Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

We’re proud to see the Rev. Dr. Robert O. Smith, LSTC’s vice president and dean of academic affairs, featured for his powerful keynote address at the Christianity without Christian Zionism conference.

Drawing on his scholarship, personal experiences in Palestine and Israel, and identity as a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, Dr. Smith examined the theological and historical roots of Christian Zionism, its connections to settler colonialism, and its consequences for Palestinians. He also challenged churches to move beyond abstract commitments to justice and toward meaningful action.

“The fierce urgency of the moment demands that we commit not only to reminding states of their responsibilities but consider what it will take to [in the words of Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer] ‘not just bind up the wounds of the victims beneath the wheel but to seize the wheel itself.’” Dr. Smith said.

The PC(USA)’s Christianity without Christian Zionism conference opens with a powerful keynote address LOUISVILLE — The Rev. Dr. Robert O.

This weekend, communities around the world observed the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

LSTC joins in honoring the histories, cultures, wisdom, and resilience of Indigenous peoples across generations, while recognizing the ongoing work of justice, sovereignty, reconciliation, and the protection of Indigenous lands, languages, and traditions.

As a theological community committed to learning, reflection, and action, we are reminded that listening matters: listening to Indigenous voices, learning from Indigenous communities, and confronting the histories and systems that continue to shape our shared world.

May this observance invite us not only to recognition, but to deeper learning, relationship, and responsibility.

Research is expanding at LSTC.

Through a new partnership with the Graduate Theological Union's TRELIS network, LSTC students, faculty, and staff will soon have access to an even broader world of theological scholarship, including extensive digital resources, expert librarian support, and reciprocal borrowing privileges at more than 130 libraries nationwide.

Combined with our longstanding partnership with the University of Chicago Library, this new relationship strengthens access to the resources our community needs for faithful scholarship, innovative teaching, and ministry in a changing world.

We're grateful to our partners at McCormick Theological Seminary and to the many leaders whose thoughtful collaboration made this exciting new chapter possible.

LSTC and McCormick Expand Access to Two World-Class Theological Research Libraries Through New JKM Library Transition - LSTC LSTC announces new hires for 2026

Some stories remind us that ministry takes many forms.

LSTC Board member Greg Kaufmann has spent the past 17 years opening his flower farm to neighbors through the annual Daylily Dig for Malawi, inviting visitors to take home beautiful blooms in exchange for donations supporting communities in Malawi.

What began as an idea from Greg's late wife, Diane, has blossomed into a remarkable ministry of generosity. This year alone, the Daylily Dig has raised more than $10,000 to support clean water, feeding programs, and other locally determined needs in Malawi.

As Greg shared with the Leader-Telegram, "Everybody wants to make a difference in the world, and you do it given your own passions."

We're grateful for Greg's faithful witness and for the many ways LSTC alumni continue to embody Christ's love through creativity, compassion, and service around the world.

Congratulations, Greg—and thank you for helping make the world a little brighter, one daylily at a time.

Daylily Dig blooms for 17th year of fundraising CHIPPEWA FALLS — Though their flowers bloom for just one day, the farm of Greg Kaufmann and his family has been in steady growth for 17 years.

We're delighted to welcome Dr. Kenya Joyce Hatch to the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago as a Field Organizer for our Lilly Pathways Initiative!

Dr. Hatch joins LSTC with more than two decades of experience in community development, nonprofit leadership, higher education, ministry, and strategic partnership building. Her work has consistently centered on creating opportunities for communities to flourish through faith, education, and collaboration.

As a Field Organizer, Dr. Hatch will help strengthen relationships with ministry leaders, congregations, synods, and communities while supporting innovative leadership formation programs, including certificates, cohort-based learning experiences, digital resources, and the Synod Authorized Minister Development Training Program.

Dr. Hatch will play an important role in ensuring LSTC's educational pathways are shaped by listening, responsive to the evolving needs of the public church, and grounded in the lived experiences of the communities we serve.

