The annual Pastors’ Institute of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary has been held in various locations throughout the country in order to make it possible for more of our pastors to attend. This year the institute took place at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary in Mankato, Minnesota, on July 6–7, 2016.
The first portion of the institute was a presentation entitled “Concordia, Discordia, Et Irenicum: The Reception of the Book of Concord in Seventeenth Century Braunschweig Lutheranism.” This presentation demonstrated how the Book of Concord was received in the northern German states. It explains some of the conflicts involved in the acceptance of the Book of Concord in Lutheran lands and helps explain the genesis of the Syncretistic Controversy (ca. 1645–86) of the seventeenth century. It was given by Dr. Timothy Schmeling of Bethany Lutheran College.
The second segment of the institute was entitled “Church of the Lutheran Confession: Then and Now,” centering on the origin and recent history of the CLC. This presentation was given by President Gaylin Schmeling.