166th Commencement Exercises

“So that they may be one.” — John 17:21

The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago joyfully invites the LSTC community, partners, families, and friends to celebrate the 166th Commencement Exercises, honoring the graduating Class of 2026. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at 5416 S. Cornell Ave. Room 210. 

We are also pleased to announce this year’s 2026 commencement speaker will be The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla.

Tickets and Livestream

This will be a ticketed event. Graduating students are issued a limited number of tickets to provide to their guests for this event. A livestreaming of the commencement ceremony will be available for those unable to attend in person. Details regarding the livestream will be posted one week prior to the ceremony.

Commencement Speaker

Pr. Malpica Padilla

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.

Prior to his service at LSTC, Pr. Malpica Padilla served for more than 30 years in the Global Mission unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, including two decades as its executive director. Earlier in his ministry, he served as Bishop of the Caribbean Synod of the ELCA and as a parish pastor, grounding his global leadership in deep pastoral and ecclesial experience.

A practitioner and theologian of mission, Pr. Malpica Padilla is widely known for developing the theological framework of “Accompaniment,” which has profoundly shaped how the global church understands mission as mutuality, presence, and shared journey. His scholarship and leadership have influenced churches, seminaries, and ecumenical partners worldwide through his writing, teaching, and long-standing service with organizations such as the Lutheran World Federation, Church World Service, and Lutheran World Relief.

Reflecting on his ministry, theologian Conrad A. Braaten observed that with one foot in the Global South and one in the Global North, and one foot in the ecumenical world and one in the Lutheran tradition, Pr. Malpica Padilla embodies leadership formed at the boundaries where deep learning and faithful witness emerge.

His commencement address will mark both a celebration of graduating students and a fitting tribute to a lifetime of service to the global church. Pr. Malpica Padilla retired from service at LSTC in December 2025.

For questions related to this event, contact Samantha Adindu, samantha.adindu@lstc.edu