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Russian seminary symbolizes United Methodist vision, service

Sep. 19, 2005

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Sue Calvin*

MOSCOW (UMNS) - Compared to the city's opulent, historic Orthodox
cathedrals and monasteries, the new Russia United Methodist Theological
Seminary may appear unassuming.

On the contrary, the seminary symbolizes the United Methodist Church's
commitment and vision for the spiritual renewal of the former Soviet
Union.

More than 100 pastors, students and visitors attended a daylong Sept. 10
dedication event in Moscow, organized by seminary President Tobias
Dietze. During an opening worship service in the Edwards Chapel, the
seminary choir led the congregation in praise, and presiding Bishop Hans
Vaxby described the dedication as "a day of joy and hope."

The seminary needs to be "a place for both theological information and
spiritual formation," so it will be professional and pastoral, he said.

Vaxby thanked God "for every person who gave a dollar or prayed for a
minute for the Russian seminary and the Russian people. When God is
behind something, it will happen. Our calling is to share the graceful
message of Jesus Christ to a nation needing to hear."

The day also marked the installation of the first Russian professor, the
Rev. Sergei Nikolaev, to the Ruediger and Gerlinde Minor Chair. In
accepting his new responsibility, Nikolaev emphasized "Christian love as
central to the evangelistic task."  Funded by the Foundation for
Evangelism, the chair also honors the tradition of Methodist evangelist
E. Stanley Jones.

A panel response to Nikolaev's lecture concluded the program. Speaking
on "The Future of Theological Education" were the Rev. Robin Lovin of
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, the Rev. Norman DeWire of
Methodist Theological School of Ohio, and the Rev. Donald E. Messer of
the Iliff School of Theology, Denver.

Conversations in the seminary's multipurpose room revealed its
importance to Russians.  Rose Tju, a seminary student serving a parish,
remarked "there would be no Methodist Church in Russia without the
seminary."

"Like a mother who nurtures and feeds her children, the seminary feeds
the church," said the Rev. Nina Smirnova, a Russian pastor.

The seminary's dedication climaxed a 14-year journey encumbered by
governmental regulations and unreliable contractors but guided by faith,
vision and prayer.

In 1991, Bishop Ruediger Minor, then leader of the church's Eurasia
Area, told the Council of Bishops about the immediate need for
leadership training and theological education for Russians. Trained
people were needed to serve the churches springing up in the country of
150 million people and spanning 11 time zones.

The appeal led to consultations among representatives of churchwide
agencies and seminary representatives from the Iliff School of Theology
with Minor, pastors and other Russian leaders.

The first classes began in 1995, in two cramped, rented classrooms that
served as the seminary until last February. The United Methodist Board
of Global Ministries provided a $750,000 grant to buy a former
kindergarten building. The United Methodist Board of Higher Education
and Ministry provided $250,000 to begin renovation.

The Russia United Methodist Theological Seminary Advisory Committee
launched a capital campaign in 2000. Led by Minor, Messer and Bishop
Marion Edwards, the campaign has raised $2.7 million. In addition, the
Foundation for Evangelism has established a $1 million endowment fund
for the Bishop Ruediger and Garlinde Minor Professorship.

Escalating inflation and construction costs, coupled with the long
Russian winters, slowed the renovation. Meanwhile, the task of preparing
indigenous leadership for Russian United Methodist churches progressed
uninterrupted.

In just more than a decade, 110 churches with a total of about 5,000
members have been established. To date, 77 students have graduated from
the seminary. Of those, 55 have an appointment. Thirty-four are ordained
elders, and the others are probationers. There are 10 resident students
and about 40 students in the distance-learning program.

The newly renovated facility houses the seminary and provides office
space for the bishop and worship space for Central United Methodist
Church. The third floor of the building, providing student housing, is
not yet complete. Two Volunteers-in-Mission teams, one from the Western
Pennsylvania and West Virginia conferences and one from the Virginia
Conference, will travel to Moscow this fall to continue the work.

"Support for the seminary has been heartwarming," Messer said. "Gifts
and pledges have come from over 981 local churches, 15 annual
conferences, 13 districts and 118 individuals, in addition to church
agencies."

The financial situation remains critical. Money that was earmarked for
equipment and furnishings had to be used for construction. Both the
Board of Global Ministries and the Board of Higher Education and
Ministry made emergency loans to the seminary because of escalating
construction costs. During the last quadrennium, significant operating
costs were covered by the Fund for Theological Education for
Post-Communist Europe. By action of the 2004 General Conference, those
funds are no longer available.

"For the United Methodist presence to grow in Russia, guided by educated
leaders, additional funding must be immediately forthcoming," Messer
said. "Indigenous education and evangelism must go hand in hand together
for the church to thrive and serve."

Gifts may be given through any local church or sent to Advance GCFA,
P.O. Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068.  Gifts can be given to the
Russia United Methodist Seminary through three Advance Specials: No.
12173N, "Russian Seminary Building Fund"; No. 12174A, "Russian Seminary
Operating Fund"; and No. 12176B, "Russian Seminary Scholarship Fund."

*Calvin is a freelance writer in Denver.

News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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