I established this blog a few years ago with the hope that I would update it regularly and frequently. However, the many responsibilities of life have kept me from this. My children have continued to grow and have remained healthy. We also have a third child on the way, likely arriving in late August of this year. As much of a blessing as children are, they do require a great deal of attention. I have also been occupied with my part time pastoral call at a small Lutheran congregation in northern Nebraska, a wonderful group of people. I have also been doing some part time teaching through the online-based Institute of Lutheran Theology.
The other thing that has consumed much of my time and attention is the research and writing of my Ph.D. dissertation. I began my doctoral program in the history of Christianity back in the fall of 2010 at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, the same institution where I completed my M.Div. degree back in 2006. Given my focus on Norwegian-American Lutheran history, there really is no better place for me to have carried out this work, given the history of that school. The library and archive are excellent and will continue to be important for me in my future work.
This degree has taken me longer to complete than I originally planned, but as they say, "life happens." We have had a great deal of transition as a family, which has all been positive, but it has kept me from focusing my energy on this project exclusively. Nevertheless, I have kept plugging away at this dissertation, and my formal defense was held a few days ago, on April 6, 2018, which also happened to be the anniversary of my baptism.
The title of my dissertation is "Hauge's Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod in America and the Continuation of the Haugean Spirit in Twentieth-Century American Lutheranism." It explores the history and unique identity of the small Hauge's Synod and the ways in which its members continued to express themselves after the Norwegian Lutheran merger of 1917.
My defense was successful. My committee had some good questions to ask, but two hours went by quickly and painlessly. They appreciated my work, and in the end decided to grant me the degree "with distinction." Honestly, I was not expecting that.
Official graduation will not be held until May 20, but nevertheless many people have begun addressing me as "Dr. Jacobson." I guess I'm OK with that, but it doesn't do much to change my immediate circumstances. I am simply grateful to God and everyone who has helped me along the way, and I know that the purpose of my education is to be a blessing to others and to God's Church.
The other thing that has consumed much of my time and attention is the research and writing of my Ph.D. dissertation. I began my doctoral program in the history of Christianity back in the fall of 2010 at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, the same institution where I completed my M.Div. degree back in 2006. Given my focus on Norwegian-American Lutheran history, there really is no better place for me to have carried out this work, given the history of that school. The library and archive are excellent and will continue to be important for me in my future work.
This degree has taken me longer to complete than I originally planned, but as they say, "life happens." We have had a great deal of transition as a family, which has all been positive, but it has kept me from focusing my energy on this project exclusively. Nevertheless, I have kept plugging away at this dissertation, and my formal defense was held a few days ago, on April 6, 2018, which also happened to be the anniversary of my baptism.
The title of my dissertation is "Hauge's Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod in America and the Continuation of the Haugean Spirit in Twentieth-Century American Lutheranism." It explores the history and unique identity of the small Hauge's Synod and the ways in which its members continued to express themselves after the Norwegian Lutheran merger of 1917.
My defense was successful. My committee had some good questions to ask, but two hours went by quickly and painlessly. They appreciated my work, and in the end decided to grant me the degree "with distinction." Honestly, I was not expecting that.
Official graduation will not be held until May 20, but nevertheless many people have begun addressing me as "Dr. Jacobson." I guess I'm OK with that, but it doesn't do much to change my immediate circumstances. I am simply grateful to God and everyone who has helped me along the way, and I know that the purpose of my education is to be a blessing to others and to God's Church.