Ministry under the Cross

Robert Schmidt Editorial Note: The following paper was delivered April 17, 2007, at the Theological Convocation of the Texas District. The theme of the convocation was “Living the Theology of the Cross in a Pluralist World: Being Missional and Confessional.” Other speakers at the convocation were Dr. Paul Robinson of the St. Louis seminary, Dr. Art Scherer,…
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Reflections on Theological Education

Stephen C. Krueger Editorial Note: Developments in both the church and the world are calling for a re-evaluation of theological education. Theological education has been the subject of a number of recent books calling into question both the core values and the pedagogical methods of most seminaries. In order to address the challenges of vacant parishes…
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Will There Still Be a Lutheran Ministry?

The author of this article, a professor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, sent it with this request: I am attaching a paper that I wrote concerning the Specific Ministry Pastor Proposal. It is intended to be a “non-political” paper and to approach the topic in a way that engenders discussion. It was posted…
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From Mission to Ministry

Tonya Eza Perhaps one of the most powerful arguments for the LCMS to rethink its position on women in ministry will come from women doing ministry today. Tonya Eza is currently serving as a deaconess in Texas. Here is her story. Contrary to many professional church workers in the LCMS, I did not feel the…
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A Review of “Reenvisioning Theological Education”

Nolan Bremer Theological education is not only a subject of discussion and debate in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. In Theologia: Fragmentation and Unity of Theological Education, Edward Farley lamented the five-fold division of theological studies and called for the development of “theological wisdom” on the part of seminary graduates. David Kelsey in his Between Athens…
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Distance Learning

 By Jim Butler            I was sitting in my office one quiet afternoon many years ago when the telephone rang. It was the New England district president (whose office was located in our church building). A meeting would be taking place at Concordia College, Bronxville, the next day. He’d just found out about it and…
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Banks’ Reenvisioning Theological Education (Review Article)

By Nolan Bremer Banks, Robert. Reenvisioning Theological Education: Exploring a Missional Alternative to Current Models. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.           By “missional” Banks means that the focus of theological education should be outside the classroom. But before elaborating on his vision of this missional alternative, Banks reviews the current scene in theological education and finds…
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At Ease (Sermon)

By J. L. Precup John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let you hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” At the height of WWII, Admiral Nimitz was at sea on an aircraft carrier…
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