40 Years of Speaking Truth to Power Rev. Dr. Kim Beckmann is a master weaver of words. Which is why it’s no surprise that the homiletics teacher’s own story at LSTC, through all its many twists and turns, found a poetic ending in the same place it began: the courtyard of the Lowrey building. The […]
A Legacy of Inquiry Dr. Phil Hefner leaves a lasting mark on religion and science “I call my view of nature and naturalism a ‘God-intoxicated’ concept,’” Theologian Philip Hefner wrote for Covalence in 2011. Hefner, who passed away at his Chicago home on April 27, 2024, will be remembered for his belief in, “an expansive […]
LSTC is the Place. Now is the Time. Christian Scharen shares his thoughts on embracing new ministries Rev. Dr. Christian Scharen knows we’re at an inflection point. “The traditional way that theological education has been done is just not working,” he states calmly. “Schools are closing, their enrollments are shrinking. All the traditional markers show […]
LSTC Achieves Successful Reaffirmation of ATS and HLC Accreditation The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) is proud to announce the successful reaffirmation of its accreditation by both the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). These achievements underscore LSTC’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of theological education and […]
LSTC Students Meet with Rev. Jesse Jackson at Rainbow PUSH Coalition Headquarters A group of LSTC students had the incredible opportunity earlier this fall to meet with esteemed civil rights leader and theologian Rev. Jesse Jackson. The students, as part of Dean Linda Thomas and Dr. Francisco Herrera’s Public Church II class, traveled to the national […]
Leading LSTC Through a Time of Tremendous Change In an era of dramatic changes in higher theological education, James Nieman has proven to be a steadfast leader Since his call to the presidency at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 2012, Nieman has guided the seminary through financial strain, evolving church dynamics, and […]
Far From Home As conflict persists in Myanmar, Burmese students at LSTC grapple with distance and despair The ongoing conflict in Myanmar, which erupted after a military coup in February 2021, continues to have severe consequences for the country’s people. LSTC’s students from Myanmar are no exception. Wu Mee, Char Laywa, Ji Bu, and M. […]
A Blessed Baptism MDiv student Kylee Bestenlehner on the pilgrimage of a lifetime My first semester of seminary, I took History and Theology I with Dr. Peter Vethanayagamony and I wrote an essay on the cultural context of the Roman Empire and its effects on the spread of Christianity. During that class, I learned about […]
Finding a New Home The Manz Organ is dedicated at a ceremony at Blessed Sacrament The historic Ruth and Paul Manz organ, housed at LSTC for almost 20 years, has found a new home at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Seattle, Washington. The organ was designed to suit the Augustana Chapel space, and named in […]
LSTC Advancement Diaries: The Road Show At LSTC, our Advancement team has taken their show on the road, literally, to share the exciting updates and new developments happening at LSTC to members of our community around the country. This is the first in a series of behind-the-scenes accounts of how our Advancement team breaks barriers […]
