Luther House

[Riegel]

Luther House is the intentional Lutheran residential hall located in the Old Parsonage, a brick house located immediately behind the Lutheran Campus Chapel. This puts the resident one block from the Beechhurst PRT and less than that to the Wise Library. There are no other residences on the street.

Occupancy is normally 6, but, in the case that two are related, 7 can be lodged.

Residents agree to live under a common ethical and doctrinal norm. Residents also have an obligation of service to the Lutheran Campus Ministry and participation in spiritual direction.

If you have questions, feel free to message us or post them here.

[Riegel]

Here is a rough draft for the Luther House Rule 2007/8.

The Luther House was established by the Lutheran Campus Foundation to be an intentional residential community in the Lutheran tradition. To this end, the LCF invested roughly $100K in the renovations of what was for years called the Lutheran Campus Center and previously known as the St. Paul Lutheran Church Parsonage. The LCF had certain assumptions and expectations, arising from its own self-understanding as a campus ministry, that warranted the expenditure.

• An intentionally Lutheran residential environment would offer a much needed alternative to the more nortorious expressions of student housing and campus life.
• An intentionally Lutheran residential community would provide an environment or discernment of vocation.
• A residential community would provide better site security.
• A residential community would form a core participating membership in the campus ministry.
• A residential community would advance the work of the campus ministry through reasonable service.
• A residential community would provide an experience of community life so often neglected in this age of individualism.

It was only after the establishment that the LCF discovered the outreach dimension of the Luther House.

To advance these goals, this "rule" for the Luther House is presented. Community of the sort the LCF envisioned no longer comes naturally--if it ever did--to human beings. Taking a lesson from our ancestors, the rule is written to serve as a light to guide the residents of the Luther House in the pursuit of sanctification within the arean of the Luther House. The plan of the rule is to lay out a general principal which is then applied through specific example. This is not exhaustive. Luther House residents will most likely want to produce additional expectations that deal with day-to-day life.

We should regularly and often hear God's Word, receive the Sacraments, and pray.

When physically at the Lutheran Campus Center (this includes the Luther House), the Luther House resident shall attend the regular weekly prayer offices (e.g., sext and compline).

The Luther House resident shall normally attend Sunday evening mass at the Chapel, but attendance at St. Paul, some other Lutheran church or full-communion church shall suffice. Reception of the sacrament is not required.

At special times of the year, additional services are held. These fall into two classes: ecclesiastical and civil. Attending ecclesiastical services is expected; these shall include Ash Wednesday, Holy Week services, etc.. While attending civil services is encouraged, it is nor expected; this shall include exam week, Veterans Day, etc..

We should not conform to the world but rather be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Luther House residents shall engage in the study of holy things. This may be accomplished in many ways as best suits the resident: participation in bible or other group studies, private study, or even academic work in the university.

We should offer up our bodies as a living sacrifice which is our reasonable service.

Each Luther House resident shall offer a minimum of five hours of service per month to the Lutheran Campus Ministry in the form of support ministry. This shall include custodial duty in the Chapel, grounds work, assistance with fund-raising, hospitality, public relations, etc..

Service joyfully rendered beyond the minimum is encouraged.

Service in non-support ministry is also encouraged.

We should so live as to glorify God.

Luther House residents shall subscribe to and live according to the Decalogue as explicated in Luther's Small Catechism.

We should confess one Lord, one fatih, one baptism, one God and Father of us all.

Luther House residents shall subscribe to the Apostles' Creed as explicated in Luther's Small Catechism.

To further aid in the process of sanctification, each Luther House resident shall construct and adopt an "individualized sanctification plan," and meet once each month (except during the end of the term) with the chaplain to discuss the progress made. An ISP covers worship/devotion, education, service, and fellowship.

This post has been edited by Riegel on Dec 9 2006, 01:40 PM