Commitments
Mission
Trinity Lutheran Seminary forms leaders for Christ’s church at work in the world.
Community Commitments
“Be courageous. Be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”
(1 Corinthians 16:13b-14, NRSV)
As an educational institution, we are committed to learning together. This requires a willingness to listen to each other and to engage in difficult conversations with humility and respect. We are empowered to be community in this brave space because of our faith in the God who sustains us through these challenges, changes, and difficult conversations.
Every human being is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 9:6). Every human being is of infinite value to God (Psalm 8:3-5, Matthew 6:26-30). Therefore every human being is worthy of respect and will be treated with respect in this community.
Because every human being is made in the image of God, we believe that other people – especially those who are different from us – broaden our understanding of who God is.
As a predominantly white seminary in a predominantly white denomination, Trinity commits itself to be a community where people of all racial identities and ethnicities can flourish and further commits itself to the work of anti-racism in church and society.
As a Reconciling in Christ seminary, Trinity commits itself to be a community where people of all sexual orientations, genders, gender identities, and gender expressions can flourish as full participants in the life of the seminary and the life of the church.
As a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Trinity commits itself to welcoming students, faculty, and staff from other denominations and faith communities who desire to be part of this learning community and who are willing to engage other persons and other beliefs with respect. One way we talk about this at Capital University is to say that we are “rooted in our tradition and open to yours.”
As an expression of the belief that every human being is made in the image of God, the seminary community commits itself to the use of inclusive language for persons. This includes the use of non-gendered language when referring to humanity in general, as well as using the names and pronouns that individuals use for themselves.
Because God transcends human understanding and expression, the seminary community commits itself to the use of inclusive and expansive language for God. Expansive language includes language and imagery that is not limited to the human. The Scriptures are full of such imagery, e.g., God as rock, fortress, and shield (Psalm 18:2), God as bird (Isaiah 31:5), God as fountain of living water (Jeremiah 2:13, 17:13). Expanding the language we use for God honors the magnitude of who God is and challenges and broadens our understandings and experience of God.
14 August 2023