Founders' Day and Luther Lectures

Every year, PLTS hosts two lectures on campus that deal with topics in contemporary theology. These lectures occur on a Wednesday morning and are concluded by worship and lunch.

Founders' Day Lecture

On St. Matthew's Day, September 21, 1952, a worship service opened the first academic year of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. The annual Founders' day lecture occurs the Wednesday closest to St. Matthew's Day and features topics related to Lutheranism's particular challenges on the West Coast.

Speakers and Topics:

2024: Mark Yaconelli, "Listening in the Darkness"
2023: Vance Blackfox, "Night of Weeping v. Morn of Song"
2022: Dr. Larry Rasmussen, "The Planet You Inherit: A Re-founding Catalyst?"
2021: Rev. Dr. David Vasquez-Levy, "Finding Level: Apocalypse, Prophets, and a Vision of the Possible"
2020: Bill McKibben and Rev. Dr. Melanie Harris. "Climate Justice, Racial Justice, and Divestment: The Call of the Church
2016: Pamela Gay and Ted Peters: "Space Studes and New Theology: God Out of the Box"
2015: Madeleine Forell Marshall: "Here and Now and Then and There: Postcolonial Possibilities for Mainline Protestantism in Contemporary California"
2014: Monica Jyotsna Melanchthon: "Migrant Interpretations: Reflections on the Bible and Tradition from Those on the Underside"

Luther Lecture

The Luther Lecture is made possible by the generosity of Mary Carlton Lull and the Lull Family in memory of President Timothy Lull to honor the Lull family connection with the Lutheran Church and with PLTS and to support the annual Luther Lecture and teaching or special lectures in the fields of systematic or historical theology. This lecture normally occurs in the spring semester.

Speakers

2025: Dr. Marcela K. Perett in conversation with Dr. Kirsi Stjerna, "Teaching Certainty: A New Look at Martin Luther’s Vernacular Catechesis" - lecture
2024: Dr. Reggie Williams: “When Ethics Kills: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Story of Us”
2023: Dr. Anthony Bateza: "The Precarious Power of a Strongly Worded Letter: Political Correspondence, Lutheran Theology, and Civic Participation"
2020: Rev. Dr. Charles Amjad-Ali: "Luther and Islam"
2019: Rev. Dr. Arnfríður Guðmundsdóttir: "Melting Glaciers, Climate Justice, and the Desperate Need for a New Reformation"
2018: Dr. Kirsi Stjerna and Brooks Schramm: "Luther Against Luther: Scripture and Christian Anti-Semitism, Past Realities and Future Remedies"
2017: Else Marie Wiberg Pedersen: "Luther and Women" - lecture
2016: Cynthia Moe-Lobeda: "Climate Justice, Hope, and a Lutheran Ethic of Love Incarnate" - lecture | panel discussion
2015: George "Tink" Tinker
2014: Guillermo Hansen: "Money, Community, & Self: Luther's 'Apocalyptic' Insights during Times of Bifurcation" - lecture
2013: Thomas A. Brady, Jr.
2011: Robert D. Hawkins
2010: Kathryn A. Kleinhans
2009: R. Guy Erwin
2008: Jane E. Strohl
2007: Scott H. Hendrix
2006: Jean Bethke Elshtain
2005: Timothy J. Wengert
2004: Niels Henrik Gregerson
2003: Paul Chung
2002: H. George Anderson
2001: Kristen Kvam
2000: Steven Ozment
1999: Wolfhart Pannenberg
1998: John Dillenberger
1997: Heiko A. Oberman

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