In 2015, Rev. Dr. Thomas Sluberski, Professor Emeritus of Concordia College – New York, inaugurated and funded a film series to help screen films of importance to the community and to encourage student filmmakers at Concordia College - New York with scholarship support. The series kicked off on October 3rd of that year with a free screening of  “Girl Rising,” a 2013 documentary directed by Academy Award Nominee, Richard E. Robbins, that highlights international stories of young women striving to overcome cultural and economic barriers to education. Although Concordia College - New York closed in 2021, the funds were transferred to Village Lutheran Church and The Chapel School to continue the legacy of the college and this important initiative.
 
Renamed “The Rev. Dr. Thomas Sluberski Concordia Legacy Film Series,” the series seeks to screen films of importance that help the community “to know, live and share the love of Christ.” Each year one film dedicated to an adult audience and one film geared to children will be screened at The Picture House of Bronxville. Films may be from a variety of genres and should help film goers to engage their faith and values through the art of filmmaking. The inaugural film in the series was the 2021 documentary, “The Case for Heaven” directed by Mani Sandoval on October 30, 2023.
 
The screenings are offered at no cost and the community is invited.

Donations may be made to “The Rev. Dr. Thomas Sluberski Concordia Legacy Film Series” by sending gifts to:
Village Lutheran Church
172 White Plains Rd.
Bronxville, NY 10708
Attn: Film Series
 
Gifts may also be made online by CLICKING HERE and via text. Please be sure to note Sluberski Film Series in the memo.

Text your gift AMOUNT to (914) 368-6636.
Make sure to use the dollar sign before the amount.
If this is your first time you will be asked to register with a credit/debit card.
Example: $100 FILM
Our Series Founder: The Rev. Dr. Thomas Sluberski 
Thomas Richard Sluberski holds an earned doctorate in theology and literature from the University of Heidelberg in Germany, a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis, and a Master of Arts in English literature from Washington University in Saint Louis. He also studied at the University of Vienna in Austria, Western Reserve University, the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany, and New York University. From 1972 to 2004, he was a tenured full professor of English, Religion and the Humanities in the Concordia University System and especially Concordia College-New York. He also taught at Valparaiso University, in Russia and Brazil. He was on the staff of the Russian American Press Center and co-directed the first live four-continent television special from Russia, the United States, Korea and Ghana. All his education was financed by scholarships and fellowships among them: The Institute of International Education, the Austrian and Bavarian governments, the World Council of Churches, and the Lutheran World Federation.
 
He was a research assistant for the Lutheran World federation in Geneva, Switzerland, and the Executive Director of the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau. He is a national faculty member of the United States Sports Academy and elected governor of the American Society of Rio de Janeiro, a member of the Polish Academy of the Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, for whom he judges the TV Emmys.

Dr. Sluberski was a beloved member of Village Lutheran Church and passed away on March 2, 2024. In his generous philanthropy he graciously endowed funds to continue the series into the future. We are grateful to our patron and friend for making the series possible.

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