Concordia College

Dr. Arland D. Jacobson Director e-mail Dr. Jacobson has been CHARIS director since 1983. A native of South Dakota, he is an ELCA pastor who has served congregations in North and South Dakota. Ever since he served as the first chairman of the board of the ALC's first center for continuing theological education, he has had a lively interest in the education of pastors and lay people. Dr. Jacobson has a B.D. from Luther Seminary and a Ph.D. in New Testament from Claremont (Calif.) Graduate School. He also studied at the University of Chicago. He has taught religion at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and at Concordia College.

Jacki Knapp-Raaen Coordinator e-mail Jacki began working with the CHARIS Ecumenical Center in November 2006.  She is also the Coordinator of F/M Communiversity, a program of lifelong learning at Concordia. Prior to her employment with CHARIS she worked for Minnesota Public Radio.  Jacki has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College in Business Administration.

Reaching out to congregations in central and northern and southwestern Minnesota, North Dakota, and parts of South Dakota, CHARIS provides a series of professional opportunities that cross denominational lines. These lifelong learning options, designed to meet the needs of the churches in the geographical area served by CHARIS, are intended to equip both clergy and laity to minister more effectively to people in a rapidly changing society. Since CHARIS began in 1970, thousands of participants from nearly every denomination have been involved in these courses and events.

Ecumenism has been a basic and important element of the CHARIS philosophy and offerings and has made a significant contribution to the participants and to their church bodies. People of different religious backgrounds enjoy studying and learning in an atmosphere of trust and understanding. They are enriched and, in turn, enrich others.

Governance

Overall direction for CHARIS is provided by its board of directors, consisting of representatives from Concordia College and the judicatories that support CHARIS:

- Fr. Michael Hickin, Board Chair, Roman Catholic Diocese, Fargo

- Rev. Bruce Anderson, Church Relations, Concordia College

- Rev. Sherry Billberg, Northwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA

- Rev. Dwaine Bruns, Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA

- Rev. Randy Cross, Dakotas Conference, United Methodist Church

- Dr. Roy Hammerling, Chair, Religion Department, Concordia College

- Dr. Arland Jacobson, Director, CHARIS Ecumenical Center

- Jacki Knapp-Raaen, Coordinator, CHARIS Ecumenical Center

- Dr. Mark Krejci, Dean of the College, Concordia College

- Rev. Shawnthea Monroe-Mueller, Minnesota Conference, UCC

- Rev. Mark Osthus, Northeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA

- Rev. Jamie Parsley, Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota

- Fr. Duane Pribula, Roman Catholic Diocese, Crookston

- Rev. Wade Schemmel, Northern Plains Conf of the UCC

- Rev. Charles Traylor, Presbytery of the Northern Plains