Concordia Theological Seminary facts for kids
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| Type | Seminary |
|---|---|
| Established | 1846 |
|
Religious affiliation
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Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod |
| President | Jon S. Bruss |
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Academic staff
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26 |
| Students | 279 |
| Location |
,
,
United States
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| Campus | Major city, 191 acres (77 ha) |
Concordia Theological Seminary is a special school in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where people learn to become pastors and deaconesses for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS). It helps them get ready for important jobs in the church. Students can earn different types of degrees here, including master's and doctoral degrees.
Contents
History of Concordia Theological Seminary
How the School Started in Fort Wayne
In 1844, a pastor named Frederick C. D. Wyneken started teaching two young men in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He wanted to help them become pastors. When Wyneken moved to a new church in 1845, another pastor, Wilhelm Sihler, took over the teaching.
Wyneken had asked for help from Wilhelm Loehe in Germany. Loehe sent eleven students and a teacher to Fort Wayne in August 1846. This is when the seminary officially began, with Sihler as its first president. Classes were held in the pastor's house, and a small house was rented for the students to live in.
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod was formed in 1847. Loehe then gave the seminary to this new church group. He kept helping by sending money, books, and more students from Germany. A few years later, the seminary bought about 14 acres of land and built its first school building.
This school was known as the "practical seminary." Its main goal was to quickly train pastors for churches. It taught both basic school subjects and theology. This meant students could become pastors even without knowing ancient languages like Greek and Hebrew.
Moving to St. Louis
In 1861, the seminary moved to St. Louis, Missouri. This move happened during the American Civil War. Missouri allowed theological students to avoid being drafted into the army, but Indiana did not. The school joined another seminary, Concordia Seminary, in St. Louis.
C. F. W. Walther, who was already the president of the St. Louis school, also became president of the practical seminary. However, there were some disagreements between the two schools. They had different ways of teaching and different goals. Also, both schools grew, and the campus became too crowded.
Moving to Springfield
In 1874, the practical seminary moved again, this time to Springfield, Illinois. The younger students and one teacher moved first. In 1875, the rest of the seminary followed. F. A. Craemer became the new president.
For a long time, there were no strict rules for joining the seminary. In 1918, students had to have finished eighth grade. They also added an extra year of study. This helped pastors get teaching certificates for church schools. Even so, many graduating pastors in the 1920s had only a high school education, plus their pastoral training.
Over time, the seminary worked to improve its academic standards. Greek became a required course. Students needed at least two years of high school to enter. The school also sought official recognition from the state of Illinois.
By 1941, all new students had to be high school graduates. This meant the seminary no longer needed to teach high school classes. The school kept raising its standards. Later, students needed two years of college, and eventually, college graduates were preferred. Professors were also expected to have doctoral degrees. In 1968, the seminary became a member of the American Association of Theological Schools. The degrees it awarded became fully recognized.
Returning to Fort Wayne
The seminary stayed in Springfield until 1976. At that time, the church group reorganized its training schools. The seminary moved back to Fort Wayne, Indiana. It took over the campus of Concordia Senior College, which was known for its beautiful design by Eero Saarinen.
Presidents of Concordia Theological Seminary
Concordia Theological Seminary has had 17 presidents since it began. Here is a list of the people who have led the school:
| No. | Name | Term |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilhelm Sihler | 1846–1861 |
| 2 | C. F. W. Walther | 1861–1875 |
| 3 | Friedrich August Crämer | 1875–1891 |
| 4 | Reinhold Pieper | 1891–1914 |
| 5 | Richard Daniel Biedermann | 1914–1921 |
| 6 | Henry Adam Klein | 1922–1935 |
| 7 | Henry B. Hemmeter | 1936–1945 |
| 8 | G. Christian Barth | 1945–1952 |
| 9 | Walter A. Baepler | 1952–1958 |
| 10 | George Beto | 1959–1962 |
| 11 | J. A. O. Preus II | 1962–1969 |
| 12 | Richard J. Schultz | 1970–1974 |
| 13 | Robert D. Preus | 1974–1989 |
| – | Norbert H. Mueller | 1989–1992 |
| – | Robert D. Preus | 1992–1993 |
| 14 | David G. Schmiel | 1993–1995 |
| 15 | Dean O. Wenthe | 1996–2011 |
| 16 | Lawrence R. Rast Jr. | 2011–2024 |
| 17 | Jon S. Bruss | 2024–present |
What Students Learn at Concordia
Concordia Theological Seminary has four main areas of study:
- Exegetical Theology: This is about understanding the Bible deeply.
- Historical Theology: This explores the history of Christian beliefs.
- Pastoral Ministry and Mission: This teaches how to be a pastor and share the faith.
- Systematic Theology: This focuses on organizing and understanding Christian teachings.
The seminary teaches a traditional view of Lutheran faith. Students spend a lot of time studying the Bible and the Book of Concord, which contains important Lutheran teachings. It is also a place where people pray together every day. They have daily services like Matins, Vespers, and Compline, and celebrate the Lord's Supper each week.
Famous People Who Attended Concordia
Many people who went to Concordia Theological Seminary have gone on to do important things. Here are a few examples:
- Dan Cloeter: A Lutheran pastor who was also a marathon runner.
- Patrick Ferry: He was the president of Concordia University Wisconsin for many years.
- Daniel L. Gard: He served as a high-ranking chaplain in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. He was also president of Concordia University Chicago.
- Matthew Harrison: He has been the president of the LCMS since 2010.
- Joel D. Heck: A professor of theology at Concordia University Texas.
- Scot Kerns: A member of the Montana State Legislature.
- Gerald B. Kieschnick: He was the president of the LCMS from 2001 to 2010.
- Donald K. Muchow: He was the Chief of Chaplains for the United States Navy.
- Andrew Schulze: A Lutheran pastor who worked for civil rights.
- Andrew Steinmann: A professor of theology and Hebrew at Concordia University Chicago.
