Lutheran Brethren Seminary
Encyclopedia
Lutheran Brethren Seminary (LBS) is an institute of theological higher education of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America
(CLBA), located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota
. It shares its campus with the denominational headquarters of the CLBA and the denomination’s high school, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy
. The seminary’s primary mission is to train and equip pastors, missionaries, and Christian lay workers for ministry in the Church of the Lutheran Brethren and other church bodies.
in 1903 as “Lutheran Bible School.” It began as an institute for the training of Lutheran Brethren pastors and young laypeople wishing to receive a solid Biblical education. The pastor’s training course would eventually become the Seminary department, and the lay Bible course would become the Bible School department. In 1916, a four-year high school department was added to Lutheran Bible School.
The school was first relocated in 1918 to Grand Forks, North Dakota
, and then again to Fergus Falls, Minnesota
in 1935, on the campus of the former Park Region Luther College
. In 1946, the Seminary and Bible School departments moved across town to the former Northwestern College campus in Fergus Falls, leaving the high school to remain by itself on the Park Region campus. The school system was renamed “Lutheran Brethren Schools” in 1948, and the high school became known as “Hillcrest Lutheran Academy.” In 1956, after ten years on a separate campus, the Seminary and Bible School returned to the old Park Region campus, reuniting with Hillcrest.
With increased enrollment in all three departments of the school, it became necessary to implement a building program on the campus. In 1968, Sletta-Strom Memorial Hall was erected as a new dormitory for Bible School and Seminary students. The Broen Media Center, which now houses Lutheran Brethren Seminary, was completed in 1975, containing four classrooms, a library, and faculty offices. Also by 1975, the Bible School had become known as Lutheran Brethren Junior Bible College, offering an Associate of Arts degree in Bible.
The 1980s saw a rapid decline in enrollment in the Bible College, which eventually shrunk into a one-year bible program known as “Alpha Way.” In 1992, the name of the Bible College was changed to the “Lutheran Center for Christian Learning” (LCCL). A major change for the schools occurred in 2003, when it was decided to split Hillcrest Lutheran Academy from Lutheran Brethren Schools and incorporate it as a separate school with its own president and board, while still remaining within the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. In 2004, the Lutheran Center for Christian Learning ceased to exist as a separate entity, and its program became part of the Seminary curriculum as an extension service. The LCCL eventually dissolved completely, and “Lutheran Brethren Schools” became an obsolete title.
In 2009, Lutheran Brethren Seminary was granted Candidate status through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
(TRACS) as a Category III institution in preparation for full accreditation
.
Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America
The Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America is a Lutheran denomination of Christians rooted in a spiritual awakening at the turn of the 20th century. A spiritual revival swept through a large part of the Midwestern United States in the 1890s. Lutherans who were influenced by this fervor...
(CLBA), located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Fergus Falls is a city in and the county seat of Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,138 at the 2010 census.-Today:...
. It shares its campus with the denominational headquarters of the CLBA and the denomination’s high school, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy is a private Christian junior high and boarding high school in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Established in 1916, Hillcrest has a strong affiliation with the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America...
. The seminary’s primary mission is to train and equip pastors, missionaries, and Christian lay workers for ministry in the Church of the Lutheran Brethren and other church bodies.
History
The academic institution that would become known as Lutheran Brethren Seminary was founded in Wahpeton, North DakotaWahpeton, North Dakota
The first European explorer in the area was Jonathan Carver in 1767. He explored and mapped the Northwest at the request of Major Robert Rogers, commander of Fort Michilimackinac, the British fort at Mackinaw City, Michigan, which protected the passage between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron...
in 1903 as “Lutheran Bible School.” It began as an institute for the training of Lutheran Brethren pastors and young laypeople wishing to receive a solid Biblical education. The pastor’s training course would eventually become the Seminary department, and the lay Bible course would become the Bible School department. In 1916, a four-year high school department was added to Lutheran Bible School.
The school was first relocated in 1918 to Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
, and then again to Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Fergus Falls is a city in and the county seat of Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,138 at the 2010 census.-Today:...
in 1935, on the campus of the former Park Region Luther College
Park Region Luther College
Park Region Luther College is a former educational institution in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and/or is the name of the building housing that institution. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
. In 1946, the Seminary and Bible School departments moved across town to the former Northwestern College campus in Fergus Falls, leaving the high school to remain by itself on the Park Region campus. The school system was renamed “Lutheran Brethren Schools” in 1948, and the high school became known as “Hillcrest Lutheran Academy.” In 1956, after ten years on a separate campus, the Seminary and Bible School returned to the old Park Region campus, reuniting with Hillcrest.
With increased enrollment in all three departments of the school, it became necessary to implement a building program on the campus. In 1968, Sletta-Strom Memorial Hall was erected as a new dormitory for Bible School and Seminary students. The Broen Media Center, which now houses Lutheran Brethren Seminary, was completed in 1975, containing four classrooms, a library, and faculty offices. Also by 1975, the Bible School had become known as Lutheran Brethren Junior Bible College, offering an Associate of Arts degree in Bible.
The 1980s saw a rapid decline in enrollment in the Bible College, which eventually shrunk into a one-year bible program known as “Alpha Way.” In 1992, the name of the Bible College was changed to the “Lutheran Center for Christian Learning” (LCCL). A major change for the schools occurred in 2003, when it was decided to split Hillcrest Lutheran Academy from Lutheran Brethren Schools and incorporate it as a separate school with its own president and board, while still remaining within the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. In 2004, the Lutheran Center for Christian Learning ceased to exist as a separate entity, and its program became part of the Seminary curriculum as an extension service. The LCCL eventually dissolved completely, and “Lutheran Brethren Schools” became an obsolete title.
In 2009, Lutheran Brethren Seminary was granted Candidate status through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
The Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools is a U.S. national educational accreditation agency for Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries...
(TRACS) as a Category III institution in preparation for full accreditation
Accreditation
Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.Organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies ; hence they are sometimes known as "accredited...
.
Presidents of LBS
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| E. M. Broen | 1903–1911 |
| Lars Lillehei | 1911–1914 |
| E. M. Broen | 1914–1926 |
| S. L. Klyve | 1926–1930 |
| E. M. Broen | 1930–1938 |
| E. M. Strom | 1938–1949 |
| S. L. Klyve | 1949–1950 |
| A. A. Petersen | 1950–1955 |
| M. E. Sletta | 1956–1957 |
| J. H. Levang | 1957–1972 |
| C. L. Bjornlie | 1972–1984 |
| Omar N. Gjerness | 1984–1990 |
| Joel Egge | 1990–2001 |
| Joel Nordtvedt | 2003–2006 |
| David Veum | 2006–present |
Academic programs
- Master of DivinityMaster of DivinityIn the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
(M.Div.)
- Master of Theological StudiesMaster of Theological StudiesA Master of Theological Studies is a general academic degree that gives students an introduction to advanced theological studies. The M.T.S usually requires two years of program study to complete. The Latin equivalent for M.T.S...
(M.T.S)
- Diploma in Christian Ministry
- Certificate of Theological Studies
- Lay Ministry
- Bible and Theology
- Missions
- Youth Ministry