Michigan Lutheran Seminary
Encyclopedia
Michigan Lutheran Seminary (MLS) is a private preparatory
boarding
high school affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
located in Saginaw, Michigan
. The student body consists of commuting students living in the area as well as a large population of students from around the US and other countries that live on campus in the dormitory led by the dean.
Michigan Lutheran Seminary's enrollment (as of 2008-9) is 197 students in the 9th through 12th grades, from 14 states, 7 of the 12 districts of the WELS, and 3 countries.
Michigan Lutheran Seminary, along with its sister prep school Luther Preparatory School
in Watertown
, Wisconsin
, has as its purpose "the training of students for public ministry of the gospel and to enroll them upon graduation at Martin Luther College
, New Ulm
, Minnesota
(MLC)."
True to this goal, the high school has, in recent years, required its graduating students to send their ACT
scores to MLC, regardless of the individual student's intent on actually attending MLC. In addition to this, intent to enter MLC is one of the criteria for financial assistance.
. German Lutherans in Michigan felt a need to train pastors to serve a growing number of immigrant congregations. In 1887, the Reverend Christoph Eberhardt of Saint Paul congregation in Saginaw donated two near-by acres of land on Court Street. This led the Michigan Lutheran Synod to move MLS to its present location and to dedicate Old Main, the school’s first building, later that year.
When the Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota Synods federated in 1892, the new confederation decided to convert MLS into a preparatory school. Disagreement over this change split the Michigan Synod. MLS continued as a pastor-training seminary until dwindling enrollments forced it to close its doors in 1907.
By 1910, the Michigan Synod had re-established its ties with Wisconsin and Minnesota. The confederation called the Reverend Otto J. R. Hoenecke to open MLS as a proprietary school. Five students enrolled on September 13, 1910. In 1913, the school added a dormitory to house fifty students. By the end of the 1920s, four teachers served an enrollment of seventy-five. The MSL C, a forerunner of today’s Booster Club and MLS Guild, appeared. The campus added two professors’ homes in 1920 and 1924 and a dining hall in 1925.
Growth slowed during the 1930s but picked up after World War II.
In recent years, MLS has continued to upgrade its facilities by reconfiguring all dormitory study space, refurbishing most of its dormitory rooms, adding a new science wing, equipping its library, classrooms, and offices with infrastructure to allow ready access to developing technologies, and installing into its chapel a 22-rank pipe organ.
While such outward changes must continue in order to meet the need of a growing Seminary family, what is most important at MLS – our great heritage of God’s Word and the vital work of preparing young people to proclaim His Word to others – remains unchanged.
Since 1910, the school has been continuously operated as a ministerial education preparatory high school of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
(which runs MLS) prompted the WELS Synodical Council
to consider closing Michigan Lutheran Seminary as a preparatory school. At the WELS Synod Convention in the summer of 2007, it was resolved "that the 2007 synod convention reject the recommendation to close Michigan Lutheran Seminary at the end of the 2007-08 school year" The resolution stated its reason being that, "it is not prudent to downsize proven programs in vital areas of our work, like the production of pastors..."
, and gives special attention to foreign languages(Latin
, German
, and Spanish
) and music(choirs, band
, piano
, and organ
). It exceeds standards set by the State of Michigan for admission to college.
Michigan Lutheran Seminary has been accredited by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation(WELSSA), which is a member of the National Council for Private School Accreditation
(NCPSA).
, Cross Country
, Volleyball
, Girls'/Boys' Basketball
, Wrestling
, Baseball
, Softball
, & Girls'/Boys' Track
.
. I.N.I. stands for "In Nomine Iesu" in Latin (In the name of Jesus). Below that on the lefthand side is Luther's Seal; on the righthand side is a picture from the State Flag of Michigan
.
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
boarding
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
high school affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod is a North American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As of 2008, it had a baptized membership of over 389,364 in more than 1,290 congregations,...
located in Saginaw, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The student body consists of commuting students living in the area as well as a large population of students from around the US and other countries that live on campus in the dormitory led by the dean.
Michigan Lutheran Seminary's enrollment (as of 2008-9) is 197 students in the 9th through 12th grades, from 14 states, 7 of the 12 districts of the WELS, and 3 countries.
