Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Commencement 2026

The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago joyfully celebrates the graduates of the 166th Academic Year as they prepare to carry their learning, faith, and leadership into congregations and communities across the church and world.

Commencement is a moment to honor the dedication, scholarship, and spiritual formation that have shaped our graduates during their time at LSTC. It is also a moment of gratitude—for the faculty, mentors, families, and communities who have walked alongside them.

This year’s celebration is grounded in the theme “So that they may be one” (John 17:21). This celebration reflects LSTC’s ongoing commitment to forming leaders who serve with wisdom, faith, and a deep sense of connection to the global Christian community.

During the commencement ceremony, LSTC celebrates the conferral of degrees upon graduates who have prepared for lives of ministry, leadership, and service.

The ceremony will feature commencement speaker Rafael Malpica Padilla, who retired in December of 2025. Pr. Malpica Padilla joined the LSTC faculty in July 2023 as the John Damm Chair in Leadership and Director of the Latiné Ministry and Theology Program. During his time on campus, he played a formative role in strengthening LSTC’s engagement with global and Latiné theologies, mentoring students preparing for ministry in intercultural and international contexts, and shaping conversations around leadership, justice, and the church’s public witness. His teaching and presence enriched the life of the community, helping students, faculty, and staff reflect more deeply on what it means to lead faithfully in a complex and interconnected world.

Click below to view the 166th Commencement ceremony photos

Join the celebration and share your commencement moments.

Use the hashtag #LSTCGrad2026 to highlight your photos, reflections, and memories as we celebrate the graduates of the 166th Academic Year.

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