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The Path to Your Purpose
Living Out a Different Story
June 4, 2020
A message from Pres. Elizabeth Mauch on the current state of the country, June 4th, 2020, 10:15 a.m.
Editors Note: With an outpouring of support from Bethany College Alumni and Friends a special fund has been created to support our BASS (Black Association of Student Scholars) student organization and collaborative educational activities facilitating diversity and inclusion training for students, faculty, and staff beginning with the 20/21 academic year.
You can donate here.
Dear Campus Community
With many of you, I have watched in horror as the murder of George Floyd and the response to this act have unfolded. I am sorry to say that I have not watched in disbelief. This violence has happened over and over in our country. We see George Floyd, but we also remember acts of fear and hatred against Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and many others, still fresh in our national consciousness. And, of course we can all point to events farther back in our history as well. What came to my mind was the MOVE bombing in Philadelphia 35 years ago: when American civilians in a Black liberation group were aerially bombed. There is a clear trajectory we can see in connecting these events of racist violence that we must recognize as a devastating part of our story as a nation. We are the ones who can ensure that, in Lindsborg, we will live out a different story.
In an open letter with the ELCA Conference of Bishops, our Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton condemned “the white supremacy that has led to the deaths of so many unarmed Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color in our country.” These leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are united in calling on all of us to “grieve with, pray for and stand in solidarity with the families and friends of all whose loved ones have been and continue to be victims of injustices run amok, racist violence and the insidious venom of white supremacy.”
As an institution of higher education affiliated with the ELCA, Bethany College is constantly striving to determine how we live into this complex calling. In our mission, we strive to help students lead lives of service; and in our values, we are committed to advocating for the dignity of everyone in our community as a child of God. It is this dedication to our mission and values that makes us keenly aware that knowledge is not morally neutral and that institutional silence in the face of the continuing murder of black Americans is a tacit consent of our national status quo.
I am proud to be the president of Bethany College where we really do believe in these ideals rooted in our Lutheran heritage. We must strive together, as one community, to achieve them each and every day. Since coming to Bethany, I have been proud to work closely with our local police department, local administrators and our campus community to ensure that students are safe and welcome in Lindsborg. Forming these sorts of relationships is paramount to ensuring the continued health and welfare of our entire Bethany College family. Our best hope for preventing and overcoming the violence faced by directly-affected people and communities is to learn and work together in broader partnerships.
I have always been a person who believes in action. We must respond to this moment with a thoughtful and informed evaluation of the kind of true and lasting change necessary for Bethany College to be a place where our students, faculty, and staff become servant leaders for a more just and equitable future. I am calling for volunteers to sit on a task force focused on examining diversity and inclusion on our campus that Dr. Adam Pryor will help facilitate. We must foster study and discourse that equips all of us in the Bethany community to recognize and resist ideologies of hatred. We need to support learning and take action at the intersection of politics and human dignity. If we cannot have these sorts of interactions here, wherein our society do we hope they will fruitfully occur? This is our calling as a college.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mauch
LINDSBORG, KAN., FEB. 5, 2025 — The Bethany Oratorio Society is excited to announce the soloists for the 2025 Messiah Festival of the Arts. Since its founding in 1882, the Oratorio Society has performed Bach’s The Passion According to St. Matthew and Handel’s Messiah every year, and this year’s festival promises another spectacular celebration of these works. Featured soloists for this year’s performances include Claire Herzog, coloratura soprano; Michelle Rice, soprano; Maxwell Ary, tenor; and Ian Schipper, bass-baritone. These talented artists will bring their expertise and passion to the stage in performances of The Passion According to St. Matthew and the Messiah. Additionally, these soloists will perform a free recital at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2025 , at Messiah Lutheran Church on the campus of Bethany College. They will also perform at the ticketed events: The Passion According to St. Matthew at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11, and Handel’s Messiah at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, in Presser Hall Auditorium. Tickets for these performances can be purchased at messiahfestival.org or by calling Bethany College at (785) 227-3380, ext. 8235, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Claire Herzog, Coloratura Soprano A versatile coloratura soprano from Springfield, Missouri, Claire Herzog is equally passionate about teaching and performing. She has appeared in operatic roles with the Ozarks Lyric Opera and is an active performer with various choral groups. Herzog holds degrees from Missouri State University and is currently on the vocal music faculty at Evangel University. In addition to her vocal expertise, she enjoys composing and collaborating with other musicians, with recent projects including an album of original songs and Heart on the Wall performances with the Missouri Philharmonic Orchestra. Michelle Rice, Soprano Praised for her “tones of pure gold” (Washington Post), Michelle Rice brings a rich timbre and intense performance to the stage. Throughout her career, Rice has performed a wide range of roles, including Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde and Mrs. Grose in The Turn of the Screw. As the Artistic Director of Seven Sisters Productions, she has premiered new works, including the opera The Queen, My Lord, Is Dead. Rice’s performances span opera, concert, and recital, and she has sung with major ensembles across the U.S., including the Berkeley Symphony and Washington Concert Opera. Maxwell Ary, Tenor A versatile performer and educator based in San Francisco, Maxwell Ary is renowned for his wide-ranging voice, which spans genres from classical to jazz, musical theatre, and pop. Ary, who teaches at the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, has performed with prestigious ensembles, including Seraphic Fire and Voces8. He has appeared in operas such as The Rake’s Progress, L’elisir d’amore, and recently performed in the baroque opera La Flora with Ars Minerva. Ary’s 2025 performance schedule includes Lamplighters Musical Theater and Pocket Opera engagements. Ian Schipper, Bass-Baritone A dynamic performer known for his commitment to classical and contemporary music, Ian Schipper has appeared in operas such as Die Zauberflöte and Cosi fan tutte. He has sung in choral groups across the U.S., including the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Schipper is also passionate about new music and has collaborated with composers through his work with St. Olaf College’s Spiritus Novus. He recently performed the role of Cardinal Rottweiler in the world premiere of The Grand Hotel Tartarus. Join us for these unforgettable performances as these talented soloists join the Bethany Oratorio Society in bringing two of the most cherished works in the choral repertoire to life. For more information, including ticket purchases, please visit messiahfestival.org . Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who walk alongside them as they discover, explore, and navigate the path to their purpose. Bethany College is online at bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
Bethany College hosted over 500 young men from nearly 40 schools across Kansas on Jan. 30 for the annual Real Men Sing vocal workshop. This celebrated event provides an inspiring opportunity for students in grades 4-12 to explore choral music in a supportive, all-male setting, fostering confidence, camaraderie, and a love for singing.
This semester, the department continues its tradition of offering a wide variety of performances, from student and faculty recitals to large-scale ensemble concerts. These events provide opportunities for the Lindsborg community and surrounding areas to experience the vibrant cultural and artistic contributions of the college.