What Does It Mean to be Lutheran?
One of the most common questions we get is “Do I have to be Lutheran to go to PLU?” The answer is: you don’t. PLU doesn’t just welcome, but actively seeks out students from every possible background—all religions, all races, all ethnic groups, all socioeconomic groups, all sexual orientations, from all over the world.
So what, then, does it mean to go to a Lutheran university like PLU? In the 16th century, the great reformer, Martin Luther, advocated the principle of education for the sake of service, or education with a purpose. At PLU, we believe in authentically engaging, questioning, serving and caring for our communities and the world, and educating our students to use their talents, values, and passions to live out their callings—their vocations.
Core Elements in Lutheran Education
Critical questioning of current knowledge and values
Freedom for expression and protection of learning
A liberating foundation in the liberal arts
Learning and research within community
The intrinsic value of the whole creation
Discerning one’s vocation in the world
Service to the advancement of life, health, and wholeness
"Because We're Lutheran" Podcast
This new podcast explores the ins and outs of Lutheranism and the principles of Lutheran higher education. In the first episode, university pastor Jen and two non-Lutheran PLU grads discuss spiritual journeys and what a Lutheran higher education experience looks like from a different faith tradition.
What IS Vocation?
Discovering your vocation is far more than just choosing a career. Vocation is the resounding sense of one’s purpose in life — something that makes you feel truly alive.
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