Moscow Theological Seminary Looks Back at its Foundation

Moscow Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Christians Baptists held their graduation exercises for the year 2004 on 29 May. With a history of over 10 years, the seminary has weight with the development of churches in Russia. During the graduation exercises, it looked back to its foundation.

The dream of providing theological education for Russian Christians was first shared with Baptist delegates from all around the world on the Baptist World Alliance Congress in London in 1905. They began to pray and collect funds for a seminary in Russia. Sadly, the answer to this prayer was delayed by the devastating consequences of the October Revolution of 1917 and two world wars. However, in unceasing prayer, the formation of such institution was finally commenced in the early 1990s.

The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) played an important role in the project. A Theological Assistance Group was especially appointed by Denton Lotz, the General Secretary of BWA to give leadership. The BWA which had been holding over £30,000 for a new seminary in Russia transferred those funds to help complete the building of new headquarters.

Together with the effort of Russian Christian leaders from the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists and the Euro-Asian Federation of the Unions of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, it gave birth to the Moscow Theological Seminary on October 3, 1993.

On the graduation exercises, Lotz, was awarded an honorary doctorate in Divinity, recognising his outstanding leadership and commitment to serve as a missionary as well as an educator in Eastern Central Europe with the Board of International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches, USA. He was commended for his wise leadership that enables the BWA to be a home for all Baptists and, “for his faithful witness to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in all times and places.”

In Lotz speech to the graduating class of '29, he commented that “to find that aspect of theological education which is culturally proper and intellectually feasible for each national and church situation” is vital as theological education become more and more diversified around the world.

“Theological education must be existential and also culturally relevant. It must be faithful to the Word and at the same time know culture well enough that it can be prophetic over against it.” This is the belief of Lotz and it has guided him in his ministry.

Lotz was well-known for his courageous defense of Baptist principles “when they have been threatened by benign neglect or malicious assault, his tireless toil to bring together people who are divided by race and ethnic identity, and his attempts to give a hand and a voice to the poor and neglected people throughout the world.”

There are presently 1,400 Baptist Churches in Russia and about 23 in Moscow. The official number of Baptists of Russia is 85,000. There are 1,000 pastors serving these people. However, the goal of the seminary is to train many more students for the ministry from Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia and some from Kazakhstan, and not only for the Russian Baptist churches. Two years ago, a newly renovated building was dedicated, and provides room for about 200 students, enabling the seminary to increase enrollment and produce many more pastors and teachers who will spread the gospel across Russia and Eastern Europe.