Free Winter Quest class begins next week

“Where did the Bible we use today come from?” with Prof. Jonathan Kraemer is the next blended delivery course in the seminary's ongoing Quest series. It runs for four consecutive Tuesdays from 7pm to 9pm MST, beginning January 17th. Participants can attend online or in person at the seminary.
This free Quest course, which takes place in the seminary's distance-education classroom, is supported by your donations. If you have a computer with a decent quality internet connection capable of using Skype or watching YouTube videos, you are ready to participate. Join us online here: http://ilt.adobeconnect.com/quest.
Some Bible Study groups have taken advantage of the online classes by gathering where they could project the course on a screen. It is easy to set-up and get connected to the class, contact the seminary to get your group started.
(for more information, or to register for the free classes, contact Sandra Esperanza at development@concordiasem.ab.ca or 780-474-1468 ext. 229.)

German Christmas Service Cancelled

Due to the significant transitions that have recently taken place at CLS, the remaining staff have elected to cancel the German Christmas service. We thank you for your ongoing support in the midst of our recovery.

Interim President Appointed

Rev. Dr. Norman Threinen has been appointed interim president of CLS, effective January 1, 2012.

Dr. Threinen joined the faculty of CLS in 1984 as assistant professor. He became a full professor in 1993 and held this position until he retired in 2002. Dr. Threinen also served as Acting President of CLS during the 2003-2004 academic year.

Dr. Threinen takes over as interim president from Rev. Dr. Edwin Lehman who is currently serving as Acting President following the resignation of President Manfred Zeuch on October 27, 2011.

Join us online!

Learn about CLS's involvement in ongoing archaeological project at Hippos, Israel: next Tuesday, Nov. 8th, from 7:00-9:00 pm.

Twenty people have taken part in the Hippos project through CLS since 2006. Dr. Chambers plans to lead another group in July 2012. Participants work on the dig during the week, and tour other places of biblical and archaeological interest on the weekends.

Hippos is a Roman city on the east shore of the Sea of Galilee, inhabited between the 2nd century BC and the 8th century AD. Within the city-wide excavation project, the seminary’s volunteers are part of a larger team from Concordia University (St. Paul, Minnesota) which is focusing on a church-complex. It contains a worship area, a pilgrimage site, the tombs of more than a dozen people, and a luxurious mansion.

This two-hour illustrated talk is a special follow-up to the Quest course, “Let the Stones Speak,” which just ended. Roughly 50 people took part in each of the four sessions, about 20 of them in a seminary classroom and about 30 of them on-line. While Dr. Steve Chambers led the course, Jeff Nachtigall provided technical support, and Ellen Raaflaub brought each night’s snack!

There is no cost to Tuesday night’s presentation, which takes place in the seminary’s distance-education classroom. You are welcome to attend in person, or online. If you have a computer with a decent quality internet connection, capable of using Skype or watching YouTube videos, you are ready to participate. Join us online here: http://ilt.adobeconnect.com/quest

Acting President Appointed

"The CLS Board of Regents has appointed Dr. Edwin Lehman, LCC President Emeritus, to serve as Acting President" was the announcement joyfully received by faculty, staff, and students after the morning chapel service today. This appointment will last until Christmas, at which time the Board intends to have a longer-term Acting President in place.
Dr. Lehman served as Acting President of Concordia Lutheran Seminary in 1999/2000 between the service of Dr. L. Dean Hempelmann and Dr. Andy Bacon. We look forward to working with him again during this time of transition.

CLS President Resigns

Dr. Manfred Zeuch sent a letter of resignation to LCC President Robert Bugbee; Rev. Mark Dressler, chair of CLS Board of Regents; and Rev. Don Schiemann, president of the ABC District yesterday. At his request, LCC shared the following:

Edmonton, October 26, 2011.

To Lutheran Church–Canada,

After prayerful consideration, with my family and with the CLS Board of Regents, I am resigning from my position at Concordia Lutheran Seminary effective October 27, 2011.

It was an honour and privilege for me to follow CLS’ call from Brazil, in January 2007. CLS went through several phases of transition and restructuring, since 2005. I was honoured to lead CLS through the phases of renewal in curriculum and vision, through the times of LCC seminary education changes, brought forth by the Task Force on Cost Efficient Seminary Education, and by the Memorandum of Understanding, voted and adopted in the last convention. Restructuring at CLS has moved on, in the sense of the MOU. Much is still to be done. I believe that my mission and vocation at CLS has now come to an end, and it will be good for other leaders to continue in the path of the agreement reached in June. In the sense of God’s word: One plants, another waters, but God gives the growth. "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth" (1 Cor 3).

In this common understanding we, myself with CLS’s Board of Regents, pray that God may bless the further work of CLS’ faculty, staff and students, a precious and noble task they are endeavoured to carry out.
May the Lord bless CLS, CLTS and LCC.

Greetings in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Dr. Manfred Zeuch

The faculty, staff, and students at CLS ask for your continued prayers and support through the coming weeks and months.

It's not too late to join CLS's resident "archaeologist online:

The "Archaeology and Jesus" course takes place at the seminary, and online, on Tuesday evenings, and is still open to new registrations.

James Morgan of the Canadian Lutheran posted an article online last Friday titled: Ancient artifacts meet new technology in online course.

“Archaeology enthusiast and seminary professor Dr. Stephen Chambers teaches the course and is extremely pleased with the enrolment. Of the 50 people registered, 18 attend on-site in Edmonton, ten individuals take part online (including two in Ontario), and groups from congregations gather in Saskatoon,Campbell River B.C., and Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.”

“Fitting all the material into two-hour sessions is not easy, but Dr. Chambers covered five of his Top 10 topics of biblical archaeology in the first session. Students saw photos and learned about the ossuaries (burial chests) of James and Caiphas; the Pilate inscription; Yehohanan the crucified man; and the Herodian cities of Caesarea Martima and Jerusalem.”

Even though the first session has already taken place, it is not too late to register. (The first session is recorded so you can catch up!) Anyone can take part from any location. The cost is $40, but the registration fee is waived for pastors, church workers, and individuals who participate as a group at one site.

Click here to read the full article on Canadian Lutheran online.

Next Luther Countdown Lecture:

How is Luther's Germany doing today?

Rev. Dr. Wilhelm Torgerson, from our German partner church, SELK, will be discussing:
“Everything is Changing – Germany’s new religious fabric and the challenge it poses to the old established churches.”

This public lecture is CLS's 2011 edition of the ten-year project, Luther 2017 Countdown, anticipating the 500 years of the Reformation in 2017!

Thursday, October 27 at CUCA Auditorium, from 3:30 – 5:30 pm. This event will not be webcast.

Also, come celebrate also with us the Reformation Service!
Dr. Torgerson will be our guest preacher, on Saturday, October 29 at Grace Lutheran Church (9907-114 St) at 7:00 pm. Join us for fellowship following the service.

All are cordially invited, admission is free.