Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, announces a 32 percent increase in enrollment for its summer Greek classes. Currently, 73 students are enrolled in the classes, compared to 55 last year. Two sections of the class were needed to ensure quality instruction for so many students. Competence in Biblical Greek is required of all incoming first-year students preparing to serve as pastors in The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

"Competence in biblical Hebrew and Greek is prerequisite to full qualification for admission in to the Master of Divinity program, which is the normal route to certification for ordination as a pastor in The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod," commented Prof. William W. Carr, Jr., director of academic programming at Concordia Seminary.

The increased number of students enrolled in summer Greek classes reflects a dramatically increased enrollment of new students expected this fall. For the week ending July 16, 2004, Concordia Seminary had received 208 applications from those desiring to enroll this fall.

The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program at Concordia Seminary is a four-year program (three years in residence plus one year of vicarage). Full qualification for admission to the degree program presupposes entry-level/pre-seminary competence in Bible content (Old and New Testaments), basic Christian doctrine and Biblical Hebrew and Greek languages. All M.Div. students are accepted for admission subject to the demonstration of these competencies.

"While last year’s incoming class was the largest in 32 years, this year’s incoming class will likely be the second-largest in 32 years," commented Rev. Glen Thomas, vice president for seminary relations at Concordia Seminary. "God continues to raise-up those who will proclaim His Gospel and administer His sacraments, and we celebrate this tremendous enrollment surge with the entire church."

Last year, the Seminary’s total enrollment exceeded 800 students for the first time in four decades. This enrollment increase has resulted in a tremendous challenge for the Seminary to provide generous financial assistance which it hopes will cover the cost of tuition for students preparing to serve in the pastoral ministry.

"We have attempted to form partnerships with the students’ home congregations and home districts in order to cover the cost of tuition for all students preparing for the pastoral ministry," commented Thomas. "For the coming year, Concordia Seminary is pledging to provide $11,400 of the $17,400 tuition cost, and it is only through the generosity of individuals, groups and congregations throughout our Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod that this goal can be achieved."

For more information on Seminary enrollment, contact the Admissions Office at Concordia Seminary, 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105; 1-800-822-9545; admissions@csl.edu. Information also is available on the Seminary’s Web site at www.csl.edu. Those who wish to offer a gift in support of those preparing to serve in the pastoral ministry may contact the Seminary’s Development Office at 1-800-822-5287 or may offer a gift online at www.csl.edu/donate.htm.