LSTC Awarded $25,000 ATS Grant to Advance Online Pedagogy and Faculty Training
The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $25,000 Moving Forward in Mission grant from the Association of Theological Schools. The grant will fund a new initiative to equip LSTC faculty and advanced doctoral students with educational theory and online teaching practices and contributes to the success of Project Starling. The initiative includes a series of faculty development workshops and advances LSTC’s strategic commitment to accessible, high-quality theological education.
Led by Dr. Candace Kohli, Assistant Professor of Lutheran Systematic Theology and Global Lutheranism and Director of Online Academic Innovation, the project will implement a series of Quality Matters workshops, which emphasize evidence-based course design, teaching strategies, accessibility, and assessment for online teaching formats. Faculty and select graduate students will engage in twelve workshops over 18 months, gaining tools to develop asynchronous learning models that break barriers for underserved communities while enriching instruction across all LSTC programs.
This initiative builds on LSTC’s strategic plan to expand its digital and asynchronous offerings, which aim to serve a more diverse and global church. By equipping faculty with cutting-edge teaching methodologies, the school is preparing to reach students who may have been excluded from traditional theological education due to geographic, financial, or systemic barriers. The project also reflects LSTC’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and innovative learning environment.
Additionally, the workshops will create opportunities for collaboration among faculty and doctoral students, supporting a culture of mentorship and shared learning. By including doctoral students in these pedagogical trainings, LSTC is also investing in the next generation of theological educators, equipping them with skills to serve as effective leaders and teachers in a variety of ministry and academic contexts.
“The ATS Moving Forward in Mission grant allows LSTC faculty to advance their commitment to academic excellence and pedagogical innovation,” said Dr. Kohli. “By investing in our faculty’s ability to deliver high-quality online learning experiences we are ensuring that theological education at LSTC remains relevant, impactful and accessible to new audiences in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.”
The ATS, a membership organization comprising more than 270 graduate theological schools in the United States and Canada, is a recognized leader in advancing theological education. Through its grants and initiatives, ATS continues to support its members in fostering academic excellence and addressing the evolving needs of faith communities. You can learn more about ATS here.