Luther Classical College

Dr. Caleb Karges, who holds a Ph.D. in Modern History from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and completed his undergraduate studies at Concordia University Irvine, has been named Luther Classical College’s Dean of Students!

Dr. Karges has extensive teaching experience in the areas of history, political science, and German. He will serve as Associate Professor of Humanities at LCC, teaching part-time while also supervising student housing and student activities as Dean of Students.

“Dr. Karges brings not only academic strength, but also a track record of caring for students both inside and outside of the classroom,” LCC Academic Dean Dr. Ryan MacPherson said.

To read the full announcement on Dr. Karges’ hiring, click here: https://buff.ly/4fiAgJJ

LCC has lots of scholarships available! If your congregation is interested in supporting our Scholars’ Congregation Scholarships, click here: https://buff.ly/3Z6yfe9. To learn more about all of our available scholarships, keep reading.

From LCC’s Academic Catalog (https://www.lutherclassical.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/LCC-Academic-Catalog-2024-09-06.pdf)...

Academic Merit Scholarship (Automatic Award): Academic merit scholarships automatically will be awarded to all applicants who score within the following ranges on one or more of the standardized tests indicated. LCC will consider each applicant’s highest composite score on record for the CLT or SAT; for the ACT, LCC will consider the applicant’s “superscore composite.”

Tier I Academic Merit Scholarship: $1,062.50 (25% of tuition) per semester (104+ CLT, 34+ ACT, or 1490+ SAT)

Tier II Academic Merit Scholarship: $850.00 (20% of tuition) per semester (98–103 CLT, 32–33 ACT, or 1420–1480 SAT)

Tier III Academic Merit Scholarship: $425.00 (10% of tuition) per semester (93–97 CLT, 30–31 ACT, or 1360–1410 SAT)

Tier IV Academic Merit Scholarship: $212.50 (5% of tuition) per semester (88–92 CLT, 28–29 ACT, or 1300–1350 SAT)

As a condition of maintaining these scholarships, LCC Merit Scholars must satisfy the criteria of “The President’s List” (for Tiers I and II) or “The Dean’s List” (for Tiers III and IV) for each semester preceding the scholarship renewal. If a recipient of a Tier I or Tier II Academic Merit Scholarship fails to satisfy the criteria for “The President’s List” but instead satisfies the criteria for “The Dean’s List,” then that student’s scholarship will be renewed at the amount indicated above for Tier III. See p. 67 for further details.

Scholars’ Congregation Scholarship (Automatic Award): The supporting congregations of LCC include Tier I Scholars’ Congregations (donating $5,000+ annually to LCC) and Tier II Scholars’ Congregations (donating $2,500 to $4,999 annually to LCC). Each student whose home church was a Scholars’ Congregation during the fiscal year (July–June) preceding the current academic year will automatically receive a Scholars’ Congregation Scholarship as follows:

Tier I Scholars’ Congregation: $425.00 (10% of tuition) per semester

Tier II Scholars’ Congregation: $212.50 (5% of tuition) per semester

This scholarship is automatically renewed at the applicable tier for returning students who remain in academic good standing (see “Good Standing,” p. 68) and whose home congregation continues supporting LCC as a Scholars’ Congregation. Similarly, a returning student becomes newly eligible for this scholarship if the home congregation becomes a Scholar’s Congregation during the fiscal year preceding the academic year in which the scholarship is granted.

LCC Music Scholarship (Application Required): Students who actively develop individual musical talents for voice or instrument and show a willingness to use their skill in service to the church may apply for a scholarship waiving 50% of the tuition charge for individual music lessons (see “Tuition Rates” on p. 12). Application materials will be available in the early months of 2025.

Combination of Multiple Scholarships: A student may receive more than one scholarship and benefit from the combined total, up to 100% of tuition.

The Wyoming District and some churches are also choosing to apply their institutional scholarships for students to LCC and CUS alike.

LCC is now accepting applications for Standard Admission.

