As we head into the summer months, you may think that things slow down at Luther Seminary. But we’re still surrounded by exciting events and activities that reinforce our hope for the future.
- As I mentioned in last month’s letter, we graduated 132 servant leaders on May 19. We invite you to view photos of the event at www.flickr.com/photos/lutherseminary
- The faculty voted overwhelmingly to adopt a new M.Div. /M.A. curriculum, which will launch in the fall of 2014. Through this coming year, an implementation team will work out the specifics and address the complexities of getting ready to carry out the curriculum in all areas of seminary life. We’ve been encouraged by the growing enthusiasm for the new curriculum, which will build on current strengths but significantly enhance our capacity to prepare leaders for our complex and changing world.
- We had a number of encouraging recent events on campus, including a retirement evening honoring five long-time faculty members and a scholarship event with donors and student recipients. We will continue to celebrate some bittersweet departures this summer.
- Several of our constituent synods offered me significant plenary time at their Synod Assemblies to talk about Luther Seminary. The reception in each case was enthusiastic and supportive when I said we continued to need them to: a) pray with and for us; b) support us financially; and c) encourage prospective students to explore enrolling now, since we are ready to receive them and the church needs them more than ever.
- Luther Seminary’s Festival of Homiletics event was highly successful again this year. A record 1,800 people gathered in Nashville to immerse themselves in the art of preaching. Next year the festival will be held in the Twin Cities.
- We’re enjoying a delightful and energetic array of students on campus this summer, studying in the Doctor of Ministry, Master of Divinity Distributed Learning, and Master of Arts Distributed Learning in Children, Youth and Family Ministry programs. We also have students with TEEM (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries) on campus.
- We will host a number of events on campus during the summer, including May’s Camp Day and the upcoming Rethinking Evangelism (July 22-24) and Stewardship for Adults under 40 (July 29-31).
As we approach the finish of this fiscal year on June 30, I am happy to tell you that our donors are responding with encouragement and grace. They continue to keep us in their prayers, they are sending new students to us and they are generously supporting us financially. They believe in our mission and want to ensure that we continue to educate leaders for Christian communities.
Thank you for your patience and participation as we live out God’s mission together.
Take care,
Rick