Thursday, January 19, 2012

Whistling Past the Graveyard of Seminary Education

Loehe started Concordia in Ft. Wayne and Wartburg Seminary in Iowa,
but the Walther myth-makers consider him a problem.
Walther alienated and divided Lutherdom.
A true Pietist, Walther shunned everyone outside his own Missouri franchise,
unless they bowed to him.


bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "LCMS Seminary Cost Scandal: Fabulous Costs To Supp...":

SMP vs. M.Div., and Ft. Wayne vs. St. Louis:
http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=16670

....There was a critical exchange at the Ft. Wayne Symposia yesterday afternoon...a pastor went to the microphone and asked President Rast to “prophecy.” What do you see for the future of the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program?” President Rast did not hesitate but boldly asserted two things. First, this is a question for the LCMS to answer for herself. Secondly, President Rast proclaimed that Concordia Theological Seminary – Fort Wayne will do all that it can to convince the LCMS that its pastoral formation ought to be done in the traditional resident manner. This is a good thing for the LCMS and we are pleased that President Rast has taken this stance since the SMP program produces men who may be personally committed to the Lord’s Ministry but can never stack up theologically since they receive only half the training of the traditional approach and nearly none of that on campus.

Even though Rast supported the traditional residential approach there is nothing traditional about the new pastoral formation curriculum that he, Dr. Scaer, and the other faculty members have developed over the last few years. It is another blessing for the LCMS....It also places them into small study and mentoring groups led by professors and focusing on the translation of the Bible. This is a fitting way to do “small groups” at the seminary, as opposed to the trendy, pop-culture small group program at St. Louis. According to Rast, it can also bring to a close the last generation’s seemingly endless and foolish multiplication of felt-need seminary classes in counseling, administration, stewardship and evangelism....

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GJ - I thought, "Bruce, have you lost your bearings?" Then I saw it was from the cheerleading section - Steadfast UOJers.

The Garasenes have already run over the cliff. It is too late to fit them with floaties.