LTS MISSION STATEMENT

The Lutheran Theological Seminary, with its foundation in Holy Scriptures, and from a Lutheran faith perspective, strives to nurture learners from Hong Kong and throughout the world in an atmosphere of ecumenical unity, vibrant worship life, dynamic mission service, cooperative fellowship and the pursuit of excellence. The seminary seeks to develop faithful servants of God’s Word who are characterized by spiritual maturity, depth of knowledge, a heart for pastoral ministry, enthusiasm in mission, skill in teaching, willingness to cooperate, a commitment to life-long growth, and an abiding concern for society.

To achieve this mission, the Lutheran Theological Seminary takes the following as our main points of emphasis:

1. Spiritual Formation and a Sense of Self-Giving
In an age of professionalism, our seminary teaches learners neither to regard a theological degree simply as proof of professional qualifications, nor to become overwhelmed by the increasing demand for skill and competence in pastoral ministry. Instead, we encourage our learners to offer their lives in service to the Lord. Therefore, our seminary nurtures our students holistically, helping them to discover their potential gifts, and also molding the spiritual life of the learner through the Gospel of Christ, transforming a self-centered life-style into a world-view that is Christ-centered, in which service consists not only in the application of
pastoral skills, but also in a life that is lived in dependence upon the grace of God. They are inspired to live, not for material possessions and temporal rewards, but for a higher calling which leads to self-sacrifice for the church.
Our first priority is spiritual formation, built upon a foundation of academic study and pastoral skills. We recognize the mutuality of these three areas of theological education and blend them together in ways that will maximize the development of holistic growth.
To assist in the realization of these goals, the seminary's chaplaincy department has been given the special responsibility of nurturing the commitment of our learners. Every faculty member also understands it as their responsibility to assist our learners to reflect on the renewal of their lives. We emphasize life together in worship and fellowship, praising the grace of our Lord and loving each other, leading to a sense of wholeness in spiritual direction.

2. Academic Excellence and Innovative Practice
One of the characteristics of the twenty-first century is the unprecedented pace of change. In a time when today's innovation is obsolete tomorrow, we not only assist learners to increase their knowledge and improve their skills, but also encourage them to embody and bring together in a harmonious whole what they have learned, to seize with vigor the wisdom given to them by God, to respond to the needs of this age with creativity, to help shape the future of the church. Asian theology continues to be significantly influenced by the West. We must strive together to develop a contextual theology, making it possible for the Gospel to take root in the soil of the culture.
We are acutely aware of the importance of theological education to the development of the church and society. Therefore, we are doing our best to train individuals in Hong Kong, Asia and other parts of the world to become accomplished teachers and researchers in theology. Our faculty members, in addition to being academically accomplished, are also experienced in pastoral ministry. Besides being committed to research and publication, they are equally interested in exploring with students the challenges of their future ministries. This atmosphere of learning and sharing is enhanced by our large, modern, well-equipped library, a quiet refuge for study and reflection. Furthermore, our seminary, being committed to broad academic discourse and the enhancement of academic standards, is a founding member of the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA), the Asia Theological Association (ATA), and the Hong Kong Theological Education Association (HKTEA).

