PHILADELPHIA -- The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia has 74 new students this Fall, a record number of first-year-enrollees for the 133-year-old school.  The new students are seeking either a Master of Divinity (ordination), Master of Arts (lay professional) Degree, or other kinds of candidacy credentials.

"Fifty-five of the new students are from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the denomination with 11,000 member congregations that sponsors the Seminary," said the Rev. George Keck, the Seminary’s Director of Admissions. "The enrollment news is especially exciting for us because it bodes well for the future of a denomination which recently held an historic, national assembly here in Philadelphia." He said the large enrollment seems to reflect the assembly theme, "Alive in our Heritage and Hope."

While the seminary appeals to scores of "traditional" enrollees, many new students at the Seminary in Mt. Airy have remarkable diversity in their backgrounds, Keck said. For example, Alex El Khoury grew up in Beirut, emigrated to Miami and dreams of serving a congregation comprised of individuals with a heritage like his. Afrah Wasef grew up in Egypt. Titus Clark is from Liberia. All three have ambitions to serve congregations in the U.S. Patricia Davenport and Tanysha Williams, both of Philadelphia; and Metropolitan New York area students Eric Harrison, Barbara Kearse and John Miller are African Americans preparing for ELCA ministry. Nelson Quinones of Allentown, who speaks Spanish, is preparing to lead a Latino congregation. Beth Lockard of West Chester, Pa., who is developing a congregation for people with hearing impairments in her community, is seeking ordination. She has previously served as coordinator for deaf ministries for the National Council of Churches.

"Our student population also reflects the ecumenical proposals which passed in the recent assembly," Keck says. The new students include five Baptists, four Episcopalians, three members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, one Presbyterian, one Roman Catholic and one Methodist. "Our entire student body benefits from theological study in an interconfessional community," Keck said.

A record number of students have enrolled in the Graduate School. Most are seeking either a Master of Sacred Theology or a Doctor of Ministry.

Why so many new students? Keck believes the Seminary’s new web page has attracted considerable interest. He said the Seminary, accredited both by the Association of Theological Schools and Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, enjoys an expanding reputation for academic excellence. It has a history of attracting students from diverse denominational backgrounds. And, Keck said, the Seminary "is also known for its ability to educate leaders concerned about relating to Christians with a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. We have a niche for preparing leaders to minister in urban settings, as well as in suburban and rural locales."   Keck said an ambitious three-phase construction campaign that began this summer is also attracting attention to the School. A new student housing facility, Phase I, is set for completion in a year.

If you’d like further information about an education at LTSP, contact Keck at 215/248-6304, or touch base with the Seminary’s website at www.ltsp.edu. The Seminary is located at 7301 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia 19119.