LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 30

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30

SYNOD REPORTS
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Occupation of Phase A of the Library Expansion Project and landing
a significant challenge gift that promises to help complete the entire
expansion and renovation project within the next triennium.
Outstanding contextual learning opportunities for students through
fieldwork, summer vicarages, vicarages, and targeted module learning experiences.
Significant leadership on the LCMS Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (the president chairing the CTCR and two faculty
serving as Committee chairs).
Completion, in collaboration with the Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Kenya (ELCK), of Ibada Takatifu, Kenya’s first Lutheran hymnal
in the Swahili language (http://www.ctsfw.edu/page.aspx?pid=939).
Collaboration with the Office of the President of the LCMS, the Office
of Church Relations, and the Office of International Mission toward
the development and implementation of the LCMS’s Global Seminary
Initiative.
Hosting the International Lutheran Council’s Fourth World Seminaries
Conference (June 3–6, 2010) under the theme of “Confessional
Lutheran Identity in Light of Changing Christian Demographics”
(http://ctsfw.edu/Page.aspx?pid=781).
Addition of the full-text articles from Concordia Theological
Quarterly to the American Theological Library Association’s fulltext serials database, ATLAS.
Faithful, caring, missional students from all areas of the United States
and around the world.

Concordia Theological Seminary continues to be recognized as
one of the leading confessional Lutheran seminaries in the world,
called by some the “Wittenberg of the 21st century.” The seminary
is deeply grateful for God’s abundant blessings of increasing enrollment and the generous support through His people. The seminary will,
under God’s grace, continue to faithfully fulfill its mission.

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Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri (2010–2013)

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, first and foremost thanks God for
the people and pastors who have faithfully and generously enabled
the Seminary to advance our Lord’s mission during the last triennium.
Thousands and thousands of individuals in congregations continue
to fulfill a key objective for which The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod was founded, to “recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other
professional church workers and provide opportunity for their continuing education.”
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While many American seminaries serve the ministry needs of multiple
denominations, Concordia Seminary is blessed to prepare pastors and
deaconesses only for ministries within the LCMS. This singular service gives clear focus to our Seminary’s formation efforts and bonds
Seminary and congregations together in doing our Savior’s mission.
In the past triennium 359 candidates were presented to the Board of
Assignments to be placed in service. These candidates come from
formation programs carefully designed to serve the special needs of
ministry and mission in the new challenges of global and American
culture.
Numbers in parentheses indicate candidates presented for service in
the past triennium: Center for Hispanic Studies (8), Ethnic Immigrant
Institute of Theology (13), Specific Ministry Pastor program (83),
DELTO (24; now merged into SMP), Deaf Institute of Theology (1),
and Cross Cultural Ministry Center in partnership with Concordia
University, Irvine (10). Through on-site instruction, real time Internet
classes, intensive weeks in St. Louis, with approved pastor/professor mentors, these programs serve seminarians unable to move to St.
Louis.
The Master of Divinity and Alternate Route are traditional residential
programs on campus in St. Louis, the M.Div. by far the largest source
of candidates to the church (235 candidates presented; 13 from the
Alternate Route).
A most significant innovation was establishing a school for urban ministry, the MissionShift Institute, in which seminarians and urban laity

2013 Convention Workbook

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learn best practices for ministry in metropolitan areas. MissionShift
exemplifies the premium Concordia Seminary places on providing
cross-cultural, immersion experiences for students.
The Deaconess Program is experiencing growth, in part because of a
partnership with St. Louis University by which a deaconess candidate
can graduate with both a Masters in Deaconess Studies and a Master
of Social Work (16 candidates presented).
The Seminary’s strategic plans call for regular reviews of all curricula.
While serving ministerial needs within the LCMS, the faculty (35
members; 31 with terminal degrees) zealously offers theological
education to those interested in quality Lutheran theology from any
denomination, domestic or international. This happens through formal
advanced studies and from non-degree continuing education offerings.
A total of 317 academic degrees were awarded from 2010 to 2012,
including PhD, DMin, STM, and Master of Arts degrees, along with
Master of Divinity degrees.
Two significant innovations are a Masters degree taught in Spanish
and a modular PhD that does not require full-time residency.
Continuing education happens through offerings at various sites
throughout the country and world-wide through various offerings on
iTunesU. In the last triennium about 3.3 million classes, presentations,
and other offerings were downloaded from the Seminary’s Web site.
3.3 million!
Concordia Seminary has established the Center for the Study of Early
Christian Texts, the Center for the Care of Creation, and the Institute
for Stewardship Studies.
Since no seminary can graduate “finished products,” especially amidst
the cultural changes of the 21st century, continuing education assumes
increasing importance, and Concordia Seminary has the faculty and
technical capacity to help meet the need.
Concordia Seminary is responding to the decades-long change in the
funding of theological education. In the past triennium the Seminary
eliminated its debt completely, the first time since 1987 that the
Seminary has been debt-free.
Acknowledging that subsidy from the national budget of the LCMS
is not likely to return, the Board of Regents and administration are
actively working to secure long-term economic viability for the school,
gradually implementing 2007 Res. 4-09A. By their sacrificial gifts to
operations, student aid, and endowments, the people of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod are generously supporting Concordia
Seminary. We are truly thankful.

Healthy, thriving congregations will come in all shapes and sizes,
an array of ethnicities and set in contexts from urban to rural. The
Board of Regents, faculty, and administration are committed to providing pastors and deaconesses who are theologically sound, who
know they are called to community and not just congregation, servants who work cooperatively with the laity, and show themselves
persuasive leaders for God’s mission to His world. Of more than 260
accredited seminaries in North America, Concordia Seminary is about
the 20th largest and pledges to use its significant capacity to provide
theological leadership and resources for the congregations and pastors who have so sacrificially blessed us. September begins the 175th
anniversary year of Concordia Seminary, and we pray an energizing
new era of service with the congregations of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod.
Mission Advancement
LCMS Mission Advancement plans, executes, and coordinates
synodwide fund-raising activities in order to maximize charitable
gifts in support of Synod’s mission and ministry.
Genesis of Mission Advancement: 2010–2013

Prior to July 1, 2011, the work of encouraging and securing donations in support of LCMS ministries, primarily LCMS World Mission
and LCMS World Relief/Human Care, was divided between the