Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia - History

History

The background of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia dates back to the founding of the Pennsylvania Ministerium in 1748 by Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the first organized Lutheran church body in North America. LTSP was founded in 1864, partly in response to the theology of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, which was perceived as being too committed to American cultural accommodation rather than confessional Lutheran orthodoxy. This was mirrored by the withdrawal of the Pennsylvania Ministerium from the General Synod, and the formation of the General Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America in 1867. The rivalry between the schools has continued to this day, although it is now principally manifested in annual flag football games.

The seminary moved to its Mt. Airy location in 1888, and built the first seminary building on campus, Old Dorm, now incorporated into the facade of The Brossman Center, in 1889. The Graduate School was established in 1913. In 1938 the school became accredited by the American Association of Theological Schools (ATS). The Urban Theological Institute (UTI), celebrating its 30th year in 2010, was established in to provide accredited Saturdays and evening program for African American church leaders.The UTI now oversees the Black Church programs in the MDiv, MAR and DMin areas, s offers certificate programs for church leaders, and sponsors lectures on topics relating to the Black Church as well as the renowned annual Preaching with Power series each March. Many church leaders, Lutheran and non-Lutheran, have been graduates of or faculty members of LTSP, including H. George Anderson, former ELCA Presiding Bishop and Frank Griswold, former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Lutheran Church theologian Theodore Emanuel Schmauk was President of the Board of Directors from 1908 until 1920 and in charge of the Department of Ethics, Apologetics and Pedagogy from 1911 until 1920. Additionally the presidents of four Lutheran seminaries have been faculty members at LTSP.