The Institute of Lutheran Theology Board of Directors met June 9-11 at the west campus of Lutheran Church of the Master in Omaha, Nebraska.

A number of issues were discussed by the Board, including growth of the Christ School of Theology and Christ College, the development of the Center for Wesleyan Studies and the Center for Missional and Pastoral Leadership, and various strategies for congregational revitalization.

In addition to ratifying the list of spring graduates, the Board voted to appoint Dr. Nicholas Hopman as Associate Professor at Christ College and Dr. Andrea Vestrucci as Associate Professor at the Christ School of Theology.

ILT remains honored and grateful for your continued support in the mission!

The women came to the tomb in the thin light of dawn. That the stone was rolled away surprised them; they entered the tomb’s dimness and found it confined no body. Jesus’ corpse was nowhere to be seen, no matter how intently they peered into the tomb’s dim corners. Then suddenly, the previously dim and empty tomb filled with the dazzling presence of two men who spoke into the women’s lack of understanding, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen…” (Lk. 24:5-6).

These men of dazzling presence were the first messengers… the first preachers of the resurrection. By itself, the empty tomb proves only the absence of the body. Many scenarios can be offered up, accounting for the body’s absence. The authorities stole it to prevent the disciples from having it; they took it to confound the disciples with its absence. The disciples absconded with it to declare his prophesied resurrection based on an absent body. No, the empty tomb is a silent and insufficient witness. The resurrection needs a preacher… a preacher who can hand over a living Jesus… a resurrected Christ.

Those first preachers… those men of dazzling presence… they turned the women to the words which Jesus had given them, “Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise” (Lk. 24:6-7). These words, the very word of God spoken as he walked among them, sustained those women as they became preachers themselves, announcing to the eleven and all the rest the things that had happened at the tomb. Upon hearing their preaching, Peter ran to the tomb. The stone remained rolled away, and the tomb’s dim emptiness greeted Peter’s gaze. Peter marveled at it all.

Today, I am reminded of Easter’s “bookends.” At the death of Jesus, the curtain in the Temple was torn in two. The Holiest of Holies was now vulnerable to the death present in this sin-broken and cursed creation, where all people die. At the resurrection of Jesus, the stone sealing the tomb was rolled away. This sin-broken and cursed creation, where all people die, is now vulnerable to the resurrected life of the Lord Jesus Christ, who can no longer be contained by the tomb. Your preacher of the resurrection hands over Jesus Christ, the first fruits of the New Creation, where death is no more. Your preacher hands him over to be the life of you, a sinner dead in your sin.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Blessed Easter to you and yours from the Institute of Lutheran Theology!

Dr. Leon Miles is the Keynote Speaker at the Joint Convocation of the Eastern South Dakota and Minkota Mission Districts (NALC).

Dr. Miles will be joined by Bishop Dan Selbo, Bishop of the North American Lutheran Church. The Convocation is being held Friday, April 4 through Saturday, April 5 in Watertown, SD, where the topic will be “Law & Gospel” – Reflections from Martin Luther.

Dr. Miles serves ILT as the Vice President of Advancement, and Dean of Christ College. He has been an integral part of the success of ILT in his 12 years, working in admissions, enrollment, teaching and mentoring students, as well as administrative, marketing, and accreditation efforts.

ILT would not be where it is without him, and we appreciate his dedication to the mission and vision of ILT’s future!

The Deadline is Approaching to Designate Your 2024 Thrivent Choice Dollars.^®

One of the easiest ways to donate to ILT is through Thrivent Choice Dollars, and March 31, 2025 is the last day you have to donate your 2024 Choice dollars.

According to Thrivent.com, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provided more than $100 million to help congregations, communities and individuals in need last year. You can make a personal donation to ILT and Thrivent pays the processing fees.

Direct Choice Dollars Online

1. Visit www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice.
2. Select “Direct Choice Dollars.”
3. Log in with your user ID and password. Click “register” if you are a first-time user.
4. Search the catalog of organizations to find Institute of Lutheran Theology.
5. Click on “Direct Now” to direct designated Choice Dollars.

