LCC’s seminaries meet, report answered prayers

At CLS during LCC’s seminaries joint Boards of Regents meeting.

EDMONTON – A joint meeting of Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) seminaries’ Boards of Regents was held in early February at Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) in Edmonton. The gathering was chaired by CLS Board of Regents Chairman Rev. Darryl Sole, and for a part of the meeting by Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary’s (St. Catharines, Ontario) Chairman Rev. Robert Krestick.

Most regents were able to make it to Edmonton in time for the installation of Rev. Dr. Jim Gimbel, new president of CLS. Both seminaries were happy to report that they have been operating in the black over the past three years in compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) drafted at the time of the 2011 LCC convention.

The joint meeting reiterated its strong commitment to operating two seminaries in Canada working independently while sharing resources whenever possible, working towards a common curriculum, and continuing fiscal responsibility with balanced sustainable budgets. Plans were made for the upcoming synodical convention. In keeping with the convention theme—“Come to Him Who Answers Prayer”—the seminaries reported their own answered prayers. Although the 2013/14 academic year showed small enrollment of first year ministerial students, both campuses are preparing for Fall 2014 with an expectation of higher enrollment. And each president was happy to report strong balanced budgets with CLTS announcing a complete end to all indebtedness.

In addition to a joint MOU report to the convention, each seminary plans to produce an individual report, while sharing the same time slot on the agenda. The seminaries are also planning a joint overture to the convention. The development offices of the two seminaries intend to work together and use a joint display at the convention; the display is already in production. New items which promote both seminaries are planned as promotions, along with existing give-away items.

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