Concordia Seminary
Encyclopedia
Concordia Seminary is located in Clayton, Missouri
, an inner-ring suburb on the western border of St. Louis, Missouri
. The institution's primary mission is to train pastor
s, deacon
esses, missionaries
, chaplains, and church
leaders for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS). The current president of the seminary is the Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer.
Concordia Seminary is the second oldest Lutheran seminary (Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
, established in 1826, being the oldest), and one of the largest Seminaries in the United States. Founded in 1839, the seminary initially resided in Perry County, Missouri
. In 1849 it was moved to St. Louis, and in 1926 the current campus was built. Concordia shares the duty of clerical training for the LCMS with Concordia Theological Seminary
in Fort Wayne, Indiana
.
The St. Louis institution was at one time considered the "theoretical" (i.e., academic) seminary of the LCMS while Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne was considered the "practical" seminary, although those distinctions are no longer widely recognized. Concordia Seminary currently offers a Master of Divinity
degree leading to ordination, as well as Master of Arts
, Master of Sacred Theology
, Doctor of Ministry
, and Doctor of Philosophy
degrees. The seminary is considered theologically conservative, as it does not train women for ordination, and also promotes historical-grammatical
and reader response criticism interpretation of the Bible
. It is an accredited member of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
.
The radio station KFUO-AM 850
has its studios and transmitter tower on the campus; for many years the nationally-broadcast Lutheran Hour originated from this LCMS radio station.
.
Located next to Founder's Hall, the Luther Statue was originally dedicated at the former site of Concordia Seminary on Jefferson Avenue in St. Louis in 1903. In 1926, when the present campus was dedicated in Clayton, the statue was relocated to the new campus site. The statue is an exact replica of one that exists in Worms, Germany
. The statue in Germany is located where Martin Luther
made his famous speech, "Here I Stand", at the Diet of Worms
.
and was completed in 1966. At its base is a small chapel, the Chapel of the Holy Apostles and its crown contains a 49-bell carillon
. The bells are dedicated to the memory of all Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod pastors. The largest bell weighs 2.5 tons and the smallest weighs 17 pounds.
, publishes the Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, and assists districts and congregations of the Synod
in preserving their historical records.
, or Concordia Seminary in Exile. The Seminex walk-out protested the suspension of the seminary's president, John Tietjen
, who faced charges from the conservative Synodical president, Jacob Preus
, of allowing the teaching of false doctrine. More specifically, the charges alleged that Tietjen had permitted the teaching of historical-critical methods of scriptural interpretation, rather than upon exegetical principles that consider scripture to be the inerrant word of God (see Biblical inerrancy
). Seminex was never very successful, due mostly to its difficulties placing graduates in ministerial positions. Seminex suffered a gradually declining enrollment over the course of the late 1970s. The last St. Louis commencement was held in May 1983. Seminex continued to exist as an educational institution on the LSTC campus in Chicago through the end of 1987.
Clayton, Missouri
Clayton is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis and the county seat of St. Louis County, Missouri. The population was 15,939 at the 2010 census. The city was organized in 1877 and is named after Ralph Clayton, who donated the land for the courthouse.-Geography:...
, an inner-ring suburb on the western border of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. The institution's primary mission is to train pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
s, deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
esses, missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, chaplains, and church
Local church
A local church is a Christian congregation of members and clergy.Local church may also refer to:* Local churches , a Christian group based on the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and associated with the Living Stream Ministry publishing house.* Parish church, a local church united with...
leaders for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS). The current president of the seminary is the Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer.
Concordia Seminary is the second oldest Lutheran seminary (Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg is America's oldest Lutheran seminary and a site of 1863 Battle of Gettysburg military engagements.-History:...
, established in 1826, being the oldest), and one of the largest Seminaries in the United States. Founded in 1839, the seminary initially resided in Perry County, Missouri
Perry County, Missouri
Perry County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,132. In 2008 the population was estimated to be 18,743. Its county seat is Perryville. The county was officially organized on November 16, 1820 from Ste...
. In 1849 it was moved to St. Louis, and in 1926 the current campus was built. Concordia shares the duty of clerical training for the LCMS with Concordia Theological Seminary
Concordia Theological Seminary
The Concordia Theological Seminary is an institution of theological higher education of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod , located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, dedicated primarily to the preparation of pastors for the congregations and missions of the LCMS...
in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
.
The St. Louis institution was at one time considered the "theoretical" (i.e., academic) seminary of the LCMS while Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne was considered the "practical" seminary, although those distinctions are no longer widely recognized. Concordia Seminary currently offers a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree leading to ordination, as well as Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, Master of Sacred Theology
Master of Sacred Theology
The Master of Sacred Theology is a second-level graduate degree for those who wish to pursue a year of more advanced coursework focusing on a particular discipline....
, Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...
