Immigrants
May 2-3, 2023
Generation is an important word in Scripture. Since the beginning, God has been creating and gathering for Himself a people whom He loves. From generation to generation, His faithfulness and love endures forever (Ps. 100:5 ESV). From one generation to another, God calls parents to share His story of salvation with their children.
But what happens when families move from one country to another? How can one generation declare God’s mighty acts to another, and together, to the world? (Ps. 145:4 ESV)
Can we have hope for the church now and in the future?
First generations of foreign-born immigrants and their children — the 1.5 and 2.0 generations — represent more than a quarter of the U.S. population. Who are the people behind the numbers? The 2023 Multiethnic Symposium plenaries and sectionals will help participants understand the challenges of our 1.5 and 2.0 generation neighbors and embrace their contributions to the life of the church today — and for generations to come.
Highlights
Plenaries presented by:
- Dr. Joel Okamoto, the Waldemar and Mary Griesbach Professor of Systematic Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Loui
- Dr. Tesfai Tesema, Pastor of Addis Kidan Lutheran Church, San Francisco, Calif.
17th Annual Lecture in Hispanic/Latino Theology and Missions
- Dr. Daniel Rodriguez, Divisional Dean and Professor of Religion and Hispanic Studies at Pepperdine University, Malibu, Calif.
Registration
Multiethnic Symposium: Full admission is $75 (includes meals), students and faculty are free (no meals).
Multi Asian Gathering: Admission is $25 (includes meals), students and faculty are free (no meals).
Registration deadline: April 17, 2023
Accessibility: Seats for guests with disabilities are available upon request.
Sponsors
Platinum
Gold
Gold
Bronze
Bronze
Schedule
Tuesday, May 2
| TIME | EVENT | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| 7:45-8:30 a.m. | Registration Open | Coffee and Refreshments Sieck Hall 201/202 |
| 8:30-9 a.m. | Chapel | Service of the Word Dr. Stanish Stanley, Executive Director, Christian Friends of New Americans, St. Louis, Mo. Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus |
| 9-9:45 a.m. | Vendor Fair | Sieck Hall 201/202 |
| 9-9:45 a.m. | Registration Reopens | Coffee and Refreshments Sieck Hall 201/202 |
| 9:30-9:45 a.m. | Welcome and Introduction | Dr. Thomas J. Egger, President of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
Dr. Ely Prieto, Associate Professor of Practical Theology, Lutheran Foundation Professor of Urban and Cross-Cultural Ministry, and Associate Dean for Urban and Cross-Cultural Ministry, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis |
| 9:45-10:45 a.m. | Plenary | Who is My Neighbor? Introducing Generation 1.5 and 2.0 Immigrants Dr. Heath Lewis, Assistant Professor of Christian Education and Leadership, Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minn. Werner Auditorium |
| 11 a.m.-noon | Annual Lecture | The 17th Annual Lecture in Hispanic and Latino Theology and Mission The Future is Now: Improving our Cultural Intelligence for Effective Ministry Among and by Hispanic and Latino/Latina Gen Z Dr. Daniel Rodriguez, Divisional Dean of the Religion and Philosophy Division and Professor of Religion and Hispanic Studies, Pepperdine University, Malibu, Calif. |
| Noon-1 p.m. | Lunch | Included with paid registration Wartburg and Koburg Halls |
| 1:30-2:45 p.m. | Sectionals 1 | (see below) |
| 2:45-3 p.m. | Coffee Break | Sieck Hall Foyer |
| 3-4 p.m. | Plenary | The Gospel and the Church for All Peoples and Every Generation Dr. Joel P. Okamoto, the Waldemar and Mary Griesbach Professor of Systematic Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Werner Auditorium |
| 4-4:45 p.m. | Sectionals 2 | (see below) |
| 5:30-7 p.m. | Dinner | Festival of Nations Dinner Available for all participants Main Quadrangle/Koburg Hall |
| 7-8:30 p.m. | Chapel Service | Celebration Service of Holy Communion Dr. Ely Prieto, Associate Professor of Practical Theology, Lutheran Foundation Professor of Urban and Cross-Cultural Ministry, and Associate Dean for Urban and Cross-Cultural Ministry, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Dr. S.T. Williams, President, LCMS Black Clergy Caucus, Los Angeles, Calif. |
Wednesday, May 3
| TIME | EVENT | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| 8-8:30 a.m. | Coffee and Refreshments | Sieck Hall 201/202 |
| 8:30-9 a.m. | Chapel | Service of the Word and Holy Communion Rev. Steve Law, Pastor, Wollaston Lutheran Church, Quincy, Mass. Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus |
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Plenary | Hope for the Second Generation: How Children of Immigrants Can Rekindle Christianity in the West
Dr. Tesfai Tesema, Pastor of Addis Kidan Ethiopian and Eritrean Church, San Francisco, Calif. |
| 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Sectionals 3 | (see below) |
| 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Sectionals 4 | (see below) |
| 12:30-12:45 p.m. | Closing | Closing Remarks, Prayer and Departure Werner Auditorium |
| 12:45-1:30 p.m. | Lunch | Boxed lunches are included with paid registration Wartburg Hall |
Plenaries
-
Who is My Neighbor? Introducing Generation 1.5 and 2.0 Immigrants
9:45-10:45 a.m. Tuesday, May 2
Dr. Heath Lewis
Assistant Professor of Christian Education and Leadership, Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minn.
