What does faithful innovation look like?

When we confess our faith in Jesus, we say “yes” to participating in the unfolding story of God’s grace, justice, and redeeming love at work in the world. It’s thrilling and humbling to see the ways our students and alumni join in this story when they answer the call to Christian leadership.

We believe Luther Seminary’s role in the story today is to help lead the church to adapt and thrive in a changing world. In this issue, we’re highlighting ways that our community is embracing the work of the Holy Spirit to meet the changing needs of the church in our time.

You’ll hear from alumni whose experiences in seminary and trust in God’s faithfulness prepared them to step into unexpected roles, embrace ambiguity and collaboration, and try new modes of ministry. You’ll get to know Harvey Kwiyani ’12 Ph.D., a Malawian theologian whose work beckons the global church into deeper relationships and a more profound understanding of mission in a multicultural world. And together, we’ll look back at the five-year MDivX experiment that allowed us to imagine and pilot an accelerated degree program to meet more students where they are—an innovation that will fundamentally shape theological education at Luther Seminary and beyond for years to come.

The work of faithful innovation is inspiring, life-giving, and often challenging. Most importantly, we do it together, learning in community with our siblings in Christ. “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. … Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:12, 27)

Within these stories of leadership in a new age, I hope there is a spark that ignites your imagination and captures your spirit.

Grace and peace,

Robin J. Steinke

President

Story Magazine

Winter 2023 Articles