In this devotion, David Haven ’86 M.Div., considers the importance of breakthrough moments in our lives. Read today’s God Pause.
Bryant Kumlin PhD Oral Defense
Bryant Kumlin, Ph.D. Candidate – Friday, April 10, 2026 | 1–3 p.m. Gullixson Hall 103
The oral examination is a public event open to faculty, students, and staff. Other than the candidate, only faculty members have speaking privileges. What is a Ph.D. oral defense? The oral defense is the final step for Ph.D. degree candidates before graduation. 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 Spirit of Love Speaks: The Personal and Communal Mysticism in the Inspired Testimonies of Barbara Heinemann and Christian Metz, 1817-1883” in this shared Google doc.
Global Summit on Spirituality, Religion and Mental Health
The Sixth Global Summit on Spirituality, Religion, and Mental Health will be a centralized opportunity for interdisciplinary engagement to chart the future of the integration of spirituality and religion in mental health support. The summit, to be held in at the Harvard Medical School conference center in Boston, MA, from May 14-15 has already received over 170 proposals from faith leaders, psychologists, psychiatrists, chaplains, and public health officials. We hope you will join us to bridge research and practice and local and global initiatives during this two-day event. Check out the event website, which includes schedule and session details.
God Pause for April 8: 1 Peter 1
In this devotion, David Haven ’86 M.Div., reminds us that faith is not something we create or sustain but a gift from God. Read today’s God Pause.
Future Communities Lab Webinar with John Swinton
As congregations and communities navigate the growing complexities of pastoral care, it is not always clear how to respond to the complex mental health challenges that exist in our congregations and in our surrounding communities. Join the Future Communities Lab and the Congregational Collective on April 21 from 12–1 p.m. CT for a virtual conversation with practical theologian and registered mental health nurse John Swinton. Register for the free webinar here.
Seder Education Dinner [In-Person]
Join the Community Fellows with Kathryn Schifferdecker and Jonathan Paradise for an educational event about the Seder dinner: a structured, ritual-filled Jewish feast held on the first one or two nights of Passover. It commemorates the Exodus—the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery—through storytelling, songs, prayers, and specific symbolic foods, such as matzah and bitter herbs, following a 15-step tradition. There will be traditional seder dishes, readings from the Haggadah, and a seder plate displayed by our chef Sam Lauerer to show also his family’s traditions! The dinner will be on April 16, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the OCC Dining Room. Please sign up through links on the Community Fellows social media page or using this online form.