, and Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degrees. The seminary is considered theologically conservative, as it does not train women for ordination, and also promotes historical-grammatical
Historical-grammatical method
The historical-grammatical method is a Christian hermeneutical method that strives to discover the Biblical author's original intended meaning in the text. It is the primary method of interpretation for many conservative Protestant exegetes who reject the so-called historical-critical method used...
and reader response criticism interpretation of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. It is an accredited member of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada is an organization of seminaries and other graduate schools of theology. ATS has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has more than 250 member institutions...
and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
.
The radio station KFUO-AM 850
KFUO (AM)
KFUO is the longest continually operating AM radio station in the United States. Owned and operated by The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod , KFUO-AM boasts an array of audio resources from worship services to inspirational music to in-depth study of God's Word through programs including "The Bible...
has its studios and transmitter tower on the campus; for many years the nationally-broadcast Lutheran Hour originated from this LCMS radio station.
The Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus
Dedicated on November 15, 1992, the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus serves as the house of worship for the Concordia Seminary community. Aside from the primary worship space the chapel building also contains a choir practice room, one classroom, the dean of chapel's office, the housefellow's quarters, and a chapel that is used primarily for small worship services and for worship practice.Concordia Seminary Library
Concordia Seminary Library has the capacity to house 250,000 volumes and to seat over 300 people, providing study space for divinity students and carrels for graduate students and scholars. The book collection numbers over 245,000 volumes. Included are the personal libraries of many of the founding fathers of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and its theologians like C. F. W. WaltherC. F. W. Walther
Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther was the first President of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and its most influential theologian...
.
Luther statue
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
. The statue in Germany is located where Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
made his famous speech, "Here I Stand", at the Diet of Worms
Diet of Worms
The Diet of Worms 1521 was a diet that took place in Worms, Germany, and is most memorable for the Edict of Worms , which addressed Martin Luther and the effects of the Protestant Reformation.It was conducted from 28 January to 25 May 1521, with Emperor Charles V presiding.Other Imperial diets at...
.
Luther Tower
Luther Tower designed by architect Charles KlauderCharles Klauder
Charles Zeller Klauder was an American architect best known for his work on university buildings and campus designs, especially his Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh, the first educational skyscraper.-Biography:...
and was completed in 1966. At its base is a small chapel, the Chapel of the Holy Apostles and its crown contains a 49-bell carillon
Carillon
A carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
. The bells are dedicated to the memory of all Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod pastors. The largest bell weighs 2.5 tons and the smallest weighs 17 pounds.
Concordia Historical Institute
The Concordia Historical Institute is the Department of Archives and History of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. The Institute is located on the Concordia Seminary Campus. The building includes a reference room for patrons, a conference room, two levels of museum exhibit space and two stack areas for storage of the collections. The stack areas are maintained at a constant temperature and humidity to preserve the resources. The Institute also maintains two historic sites in Perry County, MissouriPerry County, Missouri
Perry County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,132. In 2008 the population was estimated to be 18,743. Its county seat is Perryville. The county was officially organized on November 16, 1820 from Ste...
, publishes the Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, and assists districts and congregations of the Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in preserving their historical records.
Concordia Park
Concordia Park is located in the DeMun Neighborhood on the grounds of Concordia Seminary. The City of Clayton has leased this passive 1.5 acre (0.607029 ha) park from Concordia Seminary since 1992. It consists of several hills and trees. Benches and tables are provided for visitors.The Seminex controversy
Concordia Seminary became a focus of national media attention in 1974 when 45 of its 50 faculty members, together with the vast majority of students, walked out to form a rival institution known as SeminexSeminex
Seminex is the widely used abbreviation for Concordia Seminary in Exile . An institution for the training of Lutheran ministers, Seminex existed from 1974 to 1987. It was formed after a walk-out by dissident faculty and students of Concordia Seminary in St...
, or Concordia Seminary in Exile. The Seminex walk-out protested the suspension of the seminary's president, John Tietjen
John Tietjen
John Tietjen was a Lutheran clergyman, theologian, and national church leader in the United States. He is best known both for his role in the Seminex controversy which roiled the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in the mid-1970s, and for his efforts on behalf of Lutheran unity that resulted in...
, who faced charges from the conservative Synodical president, Jacob Preus
J. A. O. Preus II
Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus II was a Lutheran pastor, professor, author, and church president. He served as the president of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod from 1969-1981. He was a major figure in the Seminex affair which resulted in a schism in the Missouri Synod.Preus attended Luther Seminary...
, of allowing the teaching of false doctrine. More specifically, the charges alleged that Tietjen had permitted the teaching of historical-critical methods of scriptural interpretation, rather than upon exegetical principles that consider scripture to be the inerrant word of God (see Biblical inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy is the doctrinal position that the Bible is accurate and totally free of error, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact." Some equate inerrancy with infallibility; others do not.Conservative Christians generally believe that...
). Seminex was never very successful, due mostly to its difficulties placing graduates in ministerial positions. Seminex suffered a gradually declining enrollment over the course of the late 1970s. The last St. Louis commencement was held in May 1983. Seminex continued to exist as an educational institution on the LSTC campus in Chicago through the end of 1987.