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Completion of 1999-2000 Academic Year.June 16 was the last day of the 1999-2000 academic year at LTS. September 6, 1999 to June 16, 2000 with just 3 weeks of Christmas break - the long marathon now is over. During this year the students had an opportunity to listen to lectures from superb teachers: both regular seminary professors and parish pastors (with academic credentials, of course). We were able, we hope, to keep the right balance between the academy and the church. The year was marked by an increase in the student body from 6 to 16 when a new group was enrolled. This new group, accordingly, has just finished its first year at the seminary. These first-year students were exposed to all the foundational courses of theology: Hebrew and Greek, Old Testament and New Testament, Confessions, Liturgics, and History of the Reformation. Without question, the workload was intensive. In fact, we estimate that this new group took the same number of class hours their first year that the first group at LTS had in a year and a half. No doubt, not everybody could withstand such a pace. By the end of the school year the group had shrunk in size. This was partly according to plan-at LTS the entrance process continues for the whole first year of studies-but still it is sad when students leave. This happens for various reasons, of course: struggles in studies, personal problems, the realization that pastoral ministry is not for them, and financial concerns (how may I support my family as a pastor), to name a few. The first-year group presently consists of 12 students. It began with 15 in September of 1999; in addition, 3 additional students entered in February of 2000. Six students dropped out during the 1999-2000 academic year, making the dropout rate 1/3 of the whole number. Probably, the number of remaining students will stay the same up to the completion of their program. This past year was remarkable in terms of professors that were able to come to Novosibirsk to teach at our seminary. We are very grateful to the visiting professors from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, such as Dr. Arthur Just, Dr. David Scaer, Dr. William Weinrich, and Prof. Kurt Marquart. We also thank Dr. Horace Hummel, Professor Emeritus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, Rev. Brent Kuhlman, Rev. Kent Heimbigner, Rev. Charles Evanson, who is now professor at the University in Klaipeda, Lithuania, and of course our regular professor, Alan Ludwig, who dedicated their time and efforts to teach theology to future pastors in Siberia. Plans are already in place for the next academic year. Group 711 (the first LTS group) will return from their internship year. These students are expected to graduate from the seminary next year after completing the required number of credit hours and writing their graduation diploma. The new group (911) will commence their second year of studies, and a number of courses has by now been planned for them. The major emphases will probably be Hermeneutics and Homiletics, as well as developing research skills and writing scholarly papers for the courses. The 2000-2001 academic year will start September 4. At present, seminarians have an opportunity to rest from their studies. For the most part, though, this rest is not a passive but an active one: students are actively involved in church work in different congregations and missions of Siberia and the Ural region. We expect them to be refreshed and ready for new theological adventures by the beginning of September.
News: Professor Kurt Marquart Gives Lectures in Ekaterinburg. [June 2000] News: Completion of 1999-2000 Academic Year. [June 2000] News: Summer Practicum. [June 2000] News: Seminary Movie. [June 2000] News: LTS Theological Journal. [May 2000] News: Trip to Ulaanbaatar. [May 2000] News: A Missionary and Catechetical Trip to Khakassia, Buryatia, and Irkutsk. [May 2000] News: Student’s Daughter Baptized at the Chapel’s Baptismal Font. [May 2000] News: Students Conduct Fieldwork during Holy Week. [April 2000] News: LTS holds April seminar in new seminary building. [April 2000] News: Dr. Scaer teaches full course in Novosibirsk in one week. [March 2000] News: LTS student participates in international Christian Pedagogical conference. [March 2000] News: Three New Students Accepted at the Seminary in Novosibirsk [February 2000] |
