22.03.10 - Taking part in the ELC-ER Synod in Moscow

The 17th Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of European Russia was held in Moscow from March 17 – 19, 2010. The Theological Seminary in Novosaratovka was represented by our president, Dr. Anton Tikhomirov, and by teacher and translator Dr. Elena Bondarenko. The Synod opened with a conference of ELC-ER deans; the theological topic of discussion was the human soul. Reports on the biblical understanding of the human soul were made; afterwards there was discussion which helped reveal what concepts of soul, death and eternal life are predominant nowadays in our church.

The most important decision of the synod was the appointment of seminary graduate, Pastor Dietrich Brauer, as the visitation bishop of the ELC-ER. Dietrich Brauer studied in our seminary from 2001 to 2004. In 2005 and 2006 he and his wife Tatiana Petrenko, also a graduate of our seminary, were pastoral interns in Kaliningrad. From 2006 until the present Dietrich and Tatiana have served in Salzburg church in the city of Gusev (Gumbinnen) in former Eastern Prussia. They have spiritually  nourished 10 congregations and the Karl-Bluem-House for the elderly.

One more important decision of the synod was the appointment of Pastor Norbert Hintz as the vicar bishop of the ELC-ER. Pastor Hintz is the head of Martin-Luther-Bund in the Church of Hannover. Good, long-term relations connect our seminary with Pastor Hintz. He has come to our seminary several times already to teach practical theology and spirituality at our extended education courses.

These decisions of the synod are very important for the future of our seminary. We hope that the joint efforts of the visitation bishop and the vicar bishop of the ELCER will help the seminary strengthen its positions and make its mission in our church more fruitful.