Archives for November 9, 2026

What are Pocket Surveys? They are very brief surveys designed to gauge student views on different topics.
– They take at the most five minutes to complete on a computer, tablet, or a phone.
– They are always voluntary, and individual questions are optional.
– They are completely anonymous and confidential.
– They ask for some demographic information, as part of our commitment to support inclusion and belonging. Those questions are also optional.

What should I know about this Pocket Survey? The focus of this survey is Student Engagement in Seminary Community Life in anticipation of moving to a new campus. The survey will be open from November 9 through 20. Take the survey online today. Questions? Contact Trina in the Office of Institutional Research (research@luthersem.edu).

Students and faculty have full access to the Faith+Lead membership, including monthly workshops. This month’s workshop is Practicing LGBTQIA+ Affirming Ministry with Cody Sanders. Move beyond affirming into truly living the commitment to become places of healing, belonging, and celebration. This workshop will focus on ministries of spiritual care for LGBTQIA+ people who have experienced church harm, outreach to the wider community about inclusive faith spaces, and ministries of advocacy and justice in an era of increased attacks on LGBTQIA+ wellbeing. Space will be cultivated for dialogue between participants and presenter for questions specific to participants’ contexts. The workshop is on Thursday November 12 at 12 p.m. CT. To join, log in at lab.faithlead.org and register for the event.

As you register for winter classes, consider CL4567 Funding Forward. Initially listed as a synchronous course with weekly meetings, this course will now be offered entirely asynchronously. Have you ever wondered what options there might be for funding ministry outside of the offering plate? Congregations across the country are finding new, more economically sustainable models for ministry that better align with God’s mission. These models include specific tools like repurposing church property, social enterprise, impact investing, grants, and more. Together, we’ll explore how might God be calling the church to use alternative income sources to fulfill God’s mission in new ways. For more information, contact Grace Pomroy, Director of the Stewardship Leaders Program, gpomroy001@luthersem.edu.

Pastor Meta Herrick Carlson is a pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and a published writer of poetry, liturgies, and devotions. At this workshop on Thursday, November 19, 12:30–2:20 p.m. in OCC 215, she will be working with Steve Thomason’s worship class in composing contextually relevant liturgies, and this session is open to the public. Meta will workshop the processes of building a ritual and writing a collect (the ancient poem we know as the prayer of the day). Participants will be asked to bring some light pre-work to the workshop. Find more details and register online.