Bombshell: Synod, Inc. to close seminaries?

Okay, so we’ve been getting some reports coming out of last week’s Ohio District Convention that are interesting, to say the least.

President Kieschnick couldn’t attend so he sent Dr. Dean Nadasdy, 4th VP, in his place. During the Q&A session, someone asked if he could clear up the rumors about the selling of various synodical assets. In his response, he said that he thought the Synod should sell both seminaries and go to a divinity school model at the various Concordias. With the stunned silence of the assembly, he went on to say that seminaries are too expensive and that the Synod needs to reduce duplication.

Although he made sure to state that the firesale was his opinion, obviously Nadasdy wouldn’t be publicly making such comments if they weren’t realistically on the table and in discussion at the Purple Palace.

It looks like we’ve come a long way from an understanding of synod existing in large part for the purpose of funding seminaries.

There is much more to this story but I’ll keep reporting in the days to come as it gets somewhat complicated. I’ve spoken with multiple sources who were at the Ohio convention and one delegate (Rev. Paul Schleuter) wrote up his report of the convention — which includes some additional information on the Nadasdy presentation — at the awesomely named Straight Schleuter blog.

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