Announcements

Abdel Ross Wentz was a leading figure in American Lutheranism. His family established an endowment providing prize money for the best history paper on a topic related to Lutheranism in America. Read more about the prize on the society’s website. The 2026 Abdel Ross Wentz Prize in American Lutheran History is in the amount of $2,500 and can be awarded in four categories (1) First degree seminarian, (2) M.A./Ph.Dd graduate student, (3) Post-Graduate Pastor, Layperson, and/or Faculty member, (4) Amateur Historian. Paper should be 25-35 pages in length, double spaced using Turabian Manual or Chicago Manual of Style. Papers are to be in the field of history dealing with some aspect of Lutheranism in America. Open to all writers regardless of religious identification or denominational affiliation. Submission deadline is September 30, 2026. If you want assistance with this, contact Professor Mark Granquist.

In this devotion, Bradford Frye ’21 M.Div., considers our own limited understanding of divine things and how we engage those outside our faith communities. Read today’s God Pause.

Danielle Dokman, Ph.D. Candidate – Monday, May 4, 2026 | 9:30–11:30 a.m. Gullixson Hall 103
The oral examination is a public event open to faculty, students, and staff; however, other than the candidate, only faculty members have speaking privileges. What is a Ph.D. oral defense? The oral defense is the final step before graduation for Ph.D. degree candidates. The student has finished all research and is presenting a thesis that is an original contribution to the field of scholarship. A copy of the completed thesis is available prior to the defense for those in the Luther Seminary community. Read “The Rebel Prophet and the Caribbean: Biblical Prophetic Ministry in a Neo-Colonial World”

In this devotion, Melissa Pickering ’22 M.Div., considers the disorienting experiences that can come with deep loss. Read today’s God Pause.

The Student Election Committee is pleased to announce the Student Council Executive Committee for the 2026-2027 Academic Year:

• President: Gladson Ishaya
• Vice President: Eric Nelson
• Secretary: Adedamola Adesiji
• Treasurer: Vamsi Ratnam Kagitha

Congratulations, and thank you to all who voted.

Jon Anderson has room to take up to three students with him to visit Grace Lutheran in Nerstrand this coming Sunday morning. This congregation is a little over an hour south of campus. Pastor Dwight Sutherland has invited Jon to bring interested students to experience this rural small town congregation this Sunday, May 3. Let Jon know if you are interested—janderson008@luthersem.edu. The group will leave at 7.30 a.m. from the parking lot between Olson Campus Center and Bockman. Pastor Dwight will join us after the coffee hour to discuss the congregation and their ministry. We will find a place for lunch on the way back (with thanks to supporters of rural ministry) and should be back by 1:30 p.m. We hope to have other similar trips in the future.