Theater ministry Jacobson’s longtime experience as an ELCA member allowed him to inject the authenticity of a Lutheran worship service into his writing. He also interviewed pastors, including Caleb Crainer, who is openly gay and serving St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Los Angeles. “We had an extended conversation about my


experiences, which included coming out,” Crainer said. “When I saw [the play], I could see parts that were my story. I think he accurately captured a lot of the emotions and a lot of the tensions through the play. And I think a lot of Lutherans will recognize themselves in it.” Crainer appreciates Jacobson’s belief that the


role shouldn’t be gender or cultural specific. During the play’s run, women and men of varying ethnic backgrounds portrayed the pastor. Non-gender specific characters are something Jacobson has created in other works as well. Another specialty for the playwright is using non-


traditional spaces, which he said can be effective if the venue matches the play’s theme or emotional intent.


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Peg Schultz-Akerson, interim pastor of Master,


said having the production in their worship space added dimension. “It was interesting to see this woman up in the same pulpit where I had preached earlier that day, giving these sermons as a play,” she said. The play might be an effective tool to help open a


discussion about the topic for a congregation that was ready to talk about it, she added. Jacobson believes “Captain of the Bible Quiz Team”


is a theatrical experience first, and only in that way can it also be effective as a form of ministry. “Theater as a mission tool kind of gets it backward,”


he said. “I think if you write a good play that happens to say something inspiring about religion, it can be effective. But this is about conflict and drama and not about advancing a philosophy or religion.”


Jeff Favre is an associate professor of Pierce College in Los Angeles and a freelance theater critic.


in Germany


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