Connecting Faith, Learning, and Life Together
Concordia University, St. Paul promises to be a place where Christ is honored and where Lutheran convictions inform intellectual inquiry and academic pursuits. The Solus Christus Fellows Program provides students with an opportunity to explore why their faith matters for their studies and their future careers. At the center of the program is the Christian Gospel – the free and enlivening work of Jesus Christ. The curriculum brings the Christian scriptures, theological resources, and Christian community together to inform and shape students’ lives for dedicated service to God and humanity.
Solus Christus Fellows is a mentoring program that fosters reflection on the connections between the Christian faith, academic learning, and life together. In a small group setting, students lead and participate in discussions of readings that deepen their faith, build community, and help them to live well in their various God-given callings in life.
Through special lectures at Concordia University including the annual Hoffmann Lecture and occasional events at area universities, churches, and Christian organizations, students will have the opportunity to hear prominent speakers on important topics in Christian theology. These speaker events will explore the intersection of Christian theology with the humanities, arts, sciences, and health professions.
As a catalyst for maintaining a strong Christian and Lutheran identity among Concordia students, faculty, and the larger campus community, the Hoffmann Mentoring Initiative established the Solus Christus Fellows Program to foster a strong Christian intellectual environment and a supportive Christian community on campus.
The Solus Christus Fellows Program began in the 2017-2018 academic year as part of CSP’s celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. The “Reformation solas” captured the heart and essence of the Reformation: by grace alone, through faith alone, in Scripture alone. To these is added one more sola – Christ alone. Solus Christus means that our salvation is only in the life, death, and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ (John 20:31). Solus Christus is essential to our Lutheran identity as a university and serves as an excellent starting point for conversations on how Lutheran convictions inform intellectual inquiry and academic pursuits.
Scholarship amount per year for undergraduate students in Solus Christus Program
Solus Christus Program includes:
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As a Solus Christus Fellow, you will be part of a small cohort who meet every week during the academic year for guided discussion. You will discuss carefully selected short readings designed to help you understand and live well in your various God-given callings in life. These readings provide a grounding in the best of what the Christian tradition – the Bible, the early church, Reformation-era, and more recent Christian writers – says about these various callings.
Fellows who complete at least four semesters will receive recognition as a Solus Christus Fellow to formally recognize their exploration of Christian theology and vocation.
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Christian community is about life together. As a Solus Christus Fellow, you will be part of a community that encourages each other and regularly takes part in discussions together. We will also incorporate opportunities for us to grow relationally and in our Christian spiritual formation together.
Fellows are expected to actively participate in the following activities:
- Coffeehouse book discussions every week (typically on Monday evenings, 8:30-10 p.m. and/or on Friday afternoons, 3:30-5 p.m.)
- Morning and/or evening chapel and weekly worship.
- The Beautiful Feet conference in the fall semester and the Contemplate Retreat in the spring semester.
- The Hoffmann and Poehler Lectures, theology symposium, social events, and service opportunities throughout the year.
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Students have many commitments and responsibilities. In addition to the many benefits of the program, students will receive a small $125/semester stipend at the end of each semester. Students must fulfill all the requirements of the program in order to receive the stipend and to communicate with the director of the program if any scheduling needs arise. All costs of the program, community meals, retreats, and books will be covered by the program.
“Solus Christus has given me the opportunities to wrestle with the realities of our broken world through the lens of Christian law and gospel.”
Program Expectations
Solus Christus Fellows are CSP undergraduate or grad/professional students in any field or discipline. Interested students should complete this online application and agree to the above expectations.
Questions? Contact Rev. Mark Koschmann, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Theology and Ministry
Fiechtner Chair in Christian Outreach Director
Hoffmann Initiatives & Christus Fellows
651-641-8254 | Schedule an appointment
Office #326, Poehler Administration Building