News & Events

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Title Change & Introducing New Scholar

Here at ILT’s Christ School of Theology, we have had the privilege and pleasure of working with three professors and scholars that have each heretofore had the title of “Ph.D. Fellow.” They are Dr. Paul Hinlicky, Dr. Mark Mattes and Dr. Dennis Ngien. All three are frequently published scholars in their particular areas and have worked extensively with our Doctoral students and candidates through teaching and mentoring. Their excellent work has been a critical factor in the expansion and development of our Doctoral programs.

A hearty welcome to Dr. Andrea Vestrucci! We are adding one new scholar and researcher to this illustrious team starting on July 1, 2023. His name is Dr. Andrea Vestrucci and he hails from northern Italy. Not only is he one of a very small number of ordained Lutheran pastors in Italy, but he holds two Ph.D. degrees and is a renowned scholar in Luther’s theology, computational metaphysics, and AI and Ethics. He has a current appointment at the University of Bamberg, Germany and will be teaching PTE 842, “Luther’s Concept of Freedom for the Christ School of Theology” in the Fall of 2023.

But in our board and faculty meetings during the week of June 12-17, we identified one detail about our work with these professors that we have decided to change. We noted that the title “Ph.D. Fellow” was not well understood regarding the role and qualifications of these important faculty members. Thus, after various suggestions as well as feedback from those involved, we decided to create a new title for these colleagues. As of July 1, 2023, all four of these colleagues will be officially appointed as “Distinguished Professor and Research Fellow” at the Christ School of Theology. This title represents in at least two ways their qualifications as well as what they will be undertaking with our students and faculty. “Distinguished Professor” because they have shown real excellence in their respective fields, both in teaching and mentoring. “Research Fellow” because they will be continuing to engage in research and publication in community and fellowship with the Christ School of Theology. We are more than grateful for their willingness to serve with us and wish them God’s blessings in our work together!

By Daniel Hackmann, Ph.D.
Professor and Academic Dean

Create Moments Like These With Your Support

Dear Friend,

Many of you have walked with us for the past ten years. Thank you for all your prayers and financial gifts. You have made the Institute of Lutheran Theology possible! There has never been an independent Lutheran seminary and graduate school in North America, and certainly not a school as large as your Institute of Lutheran Theology. Your generosity birthed us!

I won’t sugarcoat the present situation: It is grave. There are not nearly enough Lutheran pastors to fill Lutheran pulpits, and the situation is getting worse. Moreover, many now serving Lutheran churches seem to believe Niebuhr’s trenchant phrase: A God without wrath brought men without sin into a Kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a Cross.”

But at ILT we believe that humans are sinful, that God is both wrath and love, that God’s kingdom is other than our utopias, and that salvation is through the Cross of Christ. We teach these things to our students and instruct them how to proclaim passionately and clearly the free grace of God in Christ Jesus. We believe that being called to be a preacher and teacher of Christ Jesus is very serious business indeed, and that to serve God profoundly is the highest calling any of us could have.

ILT is growing. We should have over 105 students studying in our graduate programs this fall, with total enrollments of 135 or more. We have been accredited by the Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) already for five years, and recently were awarded our first ten-year accreditation. Our seminary and graduate school – the Christ School of Theology – will submit its first comprehensive self-study for the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) accreditation this fall.

While our students flock to us from mostly Lutheran church bodies, we are getting increasing numbers coming from other traditions as well. What unites our students is a conviction that God exists, that God causes creation and redemption to be, that our world is losing its transcendent moorings and moral compass, and that God in Christ can reconcile even this very fallen world unto Himself. There is no more exciting time to be a preacher and teacher of the Risen Lord! God continues to do great things today!

There are so many ILT students that I could tell you about. They are extraordinarily committed! As our students become effective teachers and preachers of the Word through their studies with us, so many lives are being changed. When you invest financially in ILT, you change lives not only now, but in generations to come, for teachers teach and preachers preach to one generation who teach and preach to the next. How many future people will hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be grasped by the Holy Spirit because of what we do today? How many lives will be saved? This is serious business indeed. But our students cannot possibly pay for the quality education they are receiving. Whether it be through financial aid, student scholarships, or supporting general operations, your financial gifts make it possible for faithful, courageous, and competent students to become pastors, teachers and professors of Christ and Him crucified. You are our partners and are therefore as important as ILT faculty and staff in producing the next generations of faithful Lutheran pastors and teachers.

