Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Project Information

• Initiative: Individual School Grant (ISG)
• Project Title: The Public Church Hub
• Project Description: LSTC's Lilly Pathways project reimagines theological education by expanding beyond traditional degree programs to a full-spectrum model shaped by deep listening and partnership with emerging Christian communities. Through a new Public Church Hub, LSTC will engage LGBTQIA+ affirming new missional communities, Latiné congregations, and African-descent congregations to identify real formation needs. A Strategic Alliance Coordinator and three part-time field organizers will build ongoing relationships, convene focus groups, and bring insights back to the Hub. These insights will guide the creation of accessible, contextual non-degree offerings—such as certificates, workshops, asynchronous modules, and community-based formation. This project shifts LSTC's accountability toward the communities it serves and embeds listening, innovation, and collaboration into the seminary's mission to form leaders for the church of tomorrow.
• Project Area: Business model innovation | Church vitality and equipping lay leaders | Competency-based models | Congregational and denominational collaborations | Diversifying students and curricula | Institutional restructuring | Non-degree and continuing/lifelong learning | Spiritual direction and student formation
• Project Start Date: 25-Oct-01
• Project End Date: 28-Dec-31
• Project Amount: $1,000,000