Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, recently marked 50 years of theological education and pastoral formation during a historic joint conference with representatives from both Lutheran Church—Canada (LCC) and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Participants from the partner church bodies met in Niagara Falls, Ontario, as church workers of the LCMS Eastern District and the LCC East Region, along with many guests and alumni, came together to pray, worship and study Oct. 19–21.
Held under the CLTS anniversary theme “Forming the Future,” the conference focused specifically on the topic of “Respectful Theological Dialogue in the Digital Age.” Conference highlights included:
- An alumni reunion and dinner on Oct. 19 following an open house on the CLTS campus.
- Speakers from both church bodies, including the Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger, CLTS president; the Rev. Dr. Jon Bruss, president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW); and the Rev. Dr. Thomas Egger, president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. More than 180 attendees listened as essayists and panelists examined the challenges of confessing the faith in an increasingly digital world.
- The Orders of Vespers and Matins as well as a Divine Service on Tuesday evening, Oct. 20, followed by a celebratory banquet attended by 200 people.
“Reaching 50 years is a testament to the Lord’s unswerving faithfulness to our seminary and to Lutheran Church–Canada,” said Winger. “To host our brothers in ministry from the LCMS for this conference in Niagara Falls provided a fitting expression of our joint history and shared confessional heritage as we look forward to ‘Forming the Future’ together.”
“The close bond between [the] LCMS and LCC seminaries remains a gift to the church,” said LCMS Eastern District President Rev. John Pingel, adding that the event “provided a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our shared history, strengthen our fellowship and equip pastors for faithful ministry in a digital world.”
The milestone carries special significance for the LCMS. In the first academic year of CLTS, eight students gathered in the basement of Resurrection Lutheran Church in St. Catharines under the leadership of the Rev. Roger Humann, who served as dean. Supported initially by CTSFW through visiting professors and library resources, the seminary became an independent institution in 1980.
CLTS was founded primarily to prepare pastors to serve across Canada, but from its inception it was designed to provide formation for American pastors as well. In its five decades of operation, CLTS has expanded that vision to become a truly multinational institution, drawing students from 25 countries and preparing faithful servants for church bodies around the world.
Many American students have received their formation in Ontario before returning to serve in LCMS congregations. CLTS has also supplied faculty members for both LCMS seminaries and several Concordia University System institutions, and two alumni currently serve as LCMS district presidents.
To learn more about the history of CLTS and the seminary’s current programs visit concordia-seminary.ca.
The conference was made possible by a generous grant from the Marvin M. Schwan Charitable Foundation.
Posted Nov. 12, 2026
