Trinity Lutheran Seminary

Christ's Church at Work in the World

Last week, Trinity Master of Divinity student Bryan Robinson joined faith leaders from across Ohio for the Faith & Legislative Leaders Lunch, hosted by the Hunger Network in Ohio, Ohio Council of Churches, and the Dominican Sisters of Peace.

The gathering brought together people of faith committed to advocacy, justice, and the common good, with remarks from Deacon Nick Bates, JD ’06, ’12 and The Rev. Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt ’86, Bishop of the Southern Ohio Synod.

Pictured: Bryan Robinson, The Rev. Julianne Smeck ’95, and Bishop Dillahunt.

For Christ’s Church at Work in the World 🏁

Trinity Master of Divinity student Matthew Longfellow loves NASCAR almost as much as he loves the Church... and he’s found a beautiful way to bring those passions together.

Over the past two years, Matthew has cultivated a meaningful relationship with Pastor Dave Keck and the people of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Mooresville, NC, visiting with the congregation and preaching whenever he’s in town for a race weekend.

This is theological education at work in the world, building relationships, sharing the Gospel, and discovering that ministry can happen in all kinds of places.

Pictured: Matthew with Pastor Dave Keck, receiving a gift from Trinity; and Matthew with friend Zach Lindler (a student at Southern Seminary) and Elizabeth.

Commencement photos are here!
Check them out, the gratitude and joy are palpable.

Find more photos here: https://capitaluniversity.pixieset.com/2026commencements/trinitylutheranseminarycommencement/

We are excited to see you at Lakeside!
Register at the Link below and contact Pastor Mary Ann for more details: [email protected]

https://www.capconnect.org/2026-tls-alumni-day-at-lakeside-

It was a busy weekend for Christ's church at Work in the World!

- Commencement for Master of Theology Studies & Master of Divinity Students (Stay tuned for photos!)
- Trinity Ambassadors representing at Mitten Synod Assembly
- Our own Faculty, Rev. Dr. Kerstin Hedlund & Dr. Denise Rector receiving their Ph.D's from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Join us in celebrating our graduates
tomorrow afternoon,
Saturday, May 16, 2026
1:30pm EST

2026 Commencement | Trinity Lutheran Seminary The commencement ceremony for the Class of 2026 will take place at 1:30 pm on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

We are pleased to announce Commencement for the Class of 2026!

Saturday, May 16, 2026
10:30 Commencement Worship
1:30 Commencement Ceremony

Our Commencement Worship preacher will be The Rev. Dr. Rachel Wrenn, Interim Dean of Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University.
Our Commencement speaker will be The Rev. Dr. Kevin L. Strickland, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Southeastern Synod.

Candidates for Degrees

Master of Theological Studies
Andrell Cooks
Carla R. Dowling-Fitzpatrick, JD
Carlton L. Edwards
Moses D. Edwards, Jr.
Phillip A. Gulley
Kenneth F. Stanley

Master of Divinity
Albie Gilbert Nicol
Keith Lyndon Monroe
Richard J. Ponton
Sar7ah O'Riordan
Shari Miller Rowe
Timothy Russell Jordan

Next Tuesday morning we will celebrate the lasting impact of the ministry and teaching of The Rev. Dr. Olehile Buffel.

A “Last Lecture,” is an opportunity for a professor to share their wisdom with students, family, friends, colleagues, and others, upon their retirement.

We offer this celebration to Dr. Buffel acknowledging the impact of his ministry both here at Trinity and in his native South Africa. We will celebrate with music, words of gratitude and more!

Come as you are.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026
10:00 Worship
11:00 Last Lecture Celebration
Gloria Dei Worship Center
Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University

Last week Pastor Mary Ann and Interim Dean Wrenn joined the Capital University Inaugural Presidential Tour in Bozeman, MT and Denver, CO.
Pastor Mary Ann spent time with alumni including former Trinity President Mark Ramseth and spouse, Carol Ramseth.
Interim Dean Wrenn spent time with alumni including Pastor Doug Hill and the people of Abiding Hope Lutheran Church in Littleton, CO.
Capital/Trinity folks are everywhere!

May the fourth, be with you...

10 years ago Trinity became a Reconciling in Christ, Seminary!
This year we updated our RIC Statement, it reads as follows:

"Trinity Lutheran Seminary forms leaders for Christ’s church at work in the world. The faculty and staff of Trinity strive to form leaders of all sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds.
We celebrate that our community is a reflection of the diversity of the body of Christ.
Together, faculty, staff, and students are committed to creating a seminary where any of God’s children can be formed to take up the work of Christ’s church, including the necessary labor of antiracism.
In our spaces on campus, and anywhere we go in the world, we strive to make known that all people, without regard to sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ethnicity or cultural background, have the right to be seen, supported, valued, and celebrated reflecting the truth that they are fearfully and wonderfully made."