LSTC to Celebrate 166th Commencement Ceremony on May 16, 2026

The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago will celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating Class of 2026 during its 166th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the seminary’s campus, 5416 S. Cornell Avenue in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood.

The ceremony, which will be held in Room 210 and offered in a hybrid format, will gather graduates, families, faculty, and members of the wider church community to mark this important milestone in the lives of students preparing for ministry and leadership across the church and world. Grounded in the theme “So that they may be one” (John 17:21), the 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.

This year’s commencement speaker will be the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, who served on the LSTC faculty as the John Damm Chair in Leadership and director of the Latiné Ministry and Theology Program from 2023 until his retirement in December 2025. During his time at the seminary, Malpica Padilla helped strengthen LSTC’s engagement with global and Latiné theologies while mentoring students preparing for ministry in intercultural and international contexts.

Commencement at LSTC marks the culmination of years of study, discernment, and formation as graduates prepare to serve congregations, ministries, and communities around the world. The ceremony will be a ticketed event, and graduating students will receive a limited number of tickets to share with their guests.A livestream of the commencement ceremony will also be available for those unable to attend in person. Information about accessing the livestream will be posted on our graduation hub one week prior to the event.