Trinity Lutheran Seminary is a school of theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). From 1978 until the ELCA came into being in 1988, Trinity was owned and operated jointly by the American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church in America. Trinity has been institutional evidence of the deep unity of faith, doctrine, and life that binds all Lutherans together into one confessional family. It is meant to be a concrete expression of that unity with the mission of the whole church of Jesus Christ.

Precisely because an integral part of Lutheran identity is not sectarian but ecumenical, the seminary has consciously sought to be of service to the wider Christian community. This is reflected in ecumenical representation among Trinity's student body, faculty and staff, course offerings, and special events. As a result, Trinity Lutheran Seminary has developed the respect of congregations and even the governing bodies of other churches. It has been looked to as a theological resource for local congregations and for seminarians who find it difficult to pursue education at a seminary of their own denomination.