CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Good morning! In fact, extraordinary morning!" the Rev. H. Frederick Reisz, Jr., president of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, greeted reporters April 21 in Columbia, S.C. He announced that an anonymous gift of $7,622,737.45 -- the largest single contribution ever to a Lutheran seminary in North America -- and a planned gift of $625,000 had been given to the seminary.
Southern is one of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The $7.6 million gift is more than twice as much as what had been the largest single gift to an ELCA seminary.
"This historic gift is more than twice our annual budget of $3.2 million," said Reisz. "The major portion of this extraordinary new resource will be used as endowment funds for the long- range financial strength of our seminary. These funds will provide scholarships for our students."
The unrestricted money will also be used to install modern media technology for distance learning and to supplement faculty resources. A portion will be used to complete work on the Virginia Casey Interactive Education Center and to begin construction on half of the Wilson L. Smith Family Village of student housing.
"Through this gift, a humble anonymous donor has emphasized the importance of the seminary's mission of theological education and the formation of women and men for the ministries of the church, for spiritual leadership in society and for ethical loving service in the world," said Reisz. "This gift is a tribute to the dedication of Southern Seminary's faculty and staff for 168 years and honors the excellence of our students. This amazing gift is from a generous donor who has utilized what God places in human hands in order to benefit the church for generations to come."
The seminary is in the midst of a three-year appeal to raise $10.6 million for campus improvements. Gifts and pledges had already exceeded $11.8 million by the end of 1997.
In addition to the anonymous gift, the Rev. Carl and Miriam Fisher announced a planned gift which will eventually bring $625,000 to the seminary. Carl Fisher is president of Southern's alumni association.
"Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary is a professional graduate school of about 180 students. We educate for ministry not only Lutheran students, but have students studying here from more than a dozen Christian denominations. Our students come from across the nation to study here in Columbia and prepare for servant leadership in the church," said Reisz.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
