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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24 |
| Students | 412 |
| 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 trains people to become pastors and leaders. It is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
This school is the biggest ELCA seminary. It also welcomes students from over 40 other Christian groups. Important groups like the Higher Learning Commission say its education is excellent.
Contents
History of Luther Seminary
Luther Seminary became one big school by combining five smaller schools. This happened over many years.
Luther Theological Seminary's Beginnings
In 1917, three churches from Norway in America joined together. They formed the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America (NLCA). Each of these churches had its own school.
- The Norwegian Synod's school was Luther Seminary. It started in 1876 in Saint Paul.
- The Hauge Synod's school was Red Wing Seminary. It began in 1879 in Red Wing.
- The United Norwegian Lutheran Church's school was United Church Seminary. It started in 1892 in Saint Paul.
When the churches merged, their schools also joined. They used the United Church Seminary campus. They kept the name of the oldest school, Luther Theological Seminary.
The NLCA church later changed its name. In 1946, it became the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Then, in 1960, it helped form the American Lutheran Church (ALC).
Here are the leaders of Luther Theological Seminary:
- Marcus Olaus Bockman (1892–1917) (United Church)
- Marcus Olaus Bockman (1917–1930)
- T. F. Gullixson (1930–1954)
- Alvin Rogness (1954–1974)
- Lloyd Svendsbye (1974–1982)
Augsburg Theological Seminary Joins In
Augsburg Theological Seminary started in 1869 in Wisconsin. It later moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1897, it became the school for the Lutheran Free Church.
Augsburg Seminary stayed separate until 1963. Then, the Lutheran Free Church joined the American Lutheran Church. Augsburg Seminary also merged with Luther Theological Seminary. The combined school kept the Luther Theological Seminary name. It also used Augsburg's founding date of 1869.
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary began in 1920. It was first called the Chicago Lutheran Divinity School. It started in Chicago, Illinois.
The school moved to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1921. The next year, it moved to Minneapolis. From 1921 to 1982, it was called Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary. It moved close to Luther Theological Seminary in Saint Paul in 1967.
When the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) formed in 1962, Northwestern Seminary was supported by two church groups. These were the Minnesota Synod and the Red River Valley Synod.
Here are 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)
Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary Forms
In 1976, Luther and Northwestern seminaries started working together. They shared one leadership team. Six years later, on July 1, 1982, they officially merged. The new school was named Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary.
On January 1, 1988, Luther Northwestern became part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This new church formed when the LCA, ALC, and another group merged. On July 1, 1994, the school's name became shorter: Luther Seminary.
Here are the leaders of Luther Seminary (including its time as Luther Northwestern):
- 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)
Academics at Luther Seminary
In the 2022–2023 school year, Luther Seminary had 411 students. It had 24 teachers. Luther offers different types of degrees.
- The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree is for students who want to become pastors.
- Other degrees include Master of Arts, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
In 2013, the Ph.D. program paused for a few years. This was to help with budget cuts. The school planned to offer the Ph.D. program again in 2018. The seminary is now doing well financially. In 2022, it had extra money left over.
Most M.Div. students study for three years. They have a junior, middler, and senior year. A full year of internship is a key part of training. This usually happens in a church. It is required for ELCA M.Div. students. Most students do their internship between their second and third years. This internship is special to the ELCA church.
Frederick Buechner's Influence
Luther Seminary has ties to Frederick Buechner. He was a famous American writer and theologian. His books are an important part of the school's lessons. The seminary often gives his books to students. In 2014, Luther Seminary also started a special award. It is called the Frederick Buechner Prize for Excellence in Preaching.
Notable Faculty
Many important teachers have worked at Luther Seminary.
- Marcus Olaus Bøckmann
- Carl Braaten
- John O. Evjen
- Gerhard Forde
- Terence E. Fretheim
- Richard A. Jensen
- John N. Kildahl
- Hans Gerhard Stub
- Jacob Tanner
Notable Alumni
Many well-known people have graduated from Luther Seminary.
- Johan Arnd Aasgaard
- Lowell G. Almen
- Stuart E. Barstad
- Hilliard Dogbe
- Paul Egertson
- Mark Hanson
- Robert Jenson
- V. Trygve Jordahl
- John N. Kildahl
- M. Victor Paul
- J. A. O. Preus II
- Fredrik A. Schiotz
See also
- Norway Lutheran Church
