Change of course brings blessings

A change in academic direction has provided an extra blessing for Australian Lutheran College (ALC) student Darcee Anker, who is this year’s recipient of the Margaret Pech Memorial Scholarship.

Established by the late Pastor Herman Pech and his wife Elizabeth in memory of their daughter, Margaret, ‘who never let disability and disadvantage deter her’, the Margaret Pech Memorial Scholarship is awarded to benefit one woman a year in her theological studies at ALC. Darcee, who is studying a Bachelor of Theology, is the 26th woman to have received the scholarship since its establishment in 1995.

Darcee said she had been blessed by having parents who raised her in the Christian faith and encouraged her with God’s word. She joined the ALC community midway through 2021 after beginning a degree in Paramedic Science, which she quickly realised was not for her.

‘As with many others who begin studying theology, whether at a university or informally, I began due to a fervent need to understand my faith better, and to learn more about our loving and merciful creator’, Darcee said. ‘I am absolutely loving my studies, although they are very demanding. I have found it a great help to be constantly surrounded by the word of God and an abundance of faithful Christian mentors.

‘I am not sure what I will do with my theology degree once I have completed it, but I will likely aim for some further specialised post-graduate studies, either here or abroad. With that said, I am incredibly passionate about the biblical role of women in the church, and particularly in the area of deaconess ministry, which provides a structured space for women to serve their Lord and spread his word as their vocation, whilst honouring the God-ordained differences between men and women.’

The Margaret Pech Memorial Scholarship was one of several presentations made at ALC in recent weeks. These included the Cass Book Sponsorship and the gifting of rites-related resources to ALC students.

A former student of ALC, who now serves Queensland’s Maryborough Childers Lutheran Parish, Pastor Peter Cass recently inaugurated a theological resource scholarship. This is to be given annually to students studying with the goal of pastoral ministry, to enable the purchase of theological books and other resources. Pastor Peter has made this provision in honour of the memory of his mother, Gwendolen Cass, and to support the education of pastors for the LCANZ. Recipients of this year’s scholarship are Karl Jacobson and Tom Krahling.

For many years, Lutheran Men of Australia (LMA) members have shown their support for ALC students by supplying them with essential resources. On behalf of LMA, Mr David Pfeiffer recently presented ALC students Sean Hotinski, Karl Jacobson, Tom Krahling and Bethanie Mann with rites-related resources.

This story has been adapted from one that appeared in ALC eNews under the title: ‘Presentations aplenty in May’. Subscribe to receive the monthly updates here.