Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catharines, Ontario

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – In the first half of this calendar year, Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) accepted a bumper crop of entering students—the largest number in a decade or two.

Ongoing travel restrictions as a result of the pandemic, however, mean that only one of these students is able to be on campus: Daniel Cunningham from the Oshawa area.

“We are pleased to be able to have seven of our students in the building for face-to-face teaching and daily chapel services,” said Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger, seminary president. “In our large building it is not difficult to maintain physical distance while still strengthening our personal ties with one another.”

“We are pleased to be able to have seven of our students in the building for face-to-face teaching and daily chapel services,” said Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger, seminary president. “In our large building it is not difficult to maintain physical distance while still strengthening our personal ties with one another.”

Unfortunately, several new students have been unable to obtain student visas yet, and some American students have not been unable to cross the border for classes. As a result, Dr. Winger explained, “every class has at least a few students participating through Google Meet. Like most universities in Canada, we’re making special allowances for this virtual participation until the present crisis is over.”

Incoming professor Dr. Thomas Korcok is making the acquaintance of most new international students online via his Introduction to Theology class. These students include Vijay Samuel of India, Bright Kusi of Ghana, Dr. Eduardo Farias (a Brazilian who currently resides in the United States); and Aaron Parkhurst in New York.

One additional new student in the MTS program is Rev. Edivar Govaski, a native of Brazil who is serving a Lutheran Church–Canada parish in B.C.

Additionally, a young Minnesotan who recently graduated from a Concordia College, has delayed entrance given current pandemic restrictions. Another young pastor from Brazil will begin studies once he gets a visa. And a young Quebecker is eligible to begin at any time.

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Learn more about Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines at www.concordia-seminary.ca/