We have secured a fiscal year-end gift of $25,000 if we can raise $75,000 by the end of June. Can you help us achieve this $100,000 June goal? All we can do is announce to you our need and wait for the Spirit to do the rest. He (and you) has always given us what is needed. If three of you gave $10,000, five gave $5,000, and twenty gave $1,000, we would have the $75,000! Know, however, that we appreciate any gift of any size! Maybe we can do better than $100,000, for our God is a God of surplus.

Blessings!
Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt, President

Donate

Learn More About How Your Support Helps ILT

 

2023 Graduation Ceremony Highlights

We are delighted to share with you the highlights of the Institute of Lutheran Theology’s 2023 Graduation Service, held on June 15th in Brookings, SD. This memorable event brought together our esteemed graduates, their families, board members, faculty, staff, and other distinguished guests to celebrate the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and spiritual growth.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the six outstanding individuals who received their well-deserved degrees during the graduation service:

  • Hailey Halmstad – Master of Divinity
  • David Knefelkamp – Master of Sacred Theology
  • Abdul Messiah – Master of Arts
  • Sharon (Chere) Riedel – Master of Divinity
  • Marc Lapointe – Doctor of Ministry
  • Corey Jay Smith – Doctor of Ministry

These graduates have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their studies and have exhibited profound understanding of Lutheran theology. As they embark on their respective paths, we pray that God’s blessings accompany them and guide them as they share the word of God with the world.

The Graduation Service was graced by two remarkable speakers who shared their wisdom and insights with the ILT community. Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt, our esteemed President, delivered the Commencement Address, inspiring the graduates and attendees with his thought-provoking words. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and dedication to the Institute.

Furthermore, we were honored to welcome Teresa Peters, an ILT alumna, who delivered the Alumni Representative Address. Teresa’s presence and uplifting message reminded us of the lifelong impact of an ILT education and the importance of fostering a strong community of support and mentorship.

The event was not only a celebration of our graduates’ achievements but also a testament to the unity and solidarity within the ILT community. Attendees from far and wide gathered to be part of this special occasion, many of whom had also participated in the week-long campus events preceding the graduation service. The Christ School of Theology’s 2023 Theologian in Residence Conference and the alumni picnic were both enriching experiences that further fostered a spirit of intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and camaraderie.

Following the graduation service, a joyful banquet and celebration took place, providing an opportunity for everyone to mingle, reminisce, and extend their congratulations to the graduates. It was heartening to witness the genuine connections and bonds formed within our community.

Once again, we congratulate our graduates for their remarkable accomplishments. They have exemplified the values and principles that define the Institute of Lutheran Theology, and we have no doubt that they will continue to make a significant impact in their ministries and vocations.

May God bless each graduate abundantly as they embark on their unique journeys, equipped with the knowledge, faith, and compassion they acquired during their time at ILT.

Congratulations, Graduates!

Livestream Graduation Ceremony

Join us for a special occasion as we livestream our 2023 Graduation Ceremony on Facebook!

Thursday, June 15 at 4 p.m. CST

We’ll honor our exceptional graduates who have worked tirelessly to achieve this significant milestone. Whether you’re a proud loved one, supportive friend, or simply curious, tune in to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments and the bright futures that await them. Mark your calendars and be part of this extraordinary celebration.

Respond to the Facebook event by clicking on the button below and you’ll get a reminder for when we are going live.

View Facebook Event


Upcoming Event:

Theologian in Residence Conference

You are invited to participate in Christ School of Theology’s
2023 Theologian in Residence Conference.

On June 12-16, 2023
at the Wilbert Square Event Center in Brookings, SD.

The theme for this year’s conference is focused on Theology and Science topics around Naturalism, Theism and Artificial Intelligence.

If you are interested in these topics and looking for an opportunity to work alongside Christ School of Theology faculty as you engage in your own research, you are encouraged to sign up and be a part of these scholarly/theological discussions. This will be a great opportunity to be a part of a week of fellowship and engagement with your peers, faculty, alumni, and board members.

To register, just click on the button below and fill out the form!

Register Today!

For more information, download the Program Brochure by clicking on the button below.

Download Program Brochure

 

 

Accommodations

We have a block of rooms set aside for conference participants at the Comfort Suites and have negotiated a special price of $91 per night. Conference participants may share rooms if you wish for even greater savings.

Don’t let cost be an obstacle to your being a part of this scholarly event. If you would like to sign up, but just don’t think you can afford it, go ahead and sign up, and let us know of your need by emailing David Patterson at dpatterson@ilt.edu. We will do what we can to make sure you can come and lend your voice to this event.

