St. Paul's Luther Seminary announces plans to sell campus

After more than a century in St. Paul, Luther Seminary says it plans to sell its campus in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood.

Leadership of the Christian theology and ministry graduate school announced the decision to sell on Tuesday. In a statement, seminary leaders said the board of directors voted unanimously to sell the campus. 

The school said 70 percent of its students now attend mostly online. 

Seminary leaders said they expect to keep working from the current campus through the end of the 2026-27 school year. The school will look for a new location in the Twin Cities area, where it will continue some in-person learning. 

Luther Seminary President Robin Steinke said this more “nimble” model will help the school stay sustainable in the long term. 

“The way students learn and prepare for ministry has changed. Now is the right time to align our resources with that reality and evolve how we deliver on our mission,” Steinke said. 

The seminary has been operating for more than 150 years, and it’s been based at the campus in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood for the past 120 years. About 370 students are enrolled in its degree programs. 

As part of the sale, the seminary expects to lay off about 10 percent of its staff, according to information posted on its website. The school cited changing needs of students. 

“We are taking bold, faithful steps to meet the needs of the global church and our students while continuing our dedication to theological depth and academic rigor,” Board of Directors Chair Carlos Peña said. 

The seminary had announced earlier this year that it secured a deal to sell part of its campus to Edina-based developer Lifestyle Communities.

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