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TechnoratiLast month, Dr. Richard H. Bliese – a distinguished missionary, pastor, and teacher – was named president of Luther Seminary, one of the largest mainline seminaries in North America.
Dr. Richard Bliese, the eighth president of Luther Seminary(LS). (Photo by LS)
On Monday May 9, 2005, the Christian Post spoke with Dr. Bliese about his visions and goals for the St. Paul, Minn.-based seminary – the largest of eight Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)-related seminaries in the U.S. – and about his experience in the growing ecumenical movement.
What is your reflection on being elected?
I’ve been at Luther Seminary for two years as academic dean. Before that I taught global mission at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). The mission statement and mission commitments are what drew me here.
The Seminary has an incredible strategic plan, “Serving the Promise of Our Mission." It outlines the vision of where the school is headed. The Seminary’s business plan is designed around that vision.
Can you tell us a little bit about this plan?
The document was drafted in 2000. It's a very public document and it has become incredibly important in guiding the Seminary’s future.
I am called to continue that strategic plan. I think we will continue in the same direction as we develop a new plan. For example, the first sentence of the strategic plan continues to be very important to us: “We believe God is calling and sending the church of Jesus Christ into apostolic mission in the 21st century world of many cultures and religions.” The mission field today is much like the one the early apostles entered.
Many have testified about your passion and excitement towards the mission of Luther. What are some of the goals you wish to help the school achieve during your presidency?
We want to continue building a faculty that is centered along the mission of this seminary. We currently have 47 full-time faculty members, which is quite large compared to most other seminaries. Hiring quality people really makes a difference. We want to continue building a staff, administration, and board that are committed to the Seminary’s unfolding mission.
The president’s job is not only to lift up mission and vision of the school, but also to get adequate funding to move into the future. So obviously, fundraising will be a big part of my job.
One of the biggest missions of Luther Seminary is to prepare leaders for the church, does this mean particularly for the ELCA?
No, Luther Seminary’s mission is for the whole church. About 15-20 percent of our students are ecumenical. Our three largest groups of ecumenical students are Baptists, United Methodists, and Presbyterians.
We also have students from all over the world. The key for us is educating leaders who serve in Christian communities, not just pastors, but lay leaders as well. We really lift up the ministry, daily life, and the vocation of all the baptized. This is a big strength of our seminary.
I read that your first call to pastoral ministry led you to Germany where you served at a Lutheran church for several years. How did such opportunity come about?
I was in seminary at the time and there was a very vibrant growing congregation in Germany that was interested in evangelism, one of my passions. I stayed in the congregation doing pastoral work and emphasizing outreach and evangelism. It was a very prominent, influential congregation. It taught many German parishes throughout Germany and Europe how to do outreach. That was a wonderful, wonderful opportunity. Continue »