ILT MCM Student, Samantha Carlson, Ordained

 

Samantha Carlson, a student in the Institute of Lutheran Theology (ILT) Master of Chaplain Ministry (MCM) program, was ordained at Bethany Lutheran Church of rural Menahga, MN, on May 21, 2023, by Rev. Lenae C. Rasmussen, the Military Endorsing Agent for the Augsburg Lutheran Churches (ALC). Sam, as she prefers to be called, lives in rural Park Rapids, MN, with her husband, Joe Carlson, who works for the Skeeter Boat Company and serves as the Park Rapids Fire Chief. Sam is studying to become a chaplain in the Minnesota National Guard, a reserve unit of the United States Army.

Sam is a lifelong Lutheran who grew up in Wadena, MN, with her parents and three older brothers. After high school, she attended college and received a degree in Natural Resource Law Enforcement. She was a police officer in Ely, MN before becoming a Minnesota State Conservation Officer (yes, she was a Game Warden! and she kept her phenomenal working dog, Tuffy). After twenty-two years in law enforcement, Sam felt called by the Holy Spirit to become a military chaplain. She retired from law enforcement, enrolled in the MCM program at ILT, and started a non-profit organization (Mandatory Fun Outdoors, “MFO”) that takes veterans on expense-paid outdoor adventures.

Rev. CH (LTC) John H. G. Rasmussen, USA, (ret.), Sam’s homiletics professor and director of the MCM program, preached the ordination sermon on John 21:15-19 under the title “Feed My Sheep.” He also sang “Here I Am, Lord,” and the Lord’s Prayer acapella. Immediately following her ordination, Sam was installed as pastor of Bethany Luther by fellow LCMC pastors, Linda Nicklason (an ILT graduate) and Tim Balfanz, (an ILT doctoral student), from the neighboring Peace Lutheran Church in Nevis, MN.

Congratulations, Sam!

 


Upcoming Event:

Theologian in Residence Conference

You are invited to participate in Christ School of Theology’s
2023 Theologian in Residence Conference.

On June 12-16, 2023
at the Wilbert Square Event Center in Brookings, SD.

The theme for this year’s conference is focused on Theology and Science topics around Naturalism, Theism and Artificial Intelligence.

If you are interested in these topics and looking for an opportunity to work alongside Christ School of Theology faculty as you engage in your own research, you are encouraged to sign up and be a part of these scholarly/theological discussions. This will be a great opportunity to be a part of a week of fellowship and engagement with your peers, faculty, alumni, and board members.

To register, just click on the button below and fill out the form!

Register Today!

For more information, download the Program Brochure by clicking on the button below.

Download Program Brochure

 

 

Accommodations

We have a block of rooms set aside for conference participants at the Comfort Suites and have negotiated a special price of $91 per night. Conference participants may share rooms if you wish for even greater savings.

Don’t let cost be an obstacle to your being a part of this scholarly event. If you would like to sign up, but just don’t think you can afford it, go ahead and sign up, and let us know of your need by emailing David Patterson at dpatterson@ilt.edu. We will do what we can to make sure you can come and lend your voice to this event.

End of the Semester

This week is the end of the spring semester for ILT students and faculty. ILT students will be taking their finals and finishing their end of semester assignments. This means that both students and faculty are working hard to do those end of semester things which are common in higher education.

The faculty and staff would like to ask you to pray for our students as they come to the end of this semester. Many ILT students are working, taking care of their families, serving churches, and doing many other things while they are studying at ILT. This is the new reality of online education for many students. They work at their regular jobs, raise families, and keep much of their normal life, while they try to add taking classes into the mix. This works for many people, but it adds obvious stress. Please pray for them.

As we all know, there are not enough pastors. The faculty and staff at ILT are doing what they can to provide well-trained and prepared pastors. These students, however, face many challenges as they go through the education and training that will help them be the pastors that God has called them to be. They could not do it without your support. We are thankful for the prayers which you pray on our behalf. We are also grateful for the financial support we receive that reduces the financial burden on the students.

Thank you for your support this year and God bless you.

 


Upcoming Event:

Theologian in Residence Conference

You are invited to participate in Christ School of Theology’s
2023 Theologian in Residence Conference.

On June 12-16, 2023
at the Wilbert Square Event Center in Brookings, SD.

The theme for this year’s conference is focused on Theology and Science topics around Naturalism, Theism and Artificial Intelligence.

If you are interested in these topics and looking for an opportunity to work alongside Christ School of Theology faculty as you engage in your own research, you are encouraged to sign up and be a part of these scholarly/theological discussions. This will be a great opportunity to be a part of a week of fellowship and engagement with your peers, faculty, alumni, and board members.