Michigan Lutheran Seminary, along with its sister prep school Luther Preparatory School
Luther Preparatory School
Luther Preparatory School , established in 1995, is a residential four-year secondary school located in Watertown, Wisconsin, USA and is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod...
in Watertown
Watertown, Wisconsin
Watertown is a city in Dodge and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Most of the city's population is in Jefferson County. Division Street, several blocks north of downtown, marks the county line. The population of Watertown was 21,598 at the 2000 census...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, has as its purpose "the training of students for public ministry of the gospel and to enroll them upon graduation at Martin Luther College
Martin Luther College
This article deals with the WELS-affiliated tertiary institution in Minnesota. See Luther College for the ELCA institution in Iowa.Martin Luther College is the college of ministry operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod...
, New Ulm
New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,522 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brown County....
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
(MLC)."
True to this goal, the high school has, in recent years, required its graduating students to send their ACT
ACT (examination)
The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in November 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test...
scores to MLC, regardless of the individual student's intent on actually attending MLC. In addition to this, intent to enter MLC is one of the criteria for financial assistance.
History
Michigan Lutheran Seminary began 1 ago in August 1885 when one teacher and six students assembled in Manchester, MichiganManchester, Michigan
Manchester is a village in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,160 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Manchester Township.-Chicago Road:...
. German Lutherans in Michigan felt a need to train pastors to serve a growing number of immigrant congregations. In 1887, the Reverend Christoph Eberhardt of Saint Paul congregation in Saginaw donated two near-by acres of land on Court Street. This led the Michigan Lutheran Synod to move MLS to its present location and to dedicate Old Main, the school’s first building, later that year.
When the Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota Synods federated in 1892, the new confederation decided to convert MLS into a preparatory school. Disagreement over this change split the Michigan Synod. MLS continued as a pastor-training seminary until dwindling enrollments forced it to close its doors in 1907.
By 1910, the Michigan Synod had re-established its ties with Wisconsin and Minnesota. The confederation called the Reverend Otto J. R. Hoenecke to open MLS as a proprietary school. Five students enrolled on September 13, 1910. In 1913, the school added a dormitory to house fifty students. By the end of the 1920s, four teachers served an enrollment of seventy-five. The MSL C, a forerunner of today’s Booster Club and MLS Guild, appeared. The campus added two professors’ homes in 1920 and 1924 and a dining hall in 1925.
Growth slowed during the 1930s but picked up after World War II.
In recent years, MLS has continued to upgrade its facilities by reconfiguring all dormitory study space, refurbishing most of its dormitory rooms, adding a new science wing, equipping its library, classrooms, and offices with infrastructure to allow ready access to developing technologies, and installing into its chapel a 22-rank pipe organ.
While such outward changes must continue in order to meet the need of a growing Seminary family, what is most important at MLS – our great heritage of God’s Word and the vital work of preparing young people to proclaim His Word to others – remains unchanged.
Since 1910, the school has been continuously operated as a ministerial education preparatory high school of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
Recent developments
Recent financial deficits in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran SynodWisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod is a North American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As of 2008, it had a baptized membership of over 389,364 in more than 1,290 congregations,...
(which runs MLS) prompted the WELS Synodical Council
WELS Synodical Council
The WELS Synodical Council is the governing body of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod when the synod is not in convention. The Council is made up of twenty-three WELS members including eleven clergy and thirteen laymen...
to consider closing Michigan Lutheran Seminary as a preparatory school. At the WELS Synod Convention in the summer of 2007, it was resolved "that the 2007 synod convention reject the recommendation to close Michigan Lutheran Seminary at the end of the 2007-08 school year" The resolution stated its reason being that, "it is not prudent to downsize proven programs in vital areas of our work, like the production of pastors..."
Curriculum
Michigan Lutheran Seminary identifies its curriculum as the following: MLS has a single course of study which equips each student to meet the enrollment requirements of Martin Luther College. The curriculum puts emphasis on the study of Biblical history and theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, and gives special attention to foreign languages(Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
) and music(choirs, band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
). It exceeds standards set by the State of Michigan for admission to college.
Michigan Lutheran Seminary has been accredited by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation(WELSSA), which is a member of the National Council for Private School Accreditation
National Council for Private School Accreditation
The National Council for Private School Accreditation is a private organization dedicated to accrediting American private schools on a national level. It was created in 1993 to form at-large standards after the U.S. Department of Education in 1985 deemed the Department did not have legal authority...
