2026 Spring Theological Conference

“Intersectionality: Living a Life of Repentance from a Personal and Global Perspective”

Spring Theological Conference
April 12, 2026 – April 14, 2026
Yankton, SD

The Southeastern Conference invites you to join us in Yankton the week following Easter for the 2026 Spring Theological Conference beginning on Sunday, April 12, and concluding on Tuesday, April 14. Gather with your colleagues from across the synod as we explore the theme “Intersectionality: Living a Life of Repentance from a Personal and Global Perspective.”

***Note from your Southeastern Conference hosts: If you have one, please bring a digital or print copy of The Book of Concord to the event to aid in discussion.***

About Dr. Francisco Herrera

After completing undergraduate studies in viola and orchestra conducting, Francisco Herrera would come to both the Christian faith and Lutheran theology while continuing his music studies in Geneva, Switzerland. While there, he also discovered that he was a polyglot—adding French and Spanish to the German and English he spoke on arrival—which in turn enabled him to immerse himself in intensive intercultural work, whether as a language teacher, an interpreter for religious and secular NGOs, or in day-to-day life in a “UN town.” Returning to the United States to begin divinity studies in 2005, he received his MDiv from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2012 and began his PhD studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 2013. He quickly became involved in activism for justice and inclusion within his home denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and the broader United States. His primary academic interests orbit anything and everything around the study, support, and creation of intersectional church culture and community, Lutheran theology, post-colonial/decolonial theory, and Christian socialism. As a Latino scholar and activist, he also has a deep interest in Gloria Anzaldúa’s concept of “neplantlera” as a grounding for the development of intersectional identity and sensitivity in individuals and communities.

About The Rev. Khader El-Yateem

Khader El-Yateem is practiced in bridge-building. As a former pastor of Salam Arabic Lutheran Church in New York City—a congregation he started as a mission developer in 1995 and at which he preached in both Arabic and English—he served as a clergy liaison to the New York Police Department and co-founded the Bay Ridge Unity Task Force, established by an interreligious group of leaders to combat bigotry in the wake of 9/11. A native Palestinian, El-Yateem is president of the ELCA Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage, concentrating their advocacy on connecting immigrants and refugees with church resources. He served the ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod as assistant to the bishop and director for evangelical mission. On March 18, of 2024 El-Yateem he began a new role, as executive director of the Service and Justice home area in the ELCA churchwide organization. He is known as Father K and a movie about him was produced in 2018 and you can find his story on Prive Video.

Speaker:

Rev. Khader El-Yateem
Executive Director of the Service and Justice Home Area, ELCA

Speaker:

Dr. Francisco Herrara
Independent Scholar, ELCA Member

Lodging

Lodging is not provided in your registration. Room blocks for “South Dakota Synod ELCA” and “Spring Theological Conference” are ready to book. Just call the hotel directly and mention the block name above for the discounted rate. Reservations must be made by 3/14/26.

About the Conference

The 2026 Spring Theological Conference will be hosted by the Southeastern Conference and held in person at multiple locations in Yankton:

April 12th: Worship at Trinity Lutheran Church (403 Broadway Ave), followed by fellowship at the Boat House (301 E 3rd St)
April 13th: Trinity Lutheran Church (Morning) and River Rock Event Center (Evening) – 2901 Broadway Ave
April 14th: Trinity Lutheran Church

Schedule

***Note from your Southeastern Conference hosts: If you have one, please bring a digital or print copy of The Book of Concord to the event to aid in discussion.***

Sunday, April 12th

Monday, April 13th (continued):

3:45 PM Session #4: Dr. Francisco Herrerra
6:00 PM Dinner at the River Rock Event Center (2901 Broadway Ave), including Session 5: Bishop Constanze Hagmaier speaking to the situations of the SD Synod.

Tuesday, April 14th

Online Registration

Cost: $125

Registration closes Friday, April 3rd.