To register, just click on the button below and fill out the form!

Register Today!

For more information, download the Program Brochure by clicking on the button below.

Download Program Brochure

 

 

Accommodations

We have a block of rooms set aside for conference participants at the Comfort Suites and have negotiated a special price of $91 per night. Conference participants may share rooms if you wish for even greater savings.

Don’t let cost be an obstacle to your being a part of this scholarly event. If you would like to sign up, but just don’t think you can afford it, go ahead and sign up, and let us know of your need by emailing David Patterson at dpatterson@ilt.edu. We will do what we can to make sure you can come and lend your voice to this event.

Theologian in Residence Conference

 

Upcoming Event:

Theologian in Residence Conference

You are cordially invited to participate in Christ School of Theology’s
2023 Theologian in Residence Conference.

On June 12-16, 2023
at the Wilbert Square Event Center in Brookings, SD.

The theme for this year’s conference is focused on Theology and Science topics around Naturalism, Theism and Artificial Intelligence.

If you are interested in these topics and looking for an opportunity to work alongside Christ School of Theology faculty as you engage in your own research, you are encouraged to sign up and be a part of these scholarly/theological discussions. This will be a great opportunity to be a part of a week of fellowship and engagement with your peers, faculty, alumni, and board members.

To register, just click on the button below and fill out the form!

Register Today!

For more information, download the Program Brochure by clicking on the button below.

Download Program Brochure

 

 

Accommodations

We have a block of rooms set aside for conference participants at the Comfort Suites and have negotiated a special price of $91 per night. Conference participants may share rooms if you wish for even greater savings.

Don’t let cost be an obstacle to your being a part of this scholarly event. If you would like to sign up, but just don’t think you can afford it, go ahead and sign up, and let us know of your need by emailing David Patterson at dpatterson@ilt.edu. We will do what we can to make sure you can come and lend your voice to this event.

Dr. Ngien’s New Book

ILT’s Ph.D. Fellow, Dr. Dennis Ngien, Publishes a New Book on Luther’s Sermons

Dr. Dennis Ngien, an ILT Ph.D. Fellow, is excited to announce the release of his new book, “Paragon of Excellence: Luther’s Sermons on I Peter,” by Fortress Press on September 26, 2023. The book delves into the history of Lutheran-Reformed polemics and brings 1 Peter into the light of Lutheran biblical scholarship.

The book showcases how Martin Luther considered 1 Peter as one of the books that most truly represented the gospel, alongside John and the Pauline epistles. Dr. Ngien’s careful explication brings this pastoral epistle into the realm of Lutheran biblical scholarship and reveals Luther as an exegete at his best.

In his endorsement for the book, Dr. Michael A.G. Azad Haykin, chair, and professor of church history at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, notes that “this is a superb examination of Luther’s evangelical reflection on the Petrine text.”

The book covers Luther’s understanding of the epistle in five thematic frames, presenting a comprehensive expression of Luther’s mature thought. Dr. Ngien argues that the sermons on 1 Peter present Luther’s vocational maturation as a “caretaker of the soul,” proclaiming Christ as gift and example.

Dr. Lois Malcolm, the Olin and Amanda Fjelstad Reigstad Chair of Systematic Theology at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, notes that “I recommend this book for anyone who seeks to understand how Luther’s hermeneutic principle, the theology of the cross, makes a difference for all aspects of our lives—at home, in the workplace and politics, and in the church.”

The book is immensely readable, academically-sound, non-combative, and essential reading for all who take the Christian life seriously. It is highly recommended for scholars and students of biblical studies, theology, and church history.


Preorder the Book!

Don’t miss the opportunity to pre-order Dr. Ngien’s “Paragon of Excellence: Luther’s Sermons on I Peter” by clicking on the button below!

Preorder Today


More By Dr. Dennis Ngien

Check out other books by author, Dr. Dennis Ngien, including Grace and Law in Galatians: Justification in Luther and Calvin published by Cascade Books.

President Dennis Bielfeldt, Ph.D., has endorsed the book and praised Dr. Ngien’s fresh reading of Luther and Calvin on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. Dr. Bielfeldt has commended the book as essential reading for all those who take the Christian life seriously. This book is available for purchase on Amazon.

Purchase on Amazon

 


Upcoming Event:

Theology in Residence Gathering

The inaugural meeting of the Christ School of Theology’s Theology in Residence Gathering will take place in the week of June 12-17, 2023, in Brookings, SD.