Instructions and Online Application Form: https://buff.ly/3T5BYFa

Rev. Dr. John Stephenson, professor emeritus of our sister seminary, Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) in St. Catherines, Ontario, preached a beautiful sermon at the Vespers service of Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau’s presidential inauguration ceremony earlier this month.

“In the Providence of Almighty God Who does not abandon His fallen creatures to the chastisement they, we, deserve, the bold venture of striking out onto uncharted territory by establishing Luther Classical College is one of many signs that the lay folk and clergy who make up the mystical Body of Christ here below are taking up arms, however belatedly, against the wiles of the old evil foe in the sphere of education and the school.”

Read or listen to his sermon here: https://buff.ly/4e2Enbv

Most colleges do not require an admissions interview. Why does LCC?

An interview (via video conference if not possible in person) is conducted as a part of the application process. The interview process allows LCC to meet its future students in a conversational setting. It gives students the opportunity to use their live voices and conversation as a supplement to their applications. A college admissions interview is also a helpful exercise for students as they grow into adulthood where the skill to demonstrate one’s abilities in such a manner, both informally and formally, is invaluable.

A video recording of the full inauguration ceremony of President Ristau is now available online! You can watch it here: https://buff.ly/3YkyBw3. We again thank all who could be in attendance for this historic event.

Many kind and generous statements were read during the ceremony from special guests and representatives who regretted their inability to attend.

Rev. Matthew Harrison, president of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, was not able to attend but sent a personalized greeting: "We wish Dr. Ristau and LCC well in pursuing their unique academic, vocational, and educational goals. I look forward to conversation on how LCC might relate to the LCMS… in the future. Blessings in Christ.”

Mr. Mark Stern sent greetings on behalf of the Walter C. Dissen Charitable Trust, of which he is co-trustee: “Walter C. Dissen missed few significant events or confessional meetings of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod over the last 60 years of his life. Had he not been translated to the Church triumphant last year, I am sure he would have made every effort to be here with you today, and been delighted to see the fruits of your labors to date.” In articulating the late Mr. Dissen’s 'significant interest' in Lutheran higher education and the proper mission of schools in service of the Church, Mr. Stern added: “Thanks be to God for your faithful confession, and for the resources He has provided to make this great day possible, given through many supporters including the late Walter Dissen.”

Pres. Thomas Winger of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catherine’s, Ontario, drew attention to Paul’s exhortation that “elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor.” In explaining that the best translation of "to rule" is "to preside," Dr. Winger’s letter concluded with his own encouragement for his friend and former colleague Dr. Ristau: “I present these words of Paul to you with the confident prayer that you will not just be a good president, but also a God-pleasing presider. May you preach, teach, and model Christ to the faculty and students under your care. If you do this, a double honour will come to you—that you are not only honoured for your position, but also for the way you bear it.”

Rev. Steve Kieser, President of the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education (CCLE), commented thus in regard to Dr. Ristau’s important role: “His true heart for the Gospel, his unwavering confessional commitment, his impressive academic record and acclaimed authorship will equip him well in furthering the mission of Luther Classical College to provide a conservative, classical Lutheran education to prepare students for godly vocations within family, church, and society. God be praised!”

All of us at LCC remember the Holy Spirit’s words through Paul to the Philippians, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” The well-wishes of such leaders within the Church reflect a beautiful concord around God’s Word and our common labor to exalt it as that which gives life to our very souls, and to feed on it as disciples of Christ. This, indeed, is our heritage as Lutherans: Christian concord. Praise God for such a unifying mission of the Church in Luther Classical College, and for His merciful provisions in our esteemed president, Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau.

Luther Classical College has been blessed with encouraging progress on its building activities this year. And thanks to the work accomplished by its building and grounds committee, contracted building partner, Sampson Construction, and extraordinary volunteer commitment, most of LCC's 13-acre campus is now mapped out for ten student houses, classroom buildings, and a world-class library.