Direct Choice Dollars By Phone

1. Call 800-847-4836 and when prompted, say “Thrivent Choice.”
2. Press 1 to direct Choice Dollars.
3. A representative will work with you to direct Choice Dollars.

By choosing ILT to receive your Choice Dollars you are helping prepare the next generation of faithful Lutheran preachers and teachers. Make ILT your Choice today!

ILT Represented at the ABHE Annual Meeting in Orlando

ILT was in full colors last week at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) in Orlando, Florida, represented by Enrollment Director Joel Williams (pictured), and Leon Miles, Vice President of Advancement and Dean of Christ College.

ILT was initially accredited by ABHE in 2018 and received renewed accreditation in 2024 for the next 10 years. We are currently among 160 members of ABHE, 130 of which are accredited. Attending these conferences remains an important way for ILT to maintain an active presence among academia and peer institutions. It proves highly beneficial in recruitment, networking, and fellowship with ILT’s students, donors and partners.

While Joel and Leon were in Orlando, the ILT Board of Directors conducted a successful 2025 Annual Spring Board Meeting.

Read more about ILT’s ABHE accreditation on the ILT website at https://ilt.edu/abhe-accreditation-renewal/.

Dr. Dan Lioy Hosted A Breakout Session at the NALC 2025 Clergy Retreat

Dan Lioy, Professor of Biblical Theology at ILT’s Christ School of Theology, recently hosted a breakout session during the January NALC 2025 Clergy Retreat in San Antonio, Texas. His presentation was titled, “Retooling Lutheran Basics: Revisiting Lutheran Theology for the Parish Beyond Seminary Years.”

During the hour-long workshop, Dan covered the following topics:

• The dichotomy between Law and Gospel
• Justification
• The Sacraments
• Efficacy of Sacraments
• Lutheran theology: from theory to practice

There were two key takeaways from the breakout session:

• A parish-level emphasis on Lutheran doctrine requires theological consistency, clear communication, regular assessment, and ongoing leadership development.
• It needs to be adapted to one’s local context and needs.

In terms of practical application, the framework that Dan presented provided a starting point for integrating theology with ministry, tailored to one’s congregational context.

A PowerPoint copy of Dan’s workshop can be found by scrolling down to the first breakout resource listed here: https://thenalc.org/clergy-retreat-2025/.

Stay tuned! Dr. Lioy will be facilitating a breakout session on the topic of liturgy at the NALC 2026 Clergy Retreat in Virginia Beach.

Sharing the Good News of Evangelism

ILT welcomed 39 students to the Evangelism course being taught by Rev. Mark Mattes, Ph.D. This class is designed to equip and empower sharing Christ in ministry and is made up of pastors and lay people alike from various locations. It was offered free and open to the public to celebrate the founding of ILT’s Center for Congregational Revitalization.

The Center for Congregational Revitalization (CCR) works with pastors and congregations to bring vitality back to their mission as Christ’s church. CCR is in the development stage, as we research the state of congregations in North America. Both vibrant as well as declining congregations are being studied, with the purpose of finding ways to help return vitality to congregations that seem to be unable to grow.

For a more detailed description on the course, visit https://cst.ilt.edu/evangelism-a-course-from-cst-the-center-for-congregational-revitalization/.

Spring 2025 Semester Classes Have Started!

The start of classes yesterday marked the beginning of ILT’s 16^th spring semester. In the spring of 2009, ILT first offered graduate credit to two students taking the course, New Testament Greek. This semester, ILT will be offering a total of 62 courses and this spring’s enrollment has students in 12 different programs. We’ve come a long way with your prayers and support!

Please continue to pray for our students as we begin this next semester. Many of our students are trying to juggle work commitments, ministry commitments, and financial concerns as they prepare for the ministry God has called them. They can certainly use your support as they take classes and face these struggles.

Please also consider giving to our financial aid fund. ILT students depend upon the generosity of donors who support them by funding their studies and helping to make tuition less of a concern for them.

If you’re interested in supporting the mission of ILT and it’s students, click here to donate or call 605-692-9337.