LSTC to Participate in ELCA Seminaries Joint Virtual Discernment Event
The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is delighted to join our six sister ELCA seminaries for the Joint Virtual Discernment Event on Sunday, September 14, from 4–6 p.m. ET.
This annual online gathering is designed for anyone exploring a call to ministry or theological education. Together, the ELCA seminaries create space for prayer, reflection, and conversation about how God’s Spirit is calling leaders for the church and the world. Participants will experience devotions, breakout discussions, and a collaborative presentation of “Three Things You Should Know” about each seminary.
At LSTC, students who join us in person and learners who join us online from around the world all experience a vibrant formation for ministry that blends rigorous academics with rich community life. Weekly worship in Augustana Chapel, close engagement with distinguished faculty, and the energy of Hyde Park’s diverse neighborhood create a learning environment that is both challenging and supportive. Through degree pathways such as the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Philosophy, students are prepared for leadership in congregations, classrooms, nonprofits, and beyond. Partnerships with the University of Chicago Divinity School and other Hyde Park institutions further enrich the academic journey, while contextual education and field placements ground classroom learning in lived ministry.
At LSTC, your calling is nurtured through a supportive community that walks with you from the first day of classes to your moments in ministry after graduation. Students here are equipped not only with knowledge, faith, and practical tools, but also with the confidence to serve in a rapidly changing church and world. Our alumni serve globally as pastors, chaplains, teachers, counselors, administrators, and social workers, carrying forward the values they first cultivated here with us online and on campus.
Aside from our traditional programmatic pathways, LSTC is also leading with bold innovations in theological education. Project Starling, our groundbreaking asynchronous education platform, expands access to seminary formation far beyond Chicago: meeting students where they are through flexible, high-quality, and affordable learning options. It reflects our deep commitment to imaginative models of formation while staying deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Alongside Project Starling, LSTC recently launched the Synod Authorized Ministers (SAM) Development Program, equipping lay leaders authorized by ELCA bishops to serve faithfully in congregational and pastoral roles. Delivered fully online and asynchronously, the program combines academic excellence with practical formation, offering synods and individuals alike a comprehensive, flexible, and affordable path toward ministry leadership.
Whether you are just beginning to wonder about seminary or are actively discerning your next step, this event is a chance to connect, learn, and imagine how God might be calling you forward.
We are excited to represent LSTC at this collaborative event and invite you to join us as we continue our mission of forming leaders for the church and the world.