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STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Student government and organizations at LSTC seminary

LSTC offers students a variety of opporutnities to nurture their spiritual lives, find companions in their faith journeys, and strengthen their skills as citizens and leaders. Students who “ask, seek, and knock” will easily find student organizations to participate in.

Student Government

LSTC has three student government organizations:

  • Master’s Student Association (MSA): represents MA, MAM, and MDiv students
  • Graduate Student Association (GSA): represents ThM and PhD students
  • International Students Association (ISA): represents all LSTC international students

All three student associations have elected leadership, and they all advocate on behalf of the students in relation to faculty and administration. In addition, each organization has an elected advisory representative to LSTC’s board of directors. Students serve on faculty and administrative search committees and also form and participate in a variety of student organizations.

Student Organizations

The Faith and Justice Collective (FJC) is a powerful coalition of individuals who enact God’s love by organizing for social justice in Chicago as part of The People’s LobbyPeople’s ActionSOUL (Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation), and Reclaim Chicago. The community of FJC consists of LSTC seminarians, spouses, partners, children, friends, faculty, and staff as well as University of Chicago students and various community partners. The organization’s objective is to mobilize students to become more active in the fight for justice and to empower each other as leaders. Membership is open to all. If you would like more information, please contact Erik Christensen.

The Green Zone is a working group of students, staff, and faculty committed to integrate care for creation into the life of the seminary through:

  • Worship, including the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Season of Creation, Earth Week, and liturgical actions throughout the year
  • Education, including lectures, film screenings, Growth in Faith workshops, and Leadership Conference workshops
  • Institutional practices, including energy conservation, recycling, composting, and sustainable landscaping
  • Personal practices, including sustainable eating, community gardening, composting, recycling, and energy conservation
  • Public ministry and advocacy, including seminary work in support of congregational, synodical, denominational, and ecumenical efforts

Thesis 96 is a student-formed group that shares a common belief that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and other sexuality and gender minorities have the right to full participation in church, particularly the ELCA, including ordination. The group provides a safe space for sharing with and educating our LSTC community about LGBTQIA+ issues, and also participates in public advocacy events that promote the human rights of LGBTQIA+ people in church and society.

For more information about Thesis 96, contact Dean Scott Chalmers.

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