One of the reasons I’m filled with deep gratitude these days is a growing sense of abundance at Luther Seminary around new ways to connect with and accompany Christian leaders.
In addition to the full-tuition Jubilee Scholarship initiative and an updated curriculum in our M.A. and M.Div. programs, we are listening and learning about what the church needs in this time of change and how the Holy Spirit is calling us to lead and adapt. Across the seminary, we are opening doors to theological education more broadly in ways that are life-giving for our community as well as for the church as a whole.
Our Faith+Lead platform provides outstanding theological resources and training designed to equip Christian disciples and leaders to follow God into a faithful future. Through Faith+Lead Academy, we offer a growing number of accessible, on-demand courses that are theologically sound, practice-oriented, and contextually responsive. Recent topics include:
- A Lay Leader’s Guide to Planning Worship Experiences
- Missio Dei: The Church Sent
- Embodying Thoughts and Prayers: Providing Spiritual Care and Comfort
- Hybrid Ministry in a Post Pandemic Church
… and many more! This dynamic model invites Christian seekers and leaders from any background or context to benefit from the rich wisdom, knowledge, and guidance of our brilliant faculty and partners. For some, these learning experiences serve as a crucial step on the path of discernment; for others, critical continuing education for ministry in a changing world.
Within our degree programs, we also launched a new graduate certificate program this fall to equip leaders for specialized ministry. The eight-course certificate program offers a flexible balance between grounding in the classical theological disciplines, concentration in one of four areas (Bible, history of Christianity, and systematic theology; children, youth, and family ministry; leadership and innovation for ministry; or Christian ministry), and elective courses taken from any area of the curriculum. This flexibility allows students to take one course at a time while continuing in their full-time commitments and discerning a possible call to ministry.
This season invites us to slow down, give thanks, and prepare to turn our hearts and minds to watchful Advent waiting. Thank you for supporting our faculty, staff, and students in paying faithful attention to the question of “What’s next?” and in trying new things for the sake of our mission and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As the days grow shorter and Advent draws near, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Peace and blessings,
Robin Steinke
President