This email was sent from President Robin Steinke to the Luther Seminary community in May 2018.
Dear Luther Community,
As many of you know, the Luther Seminary board had their spring meeting this past weekend. Perhaps the most significant item on the agenda was a resolution to move forward with the next phase of work regarding the campus of the future.
I am pleased to report that the board made the decision to commence the schematic design process using “Path B” as a starting point. This includes concentrating the work of the seminary on the upper campus and creatively reimagining the use of Olson Campus Center and Gullixson Hall for learning, teaching, collaborating, and building community.
The board also directed that a specific plan to ensure affordable on- and/or near-campus housing for a core residential community, as well as retreat-style short-term lodging for distributed learning students, be solidified.
Although the planning work begins now, there will be no changes in the 2018-19 school year. Northwestern and Stub Halls will continue to be operational at least through June 2019. We will continue to keep everyone up to date on the process and will share a more comprehensive timeline with the community as soon as it’s been developed.
These decisions have been prayerfully and deliberately made. Each step of the way, our vision to lead faithful innovation for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been at the core of our process.
This is a significant step, but we’ve only just begun to dream about what is possible for our community. The campus of the future will require innovative, flexible, and collaborative spaces for teaching, learning, and community formation. The design will communicate the vibrant, forward-looking, welcoming energy that is central to who we are called to be. It will reflect the reality of our community’s global impact: a “hub” where Christian public leaders come to learn, grow, interact, and be formed spiritually–and then go into the world to minister, share the Gospel, and form Christian community on every continent.
And we need your help. Just as the board relied heavily on input from the community to make this decision, the engagement of the community will be vital to the next phases of the process. We imagine technology for leading edge instruction throughout campus, excellent architectural design, and landscaping and green spaces that are both beautiful and sustainable. Moving into God’s future will require all of us together dreaming about what is possible and working to accomplish it.
Thank you to the students, faculty, and staff for your heartfelt engagement so far, as well as the campus vision team for their leadership in this important process. Please join us as this journey continues to unfold. There is much to be done, but the future is bright, and God’s promises are sure. This is most certainly true!
In hope and joy,
Robin J. Steinke
President