About Us
Seminary History
The Inter-Lutheran Theological Seminary was founded in 1967 to train members
of the body of Christ for
Christian ministry, primarily in the Lutheran Churches. Reverend Kenneth Hendrickson,
Dr. Uuras Saarnivaara and Dr. Albert Saari were the incorporators and
original board. Dr. Uuras Saarnivaara served the Seminary as
dean from its inception until 1987. Reverend Wayne Juntunen
was called in 1982 to serve as the assistant dean on a
full-time basis and served in that capacity until June of
1991. Reverend James Weidner was called in the fall of 1988 to
serve as the Professor of New Testament Studies and Biblical
Hermeneutics. In June of 1991, he became the president of
the Seminary. Throughout the history of the Seminary,
several pastors have been used as instructors in the
department of pastoral ministry.
The majority of graduates are pastoring congregations in the
Apostolic Lutheran Church of America. Other graduates have served or are
presently serving congregations of the ELCA and Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod. Some graduates serve in various
capacities with mission organizations and independent
ministries. A few have graduated and gone on to ministries
in other Church bodies.
Statement of Purpose
The Inter-Lutheran Theological Seminary is incorporated
as a non-profit religious organization whose purpose is to
establish and maintain a theological institution for the
training of Christian ministers and workers.
The Seminary is unreservedly dedicated to “holding fast
the faithful word” of the Holy Scriptures (Titus 1:9). It
acknowledges the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments
(in their original autographs) as the inerrant and wholly
reliable Word of God which is the supreme and only norm and
rule of faith and practice of the Christian Church. It also
subscribes to the Apostles’ Nicene and the Athanasian
Creeds and accepts the Lutheran Confessions contained in the
Book of Concord in the sense these Confessions themselves
declare in the introductory parts of the Formula of Concord.
Whereas many people today find little or no relevance in
Christianity to their every day lives; the Inter-Lutheran Theological Seminary bears witness to a
living, dynamic Christ who speaks to each new generation. It
is through His Word that we find meaning in our present
condition and we have hope for the future.
His Word is timeless in that it is God’s message
proclaimed once and for all. It is not relative nor to be
dismissed as time-conditioned nor meant only for its
original audience. This proclamation was spoken with power,
remains as such today and always will be. However, His word is also time-bound in the sense that it must always
be proclaimed in human history. Each generation must hear it
anew. The gospel of Christ is spoken into the present and it
needs to be heard in the present.
The Inter-Lutheran Theological Seminary is devoted to the
proclamation of this Word. Its stance is best described as
orthodox, evangelical, conservative and Lutheran. Its
orthodoxy, conservatism and Lutheranism as evident by its
position regarding the Word of God and the confessions of
the Church. Its evangelical thrust is manifested by its
concern for the salvation of souls through the proclamation
of the Gospel. It is not controlled by any church body.
Therefore, it accepts students from any Lutheran circles,
and other groups where a sufficient unity of faith exists.
The graduates of the Seminary shall have freedom to accept
calls to any field of service.
Inter-Lutheran
Theological Seminary
James Weidner, President
P.O. Box 449
Hancock, MI 49930
administrator@ilseminary.org
Phone:
906-482-3337
FAX: 906-482-0694