(NCPSA).
Faculty & Administration
Michigan Lutheran Seminary's Faculty consists of 15 full-time professors, 2 part-time instructors, and 4 tutors (dormitory supervisors who also teach).Extracurriculars
Michigan Lutheran Seminary offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities and programs for students.Athletics
MLS students are required to maintain a 2.00 GPA to compete in athletic competitions. Students maintaining at least a 1.68-1.99 GPA are permitted to attend practices, but are prohibited from competing in competitions. Students maintaining a GPA lower than 1.68, are restricted from participating in any MLS athletic activities. MLS is a member of the Michigan Tri-Valley Conference, and participates in the following sports: FootballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, Cross Country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, Volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, Girls'/Boys' Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, Wrestling
Scholastic wrestling
Scholastic wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the high school and middle school levels in the United States. This wrestling style is essentially Collegiate wrestling with some slight modifications. It is currently...
, Baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, Softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, & Girls'/Boys' Track
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
.
Performing Groups
Michigan Lutheran Seminary supports numerous performing groups as part of its extracurricular program.- Pom PonsPom SquadA dance squad or dance team, sometimes called a pom squad or drill team, is a sport team that participates in competitive dance. In a routine, a squad will incorporate a specific dance style , technical work and, depending on the routine, pompon and/or cheers...
perform dance routines at pep rallies and all home football games and home boys' basketball games. All SophomoresStudentA student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
, JuniorsStudentA student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
, and SeniorsStudentA student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
are allowed to try out.
- The Court Street Players (CSP) is devoted to encouraging interest and involvement in the theater arts at Michigan Lutheran Seminary. CSP produces two productions a year; a fall children production and a spring general production.
- The MLS Forensics Team competes in both individual events and sweepstakes trophies.
- Hardin Street Harmony (HSH) represents Michigan Lutheran Seminary at various churches during the school year. Normally, HSH sings pop musicPop musicPop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
for social events at churches, but occasionally they also sing sacred music for worship services.
- The MLS Concert Choir, directed by Professor Leonard Proeber, is a group of auditioned Juniors and Seniors who sing sacred music at various churches most weekends throughout the school year. Choir singing School Hymn
- The MLS BandBand (music)In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
offers great enjoyment to home boys' basketball and football games.
Service Groups
Among MLS's extracurriculars are various service groups intended to support school activities and student life.- Red'n'White is a student-run online newspaper that includes many serious and humorous articles for everybody's enjoyment.
- The Cardinal is the title of the MLS Yearbook and is created by a staff of students supported by a faculty advisor.
- The MLS Student Council is made up of elected representatives of MLS who contribute to Seminary family by organizing student activities.
- MLS Teens for Life is a service organization with the purpose of educating students and faculty within MLS and beyond on the value and sanctity of life.
- Sight & Sound is a student group which films home (and some away) sporting events, runs sound and lights for chapel services, and sets-up/takes-down for school concerts.
Seal
The MLS school seal depicts a cardinal, the school's mascot. Below the cardinal there are three letters: I.N.I. and Sept. 13, 1910—the date the school became part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran SynodWisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod is a North American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As of 2008, it had a baptized membership of over 389,364 in more than 1,290 congregations,...
. I.N.I. stands for "In Nomine Iesu" in Latin (In the name of Jesus). Below that on the lefthand side is Luther's Seal; on the righthand side is a picture from the State Flag of Michigan
Flag of Michigan
The Flag of the State of Michigan depicts the state's coat-of-arms on a dark blue field, as set forth by Michigan state law. -Design:...
.
List of presidents
| Presidents | Years Served |
|---|---|
| Reverends A. Lange, Huber, O. Hoyer, Linsemann, and Beer | 1885–1907 |
| Reverend Otto J.R. Hoenecke | 1910-1950 (Taught until 1958) |
| Reverend Conrad I. Frey | 1950–1966 |
| Reverend Martin Toepel | 1966–1978 |
| Reverend John C. Lawrenz | 1978–1994 |
| Reverend Paul T. Prange | 1994–2009 |
| Reverend Aaron Frey | 2010–2010 |