Luther Seminary facts for kids
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| Motto | Christus Lux Mundi |
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Motto in English
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Christ is the Light of the World |
| Type | Seminary |
| Established | 1869 |
| Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
| Endowment | $131.1 million (2021) |
| President | Rev. Dr. Robin Steinke |
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Academic staff
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21 |
| Students | 371 |
| Location |
St. Paul
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United Church Seminary
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2481 Como Avenue Saint Paul, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1900 |
| Architect | Didrik A. Omeyer; Martin P. Thori |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003437 |
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 1985 |
Luther Seminary is a special school in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It's a place where people go to study and prepare to become pastors or leaders in the church. It's connected to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and it's actually the biggest seminary for that church!
Even though it's an ELCA seminary, it welcomes and teaches students from many other Christian groups too. It's officially recognized by important groups like the Higher Learning Commission. This means it meets high standards for education.
Contents
The Story of Luther Seminary
Luther Seminary didn't start as one school. It grew from several different schools joining together over many years. Think of it like different rivers flowing into one big river!
How Luther Theological Seminary Began
In 1917, three Lutheran churches in America decided to unite. Each of these churches had its own seminary, which is a school for religious studies.
- The Norwegian Synod had Luther Seminary, started in 1876.
- The Hauge Synod had Red Wing Seminary, started in 1879.
- The United Norwegian Lutheran Church had United Church Seminary, started in 1892.
When the churches merged, their seminaries also joined. They decided to use the campus of the United Church Seminary because it was the largest. They kept the name of the oldest school, calling it Luther Theological Seminary.
This seminary later became part of the American Lutheran Church in 1960.
Leaders of Luther Theological Seminary
Here are some of the people who led Luther Theological Seminary:
- Marcus Olaus Bockman (1892–1930)
- T. F. Gullixson (1930–1954)
- Alvin Rogness (1954–1974)
- Lloyd Svendsbye (1974–1982)
Augsburg Theological Seminary Joins
Another important school was Augsburg Theological Seminary. It started in 1869 in Wisconsin and later moved to Minneapolis. This seminary was for the Lutheran Free Church.
In 1963, the Lutheran Free Church joined the American Lutheran Church. Because of this, Augsburg Seminary also merged with Luther Theological Seminary. The combined school kept the name Luther Theological Seminary. It also started using Augsburg's founding year, 1869, as its own.
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary's Journey
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary began in Chicago in 1920. It moved a few times, first to Fargo, North Dakota, and then to Minneapolis.
In 1967, it moved close to the Luther Theological Seminary campus in Saint Paul. This brought the two schools closer together.
Leaders of Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary
Here are some of the leaders of Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary:
- Joseph Stump (1920–1935)
- Paul Roth (1935–1950)
- Jonas Dressler (1950–1957)
- Clemens Zeidler (1957–1976)
- Lloyd Svendsbye (1976–1982)
Forming Luther Northwestern and Luther Seminary
In 1976, Luther and Northwestern seminaries started working together very closely. They shared one administration. After six years, on July 1, 1982, they officially merged. The new school was called Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary.
Then, in 1988, this seminary became part of the new Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). This church was formed by a merger of several Lutheran groups.
Finally, on July 1, 1994, the seminary's name was made simpler. It became just Luther Seminary, which is what it's called today.
Leaders of Luther Seminary
These are the presidents who have led Luther Seminary since 1982:
- Lloyd Svendsbye (1982–1987)
- Gib Fjellman (1987) (interim leader)
- David L. Tiede (1988–2005)
- Richard Bliese (2005–2012)
- Rick Foss (2012–2014) (interim leader)
- Robin Steinke (2014–present)
What Students Learn at Luther Seminary
In the 2022–2023 school year, Luther Seminary had 411 students and 24 teachers. The seminary offers different types of degrees for students.
Degrees and Programs
- Master of Divinity (M.Div.): This degree is for students who want to become pastors.
- Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Theology (Th.M.), Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): These degrees are for other students who want to study theology more deeply or teach.
The Ph.D. program was paused for a few years but started accepting new students again in 2018. The seminary is now in a good financial position.
How Pastoral Training Works
Students studying for the Master of Divinity degree usually spend three years learning. These years are called "junior," "middler," and "senior" years.
A very important part of becoming a pastor is doing an internship. This is like a full year of hands-on training, usually in a church. Most students do their internship after their second year of studies.
Frederick Buechner's Influence
Luther Seminary has a special connection with Frederick Buechner, a famous American writer and theologian. His books are an important part of what students learn. The seminary has even given his books to students.
In 2014, Luther Seminary also created the Frederick Buechner Prize. This award recognizes excellence in preaching, which is giving sermons in church.
Notable Faculty Members
Many talented teachers have worked at Luther Seminary. Here are a few:
- Marcus Olaus Bøckmann
- Carl Braaten
- Gerhard Forde
- Terence E. Fretheim
- Richard A. Jensen
Notable Alumni
Many people who studied at Luther Seminary have gone on to do important things. Here are some of them:
- Lowell G. Almen
- Mark Hanson
- Robert Jenson
- J. A. O. Preus II
- Fredrik A. Schiotz
See also
- Norway Lutheran Church
