Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota announced important changes today to cut more than $3 million from its annual operating expenses. The changes include eight retirements, not filling nine open positions, 18 reductions in staff, and three individuals voluntarily pursuing new opportunities.
The seminary also announced it will not recruit new students to its Master of Sacred Music program (with five current students) or its PhD program (with 61 current students). The MSM has been directed by widely respected Lutheran liturgists and hymnologist Paul Westermeyer, who is retiring this spring. Current students in the MSM and PhD programs will be supported by the seminary in the completion of their programs. The seminary will also be closing its early childhood education program, Wee Care, on June 30, 2013.
“This is a hard day for Luther Seminary as we announce very difficult decisions,” said Rick Foss, interim president. “However, it was clear we could not sustain this rate of spending.” Foss was named interim president this past December when Richard Bliese suddenly resigned.
The seminary is continuing to recruit students for the Master of Divinity program, the Master of Arts program, the Master of Theology program, and the Doctor of Ministry program. The faculty is also working on the development of an enhanced curriculum model which will continue to provide an excellent education while reducing the overall expense for students.
Luther Seminary educates leaders for Christian communities across the country and around the world. It is one of eight seminaries in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). It currently has over 750 students.
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