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Have questions about the MA Capstone? Join Bryant Kumlin and Sandy Olson to discuss the capstone and have your questions answered. This optional Zoom is focused on the academic MA Capstone (Bible, History, Theology, Justice and Reconciliation). Others are welcome if you are curious and want to hear. Join us Monday, May 11 at 6 p.m. on Zoom (link in email).

The application for next year’s Tanzania travel course (January 16–31, 2027) is available here. The course is limited to 19 students because of transportation and housing capacities of our Tanzanian hosts. Applications and a $225 deposit are due by May 30. Some financial aid is available. For more information and a draft of the itinerary, please contact Kathryn Schifferdecker at kschiffer@luthersem.edu.

Mark your calendar for our annual Graduate Recognition BBQ Party. Join us Thursday, May 14, 4-6 p.m. on the OCC Patio (weather permitting) to celebrate the end of the school year and our 2026 grads with good food (gluten free and vegan available), good drinks, ice cream, and great company!

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Saint Thomas has announced it is hosting the 2026 Institute on Theology and Disability, from June 15–17, 2026. They invite interested persons to join them in Saint Paul for three days of deep learning, community-building, and practice-based sharing. This unique conference brings together leading scholars, faith leaders, and community members—both disabled and non-disabled—to explore disability at the intersection of faith and theology. Discounts are offered for Luther Seminary staff and students: staff can attend the entire conference for $400, students for $250 (discount code LUTHERFULL). Daily rates for students are $125 for Monday and $75 for Tuesday and Wednesday (discount code LUTHERDAILY). Learn more and register here.

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.

Want to share something in an upcoming edition of Inside Luther News, the seminary’s internal e-newsletter? Send your announcement to communic@luthersem.edu. Submit items for the June edition by Wednesday, May 13. Inside Luther News content is meant to be somewhat broader in scope—seasonal announcements, monthly reminders, stories about recent events or news of upcoming projects—than the daily Community Announcements posts and emails.