As we begin this academic year, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, I am mindful of the ways that theological education and the church are continuing to be reformed. We have been hard at work over the summer asking the questions of how God is continuing to call us as a seminary to innovation for a world in such great need of the reforming Grace of God. We see ways that the Holy Spirit is bringing forth new forms of Christian community around God’s promises in Jesus Christ, calling people into faith and sending people into the world to bear witness to the Triune God’s justice, mercy and redemptive love. Our question is, “How might we better come alongside to support the innovation and education which leaders need for this reforming work of God?”
It is exciting to welcome an entering class of over 100 new students who are keen to dig into ways that God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit are stirring around the world. We welcomed an internationally diverse group of new students eager to learn about what God’s Holy Spirit is stirring in the world.
Come join the community as we engage in workshops, prayer, praise and conversation as we celebrate God’s reforming work at the Reformation Festival. We have gathered a wonderful group of speakers and presenters as together we see what God’s reforming work continues to nurture. Preaching was one of the hallmarks of the Reformation so join us for the Craft of Preaching event and share with others your struggles and strengths in proclaiming God’s Law and Gospel for a world, a neighborhood, a family and for yourself.
We are working intentionally in the coming months to discern ways that Luther Seminary must build new capacities for listening strategically and systematically to the church in order to discern how we can better join God’s ongoing reformation and embody careful attention to what the Holy Spirit is stirring.
Justo Gonzalez writes in his book, “The History of Theological Education” that “God is already reforming the church … whether the church wants to be reformed or not. The Holy Spirit will lead the church along paths of theological education that today we do not even suspect.” It will be an exciting year as we lean into ways that our own institutional structures will be realigned to join God’s reforming work.