Faculty Profile

Dr. Olaf Lidums

Associate Professor of

Urban and Ecological Studies

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Born in Tallin, Estonia, Dr. Olaf R. Lidums spent his early childhood in Upsalla, Sweden, and youth and college years in Chicago (immigrated in 1950). After graduation in 1965 from Luther College, Decorah, Olaf entered Wartburg Seminary, in Dubuque, Iowa, after a year of discernment while working as a social worker in a nursing home. Dr. Lidums received his MDiv and was Ordained in June, 1970. Over his 37 years of service, Olaf has served in a variety of congregational ministries, such as town and country, suburb, and three different urban churches in the Detroit area.

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He pursued graduate studies in counseling psychology and received his M.S. in Counseling (1977) from U.W.-Whitewater, after which he worked as a Pastoral Counselor for LSS-Wisconsin for 6 years. Half of his 37 years have included other specialized ministries such as directorships in social service, homeless, hospital and addiction treatment ministries. After a long bivalent academic journey between PhD studies in psychology and DMin study at ETS, Olaf focused in on his dissertation work in the practice of trinitarian spirituality and received his DMin from ETS in 2003.

Classes

ETH7002 Human Sexuality and Ethics

2019 Summer, Summer 2017, Summer 2018 / Ethics Professor Olaf Lidums Associate Professor of Urban and Ecological Studies Certificate in Theological Studies, Master of Arts (Academic) Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, Master of Divinity REGISTER



TPM7003 Church Leadership for the 21st Century

2020 Spring / Theory & Practice of Ministry (TPM) Professor Olaf Lidums Associate Professor of Urban and Ecological Studies This course explores the personal leadership styles, values and principles of a congregational leader, especially as they are manifest in non-church, mission culture of our time. Skills addressed include:

  • Creating and sustaining congregational vision
  • Developing a spiritually based leadership style using prayer, mediation and the Meyers-Briggs Personality Inventory
  • Utilizing congregational conflict resolution
  • Embodying a congregational stewardship lifestyle
Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, Master of Divinity, Certificate in Theological Studies REGISTER



UM101 Community Seminar in Urban Ministry

2016 Fall, 2017 Fall, 2018 Fall | Theory & Practice of Ministry (TPM) Professor Olaf Lidums Associate Professor of Urban and Ecological Studies This course is an introduction to ministry in the urban setting. Through site visits and classroom discussions, the theology and practice of ministry in the city is examined and evaluated. Urban Ministry Diploma REGISTER