LCMS President Rev. Dr . Matthew C. Harrison and the ELCG Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Kofi Fynn dedicate the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption]
On 2 February 2013, approximately 650 people gathered for the dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Accra, Ghana. After the dedication service, President Matthew C. Harrison, LCMS President, and Bishop Paul Fynn, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, cut the ribbon, officially opening the seminary for use.
Pastors and Evangelists process to the service and dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption]
More than 50 Ghanian pastors attended the dedication service, praising God for the completion of a seminary building where more pastors can be trained.
The ELCG Rt. Rev Dr. Paul Kofi Fynn addresses the audience during the service and dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption]
Bishop Paul Fynn spoke how the construction and completion of the seminary has been his dream for more than 25 years. When the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana began in 1957, there was only one pastor. Today, the ELCG has more than 150 pastors with more needed. Bishop Fynn said that as each seminarian graduates, he is tasked with planting at least one new congregation. Bishop Fynn described the many challenges that delayed the construction of the seminary. In fact, Bishop Fynn identified how Satan hindered the seminary at every turn because he hates the gospel and wants to prevent its preaching in the world. (Dr. Lawrence Rast reflecting upon Bishop's Fynn's clear identification of the seminary delays as "Satanic," noted that Western Christians have been so influenced by rationalism that they are unable to see building delays, funding problems, land title issues, and such as anything but "normal" delays or the cost of doing business. Dr. Rast noted that like Bishop Fynn, Dr. Martin Luther, would have regarded all of these events as troubles, trials, and hinderances caused by the devil to prevent the preaching of the Gospel.)
LCMS President Rev. Dr . Matthew C. Harrison gives the sermon at the service and dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption]
President Matthew C. Harrison preached at the seminary dedication. His sermon theme was, "Jesus ye oudia," or "Jesus is for you!" Harrison noted how Jesus taught because we need to be taught the truths of God because they are not obvious or knowable to our natural nature. Jesus taught his disciples for 3 years. This is the purpose of the seminary -- to teach men to become pastors, to teach men the Holy Scriptures. That Jesus is the God-Man, who became incarnate in the flesh must be taught! That babies need to be Baptized must be taught! That Christ gives his true Body and Blood in Holy Communion must be taught! The Creed, the Catechism, worship must be taught! Saint Paul says that a pastor must be apt to teach. This is what the seminary does, teaches men and assesses their aptness to teach. Jesus also taught with authority and not as the scribes and the pharisees. Pastors must only teach from the inspired Word of God, which is the source of their teaching's authority. Nothing must ever be taught which would contradict the inspired Word of God. Nothing should come out of a pastor's mouth that causes his hearers to doubt the Word of God. Pastors are to proclaim the Word of God. The seminary teaches men to proclaim the Word of God. The Word of God is not mere information, rather it delivers forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. How? Did Jesus say, "Lazarus, I've done all that I could for you! If you want to rise, come out!" NO! Jesus called out, "Lazarus, Come Out!" by the power and authority of the Word of God. When the Lord proclaims, it happens... "Behold, a virgin shall conceive.. The Word shall become flesh... Your sins are forgiven. Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers who proclaim that Jesus is for you.
After President Harrison's sermon, the Ghana Lutheran Church Mass Choir
The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast, Jr., president of Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Ind., gives the Old Testament reading during the service and dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption]
Dr. Lawrence Rast, President of
Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, participated in the Ghana Theological Seminary dedication. Drs. Rast, Roethemeyer, and Quill greatly assisted the completion of the Ghana seminary by providing library and accreditation consultation through the Chemnitz Library Initiative, a joint partnership between Concordia Theological Seminary and the International Luther Council.
The Rev. Dr. Timothy Quill, director of International Studies for Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Director of Global Seminary Education for the LCMS Office of International Mission, gives the Gospel lesson during the service and dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption]
After the service, Dr. Timothy Quill, Director of International Studies at Concordia Theological Seminary and Director of Theological Education for the LCMS, gave an address for the dedication of the seminary. He told a story about his time in Nigeria when Pres. Fynn was a young seminary student. One day Quill's four year old brother was riding his little bike down the big hill behind the seminary and did a complete summersault. Paul Fynn picked him up and carried him home in his arms. Today's celebration of the new seminary campus in Ghana also experienced a sever bump in the road when construction was halted. Someone needed to pick things up and bring the task home to completion. This was done by the joint efforts of Dr. Fynn, the generous donors from the LCMS, the LCMS Office of International Mission. Quill encouraged the members of the ELCG to now care for their seminary and their dedicated faculty, including sending their finest young men to study theology and be prepared as pastors for their churches and missions.
Interior photograph of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption]
Inside the seminary after the dedication, guests gathered for a tour and for refreshments. The Ghana Lutheran Theological Seminary is among the best Lutheran seminaries in Africa. The Ghanian seminary fits into the theological education strategy for West Africa. The theological library at the Ghana seminary is among the best in Africa, along with Nigeria and Kenya.
The program for the seminary dedication and the service participants.
Posted by Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver, Director of Church Relations / Regional Operations on 3 February 2014.
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