United Lutheran Seminary

United Lutheran Seminary
Kindling Faith
Learning Never Ends

Report to Synod Assemblies 2024

Dear Partners in Ministry,

Grace and Peace be with you in your synod assembly. I pray that your work bears fruit that will give praise to God and service to neighbor in the broad context of ministries that you share.

United Lutheran Seminary continues to walk with you in this journey, asking for your prayers and support as we focus on four areas of accompaniment:

1. Providing a relevant education for students studying to be deacons and pastors through our recently revamped curriculum, which increases emphasis on the practice of ministry.
2. Seeking ways to decrease the costs of a seminary education so that our graduates will not be burdened with debt loads, and at the same time trying to bring as many students as possible into our classrooms.
3. Increasing the quantity and quality of continuing education options through initiatives like the Kindling Faith program so as to offer a lifelong community of learning for rostered and lay people. We also hope to be out among you in the synods more often than we have been since the pandemic.
4. Seeking your support to strengthen and sustain our relationship with your synod and the whole ELCA that responds to the needs of the church now and in the future.

I am happy to share that our enrollment numbers continue to be strong with just over 350 students across our degree programs: 116 studying to become deacons or pastors, 89 in the Doctor of Ministry program, and the remainder in other master’s level or certificate programs. This fall we will be enrolling a new cohort of PhD students for the first time since before the consolidation of our predecessor schools. In addition, the Asian Theological Institute, Kindling Faith, and the Urban Theological Institute have received $3 million in grants, collectively, to benefit their continued work.

We also welcome Rev. Dr. Nelson Rivera and Dr. Andre Price to our faculty and the new CFO, Brandee Carrigan, to senior administration. We are grateful for those of you who serve on our Board of Trustees for the wisdom you bring to the table. Our Seminary Ridge Museum excels at sharing the complex narrative of the pivotal moment in the Civil War that continues to inform our theological discussion in these times of polarization and strife. Our Kindling Faith program is always expanding its programming and providing opportunities that are culturally relevant and spiritually fulfilling both online and in-person, and on both our physical campuses (type “Kindling Faith” in the search bar to learn more).

This being my fourth year as President of ULS, I can report with gratitude that the prospects for the seminary are very good as we approach the 200th anniversary of our founding. We hope you’ll be able to celebrate with us at one of the many 2026 events we are planning to mark the occasion. Lastly, I wish you the peace that passes all understanding in the journey ahead—a journey we make together.

Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin

*A video greeting from President Erwin may be viewed at your leisure by clicking https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4lb35lxywyu601aquhrkk/2024-ULS-President-report.mp4?rlkey=1kvdng8mz6viba4o2xxffypc4&e=1&dl=0