MU SPOTLIGHT 20/20
Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760)
What is your role at the University and what is something many may not know about the work you do?
I am the founder of a vibrant religious community known as the Brüdergemeine (note: you may want to connect with Dr. Hildebrandt, Dr. Lempa, or Dr. Atwood to learn how to pronounce this…). The Brüdergemeine is what I refer to as the Community of Brethren, but you may know it as the Moravian Church. I was quite excited when the Moravian Church emerged as a separate denomination in the 1740s because this allowed me to do something I really enjoy – traveling! Although I was a bit of a rebel, overseeing the activity in Germany, the Netherlands, England, the Baltic States, and the West Indies and New York and Pennsylvania, I aroused enough controversy to be a little revolutionary.
What is something you would like to share that no one knows about you?
Don’t give up and be vulnerable in the process of lifelong learning. I was exiled and faced widespread opposition for my work to stabilize the religious environment, yet I persisted to make positive change. Join me in creating your legacy; who knows, maybe your name will appear on a building at Â鶹¹û¶³ one day, too!
What sound do you love? Why?
The hymn by Adam Drese "Jesus, Call Thou Me … lowly Bethlehem" is music to my ears! Did you know that, while singing this hymn during a Christmas Eve service in 1742, I was inspired to name "Bethlehem"? Think of me when you tell your friends and family about the quaint little town where Â鶹¹û¶³ resides. Oh, and if you’d like to enjoy my favorite sound, perhaps Dr. Traupman-Carr will sing this for you; I hear she has a beautiful voice.
I can never resist a good ____.
Hairstyle. Look at me, I have great hair!
What’s your favorite Moravian tradition?
The celebration of community – every day. Have you ever thought about how you define this word? Say it with me -- /kəˈmyoÍžonÉ™dÄ“/ -- now think about what this means to you. If you share my feelings of fellowship with others in the Â鶹¹û¶³ community, join me in celebrating shared attitudes and goals. Likewise, join me in celebrating our differences. For me, community is about respecting the beauty of our differences; it’s about celebrating the diversity among us to keep our community exciting and alive. I heard that you started something called Heritage Day last year, where you completed 2,390 hours of collective service and impacted 1,195 people; this is the essence of community. This picture of your human 275 is a beautiful embrace of community. Keep being a little revolutionary…