Leadership
Executive Director
Rev. James Wetzstein james.wetzstein@valpo.edu 219.464.6794 University Pastor, Valparaiso University
Rev. James “Jim” Wetzstein comes to the Institute of Liturgical Studies following two decades of service at Valparaiso University in the role of University Pastor, a position he continues to hold.
Jim is a Ph.D. candidate in Liturgical Studies at Notre Dame. His research involves the work of the 20th-century Lutheran liturgical sculptor, Ernst Schwidder, and questions regarding the role of art and design in communication and spiritual formation.
He studied at the Institute for Liturgical Design Consultants at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and has since consulted with dozens of congregations, helping them identify the core values and programming needs that will drive renovations to their liturgical spaces. His work with Immanuel Lutheran Church in Valparaiso on their immersion font earned the 2008 Art and Architecture Award sponsored by the Lutheran Church Extension Fund. More recently, Jim was the liturgical design consultant for the chapel at the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg, Germany.
His published work has focused on the vocation of the artist to provide places of beauty in support of Christian formation.
On the lighter side, Jim is the author of the long-running self-published lectionary comic strip, Agnus Day.
Director of Worship
Sally Messner is director of worship and music at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, where she plans and leads worship, conducts adult and children’s choirs, and manages the music series. She is also founding musical director of the Elm Ensemble, a liturgical project that brings together professional and amateur musicians with great sacred music and creative worship planning to help keep the church in dialogue with diverse voices from Christian history. Sally earned a Bachelor of Music in voice performance from Valparaiso University and a Master of Sacred Music from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. She has taught workshops and written articles for the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and is a contributor to 1517 Media’s Sundays and Seasons.
Advisory Council
In addition to the executive director and administrator, the Institute’s leadership consists of an advisory council comprised of pastors, musicians, scholars, composers, and more who, along with the Institute’s Director of Music, serve across the country in institutions and parishes affiliated with both the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Current advisory council members include:
Rev. Dr. Joshua Hollmann Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Concordia University St. Paul, MN
Rev. Dr. Craig Mueller Lead Pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Adjunct faculty, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Chicago, IL
Omaldo Perez Director for Music and Worship Arts, Christ Presbyterian Church Madison, WI
Dr. Rhoda Schuler Professor Emerita, Concordia University St. Paul, MN
Emily Smith Assistant Head Sacristan, Trinity Church Wall Street New York, NY
Rev. Annemarie Hartner Cook Interim Pastor, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Marlton, NJ
Rev. Dr. James “Jim” Marriott Associate Professor of Theology and Music, Chair of the Theology Department, University Organist Concordia University Texas Austin, TX
Katharine E. Harmon, Ph.D. Project Director, Obsculta Preaching Initiative Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary Collegeville, MN