Seminary, Technology, and the Church: PLTS Explores Faithful Leadership in a Changing World
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) is inviting the wider church into a new conversation about the future of theological education and faithful leadership. Read the full PLTS newsletter for additional updates, resources, and event links.
Join the online “State of the Seminary: Faithful, Hopeful, Justice-Seeking” event on Tuesday, March 10 at 4:00 p.m. Pacific.
Participants can register online, and a recording will be sent to everyone who registers and will remain available for several months.
This new event offers an inside look at the life and direction of PLTS. Faculty, staff, and guest presenters will highlight:
New relationships with partners including the Graduate Theological Union and Old Lutheran
Work with the Association of Theological Schools focused on missional integrity and financial vitality
Innovative programming serving the whole people of God, offered both online and in person
Partnerships across the church, including work with the Sierra Pacific Synod
Celebrations of student leadership and learning
The event also reflects the seminary’s commitment to equipping leaders who can faithfully navigate the complex questions facing the church today.
Faith, Technology, and Discernment
PLTS recently hosted a major gathering exploring the intersection of theology and emerging technologies. The Disputatio on Artificial Intelligence, held February 25, brought together more than 100 participants online and in person.
Speakers—including theologians, scholars, and technology experts—invited participants to wrestle with pressing questions for the church:
Where do we encounter God in a world shaped by algorithms and automation?
What does it mean to be human when creativity and decision-making are increasingly shared with machines?
Who benefits from the technologies we use—and who bears the cost?
What kind of technological literacy is necessary for faithful leadership today?
Drawing on Lutheran theological tradition, Rev. Dr. Kirsi Stjerna reflected on how Martin Luther himself engaged new technologies in his own era, reminding participants that the church has long wrestled with how tools and media shape faith and proclamation.
Recordings from the Disputatio, including speakers and worship with Dr. Deanna Thompson, are available online.
Climate Justice and Global Impact
PLTS continues to highlight the global reach of its programs.
Through the Certificate in Climate Justice and Faith, student John Geraji Jacob launched the project “Greening Taraba” in Nigeria. With support from a seed grant, the project has mobilized more than 400 young adults across religious traditions to plant trees in deforested areas—strengthening communities while helping mitigate climate change.
Meanwhile, MDiv student Alicia Wilcox, part of the seminary’s Climate Justice and Faith concentration, was recently featured in Living Lutheran for her reflection titled “The Divine Process of Compost,” exploring how creation itself teaches us about resurrection and transformation.
Looking ahead, PLTS will host the 2026 Student Colloquium on Climate Justice and Faith on Wednesday, April 29 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific, both online and in person at the PLTS campus.
Admissions and Formation
PLTS is also experiencing a strong admissions cycle, with nine students already committed to begin their programs this fall across the MDiv, MASSC, and Lutheran Year (CATS) programs.
Those discerning a call to ministry are encouraged to apply by April 15 for the best financial aid timeline, though applications will continue to be accepted through the summer.
The seminary is also actively preparing for the ELCA’s new competency-based candidacy process, with regional pilot synods—including Sierra Pacific and Northwest Washington—helping shape this new approach to leadership formation.
Across these initiatives—from theological reflection on artificial intelligence to global climate justice work—PLTS continues to invite the church into faithful, hopeful, and justice-seeking leadership.
Read the full PLTS newsletter for additional updates, resources, and event links.
