Thank You from Our Dean
To the beloved community of Lancaster Theological Seminary,
“I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.” –Philippians 1:3-4
Thank you for supporting LTS this past fiscal year and through The Way Forward campaign. Your philanthropy supports our work of recruiting, teaching, and nurturing faith-filled leaders and helps to ensure the future of the Seminary is as vibrant as its past. In late July, we marked one full year of partnership with Moravian University and Theological Seminary. In these first 12 months, we have worshiped together, shared meals and celebrations, and lamented loss. We have achieved important checkpoints with accrediting and state and federal agencies, merged financial and student information systems, and are on our way to developing a shared curriculum. Most importantly, we have gotten to know each other as individuals committed to benefiting communities of faith and the world at large. I am thankful to travel this road with each of you and inspired by your witness and dedication. The future of LTS is bright because of your partnership and commitment. We truly appreciate your generous support.
—Rev. Dr. Heather Vacek, VP/Dean of Lancaster Theological Seminary and Moravian Theological Seminary
Annual Giving
The Annual Fund is essential to the Seminary's financial health. When you give to the Annual Fund, you support financial aid to our talented students, the recruitment and retention of exceptional faculty and staff, mentorship, co-curricular programs, and the beautification of our campus.
Annual Fund total: $449,662
Total supporters: 654
Total giving: $2,186,513
Celebrating a Successful Close to The Way Forward Campaign
LTS is celebrating the successful close of The Way Forward campaign, which raised over $11 million in gifts and pledges since its start in 2018, exceeding its original fundraising goal. Funding garnered through The Way Forward campaign is helping grow enrollment and renew the campus's historic facilities. We are forging a new path to boldly create a vibrant future!
Over 1,200 individuals, businesses, churches, and church organizations gave to The Way Forward campaign. Thank you for your philanthropy!
Ann B. Barshinger: Leading the Way Forward
Ann B. Barshinger and her late husband Richard have faithfully supported the seminary for decades. In 2017, Mrs. Barshinger gave The Way Forward campaign a lead gift of $3 million. In recognition of her generosity, our historic property is now known as the Ann B. Barshinger Campus of Lancaster Theological Seminary.
"My gift is a way I can honor them and also help continue the exceptional education that is Lancaster Seminary's legacy."
Grow Our Enrollment
Your gift to the campaign has generated growth by expanding our outreach, making our programs more accessible to a wider range of students, updating our technology, expanding online learning, developing new partnerships, and offering more classes to the community.
More than $3 million was raised to help grow our enrollment.
Renew Our Buildings
Your support has helped renew, repair, and restore our historic facilities to better serve our students and the community while exploring innovative ways to make full use of our sacred spaces. Among the top priorities:
- Santee Chapel received new flooring, seating, paint, lighting, and a fully refurbished pipe organ and grand piano; next steps include the installation of air conditioning.
- The Lark Building will be repointed to restore its brick and stonework and its slate roof repaired to extend its life.
Over $5.6 million was raised to renew our buildings, support academic programs, provide scholarships, and support our projects across campus.
Increase Our Endowment
Your philanthropy has helped raise the Seminary's endowment through an increase in planned gift commitments. Planned gifts provide important funding for scholarships, professorships, chapel funds, community theology programs, and more!
$2.4 million was raised to increase our endowment.
Student Spotlight
Thomas B. Rim '25
Class year: Currently a second-year student in weekend/part-time program. Anticipated graduation with Master of Divinity in May 2025.
Favorite memory at LTS: Too difficult to pick just one favorite experience at LTS thus far, but clearly the people of LTS have created a deep, indelible impression on me. This includes the administration, faculty, staff, and fellow students. The incredible people I’ve been able to meet over a brief year have really allowed LTS to become somewhat of an oasis for me that is both grounding and refreshing.
How has LTS impacted you? Although I was a bit skeptical when I first heard this from an LTS student during a “Meet LTS” session before I applied, I can vouch for the fact that my experience at LTS has been truly life-changing. The exposure to various schools of thought and spiritual practices has both broadened and deepened my understanding of the divine, my relationship with God, my relationship with others, and my relationship with the rest of creation. I have truly appreciated and benefited from the emphasis on ways to think versus what to think.
"I can’t begin to describe the joy and fulfillment I am experiencing in my studies, which I think is uniquely attributable to Lancaster Theological Seminary. The faculty, students, and support that this seminary provides continues to reinforce that I am at the right place at the right time. I am truly grateful that the financial support that you and others provide allow myself and others to experience this."
Student Spotlight
Kimberley R. Johnson
Class Year: I am entering my second year of studies in the weekend program.
Plans after graduation: Currently, I am beginning to explore doctoral programs to attend after graduation. I am looking for the best way to combine my master's degree in Clinical Social Work and my Master of Divinity degree.
How has LTS impacted you? Lancaster Theological Seminary has encouraged me to be even more courageous in my studies, preaching, and teaching. I am encouraged to explore and to challenge my beliefs to make me a sharper tool in God's hand than I had ever considered. I have heard it said that knowledge is power, and Adonai's "...power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine." (Ephesians 3:20 NRSV)
"You will never know how much this gift means to me. This seminary journey is literally a walk on water for me. I gave up a full-time job to attend seminary part-time. This gift will help me to remain in school so that I may honor the promise of service that I made to God."
International Cross-Cultural Seminar
Because of your gift, LTS students had the opportunity to embark on a two-week cross-cultural seminar to Guatemala in May 2022. This global educational requirement, started more than 50 years ago at LTS, enhances appreciation of others by embracing God’s love for all people.
Each November, the Lancaster County Community Foundation hosts ExtraGive and invites the community to support more than 500 local organizations, including LTS. The purpose of ExtraGive is to bring awareness to community benefit organizations across the region and highlight their positive impact on well-being.
In 2021, 69 generous supporters gave $15,035 to LTS during ExtraGive. Thank you!
Events
- August 2021: Fall Convocation with Dr. Carey, "One Body Many Gifts"
- October 2021: Hispanic Heritage Month celebration
- February 2022: Black History Month Baxter Fund Forum
- May 2022: Multivocational Ministry Conference
- May 2022: Mercersburg Convocation "Moravian and Mercersburg Traditions: Can These Two Walk Together?"
Thank You from Our Students
Our seminarians recognize how your giving provides the support and resources they need to transform into innovative, compassionate leaders. Please enjoy the following video featuring their messages of gratitude.
Commencement 2022
The impact of your gifts culminates in this momentous, blessed day for our graduating seminarians. Because of your gift, LTS awarded 21 advanced degrees during its 197th commencement ceremony on May 7, 2022, sending our graduates into the world to be messengers of God's love and grace. The degrees conferred included 13 Master of Divinity degrees, four Doctor of Ministry degrees, and four Master of Arts in Ministry and Leadership degrees. Your generous support and loyalty to LTS provide life-changing experiences for our seminarians called to serve God's people. Thank you!