Gospel Centered
You are committed to the witness of salvation through Jesus Christ – preference given to applicants who can articulate a Christian faith identity; preference also given to applicants who have a set of spiritual practices and are active in a Christian faith community.
Community Oriented
You can articulate a vocational purpose to serve the church and God’s world – preference given to applicants who seek to use their degree in service to Christian communities; preference also given to applicants willing to invest in the Luther community, distributed or in-person.
Academically Skilled
You are able to communicate meaningfully and clearly in written and verbal forms, can successfully speak and write in the English language, and can successfully navigate online environments – preference given to applicants who have demonstrated previous academic success and exposure to recommended prerequisite studies such as Bible, English, Philosophy/Religion, History, Speech and Foreign Language.
Learning Leader
What is a Learning Leader? You take a posture of continuous learning and growth and approach leadership with humility and curiosity. You are willing to engage yourself and others in the challenges and opportunities of living out a Christian faith in a modern, pluralistic society – preference given to applicants who have demonstrated leadership success in their communities; preference also given to applicants who demonstrate creativity and imagination for existing congregational and emerging ministries.
Inclusive
You are curious and respectful of diverse cultures and ideas, are committed to building relationships with others across difference and can demonstrate the ability to sit in discomfort and “engage one another with openness, vulnerability, and generosity” – preference given to applicants whose experiences have prepared them to navigate ethnic and cultural differences.
Self Aware
You pay attention to your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being and are willing to ask for help – preference given to applicants who demonstrate resilience, flexibility, integrity, emotional maturity and good communication skills.
Prepared
You have the support and tools needed to take on the challenge of graduate theological education – preference given to applicants who have the support of their personal network (i.e. faith community, mentors, family) and who demonstrate awareness of and responsibility for the financial and time commitments of seminary study and contextual learning.
As a seminary of the ELCA, preference will be given to ELCA ordination-bound applicants who meet the above qualifications and can demonstrate satisfactory progress in their candidacy process.
As a seminary “anchored and animated by a Lutheran confessional witness” that is “grounded in a theology of the cross that offers hope,” Luther Seminary is also made up of and led by a generously ecumenically-diverse faculty and staff. Our student population is generally two-thirds Lutheran and one-third made up of 35 denominations and faith traditions. As such, preference will also be given to ecumenical applicants who meet the above qualifications, can demonstrate satisfactory support from their judicatory bodies to pursue study at Luther, and are willing to cultivate their respective denominational identities within a Lutheran confessional learning community.
Finally, preference will also be given to applicants who are uniquely gifted to positively impact and add value to the Luther Seminary classroom and community, the larger church, and the world and can contribute a distinct perspective, experience and ideas that enrich these contexts. This also includes applicants willing and able to serve in under-served communities.