In the Field

Christ on Campus

Featuring the Rev. Mark J. Buchhop,
Wittenberg Lutheran Chapel at the University of North Dakota (UND), Grand Forks, North Dakota

by Monica Robins

I love working with people, especially college-aged people," says the Rev. Mark J. Buchhop of Wittenberg Lutheran Chapel at the University of North Dakota (UND), Grand Forks, North Dakota. "I enjoy my time preparing sermons and Bible Studies and look forward to sharing the good news of the Gospel."

Pastor Buchhop attended Moorhead State University, Moorhead, Minnesota, where he received a B.A. (1975). He then went on to study at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he earned a Master of Divinity (1979). He is currently studying at the Fort Wayne seminary in the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program, which is the highest professional degree in the ministry.

Before arriving at Wittenberg Lutheran Chapel in 1996, Pastor Buchhop served as pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church, Lawton, Iowa (1980-1986), and then at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Webster City, Iowa (1986-1996).

Wittenberg Lutheran Chapel is a campus ministry. While the students attend UND, they retain their church membership in their home congregations. Pastor Buchhop is serving, on behalf of the North Dakota District, each student's local congregation by sharing God's grace in Word and Sacrament. "We have about 100-125 students per year on our contact list that we invite to the Divine Service and Bible Studies. Average Sunday attendance is 35-45 students, with some students more regular than others (not unlike a typical congregation)," states Pastor Buchhop. "Campus ministry has some very special challenges. Working with college-aged students requires patience. Sometimes they don't keep the appointments they've made, and they can be very difficult to reach, even in this day of e-mail and cell phones. The culture shouts out, Œbe independent, think for yourselves, don't go to church, do what you want to do.'"

While in Iowa, Pastor Buchhop used The Lutheran Hymnal and Lutheran Worship in the parish. He uses Lutheran Worship at Wittenberg Lutheran Chapel and is looking forward to the new hymnal. "I have found it challenging working with students who have not used the hymnal in their home parishes," confides Pastor Buchhop. "I work with them by explaining the beauty of the Divine Service, and have found it helpful to explain a portion of the service each week before the service begins. When the students grow in understanding of what is happening at each part of the service, they come to love it and enjoy singing the Introit, Gradual, Psalms, etc. The Divine Service is nothing like the culture of the world. It is a place where they can come to confess their sins and be absolved. They are forgiven and fed, served by Christ Himself."

A unique joy for Pastor Buchhop has been working with several UND students from China. "They are reading aloud Luther's Small Catechism, and I help them with their English as well as sharing the six chief parts of the Christian faith."

On Sundays, right after the Divine Service, they have "Lunch with Luther." This weekly event features a soup and sandwich meal and a reading from Martin Luther. On Wednesday evenings after Vespers they have a regular Bible study. Interested students are learning some basic Greek and are considering the ministry. Once a month there is a special topical Bible study and they also have ongoing catechesis during the school year.

When asked how he balances family and ministry, Pastor Buchhop says, "When the children were younger, I always took Fridays off and made sure to take a family vacation together. When the boys had a special concert or sporting event, I worked hard to arrange my schedule, not always perfectly, but enough to matter. Now that the children are older, I still look forward to time with my dear wife‹maybe a movie or a meal. Plus, I try to meet with her for a coffee break a couple times a week. Our time together is important for each of us."

"Over the years, I have had several young men inquire about the office of pastor," Pastor Buchhop says. "Some of them are encouraged by their home pastor or a member of their congregation, and others I have identified and encouraged to think about it. I share with them the humble privilege in teaching and preaching the Word of God. I share the wonderful joy it is to be the one, called and ordained, to forgive sinners through the spoken word, the water and the word in Holy Baptism, and the Lord's Supper in Christ's stead.

"A special pleasure for me the past two-and-a-half years has been my participation in the D.Min. program at Concordia Theological Seminary. I began in January 2001, and have now completed all the course work. In the fall of 2003, I will complete my project dealing with closed communion and the campus ministry setting, and then complete my dissertation. I have thoroughly enjoyed the program for several reasons: I have really enjoyed being back in the classroom, in front of world-class theologians at our seminary; further, I have cherished wonderful friendships with my classmates in the program. We are able to discuss theology and issues together and learn a lot in the process. I would highly recommend this program to my brother pastors!"

Pastor Lange is married to Joan (nee Anderson), and they have four children: Michael (25), Jonathan (23), Steven (21), and Zachary (19).