The landscape of immigration in America is constantly evolving, offering cultural enrichment and contributions to communities through increasing diversity. This new context offers the church unique opportunities to share the Gospel with people from all nations. In this session, Dr. Heath Lewis will guide participants in an exploration of two specific immigrant generations, 1.5 (people who immigrated before or during their teenage years) and 2.0 (children of immigrants who were born in their host country). Using current research, Lewis will examine Gen 1.5 and 2.0 immigrant demographics, attributes, cultural identities, motivations and more, before discussing their implications for ministry in today’s Christian church.
Werner Auditorium
-
The 17th Annual Lecture in Hispanic and Latino Theology and Mission
11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, May 2
Dr. Daniel Rodriguez
Divisional Dean of the Religion and Philosophy Division and Professor of Religion and Hispanic Studies, Pepperdine University, Malibu, Calif.
The Future is Now:
Improving our Cultural Intelligence for Effective Ministry Among and by Hispanic and Latino/Latina Gen Z
This presentation examines Cultural Intelligence (CQ) as a pathway to effective ministry among and by Hispanic and Latino/Latina Gen Z. Through the lens of CQ, this presentation also examines strategies for pastoral leadership in multigenerational, multilingual and diverse cross-cultural contexts.
Werner Auditorium
-
The Gospel and the Church for All Peoples and Every Generation
3-4 p.m. Tuesday, May 2
Dr. Joel Okamoto
Waldemar and Mary Griesbach Professor of Systematic Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
How might the Gospel be heard as good news? How might the church be a meaningful community to belong to? These questions always matter. But they are more urgent where, like it is in the United States, there are people from various places and of different generations. This presentation will explore how we go about discerning faithful answers to these questions so that the Gospel and the church might truly be for all people and every generation.
Werner Auditorium
-
Hope for the Second Generation: How Children of Immigrants Can Rekindle Christianity in the West
9:15-10:15 a.m. Wednesday, May 3
Dr. Tesfai Tesema
Pastor of Addis Kidan Ethiopian and Eritrean Church, San Francisco, Calif.
In this plenary, Dr. Tesfai Tesema will share how first-generation immigrant churches and missional host culture churches can support second-generation immigrant English language churches with the goal of becoming multiethnic and multicultural congregations.
Werner Auditorium
Sectionals 1
-
Response to Hispanic Lecture
1:30-2:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 2
Rev. Lincon Guerra
Mission Executive, LCMS Texas District
In this response to the 17th Annual Lecture in Hispanic/Latino Theology and Missions, Rev. Lincon Guerra will identify and address the challenges of the church in the areas of outreach and ministry to second- and third-generation Hispanics in the United States.
Werner Auditorium
-
Reaching, Ministering and Discipling 1.5, 2.0 and Next Generation Asian Americans
1:30-2:45 p.m. Tuesday, May
Dr. Terrence Chan
Pastor of Christ for All Nations Lutheran Church, San Francisco, Calif.
This session takes a fresh look at Asian American ministry and addresses some of the following issues: Who and why Asian American ministry? What are the generational dynamics from immigrants to second generation to next generation? What is ministry “to, through, by and beyond, and with” Asian Americans? What is “Multi Asian” ministry? What are ministry models and church planting models? What are the do’s and don’ts when hosting a different culture in your congregation? How is Asian leadership different? What is Intercultural Relational Leadership Development?
Presidents Room
Sectionals 2
-
Is There Hope for Second Generation Immigrant Christian Churches?
4-5 p.m. Tuesday, May 2
Dr. Samuel Deressa
Assistant Professor of Theology and Global South, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn.
Many denominations in the United States, including Lutherans, are engaged in helping immigrant congregations plant mono-ethnic congregations. This is mainly due to the choice of first-generation immigrants to worship in their languages. The key challenge that these ethnic congregations face is how to accommodate the younger generations into the life and ministry of the church. Whether the immigrant communities are African, Asian or Hispanic, these challenges are strikingly similar. There exists fear within immigrant congregations that younger generation immigrant American Christians are leaving their parents’ churches and abandoning their faith. This presentation will discuss the challenges of the Ethiopian immigrant congregations in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minn., and focus on their struggle to understand how to incorporate second- and third-generation immigrants into their communities.
