Dive into the age of Lutheran scholasticism and the spiritual renewal of Pietism. See how tension between doctrine and devotion shaped Lutheran identity in Europe and beyond.

Dr. Peter Vethanayagamony is Professor of Modern Church History at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where he brings decades of global teaching and pastoral experience to the classroom. Before joining LSTC in 2006, he served as Academic Dean and Church History professor at Hindustan Bible Institute in Chennai, India, and has ministered in both India and Chicago.
Known for his passion for historical inquiry and faith formation, Dr. Vethanayagamony’s research explores early Indian Lutheranism, Bible Women, the Global Tamil Diaspora, and immigrant churches in the West.
His Project Starling resource, Church’s Witness: A Survey of Church History, traces Christianity’s evolution over 2,000 years—offering learners the chance to engage the church’s legacy with fresh insight and global perspective. Dr. Vethanayagamony holds multiple advanced degrees from institutions in India and the U.S., including a PhD (with distinction) from LSTC. He is rostered in the Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA.