Global Seminary Initiative

Transcription

1 Global Seminary Initiative A Case for Worldwide Theological Leadership and Service 1

2 Oh, save Your people and bless Your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever. Ps. 28:9 ESV If The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod did not exist... There would be no seminaries to prepare LCMS pastors, not in the United States nor in our partner churches in places like Siberia, India, Argentina, Togo or elsewhere. There would be no LCMS mission work in Sri Lanka, Guinea, South Africa, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, Russia, Haiti and more than 80 other countries around the world. There would be no LCMS parochial schools. None of the Concordia colleges or universities would exist. There would be no mass-media Lutheran outreach via KFUO radio. There would be no mercy work for Lutherans and other people suffering from the effects of natural disasters in Indonesia, Haiti, Japan, Joplin, Mo. or Minot, N.D. There would be no Lutheran military chaplains caring for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines or for veterans of military service. There would be no theological encouragement for Lutherans living in Liberia, South Africa, Lithuania, Germany and Kenya, to name only a handful. There would be no Lutheran campus ministries for young adults away from home at college. There would be no Concordia Publishing House, the third-largest Protestant, church-owned publisher in the United States. There would be no Lutheran Layman s League or Lutheran Women s Missionary League. There would be no The Lutheran Hour. If the LCMS did not exist, what would the world miss? What would you miss? But The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod does exist. And because it does, God has blessed and continues to bless countless people through it. 2

3 An Invitation to Prayerfully Consider Today we are asking you to consider a special kind of gift, one that is at the heart of what it is to be the Church. We are asking you to pray about giving a gift through The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for the ongoing education of Lutheran pastors around the world through the Global Seminary Initiative. This document provides the rationale for making such a bold and hopeful invitation, and we ask that you spend time in it, giving thought to the impact such a gift will have on people living in the body of Christ and those dying apart from it throughout the world. Who has first given to Me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine. Job 41:11 ESV 3

4 A Growing Lutheran Voice The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is always seeking out the best of the best. The purest form of the Gospel to share, the clearest hymnody to sing, the most faithful pastors to shepherd her churches and the most genuine care for people in both body and soul. The same goes for Christian and theological education, especially for our pastors and church leaders both here and abroad. In this, we are simply following in the footsteps of Martin Luther, who cared deeply about the education and formation of the Church s leaders. We joyfully continue Luther s legacy, desiring and seeking the best of the best for the sake of whole body of Christ. God is amazing in His ways. He wants me to know Scripture and be mighty in it; otherwise I am not to preach. Yet He does not want me to rely on my attainments. Paul exhorts Timothy to study without ceasing. Similarly, Christ wants us to possess a wealth of Scripture knowledge in order to defeat the sects. He wants learned men to preach, men who are equipped with Scripture and are able chivalrously to contend for God; yet they are not to rely on their skill and wisdom, but the Holy Spirit is to teach them in the faith. In this way the devil is checkmated. God wants to do this work. Martin Luther (Luther s Works AE 17 I, 143 f) 4

5 Concordia Seminary Argentina celebrating 75 years of preparing pastors for Latin America, May 2012 The ongoing theological education of pastors in our church is of great importance in this time, we are invaded through the various means of mass communication with the teachings of different churches. Our pastors need to be able to differentiate between teachings that are biblical and others that are not, as they lead the people in their congregations. It s very important that our pastors continually deepen their understanding of Lutheran doctrine. Rev. Norberto Gerke, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay 5

6 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Cor. 1:10 ESV The very first thing the people and pastors who formed the LCMS did was to establish a seminary to ensure that the preaching of the Gospel and distribution of the Sacraments would continue. It should be no surprise that our missionaries have have followed this pattern. Many years ago, the LCMS began to plant seeds that have provided a strong foundation and example for a worthwhile mission in global seminary education. We started over a century ago (1895) in India and then Brazil and Argentina, and then spent the next several decades sharing the Gospel and training leaders in half a dozen more countries. In fact, the work that was done after World War II resulted in many of the churches we see today, in locations all around the world. You see, Lutheran theology doesn t allow human needs to be separated. Through the Holy Spirit s work by means of faithful pastors, teachers and medical personnel, congregations would spring up, people would encounter the Word and Christians would then begin to gather as congregations around both Word and Sacrament. At that point, they were considered sustainable. They desired to see the faith continue from generation to generation, and the next step was a realization that they needed to train their own leaders and pastors. Global Lutheran communities are still in that last phase, with a fervent need and longing to see their church leaders and pastors formed into the kind of theologians that would make Luther proud and would best serve the Gospel. 6

7 We had a unique model: Since faith and theology address the mind, body, and soul we began by meeting people where they were in culture and setting. Places where people had physical needs and a yearning for mercy, educational needs that had previously gone ignored, and where the mission of proclaiming the Gospel could be carried out to its fullness. Rev. David Birner, Co-Interim Executive Director for LCMS Office of International Mission 7

8 In some places around the world today, Lutheranism is thriving. In others it is maturing. In others it is fragile. Everywhere I go I encounter people eager to hear about God s grace and in that sense, they are calling out for the Gospel. Recently, I presented in India at a conference dealing with the topic of Law and Gospel, attended by more than 400 pastors. There are three times as many Lutherans in Africa than in North America. When you let a number like that sink in, it shifts your thinking about where the center of Lutheranism is today and tomorrow. Dr. William Schumacher, Associate Professor of Historical Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Theological Coordinator for Africa, World Mission Rev. Daniel Preus, LCMS 4th Vice-President and the Director Emeritus of the Luther Academy Faculty, graduates and families at Theological Center for Lutheran Studies,Togo 8

9 New Realities and Opportunities The LCMS partner churches (in yellow) Lutheranism provides a clear answer to the many questions in our 21st century world. That answer is Christ and His gifts of Word and Sacrament, and our opportunities to share Christ in this world are as varied and plentiful as the places that will receive Him. The LCMS hears the cry of her partner churches around the world, as they also desire to continue Luther s legacy of robust theological education within their own countries and cultures. We are humbled to be in a position to help, and it is here that our global ministry focus of Witness, Mercy and Life Together continues to unfold. Lutheran theology speaks beyond our cultural understandings, and the world is becoming quite attuned to that reality. That means that our mission fields are changing, and our focus is shifting to the emerging churches who are rediscovering their Lutheran identity. When these embryonic churches seek out the LCMS for guidance toward clear proclamation of the Gospel, we want to help provide training and encouragement to them as their churches mature and grow. 9

10 President Amos Bolay with Liberian seminary students In the midst of the 1990 Liberian civil war, many Liberians fled to neighboring countries as refugees. Many became Lutherans and have returned home as members of congregations, or as church workers, evangelists and pastors of the many self established Lutheran congregations in their towns and villages. These pastors and evangelists are numbered up to 247. This is a blessing coupled with its own problem. Blessing because of the phenomenal increase in church growth. And the problem is that many of these 247 evangelists and pastors have had no formal or sound theological education, except for a few workshops and seminars. Theological education is an urgent need. The challenge is that these evangelists and pastors can be given pure doctrine and sound theological education to drink from, or be left to drink whatever they find in the absence of a well-structured theological education, that of sound Confessional Lutheranism, in their own cultural context. President Amos Bolay, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia 10

11 Lutherans around the world are surrounded by a myriad of dangerous and unhelpful theological ideas, and they also face the challenge of bringing the genuine Gospel of God s grace in Jesus Christ to bear on new situations of poverty, violence, social upheaval, political corruption and instability, and tremendous ethnic and linguistic diversity. The good news is, the Gospel found in God s faithful and unchanging Word transcends all confusion, threat and misunderstanding, and we in the LCMS are adept in teaching and sharing this Word. C. F. W. Walther indicated that the ability to distinguish correctly between Law and Gospel is the most difficult and the highest art of Christians in general and of theologians in particular. Everywhere Satan attempts to convince Christians to let their faith be formed by the Law. In the Missouri Synod we have been greatly blessed by God with a clear understanding of the proper distinction between Law and Gospel. Through the teaching we do we have the opportunity to provide instruction that will lead to the proclamation of the pure Gospel, which alone can save. Rev. Daniel Preus, LCMS 4th Vice-President and the Director of the Luther Academy 11

12 The LCMS has a global reputation for theological education based on the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God, and to the Lutheran Confessions as a true exposition of God s Word. In recent years, dedication to true doctrine and biblical Christianity has weakened in many places, but growing churches around the globe still value that kind of solid foundation. There are many, many Lutheran church bodies looking to the LCMS for leadership, and it is precisely because of our dedictation to God s Word and the Lutheran Confessions that they look to us. Our synod has always emphasized the importance of thorough theological training at its seminaries, and this training has been supplemented by excellent written resources from Concordia Publishing House. The people in our congregations have been the beneficiaries of this thorough instruction of our pastors in God s Word. Lutheran church bodies around the world see how we have been blessed and are eager to learn from us. The fall of the iron curtain as well as the electronic information era has led to the LCMS being in the right place at the right time in the right ways to help the cause of Lutheranism (and sharing the Gospel) around the world. And in Africa, the LCMS has helped provide a clear and faithful Lutheran voice among Africans from many nations in a time of tremendous societal change. And so it is that we value the ability to be attentive to global issues, always ready to witness and care for our neighbors when they endure instability, distress and tumult. Through God s Word, we show mercy to the least of these, reminding them of the promises that are for them in Christ s death, resurrection and ascension. As Christians among other Christians, we are in this together through mutual respect, care and love. As churches, we give to each other and also receive from each other. That life together spans centuries and continents the communion of saints! Locations where the LCMS is involved in theological education 12

13 First-year students from Venezuela, Guatemala and Bolivia attend Seminario Concordia in Argentina It s a huge responsibility to have the only Lutheran Spanishspeaking confessional seminary in the world. The IELA is also the largest Spanish-speaking Lutheran church body in the world so we have a special calling. We need to carry out our mission part of which is to prepare workers for the church... We are a partner church of the LCMS... We continue walking hand-in-hand and deeply appreciate all of the investments of time, support and people that the LCMS has given us. Rev. Carlos Nagel, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina (IELA) on the occasion of Seminario Concordia s 75th anniversary in Buenos Aires. 13

14 Existing Momentum Our faculty goes into all the world to bring the Gospel, via helping to build up Lutheran seminaries and churches. The deep relationships that are created and nurtured through such interaction will continue to energize us all for Christ s mission. Dr. Lawrence J. Rast, president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. Both seminaries of the LCMS are recognized internationally for being confessional Lutheran institutions for biblically-based theological training. For this reason, our seminaries have made themselves known over the years for sending seminary professors and leaders to help train and increase the capacity of partner church faculties, providing mutual consolation and encouragement to faculty and students in partner seminaries. Rev. Professor John Pless of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, teaches students in South Africa. Our seminaries have sent professors to teach in Siberia and South Africa, in India, Latvia and Argentina, in Kenya, Lithuania, Chile and many other countries. By God s grace we will continue to send our seminary professors to teach in other countries. God has blessed our church with gifted, confessional Lutheran teachers, modern day church fathers, at our two seminaries, and they joyfully respond to the call to teach our fellow Lutherans overseas. Why is this so important for the long term? We send our professors to help build up church bodies and seminary training programs, acting as a bridge until our partner churches have strong faculties of their own. Globally, we intend to enhance the caliber of Lutheran seminaries around the world this multiplication factor is what makes it all stable and sustainable for centuries to come. Rev. Dr. William Schumacher, professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, stands with students in Liberia. 14

15 I was baptized as a student in 1992, and then within two years was ordained as a deacon, although I came from an atheistic family. As a deacon, I could preach and teach, but not serve Holy Communion. In 2001, the church in Siberia had only one ordained pastor and two deacons, so our pastor had a lot of pressure because he had to travel a lot to give Pavel and family on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, winter 2009 people communion. So we asked the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Estonia to ordain a few deacons even without a seminary education. After I was ordained, I knew I wanted to go to seminary eventually, so I entered Lutheran Theological Seminary in Novosibirsk in I thought the education would give me, a person with church work experience, a small addition to my knowledge, but now I know you cannot be a good pastor if you don t know theology well. My first professor, Dr. Horace Hummel, a professor emeritus of exegetical theology from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, showed me how little I knew. He was tough. He explained that we have almost no idea about theology, the Bible, anything. I began to realize how much background knowledge I was missing while writing sermons and doing church work before attending seminary. Now the church doesn t ordain pastors without the seminary education. We are really grateful to those in the LCMS who are supporting us. Without their support, we would just be surviving, but with them we can grow. Our people can and should take more financial responsibility for the church, but this is a big challenge in Russia because the majority of people still have the communist mindset. They don t believe in volunteering or giving money, so the continued support of our LCMS brothers and sisters is critical. Rev. Pavel Khramov, Lutheran Theological Seminary in Novosibirsk, Russia 15

16 Pastors of Concordia Lutheran Church in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan The training of pastors is an intense, costly, time-consuming enterprise. There are no short cuts. Whenever short cuts are taken, it is more costly to the church in the end. Some Protestant denominations and mission organizations have adopted mission models or strategies built on training leaders with minimal theological education. In December 2011, I attended a meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan with Dr. Al Collver and Rev. Daniel Johnson to discuss the future of theological education in Siberia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The participants consisted of seminary rectors (presidents), church bishops, faculty and clergy. One morning at breakfast, Rev. Alexander Fisunov (Kazakhstan) who is involved in planting four house churches asked to speak to us about pastoral education. He began by saying, One well trained soldier is worth a lot more than ten untrained soldiers. dr. Timothy C. J. Quill, Director of Global Seminary Education for LCMS Office of International Mission 16

17 For the LCMS, the benefits of bringing international students to our seminaries for study include enhanced contact with other Lutherans around the globe, seeing the world through a different set of eyes, and having our faith encouraged by hearing what other Lutheran Christians endure in their specific contexts. We learn about faithfulness in the face of adversity, we see how they confess the Gospel in their places, and we impart what we have (namely, theological education) to them in return. They ve never seen Lutheranism like this before, and when we come together as a community, they don t feel so alone. They know we are praying for them, that this life together includes them as well. Our primary focus in allowing international students to apply for admission to our graduate and postgraduate seminary programs is to bring top-tier leadership to partner churches around the world. In this way, we heed Luther s advice in enhancing credibility, sustainability and Lutheran education, all to amplify the truth of the Gospel in a world that so desperately needs to hear of the forgiveness, life and salvation that we have in Christ. Dr. Albert B. Collver III, Director of Church Relations/ Assistant to the President Professors Antonio Schimpf and Roberto Bustamante of Concordia Seminary Argentina study for advanced degrees at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis 17

18 A T ime f o r A u d acit y When the LCMS and her seminaries make every effort to coordinate what they do, especially when it comes to international work, Lutheranism is impacted worldwide. When a seminary or other institution or agency within the Synod goes its own way, it can easily result in confusion and misunderstanding something we work hard to avoid. We are in a new era. It is time to work together to meet the global needs of pastoral education, for the strengthening of the Lutheran world and continuation of the clear, pure proclamation of the Gospel. Through mutual interdependence and cooperation between the LCMS and its seminaries, we believe that our opportunities to share Christ and His gifts with the world will only be enhanced by making theological education a priority both here and abroad. The world has changed from the time of sending out missionaries to places where people had never heard the Gospel. In most parts of world today, we have partner churches who firmly believe that one of the best qualities of the LCMS is our theological education. It is our niche, one of our core competencies, and we are well-positioned to make the most of it by assisting these partner churches. Dr. Albert B. Collver III, Director of Church Relations/ Assistant to the President Early LCMS mission work in India circa

19 From clergy to lay leaders to beloved people in the pews, there is a growing desire to see the LCMS take action, to go out and proclaim the Gospel to all four corners of the world. Our pastors and laypeople know that only the Word of God will create and grow churches. They also recognize that the foreign mission paradigm has changed over the past several years. In almost all places, pastors are being raised up from within their own tribes and peoples and nations, so one of the best and most obvious ways we can help is to provide teaching. In the LCMS, we have the ability to be bold in action, doing everything we can to identify and secure resources and teachers to spread God s Word and our Lutheran Confessions among as many as possible. It is a very great grace when the pulpit is supplied with persons who preach the Word aright and purely. But beside these there must be people who defend the doctrine and oppose heretics, so that doctrine is not adulterated by them. For this purpose schools must be maintained; from them come the people who can contend for doctrine. If, then, a man helps this cause and gives, so that we can have such persons as are able to teach aright, comfort the downcast at the command of Christ, and resist the wolves, and if he also supplies them plentifully with sustenance, he should not consider this merely a paying of bills but should look upon it as a praise and thankoffering due God. In addition to this, he should also pray in all earnestness, as Christ bids us do, that He would send laborers into His harvest. Martin Luther (Luther s Works AE 49, 153) 19

20 God must be especially pleased when we are glad to help supply and provide the churches well with ministers; for, in the first place, this work furthers the glory of God and exalts His name. In the second place, people are thereby helped to be rid of the tyranny of the devil and to be saved. But how could we invest our money better and do more good with it? Martin Luther (Luther s Works AE 52, 608) The LCMS has the expertise, the congregational support and the capacity to take the bold action needed to make this happen. What we need most now are supporters who are audacious enough to provide the necessary investment towards a seamless effort in direct support of global seminary education. The seminaries and synod are at the ready to join together to do what we as individuals are unable to do. Just as the Lutheran church leaders in the US many years ago were daring enough to create a seminary before there was even a synod, we too are energized and prepared to best utilize an initial venture capital investment for the enhancement of the theological education in our partner churches. This kind of initiative, especially when we are all working on it together, helps turn our minds and hearts outward, beyond ourselves, to focus on opportunities to serve others around the world with the gifts of solid theology and educational experience that God has given us. In the long run, it will be a tremendous blessing for the LCMS to be connected to Lutheran leaders globally. It can lead to new relationships of genuine partnership and mutual respect. Rev. John Mehl, LCMS Asia Pacific director, Rev. Ron Rall of Timothy Lutheran, St. Louis, and a pastor from the Gutnius Lutheran Church 20

21 The Global Seminary Initiative Pastor Willy Gaspar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Dominican Republic cuts the ribbon for a new church There are still some areas remaining in the world in which missionaries are involved in planting a church where none exists. In most areas, however, indigenous churches have been established and national pastors and evangelists are preaching the Gospel, catechizing, baptizing and leading the divine services. So is there still a need for western missionaries in the 21st century, and if so, what is the nature of their task? The answer is quite simple they will teach theology. Everywhere I travel bishops, seminary presidents, faculty and pastors are pleading with the LCMS to 1) send qualified professors to teach at their seminaries and 2) make it possible for the brightest and best (the next generation of teachers and church leaders) to study at our two seminaries in Fort Wayne and St. Louis. dr. Timothy C. J. Quill, Director of Global Seminary Education for LCMS Office of International Mission 21

22 A Vision for Seamless Lutheran Leadership The plan is to educate 100 international students, each being selected by partner church leadership to study at one of our two LCMS seminaries. These students are promising individuals who can make a great impact on Lutheranism in the future, as emerging churches especially need well-grounded, well-educated leaders. Bishop Walter Obare of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya visits with LCMS President Matthew Harrison in St. Louis. The vision for the Global Seminary Initiative came about when President Harrison was in Wittenberg with Bishop Obare, and saw how excited he was with such an educational experience. The idea was born: What a great impact we can make on the Lutheran world by providing good, solid theological education for partner church leaders! The Global Seminary Initiative puts resources to work offering the very best theological education to pastors and church leaders around the world. The biggest impact is through scholarships for Lutheran international students at our LCMS seminaries, a vital effort because it feeds the next generation with in-depth study of the Word of God by their own leaders. The Global Seminary Initiative also offers strategic short-term engagement by LCMS theologians in international seminaries where their knowledge and experience can strengthen those programs and benefit those students. The goal is to strengthen confessional Lutheranism by improving confessional Lutheran theological education around the world. dr. Albert B. Collver III, Director of Church Relations/ Assistant to President 22

23 Why a Global Seminary Initiative? Because we are all members of same Body, namely Christ s. Because God has given us the ability to do so. Because it gives us such great joy to work together with our brothers and sisters in Christ to proclaim the most glorious message the world has ever heard: the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. What will a successful Global Seminary Initiative look like? Clear, bold, faithful proclamation of the Gospel A world saturated with Lutheran theology and practice Christians of various countries, walking alongside one another to carry out God s work After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! rev. 7: 9 10 ESV 23

24 What Would Be Required (Resources)? International Graduate Student Fellowships and Sponsorships o 30 select international partner church students enrolled annually between CSL, CTSFW in master s and doctoral level programs o $25,000 annual aid per student o Total annual goal: $800,000 Faculty Travel Stipends and Educational Resources o up to 25 seminary faculty members or other qualified instructors each traveling internationally twice per year o Total annual goal: $100,000 Quality Resources for Partner Church Seminaries o Student scholarships for regional seminaries o Aid for various academic resources o Total annual goal: $100,000 Long-Term Sustainability Through Endowment o Annual base revenue stream to sustain GSI: $1,000,000 o Invested fund returning 7%+ annually to generate $1 million and maintain impact over time o Initial endowment goal: $25,000,000 Breakdown of estimated annual budget 10% 10% Fellowships and sponorships Faculty travel stipends 80% Resources for partner church seminaries 24

25 An invitation to change the global face of Lutheran leadership The godly rejoice when the Gospel is widely spread, many come to faith, and Christ s kingdom is increased in this way. Martin Luther (Luther s Works AE 40 II, 118) It is our fervent hope and prayer that you will rejoice with us as the Gospel is spread, all around the globe, through the multitude of believers who are cared for by faithful, theologically educated shepherds in Christ s church. Your gift in support of Global Seminary Education helps make that sharing possible, and in so doing you walk together with us to change the face of Lutheranism around the world. 25

26 Thank you! Thank you for prayerfully considering this invitation to invest in the witness work of the LCMS through the Global Seminary Initiative. To support the Global Seminary Initiative with a gift or to request additional information about this opportunity, please contact your LCMS mission advocate or: The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Mission Advancement Toll Free: Mission.Advancement@lcms.org 26

27 It s the devil s trick to make us think that somehow we are hurting financially or that we don t have the resources collectively to do what the Church needs to do for the Christ and His Gospel. This is Missouri s worldwide moment, and together we have the resources to step forward with the Gospel and Luther s teaching on the worldwide platform awaiting our arrival. By the grace of God and for the sake of the mission of this church, it s time for us to work together. Will you help? Will you work with us? We know you can. We pray you will. rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison 27

28 28 rev. 06/01/2012 M i s s i o n A d v a n c e m e n t mission.advancement@lcms.org