ELCALutheran Life at Gustavus

Gustavus Adolphus College affirms its church-related identity and Swedish background not merely because that is its heritage - though its heritage is important - but because it finds in the Lutheran tradition strong support for the liberal arts and the kind of college it aspires to be.

Gustavus is Lutheran, not sectarian; it favors the Lutheran tradition and Lutheran values, including religious services, but does not seek religious uniformity (all members of the campus community are invited to daily chapel and other religious observances, but participation is entirely voluntary).

Bernhardson Chair

 The first endowed chair in Lutheran Studies at Gustavus (and the first at any college related to the Lutheran church) was established in 1996 by Drell and Adeline Bernhardson. The Bernhardsons, parents of four Gustavus graduates, received the Greater Gustavus Award in 1997.

Marcia Bunge, the second holder of the Bernhardson Chair after Darrell Jodock, is a highly respected scholar, teacher, and advocate for Lutheran Higher Education both on and off campus. Bunge considers herself to be an historical theologian and is interested in shaping the thinking of the Church today. Her primary areas of teaching and research are Lutheran studies, the history of world Christianity, religious perspectives on children and childhood, and inter-religious dialogue and cooperation.

Lutheran Scholarships

Gustavus is supported by the Association of Congregations in the ongoing development of the College. Representatives of the Association meet annually to elect members to the Board of Trustees. In recognition of the valuable work done by the parishes of the Association and their support of Lutheran higher education, Gustavus established the Association of Congregations Scholarship. These renewable scholarships, ranging in valued from $250 to $1,000, are available to students who are members in good standing of an Association congregation.