submitted by dames@augsburg.edu
Each year, members of the National Network of ELCA Colleges & Universities (NECU) gather to explore the distinctive roles we play in higher education. The theme of the 2026 conference is “Beyond Walls, For the Common Good: Lutheran Higher Education and Civic Responsibility.”
In an age marked by polarization, inequality, and public distrust, Lutheran higher education is uniquely called to witness to faith active in love through its contributions to the civic and common good. The 2026 Vocation of Lutheran Higher Education Conference invites participants to step “beyond walls” — of campus, culture, and comfort — to rediscover how core values of faith and sharing “good news” shapes our shared responsibility for the world.
Rooted in the Lutheran tradition of two kin-doms and vocation as service to neighbor, this gathering explores how our institutions embody public faith: nurturing civic imagination, moral discernment, and courageous leadership. Together, we will examine how Lutheran colleges and universities can help heal the social fabric, cultivate democratic engagement, and advance justice for all people through education that integrates faith, reason, and the call to serve.
The conference begins at 5:00 pm on Monday, July 13 and ends at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, July 15.
The registration fee is waived for Augsburg participants and meals (lunch and dinner) are provided to Augsburg participants free of charge. The deadline for registration is Monday, June 22. If you have questions about registration, please contact Darcia Cole (x1732 or coleda@augsbug.edu or visit https://www.augsburg.edu/ccv/vocation-of-lutheran-higher-education-conference/