3. Proclamation of the Gospel and Commitment to Mission
In the midst of a pluralistic society, we emphasize mutual respect and understanding of other religions and cultural traditions. Yet, we firmly believe that only Christ, as witnessed to in the Scriptures, can lead us to a relationship with the true God. Therefore, we emphasize training our learners to proclaim the Gospel, in order to lead all people to Christ. Our seminary has close cooperation with international churches. Both the faculty and student body consist of individuals from various countries who have come together to learn. This
makes it possible for our students to understand on a deeper level the life of people from other parts of the world, to develop an intimate awareness of the needs of sister churches, and to gain a fresh and engaging sense of the importance of mission. In addition, we sponsor cultural awareness groups. These provide the opportunity for our students to observe first-hand the cultures and church settings of other locations, and allow our students to join together with Christian brothers and sisters outside Hong Kong in Gospel proclamation and service to society. In the process, our students learn discipline, teamwork and reliance on God in the midst of an unfamiliar environment, and gradually come to see that their intellectual knowledge has matured into important life experiences.
In response to an ever-changing society, theories of pastoral ministry continue to develop and improve. In light of this, our seminary seeks close cooperative relationships with a variety of churches and organizations in Hong Kong, in order better to understand the real needs of church. We are thereby better able to offer continuing education for learners from diverse backgrounds. We also understand the crucial function of ongoing pastoral education in the ministry of the church, so in the design and administration of the curriculum we strive to meet the time constraints of those already actively involved in ministry. With well-designed courses in practical theology and Christian education, in addition to field work, we seek to increase the skills of our learners, and assist the church to experience healthy growth. Through student exchange programs with universities and seminaries around the world, and the establishment of an Institute for Mission and Intercultural Studies, an Alumni Association, and a Pastoral Colleagues Continuing Education Group, LTS strives to help both students and alumni to be better equipped in proclamation, mission and pastoral ministry.
4. Pursuit of Unity and Promotion of Reconciliation
The seminary was founded by the Lutheran church, and we contribute to the larger church and to theological education with our rich theological heritage. Students learn to respect other denominations, to encourage mutual support, to promote Christian unity, as a witness to the glory of God.
In a society experiencing rapid technological development, globalization and urbanization, the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen. Throughout Asia, equality of the sexes is yet to be achieved either in the church or in society as a whole. We encourage students to become the prophets of their time, to pursue justice for the weak and helpless, and through the gospel of reconciliation bring harmony to groups with conflicting interests.
Because of human greed and a lack of knowledge related to the care and maintenance of the earth, God's creation is gradually being depleted through environmental pollution and endangered ecosystems. Therefore, we nurture an environmental consciousness in our students, preparing them to point the way for believers in the protection and wise use of God's creation. Our seminary has established the Institute for the Study of Luther in the Asian Context, one of the purposes of which is to assist learners to understand how to appreciate the traditions of others, while at the same time respecting their own tradition; to study Western theology, while at the same time being connected to their own situation and context. Our seminary not only
helps students to reflect theologically, but through their life together as a diverse community of faculty, staff and students, we practice loving one another in a spirit of unity; and we encourage learners to strive diligently in their studies to discover how to serve both society and the church.

5. Nurture of Believers and Witness to Christ
Faced with fields ripe and ready for harvest, the work of the church must be accomplished through the close cooperation of pastoral ministers and church members. We believe in the priesthood of all believers, and the importance of bearing witness to our faith both in church and society; therefore, the points of emphasis listed above relate not only to clergy but to laity as well.
Believers, in addition to their daily work, have the added responsibility of caring for their families and participating in the work of the church. They need to be cared for in body, mind and spirit. We nurture believers toward spiritual maturity, caring for their holistic growth so that they can face the challenges of modern society, upholding their duty to their family, their society and their church.
In response to the practical needs of the developing Chinese churches, the design of our curriculum not only assists them in adapting to the ministry of the church in the present, but provides them with a long-term vision of working in concert with pastoral ministers in leading the church into the future.
The church in Asia frequently finds itself faced with the problem of privatized faith. This limits the effect of the Gospel in society as a whole. It is our desire to help believers to enter more deeply into the life of the society in which they live, and seriously to reflect upon their place as Christians in society. We want to strengthen believers’ ability to think theologically and their capacity to synthesize the results of their thinking. We endeavor to nurture them to be God's witnesses in their various vocations, and to bring to completion the Gospel in their daily lives.
Our seminary operates an Theological Education by Extension Centre located in Kowloon. The courses are taught by the faculty of the seminary, as well as visiting lecturers. The Director for Theological Education by Extension, together with the Management Committee and the Alumni Association are continually involved in the process of improving the curriculum, making the courses better fit the needs of the believers. We are beginning to plan a Distance Learning Course so that believers who want to pursue theological studies are not limited by time and space, becoming the priesthood of the twenty-first century.
Our seminary welcomes those who are committed to service in church and community, both clergy and laity. We do not discriminate on the basis of denominational affiliation, nationality, geographical origin, gender, age or disability, in either hiring or admissions.