These buildings are being pursued with the utmost commitment as internal milestone achievements have become the regular diet of LCC's first administrative team. For example, in addition to finalizing its academic catalog, making headway on syllabi and accreditation, and interviewing and hiring professors, LCC is even cataloguing thousands of works for its student library collection. "It gives us assurance to have mapped out a full range of fast-approaching needs in our campus plans already," says Samuel Preus, Director of Advancement.

Yet as the college develops on so many fronts, LCC's students remain their highest priority. "I haven’t ever been able to be part of something that will impact young adults in such a unique environment," says Rick Flemming, Project Executive for Sampson Construction, commenting on the vision of LCC's campus development. Indeed, the vision truly driving LCC's campus development is its unique utility for students. In consideration of these students, President Ristau states, "The interest in LCC from prospective students has exceeded our expectations. Our greatest challenge remains finding enough rooms and homes for them all. We are making healthy progress."

For this reason LCC is laser focused on building its first student house as soon as possible. The ground is already being prepared as the Advancement team works to raise the needed funds to see it through. "It truly has been a labor of love," says Jeff Snyder, chairman of LCC's building and grounds committee. "A lot of industry experts on our committee have been working tirelessly to ensure the project runs smoothly, on time, and as cost effectively as possible."

Twenty-three students have now been accepted for admission at Luther Classical College. This beginning of LCC's historic first class is a remarkable achievement for the young institution, reflecting the unprecedented momentum behind its founding. "Raising support to prepare our campus for student housing is our absolute number one capital fundraising priority," comments Preus.

Achieving the first home is not without its hurdles. Ryan Waterbury, Professional Engineer on LCC's building and grounds committee, notes, "LCC is on track to have one housing building up by fall of 2025," while Flemming adds that working through the winter months and maintaining the construction budget will be the biggest hurdles.

More updates will be available in the coming weeks as LCC continues to work toward its campus goals.

President Harold Ristau’s inauguration ceremony took place Sunday, October 6, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Casper, WY, where he was officially installed as President of Luther Classical College. We are grateful for the members of Trinity and all volunteers, staff, and supporters who made this event so successful. In addition to the nearly 200 people in attendance, we would like to thank the following distinguished guests for joining us on this very special occasion:

Rev. Ted Giese: Board of Directors, Lutheran Church—Canada on behalf of Rev. Dr. Timothy Teuscher, President Lutheran Church—Canada

Dr. Gene Pfeifer: President, Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minnesota

Mr. Kyle Washut: President, Wyoming Catholic College, Lander, Wyoming

Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Boyle: Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana

During the rite of investiture, Rev. Christian Preus bestowed on behalf of the LCC Board of Regents the College Medallion upon Dr. Ristau as President of Luther Classical College. The medallion bears the seal of Luther Classical College together with a designation of office: “Praesidens.” This Latin term readily brings to mind the English word “president.” Literally, it means “one who sits in front,” with the connotation of watching, guarding, protecting, and defending the portion of the state or the church that has been entrusted to one’s care. Provincial governors and cathedral deacons have each been called “praesidens” in various historical settings. It is fitting that the same title apply today to one who manages the affairs of a college of the church that enriches the civic order and equips students furthermore to be godly “presidents”—fathers and mothers—within their homes.

A video recording and other highlights from the inauguration ceremony will become available in the coming days.

As those in attendance at the inauguration heartily sang, may Luther Classical College be "Built on the Rock" of our Lord Jesus Christ. We ask for your continued prayers as we work to build a college by Lutherans and for Lutherans, to the glory of God, and for the benefit of our fellow man.

45 Weeks Until Classes Begin … at Luther Classical College!

Here are some highlights of our activity:

Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau was publicly inaugurated as LCC’s first president on October 6, with presidents of sister colleges in attendance and letters of encouragement received from across the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and Lutheran Church—Canada.

The Faculty Assembly held its first meeting on October 7, as the work of building a college is being passed off from the regents to the administration and staff.

Priority Admission is now complete, with 16 students being offered admission, adding to the 7 “gap” year students already admitted, and soon to be followed by Standard Admission starting November 1: https://buff.ly/4h5ltTQ.

