At LSTC, we believe in nurturing the spiritual lives of our students, fostering strong community bonds, and cultivating leadership skills. Our student organizations offer a wealth of opportunities for personal growth, faith development, and active citizenship. Explore, engage, and find your place among us!
Student Government
LSTC has three student government organizations:
Master’s Student Association (MSA)
Represents MA, MAM, and MDiv students
Graduate Student Association (GSA)
Represents ThM and PhD students
International Students Association (ISA)
Represents all LSTC international students
All three student associations have elected leadership, and they all advocate on behalf of the students in relation to faculty and administration. In addition, each organization has an elected advisory representative to LSTC’s board of directors. Students serve on faculty and administrative search committees and also form and participate in a variety of student organizations.
Student Organizations
The Faith and Justice Collective (FJC)
The Faith and Justice Collective (FJC) is a powerful coalition of individuals who enact God’s love by organizing for social justice in Chicago as part of The People’s Lobby, People’s Action, SOUL (Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation), and Reclaim Chicago. The community of FJC consists of LSTC seminarians, spouses, partners, children, friends, faculty, and staff as well as University of Chicago students and various community partners. The organization’s objective is to mobilize students to become more active in the fight for justice and to empower each other as leaders. Membership is open to all. If you would like more information, please contact Erik Christensen.
The Green Zone
The Green Zone is a working group of students, staff, and faculty committed to integrate care for creation into the life of the seminary through:
Worship, including the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Season of Creation, Earth Week, and liturgical actions throughout the year
Education, including lectures, film screenings, Growth in Faith workshops, and Leadership Conference workshops
Institutional practices, including energy conservation, recycling, composting, and sustainable landscaping
Personal practices, including sustainable eating, community gardening, composting, recycling, and energy conservation
Public ministry and advocacy, including seminary work in support of congregational, synodical, denominational, and ecumenical efforts
Thesis 96
Thesis 96 is a student-formed group that shares a common belief that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and other sexuality and gender minorities have the right to full participation in church, particularly the ELCA, including ordination. The group provides a safe space for sharing with and educating our LSTC community about LGBTQIA+ issues, and also participates in public advocacy events that promote the human rights of LGBTQIA+ people in church and society.
