MDiv Student Lyndsay Monsen Awarded 2026 Echols Preaching Prize

The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is proud to announce that MDiv student Lyndsay Monsen has been awarded the 2026 Echols Preaching Prize, an annual honor recognizing excellence in preaching and a deep commitment to proclaiming the Gospel in today’s world.

“I am very humbled and grateful to have received this year’s Echols Preaching Prize,” Monsen said. “At a time filled with so much fear, I believe the importance of solid preaching cannot be understated. To be receiving this prize in the same season as my graduation and as I sit for my approval interview feels like a true external affirmation of my call, and I could not be more grateful for those who have made this journey possible.”

This year’s Echols Preaching Prize invited students to craft sermons in response to Professor Rafael Malpica Padilla’s Fall 2025 Scherer Lecture, which named a confessional crisis facing the church amid the rise of white Christian nationalism. Grounded in the Gospel text Mark 8:27–38, where Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?,” Monsen’s sermon weaves elements of her own call story into a broader proclamation of resurrection hope for God’s servants to build a better world.

Monsen’s work reflects the kind of public, theologically grounded leadership LSTC seeks to cultivate: leaders who can speak with clarity, courage, and compassion in complex and urgent times.

“Over the years, LSTC has provided me with countless connections to people and organizations that have taught me how important it is to be a public-facing faith leader right now,” Monsen said. “I am beyond grateful for each of those relationships that have shaped me as a preacher, ministerial leader, and person.”

Established in the 2007–08 academic year, the Echols Preaching Prize is named for former LSTC President James Kenneth Echols and is awarded annually at commencement. The prize was established through the generosity of LeRoy T. Carlson, a longtime supporter of the seminary.

The Echols Prize was created to promote excellence in preaching, encourage students to fully develop their gifts, elevate the importance of proclaiming the Gospel both on campus and beyond, and honor the legacy of President Echols.

Monsen’s recognition this year stands as a powerful testament to the role of preaching in shaping a more just, faithful, and hopeful future.