Similarly, we believe the living and healing voice of Jesus through His prophets and apostles—Sacred Scripture—when He calls us to fidelity in marriage and warns about the harmful and destructive impact upon human beings when adultery, promiscuity, or homosexuality are practiced. In departing from two thousand years of Christian teaching and practice as well as challenging the majority of present day Christians, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has exhibited sectarian behavior that saddens a large spectrum of the Christian community.

We pray that the Lord will strengthen those who remain faithful to His healing Word and recall those who have so tragically abandoned that Word and its healing and absolving Truth.

Please also consult President Kieschnick’s address to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly as posted on the LCMS Website at www.lcms.org.

Concordia Theological Seminary Receives Accreditation for Online MA in Deaconess Studies

FORT WAYNE, IN (CTS) The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) has granted preliminary approval to Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, for an Master of Arts (MA) in the Deaconess Studies program, which will be delivered through a combination of electronic distance learning and on-campus intensives. "Many women serve in roles involving diakonal work and aspects of spiritual care without having had formal theological training at the graduate level. Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS) is delighted to be able to honor their diakonal work by providing an opportunity for these women to study theology at an advanced level and gain an MA so that they can be certified as deaconesses," said Dr. Arthur Just, Director of Deaconess Studies at the seminary.

The full-time degree can be completed in two and a half years, but students may opt to take courses on a part-time basis. The curriculum will be structured to take into account the experience and workload of the students. The degree will include a rigorous program of theological study, together with training in practical, diakonal skills. Full-time students will take two online courses in each of the Fall and Spring quarters and two two-week intensives in each of the Winter and Summer quarters. All students will also participate in fieldwork.

Women admitted to this program must have the following:

• Completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent
• Been a member of a congregation in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, ordinarily for a minimum of two years prior to admission
• Served at least five years in a congregation or institution where their work has included an element of spiritual care (e.g., parish nurse, care ministry in a congregation, etc.) and will continue to serve in this way throughout the course of their study

While CTS has been carrying out distance learning pastoral training programs since the mid-1990s, this is the first time that an online program for women, leading to an MA and certification as a deaconess, will be offered. It is anticipated that the first students will be enrolled for the Fall 2009 quarter. "The approved online MA in Deaconess Studies demonstrates the commitment of the seminary to providing creative ways to teach deaconess students the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need for diakonal work in their specific context." said Dr. Lawrence Rast, Academic Dean at CTS.

We invite you to find out more about the MA in Deaconess Studies by e-mailing us at deaconess@ctsfw.edu, or calling Dr. Arthur Just, Director of Deaconess Studies (260-452-2138) or Dr. Cyndy Lumley, Associate Director of Deaconess Studies (260-452-2225).

CTS Announces “The Holy Land Tour”
It is with great pleasure and excitement that Concordia Theological Seminary announces “The Holy Land,” a tour of the places where Abraham, David, the prophets, the disciples and Jesus Himself walked the earth. Seminary hosts for this adventure are Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Gard.

The tour will take you on a ten-day pilgrimage
(November 18 – 27, 2009) into history and the lands of Israel. You will walk in the footsteps of Abraham and David, Jesus and the disciples and witness sites important to his life and to the holy Christian Church. You will also visit the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, the site of the Sermon on the Mount and much more.

For more information or a brochure, please contact Dr. Daniel Gard either by email at garddl@aol.com or daniel.gard@ctsfw.edu or by phone at 260-452-2135 or 260-486-0957.

Continuing Education
Concordia Theological Seminary is now offering an online Continuing Education server. Here you’ll find audio recordings of select conferences, symposia, and other content to purchase online.

2009 Graduation
A video of Concordia Theological Seminary's 2009 graduation ceremony is available for download here (warning -- this file is 320 MB).

CTS Playscape Complete
The new CTS Playscape was completed late in the afternoon on Saturday, May 9, 2009 with a formal dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony. President Dean Wenthe dedicated the new "Enter The Biblical World" Playscape and Mr. Ross King, retired Fort Wayne Lutheran Teacher and Principal of 48 years and chair of the Playscape Design Committee, cut the ribbon releasing children from the Seminary and the Fort Wayne community to play and enjoy the biblically themed playground. After thousands of hours by hundreds of volunteers, the 5 day Playscape build came to fruition. After the festivities, the volunteers and seminary community were treated to a bar-b-que picnic to celebrate the playscape completion.

Click below to view a time-lapse video of the build.

Concordia Theological Seminary Receives Accreditation for Online Courses
The Association of Theological Schools has granted preliminary approval to Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, for a comprehensive distance education program, which enables the seminary to offer courses online for academic credit.  “We are very encouraged that the Association of Theological Schools has recognized our ability to provide sound, academically credible theological education online by granting us this approval,” said Douglas Rutt, Dean for Distance Learning at the seminary.   
 
While CTS has been carrying out distance learning pastoral training programs since the mid-1990s, this is the first time that courses will be offered for credit at the master’s level.  The new Specific Ministry Pastor program gives qualified students the opportunity to take SMP coursework for credit so they can transfer to the Master of Divinity at some point in the future if they wish.  “The approval to offer our online coursework for credit is another step forward in our commitment to serve the congregations of our synod in helpful and innovative ways,” said Dr. Lawrence Rast, Academic Dean at CTS.
 
We would like to invite you to find out more about the Specific Ministry Program by visiting our Web site at http://www.ctsfw.edu/academics/smp, emailing us at smp@ctsfw.edu, or calling the office of the Dean for Distance Learning at (260) 452-2133.

CTS Announces “Eleven Days in the Steps of Martin Luther Tour”

FORT WAYNE, IN (CTS) - It is with great pleasure and excitement that Concordia Theological Seminary announces “In the Steps of Martin Luther,” a tour of Germany along with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the world famous Passion Play in 2010 in Oberammergau. Seminary hosts for this adventure are President and Mrs. Dean Wenthe and Kantor Richard and Dr. Barbara Resch.

The tour will take you on an eleven-day adventure (May 27–June 6, 2010) into history and the lands of central and northern Germany. You will walk in the footsteps of Martin Luther and witness sites important to his life and to the Reformation. You will also attend the Passion Play, a performance first done by the villagers of Oberammergau in 1634 in fulfillment of their promise to God for sparing them from the Black Plague. It has been presented every ten years since then! Click here to read the full press release.

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