Since the retirement of Dr. Jay Alanis from the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest discussions have been had regarding what the future of this program looks like. The program has been a variety of things throughout its history as a ministry of Wartburg Seminary and the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago (LSTC). LSTC has stepped away from this program at this time so it is been given to Wartburg Seminary to discern the future.
I am honored to be on a task force working on this question to discern what programs to offer, where to do so, and how to deliver the content in our new hybrid age. There are many stakeholders in this work and many historical dreams and frustrations about what LSPS has and has not been. But this is the work of our context today.
Every institution, including every congregation, needs to be assessing its ministry and models. What is working, what is the future look like, and most of all, how do we be faithful to the proclamation of the gospel. I am grateful for these faithful leaders including President Largen and interim LSPS director Rev. Violeta Del Aguila Siguenza who is an NT-NL Synod, ELCA pastor.
As well as the work of the Rev. Edy Santos, director of Wartburg’s Journey Together TEEM program whose model was in part developed through our NT-NL Secondary School of Theological Education.
We move into the future trusting that future is God’s. #NTNL #WTS #LSPS #InMissionTogether