Presidents Room
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Personal Reflection with Hmong Ministry: Mother and Daughter
4-5 p.m. Tuesday, May 2
Maykou Seying
Wife of former Professor Dr. Kou Seying
Sarah Seying
Admissions Officer, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
Sarah and Maykou Seying share their stories and missional experiences from the Hmong perspective.
Werner Auditorium
Sectionals 3
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Personal Reflection with Filipino Ministry: Father and Son
10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 3
Rev. Antonio Boos
Associate Pastor, Faith Lutheran Church, Troy, Mich.
Rev. Brandon Boos
SMP Pastor, Faith Lutheran Church, Saint Louis, Mo.
Antonio and Brandon Boos share their stories and missional experiences from the Filipino perspective.
Werner Auditorium
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Translanguaging: Multiple Languages for Reaching Multilingual Groups
10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 3
Sue Hasselbring
Ministry Catalyst, International Student Ministry, Inc., Stevens Point, Wis.
This interactive session will explore the opportunities and challenges of translanguaging and will help participants rest and delight in the heavenlike experience of praising God with people of many languages. Many people use multiple languages smoothly with multiple people in their lives. They may think of speaking either Dari or Spanish, Korean or Chinese. But the use of language is rarely as on and off as that. Many people translanguage — meaning that in one conversation, they move smoothly between languages depending on the topic, the participants and the emotive aspects of the discussion. Christians would do well to translanguage in multilingual situations as they share Christ’s grace and truth. Translanguaging takes many forms, but the main feature is that an appropriate combination of languages is used so that everyone in a community is included and understands. Translanguaging may look different in a Bible study, a worship service or a council meeting. However, as believers minister multiethnicly, becoming comfortable with translanguaging is essential for all to feel welcome. Members of a congregation who speak only one of the several languages of the community may benefit from awareness building and extra encouragement as some activities use more translanguaging.
Presidents Room
Sectionals 4
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Personal Reflection with Hispanic Ministry: Father and Daughter
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3
Rev. Luciano Vega-Ayala
Pastor and Director of Instituto Bíblico, LINC Houston, Inc.
Noemí Guerra
Writer and Sentido Latino Podcast Co-host, Lutheran Hour Ministries, St. Louis
Luciano Vega-Ayala and Noemí Guerra share their stories and missional experiences from the Hispanic perspective.
Werner Auditorium
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CFNA in Mission with the Hopeful Church: Reaching Out to the 1.5 and 2.0 Generation Immigrants in St. Louis
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3
Dr. Stanish Stanley
Executive Director, Christian Friends of New Americans, St. Louis
St. Louis resettled about 1,000 refugees in 2022, and this year will resettle about 800 more. As St. Louis increasingly becomes home to our new neighbors from various countries with different religious, language, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, our schools and secular institutions increasingly see activities geared toward serving these new friends. More importantly, as the community of faith, the church is called to reach out, connect and serve our new neighbors living in our neighborhoods. In St. Louis, Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) seeks to mobilize and partner with the hopeful church to pass on our story of faith to this in-coming generation of immigrants, especially the 1.5 and 2nd generations. These young immigrants who represent their traditional birth culture while also incorporating elements of the new (American culture and probably Christian faith), highlight both the challenges and opportunity for the future church. By partnering with local LCMS congregations and its believers, CFNA is jointly in mission to venture out in faith to engage different ethnic communities to serve, bless and expand the future kingdom of our Lord in St. Louis.
Presidents Room
Additional Continuing Education Opportunities
Faith and Writing Workshop
Concordia Seminary’s “Faith and Writing” workshop explores various forms of creative writing — starting a blog, creating a sermon or devotion, “traditional” forms of creative writing (story, nonfiction, drama, poetry) — and everything in between.
Lay Bible Institute
Calling lay people, students involved in homiletical education, pastors and others interested in the proclamation of the Gospel in today’s world: the Lay Bible Institute is for you!
Pre-Lenten Workshop
The Pre-Lenten Workshop includes sermon manuscripts, textual notes, orders of service for midweek services and also suggestions for the Sundays of Lent to help pastors in developing their own worship resources.
Theological Symposium
Parish pastors, LCMS district and Synod officials, Seminary and Concordia University students and faculty, and interested laypersons attend each year to delve into some of the most pressing issues of our time. One CEU is available for attending the Symposium.
Workshop Series
Hosted by congregations across the country May through August, and led by Seminary faculty, these workshops offer an opportunity to delve deeply into topics ranging from the teachings of Martin Luther to pastoral tools, such as preaching, responding to conflict and teaching confirmation.