By Sadie Jones, WCCO intern

Luther Seminary's board of directors voted unanimously on Tuesday to sell its campus in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The seminary has not identified a sale date but said it would operate its campus through the 2026-2027 school year.

"It's a very special place," said Lucas Carlson, a masters of divinity student at Luther Seminary. "I feel like I'm grieving a loss, even though they said they're not going to sell for a year or two."

The change comes as the seminary said it wants to manage its resources wisely.

"Our mission to educate leaders for Christian communities remains as vital and necessary as ever," Luther Seminary President Robin Steinke said. "To remain sustainable over the long term, how we fulfill this mission will be transformed going forward. Seeking new space and shifting to a more nimble model will allow us to steward our resources more effectively and serve students and learners from all walks of life." 

The seminary said the decision to sell was not due to budgetary concerns.

"Luther Seminary is in a strong financial position," said officials in a news release.

Of the student body, officials say 70% engage in online coursework. In addition to selling its St. Paul campus, the seminary will lay off 10% of its staff.

The seminary, part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has been operating for more than 150 years. For the last 120 years, its campus has been located off Como Avenue, just west of the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus.

The seminary is seeking a new space in the Twin Cities that will better meet its teaching, learning, scholarship and community engagement needs. It said it remains committed to "strategic, periodic in-person learning."

"I hope they actually follow through on having an in-person learning and living space so students who want it can have it," Carlson said.

As for the St. Paul campus, Carlson said he hopes Luther Seminary sells the space to a cause such as affordable housing.

• St. Paul