Christ School of Theology students are invited to join fellow theologians, scholars, and faculty as they engage in personal theological research. Participants will pursue their individual, theological research efforts while refining their research through conversations with fellow scholars and on-site faculty, combined with guided academic coaching and research support from the Christ School of Theology Dean of Library and Research.

The emphasis for this year’s gathering is Theology and Science. Students in the Ph.D. program are encouraged to join us this year to study the relationship between theology and science, and the degree to which these scholarly disciplines are potentially complementary or compatible. Student research in theology and science will serve as preparation for and a prologue to the Seminar in Theology and Science offered this summer.

CALC Pastor’s Retreat and Annual General Convention

The pastors of the Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations (CALC) gathered at Hastings Lake Bible Camp on April 19-21, 2023 for the annual CALC pastor’s retreat. The CALC pastors gather every year to learn together, fellowship and support each other. This year, three speakers came to present on topics related to reaching out to new people with bravery, creativity and hospitality. It was a wonderful time for the CALC pastors to gather in their united faith and purpose.

ILT has a close relationship with CALC and most of the participants at the pastor’s retreat this year were either ILT alumni or students. It was very exiting to see the work of ILT faculty preparing students to serve the church coming to fruition in the lives of the congregations in Canada.

The CALC Annual General Convention will meet this weekend (April 21-22). ILT will be present, sharing how we are growing and reporting on the work that we are doing together to train and prepare pastors. We thank God for our partnership and the work that God has given us to do together. We continue to pray that God will send pastors to serve in CALC and the message of the Gospel will continue to be shared through the work of these congregations in Canada.

 


Upcoming Event:

Theology in Residence Gathering

The inaugural meeting of the Christ School of Theology’s Theology in Residence Gathering will take place in the week of June 12-17, 2023, in Brookings, SD.

Christ School of Theology students are invited to join fellow theologians, scholars, and faculty as they engage in personal theological research. Participants will pursue their individual, theological research efforts while refining their research through conversations with fellow scholars and on-site faculty, combined with guided academic coaching and research support from the Christ School of Theology Dean of Library and Research.

The emphasis for this year’s gathering is Theology and Science. Students in the Ph.D. program are encouraged to join us this year to study the relationship between theology and science, and the degree to which these scholarly disciplines are potentially complementary or compatible. Student research in theology and science will serve as preparation for and a prologue to the Seminar in Theology and Science offered this summer.

Summer Seminar

PTE 682, 782: Seminar In Science & Theology (3 credits)

Topic: “Naturalism and Theism: Their implications and approaches with regard to Artificial Intelligence”

June 5th–July 28th on Mondays from 12-2 p.m. CST
and Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. CST

Sign up now by contacting Joel Williams at jwilliams@ilt.edu.

Download Flyer

About the Course:

When ILT began, we thought that theology and science would be one of its deepest competencies. We put two courses in theology and science in the very first catalogs. There was both a course in theology and science and a seminar in theology and science. These were taught back in 2010 by Greg Peterson and George Tsakaridis. Dennis Bielfeldt taught theology and science 2-3 times at ILT, one in residence in the summer of 2018 or 2019 where there were about 8-10 people in attendance.

This seminar concentrates upon one area or problem in the science and theology discussion, to find parallels, similarities, differences, and in order to compare and contrast what we know concerning each. Topics will vary each time the seminar is offered, and students will have an opportunity to engage in directed reading and research on the topic at the annual Theology in Residence Gathering, even prior to the beginning of the seminar. The topic for this year’s seminar is “Naturalism and Theism: Their implications and approaches with regard to Artificial Intelligence.”

About the Professor:
Dan Hackmann is a Professor and Research Fellow at the Institute of Lutheran Theology and resides in Switzerland!

 


Upcoming Event:

Theology in Residence Gathering

The inaugural meeting of the Christ School of Theology’s Theology in Residence Gathering will take place in the week of June 12-17, 2023, in Brookings, SD.

Christ School of Theology students are invited to join fellow theologians, scholars, and faculty as they engage in personal theological research. Participants will pursue their individual, theological research efforts while refining their research through conversations with fellow scholars and on-site faculty, combined with guided academic coaching and research support from the Christ School of Theology Dean of Library and Research.

The emphasis for this year’s gathering is Theology and Science. Students in the Ph.D. program are encouraged to join us this year to study the relationship between theology and science, and the degree to which these scholarly disciplines are potentially complementary or compatible. Student research in theology and science will serve as preparation for and a prologue to the Seminar in Theology and Science offered this summer.

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