Please join us in giving Dr. Hatch a warm welcome to the LSTC community!

https://lstc.edu/news/lstc-welcomes-dr-kenya-joyce-hatch-as-field-organizer/

Congratulations to Rev. Kenn Storck, Executive Director and Instructor of the Northern Illinois Synod's Growing in Faith: The diakonia Program, on the publication of The Little Hymnal: An Ecumenical Songbook.

Written by a Concordia Seminary in Exile (Seminex) Class of 1974 graduate, this collection pairs 32 original hymn texts with familiar melodies, inviting congregations and individuals alike to sing of justice, welcome, community, spiritual renewal, and care for creation.

Designed for worship, devotion, and everyday faith, The Little Hymnal offers accessible, hope-filled resources for congregations, small groups, families, and individuals. We celebrate Rev. Storck's latest contribution to the church and give thanks for his ongoing ministry of equipping people for faithful discipleship.

Congratulations on this wonderful accomplishment!

The Little Hymnal | Celebrate Faith, Inspire Worship — Ash & Creed Press Discover The Little Hymnal, an ecumenical hymn collection blending traditional melodies with modern messages for worship, reflection, and community care.

What does it mean to be a public church in this moment?

For LSTC alum Sarah Trone Garriott, MDiv ’08, it begins with showing up. Her journey from chaplaincy and parish ministry to nonprofit leadership and public service reflects a conviction at the heart of LSTC’s mission: faith calls us into relationship with our neighbors and into active participation in the life of our communities.

As conversations about faith and public leadership continue across the country, we’re revisiting our recent profile of Sarah and her commitment to listening across differences, finding common ground, and resisting despair through presence and participation.

Her story offers one powerful example of what it can mean to embody the word for the sake of the world.

Congressional Candidate and Alum Sarah Trone Garriott on the Power of Showing Up - LSTC Congressional Candidate and Alum Sarah Trone Garriott on the Power of Showing Up By Rhiannon Koehler “When I was a chaplain at Children’s Memorial Hospital, I would spend the night walking the hallways,” says Sarah Trone Garriott, MDiv ’08 and Iowa State Senator.  It was in those spaces tha...

Lights, camera, conversation!

Today was production day at LSTC as we filmed the first installments of our faculty video series, capturing the wisdom, scholarship, and stories that shape our community.

Every interview is an opportunity to bring our faculty's work beyond the classroom, making complex ideas more accessible and inviting others into conversations that matter.

We're excited to share what's coming soon. Stay tuned!

Communities are strengthened by leaders who are committed to listening, collaboration, and the common good.

Congratulations to LSTC alumnus Erik Boss, who is running for Albany County Commission in Wyoming. In a recent profile, Erik reflected on the importance of community engagement and the values that guide his approach to public service.

At LSTC, the Public Church curriculum invites students to consider how their values take shape beyond the classroom and beyond the congregation, equipping them to engage their communities with thoughtfulness, humility, and a commitment to human dignity.

We're proud to celebrate alumni who carry those commitments into every kind of vocation and wish Erik the very best in his campaign.

Young Democrats leader seeks Albany County Commission seat in crowded primary race Erik Boss is vying for his first elected nomination in the Democratic primary. He said he’s a bridge builder who wants young people to feel heard and wants Albany County to grow.

LSTC Board member Greg Kaufmann is helping cultivate more than beautiful gardens.

Through the annual Daylily Dig at Sundance Hill Farm, Greg and a dedicated team of volunteers have raised more than $9,000 to support communities in Malawi. Proceeds help provide food for orphan feeding centers, clean water, medical supplies, and other essential resources through the Immanuel Lutheran Church Partnership.

It's one more example of how members of the LSTC community live out faith through service, generosity, and accompaniment.

If you're in the Chippewa Falls area, the Daylily Dig takes place July 23–25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free, and visitors are invited to make a free-will donation in support of the partnership with Malawi.

Congratulations to Greg on sharing this meaningful ministry with the wider community.

Chippewa Valley farm hosts daylily fundraiser to support Malawi villages A Chippewa Valley farm is inviting the community to check out daylilies and donate to relief efforts in Malawi, Africa, during its annual Daylily Dig fundraiser later this month.