Thiel College announces installation of new campus pastor and “Celebrate Campus Ministry” weekend

Posted March 3, 2014Communications and Marketing Department

GREENVILLE, Pa.—As part of its “Celebrate Campus Ministry” weekend happening March 29-30, Thiel College is pleased to host the installation celebration and service to welcome its new Campus Pastor, Rev. Jayne Thompson on Sunday, March 30 at 2 p.m. in the David Johnson Memorial Chapel.

Visit the website to watch a live-stream of the service.

Rev. Thompson came to Thiel College last August from University Lutheran Church of the Epiphany and Lutheran Campus Ministry, St. Cloud, Minn. where she served as campus congregation pastor since 2005. Previously, she served as campus pastor at Kansas State University. Before transitioning to campus ministry in higher education, Rev. Thompson was pastor for the Affirmation Lutheran Church, in Boca Raton, Fla. and associate pastor for the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Tampa, Fla.

At Thiel College, Rev. Thompson directs campus worship, advises ministry groups, provides pastoral care and spiritual information to the Thiel Community and facilitates the College’s effort to identify and enroll Lutheran students. Pastor Thompson is a member of the faculty in the Department of Religion.

"I'm so grateful and feel blessed to be here," Thompson said, "I'm looking forward to our Celebration of Campus Ministry because we are going to lift up the ministry and leadership of many students as well as the faculty and staff who support them. I'm excited to welcome dear friends and special guests to our campus so that they're able to share in the friendly hospitality of our campus!"

The celebration begins with a free concert in the William A. Passavant Center. Christian speedwood band, “Lost & Found” will take the stage on Saturday, March 29 at 7 p.m. As seating is limited, please contact campusministry@thiel.edu if your congregation plans to attend with a group. An opportunity to make a gift to the ELCA Malaria Campaign and the Thiel College Campus Ministry is available. For more information about the band, please visit their website.

Sunday’s installation service will commence with the Rev. Ralph E. Jones, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s (ELCA) Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod, and the Rev. Kurt F. Kusserow, Bishop of the ELCAs Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, presiding.

Special guest, first presiding bishop of the ELCA, the Rev. Dr. Herb Chilstrom, will preach at the service and host a conversation and book signing of his memoir A Journey of Grace: The Formation of a Leader and a Church, at a reception following the service in the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center.


About Thiel College

Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.



Thiel College
75 College Ave
Greenville, PA 16125
1-800-248-4435