Concordia Lutheran Seminary

The seminary under construction in September 1990

Concordia Lutheran Seminary on the grounds of Concordia University of Edmonton.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary (2008), as seen from Ada Boulevard.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary (2008) during sunrise, looking SE, with the N. Saskatchewan River valley and Wayne Gretzky Way bridge hidden behind the trees in the background.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary is legally chartered under the laws of the Province of Alberta, having received royal assent to its incorporation petition on May 31, 1984. The seminary began its first classes on September 10, 1984, in the historic president's residence of what was then called Concordia College. In 1990 a new building was constructed and in May 1991 the present seminary facility was occupied. On September 2 of the same year it was dedicated.

At its 1981 convention the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod authorized Lutheran Church–Canada, at that time a federation of LCMS districts, to determine how to handle seminary education. The Board of Directors of the LCC determined that there was a need for two seminaries, and appointed a Board of Regents for a seminary to be located in Edmonton. That founding board first met in September 1983 and called W. Th. Janzow to be the organizing and founding president. The seminary is legally chartered under the laws of the province of Alberta, and received royal assent to this charter on May 31, 1984. The opening service of the first academic year, held at Grace Lutheran Church, Edmonton on September 8, 1984, saw the installation of Norman Threinen (Historical Theology) and Ronald Vahl (Exegetical Theology) to the faculty. The first day of classes on September 10, 1984, designated as Founders Day, welcomed ten students to campus, six in Year 1 and four in Year 2. The seminary also took over the supervision of three vicars. One of those vicars, Wolfgang Vieweg, became the first person to receive a theological diploma from the Seminary, and another, Daryl Solie, became the first to receive the Master of Divinity degree.

In 1987 the seminary moved to the next stage of its development with the inauguration of Dr. Milton Rudnick as president, the addition of Edward Kettner (Systematic Theology) to the faculty, and the arrival of John Daniels as Director of Development. The increasing viability of the seminary led to a campaign to build a permanent new building and to apply for associate membership in the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Classes had been held since the seminary's founding in a house rented from Concordia College, which had served as a professor's home, and then as a women's residence. After the conclusion of the academic year in 1990, the seminary moved into temporary quarters at Grace Lutheran Church for the 1990-1991 academic year and received news that it had been granted associate membership in ATS in June 1990. On September 2, 1991 the seminary dedicated its permanent facility at 7040 Ada Boulevard. That weekend also saw the installation of Dr. Steven Harold as the fifth professor (Practical Theology).

The opening of the new building and faculty expansion brought about several years of stability to the seminary. With the retirement of Dr. Rudnick in December 1992 the seminary called a new president, and L. Dean Hempelmann was inaugurated as the third president in November 1993. Under his leadership and the continuing leadership of Dr. Ronald Vahl as academic dean, the seminary engaged in a self-study which culminated in full ATS accreditation in May 1998. Also during the 1997-1998 academic year, the seminary established its Missionary Study Center as evidence of a commitment to the worldwide spreading of the Gospel. In August 1998, Dr. Edwin Lehman was installed as the first director of the center. In 2004, the ATS renewed the seminary's Master of Divinity program for ten years. In 2014, the ATS accreditation was extended for the maximum term of seven years.

In May 1999 Dr. Vahl died, and in October 1999, Dr. Hempelmann moved on to a call in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. This led to the call of Dr. Arthur (Andy) Bacon as the fourth president of the seminary, who was installed in August 2000. Dr. Vernon Raaflaub joined the faculty in January 2001 as professor (Exegetical Theology). In October 2001 Steven Harold resigned from the faculty, and in June 2002, Dr. Threinen retired. In August 2002 Rev. Stephen Chambers, Ph.D., joined the faculty as professor (Exegetical Theology). Dr. Chambers currently serves as Academic Dean and Director of Library. With the retirement of Dr. Raaflaub in June 2006 the Seminary called Jonathan Kraemer as professor (Exegetical Theology), who served until 2016. In June 2005, Dr. Bacon was called to service as a chaplain in the U.S. Army, and resigned his position as president. In March 2007, the seminary installed Dr. Manfred Zeuch as the fifth President. In 2011, Zeuch left the seminary to take an administrative position with Concordia University College of Alberta (now Concordia University of Edmonton). Rev. James R. Gimbel, Ph.D., became president in January 2014. Rev. John P. Hellwege, Ph.D., joined the faculty in 2015, and currently serves as Dean of Students and Director of Financial Aid.

There have also been changes in personnel on the staff level. Carol Farrar, who had served as library technician since the seminary's founding, retired in 2004. That position was then filled by Jane Huber, and then by Rita Jandry. The current librarian is Anna Yang, serving since 2015. Corinne Nowoczin, who had served as the seminary's Registrar since 1993 and Director of Admissions and Recruitment since July 2003, retired in September 2006. In October 2006 Jeffrey Nachtigall was appointed to that position and left in July 2017. Anna Yang has served as Registrar since 2017. Ken Frederick served as the Director of Development beginning in June 1999, and upon his retirement in June 2006, Rev. Daniel Deyell was brought on board in March 2007, serving until 2012. The current Administrative Assistant is Kathy Budgell, who also serves as Director of Admissions.

In 2007, CLS updated the image of the institution, designing a new logo and website.

• Exegetical Theology: Biblical interpretation and the study of the text of the Scriptures in the original languages (Hebrew and Greek); interpretation (hermeneutics), meaning of books of the Old and New Testaments
• Systematic Theology: Doctrine of the Church as it is derived from Scripture. Lutheran Confessions, history * teaching of documents in the Book of Concord and Ethics.
• Historical Theology: Christian thought from the post-apostolic era to the present day
• Practical Theology: Leading worship, preaching, counseling, evangelism, stewardship, and pastoral practice.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary has been accredited by the ATS since May 29, 1998.[1]

• Concordia Lutheran Seminary website