Streng Lecture in Contemporary Issues: There Is A Balm In Huntsville

“There Is A Balm in Huntsville: The Improbable Birth of Restorative Justice in Texas” by author Pastor T. Carlos Anderson.

A main focus of Anderson’s book is the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Victim-Offender Mediation/Dialogue program, and its original coordinator, alumnus David Doerfler '71, former TLU campus pastor and Seguin native, who served as a Lutheran pastor before becoming involved in Victim Restoration and Mediation work. Doerfler’s move into this area of extended ministry followed tragedies in his own family, including several deaths and serious injuries as the result of two separate drunk-driving incidents. A Q&A session and book signing will follow their presentation.

Anderson currently serves as the pastor and community development director for Austin City Lutherans. Doerfler, pastor at TLC in the 1970’s, will be on campus that afternoon to speak also to the football team, as well as to join Anderson in a dinner with selected students, faculty and staff members before the presentation.

Thanks to the generous contribution of donors, copies of the book have been purchased and are being presented to members of a TLU criminal justice class this semester, Dr. Steve Boehm’s class, "The American Justice System." The Streng Lecture is sponsored by the Brandes Fund for Religious Activities as well as by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and anonymous donors.