Even after factoring in living expenses, books, and fees, the total annual cost of attending LCC without government aid is still lower than the typical net (post-financial aid) cost of government-aided colleges and universities.

On top of this, LCC also has two automatic scholarships: Academic Merit (high test scores) and Scholars’ Congregation (for students from supporting congregations that give at a Tier I or Tier II level). The Wyoming District and some churches are also choosing to offer their institutional scholarships to students enrolling at LCC.

Luther Classical College is funded by charitable donations and transparent tuition payments, not by government grants or subsidized loans for which taxpayers ultimately bear the hidden costs. This means that LCC does not participate in aid programs such as the GI Bill, Stafford Loans, Pell Grants, etc.

By avoiding participation in government-managed financial aid, LCC preserves its institutional autonomy in order to remain faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. By keeping administrative costs low, the college sets tuition and fees at a level that most families find affordable, so that students can have realistic options for graduating free of debt.

Luther Classical College has been blessed with tremendous progress on its building activities this year. And thanks to the work accomplished by its building and grounds committee and contracted building partner, Sampson Construction, most of LCC's 13-acre campus is now mapped out for ten student houses, classroom buildings, and a world-class library.

Speaking of student houses, LCC has begun excavation on the foundation for these houses (see photos below!) and has more digging and site work planned through the Fall season. More updates will be available in the coming weeks as LCC continues to work toward its campus goals.

“[We need] the encouragement, the doctrinal teaching about family and how important it is. That it is a noble thing to be a father, a noble thing to be a mother, to accept God’s rich blessings of children, and to raise them in the Christian faith. That as a mother and father… raising those kids in in the Christian faith is the great priority of your life.”

-Rev. Dr. Christian Preus

Click the link to listen to more wisdom from LCC's Board Chairman: https://buff.ly/4dA3D8C

Luther Classical College recruits students who desire a Liberal Arts education. Students are prompted as follows in the application, with follow-up questions in the interview.

Questions for the Classical Liberal Arts Essay (select one):

1. What sort of pagan art, literature, and/or science is worth studying for you as a Christian, and why?
2. LCC’s Academic Catalog presents a unique curriculum. Why are you selecting a college that offers only one major—Classical Liberal Arts—and how can you be sure it is the right major for you?
3. Rather than pursuing a college degree just to get a high-paying job, what enduring value do you seek in a classical Lutheran education?

To learn more about LCC’s admissions requirements, click here: https://buff.ly/4g8h9mh

The LCC Library strives to be a premier classical and theological library in the Mountain West region of the United States, promoting the historical, biblical, confessional heritage of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and fostering classical education by providing access to the great works of Western Civilization.

The library collection at LCC is growing by leaps and bounds thanks to the generosity of donors from across the nation. Thousands of books have been donated and received. Over 1500 resources have been cataloged so far, with more entries added every day in preparation for opening in Fall 2025.

To search the LCC Library online catalog and learn more about how you can support the library, visit https://buff.ly/4eetnsn

LCC presented at the mission festival of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Altamont, IL, this past week. It was a wonderful turnout with an exceptional sermon at a Vespers service prior to the presentation. Thank you for your warm welcome!

Listen to the sermon here!

Bethlehem Lutheran Fall Mission Festival with Rev Andrew Preus

Rev. Paul Cain presented on Luther Classical College on Sunday, 22 September 2024, near Bellingham, MN. It was a joint Mission Fest for the saints of Trinity, Odessa; Grace, Correll; and Trinity, Walter Township.

The latest edition of Christian Culture magazine is here! What can you expect? Articles like “Lessons in Cross-Bearing” by Rev. David Buchs, “Roman Catholicism and Liberalism” by Rev. Christian Preus, “American Christianity: The First Great Awakening” by Rev. Willie Grills, and a whole lot more! You can read all 32 pages here: https://buff.ly/4exybIY

Want to receive physical copies of Christian Culture? Simply fill out this form (https://buff.ly/3MUp0qo) and we’ll get them sent, hot off the press, to your church or home.

Happy reading!