North American Lutheran Seminary - NALS

North American Lutheran Seminary - NALS This page is for the students, faculty, staff and supporters of the North American Lutheran Seminary Please call ahead to set up a visit: 724-385-8000.

The NALS office located in Ambridge, PA, is open to visitors by appointment only.

08/18/2026

The Rev. Dr. Orrey McFarland has been drawn lately to the image of the pastor as a gardener, as it applies to ministry and its slow, patient work. You tend what matters each day, pull the weeds, water the seeds, and then you wait. Harder than grabbing a burrito from the drive-thru, and far more faithful.

Listen to the full episode at thenals.org/podcast

08/14/2026

Are the Lutheran confessions a gift or a boundary? The Rev. Dr. Orrey McFarland on receiving them as treasures that give us Christ, rather than a fence that marks off what we are not.

Listen to the full episode. Link in the comments.

Pastors & leaders—Who do you know who's been wondering if God might be calling them into ministry?Maybe they’ve asked qu...
08/13/2026

Pastors & leaders—
Who do you know who's been wondering if God might be calling them into ministry?

Maybe they’ve asked questions about seminary.
Maybe they’ve said, “I’m not sure… but I keep thinking about it.”

𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 Jeff Morlock 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽-𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟳.

🕐 1:00 pm or 8:00 pm ET
💻 Zoom link available at thenals.org/discern

It’s a space to ask questions, explore next steps, and receive prayerful guidance.
Sometimes all someone needs is a place to begin.

Tag them. Text them. Forward them the link.
thenals.org/discern

08/04/2026

"The zeal of the convert" eventually gives way to something calmer. Orrey McFarland on the seasons of his journey into Lutheranism, and how parish life loosened the need to defend himself.

Full episode linked in the comments. 👇

07/31/2026

"The goal should be to give them a durable faith." Orrey McFarland on why stock answers aren't enough, and what it takes to prepare people for the hard questions. Part 1 of David and Maurice's conversation with Orrey is out now. Full episode linked below.

07/22/2026

"Brashness and willingness to attack others on points of theology often reveals an underlying insecurity." — Rev. Dr. Orrey McFarland

New episode of Cardigan & Collar live now.
thenals.org/podcast

The Rev. Dr. Orrey McFarland's path into confessional Lutheranism began with a PhD in Pauline studies, at a time when Lu...
07/17/2026

The Rev. Dr. Orrey McFarland's path into confessional Lutheranism began with a PhD in Pauline studies, at a time when Luther's reading of Paul had fallen out of favor among most New Testament scholars.

In this episode, Maurice and David introduce his 2025 retreat lecture on the confessions and Scripture, and the five practices he commends for keeping Scripture, not the confessions, as the destination of our reading.

New episode of Cardigan & Collar is live now. Link in the comments.

07/03/2026

What makes a church body feel like home?

For Dr. David Luy, the answer came at his first meeting with NALC theologians: a room where confessional seriousness and living theological conversation existed together. When Bishop Bradosky stood up and told the room that theologians are vital to the life and health of the church, something clicked.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘱."

Episode 4 of Cardigan & Collar is live now. Full episode link in the comments.

New this issue: a reading guide for Word & Sacrament. Whether you're using it for adult education, a small group, or per...
06/29/2026

New this issue: a reading guide for Word & Sacrament. Whether you're using it for adult education, a small group, or personal study, the guide is designed to make the theological content of the magazine more accessible—and to open up the question of who God is for conversation in the life of your congregation.

Get the guide: thenals.org/ws-guide.

Address

North American Lutheran Seminary At Trinity School For Ministry/311 Eleventh Street
Ambridge, PA
15003

Telephone

(724) 385-8000

Website

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