Generations: The Campaign for Concordia Seminary [1] has raised more than $146 million in gifts and pledges since its inception in July 2012. The amount raised represents 81 percent of the campaign’s $180 million goal.
“It’s inspiring to see the generosity shown for the Lord’s mission through the Seminary,” said Seminary President Dr. Dale A. Meyer. “My words are inadequate to express the depth of our thanks. Donors truly make a profound difference, a positive difference as we go about our daily work. We thank God and thank you!”
The Generations Campaign aims to ensure that future generations will be served by faithful pastors who share the Gospel message in ways that advance the Great Commission. The campaign is the largest in the Seminary’s 177-year history and seeks to build endowment, increase annual support and scholarships, renovate the library and enhance learning technology.
The following is an update on the campaign’s three focus areas:
Endowment funds and estate gifts
Goal: $110 million
Amount raised: $87.2 million
- Endowment funds provide perpetual funding for operations, endowed faculty chairs and student scholarships. Estate provisions are often the tool used by donors to fund an endowment gift. Through such gifts, donors also are able to create a legacy and honor or remember a loved one, a pastor or someone else meaningful to the donor.
Annual support and scholarships
Goal: $60 million
Amount raised: $53.6 million
- The Seminary is blessed with ongoing gifts given directly by individuals and congregations each year, which serve as the foundation for the Seminary’s annual revenue needs. Annual gifts help sustain and grow student scholarships, retain and develop world-class faculty, and maintain the Seminary’s beautiful, iconic campus.
Library and learning technology
Goal: $10 million
Amount raised: $5.6 million
- Through gifts to the Generations Campaign, the library will be revamped into a state-of-the-art learning facility and high-tech initiatives will expand across the campus, bolstering the Seminary’s position as a global leader in theological education and ensuring the ability to connect with pastors, teachers, students and lay members all around the world.
Craig Olson, co-chair of the campaign with his wife, Jane, commented, “It is amazing to watch God work on and through the hearts of faithful supporters of the Seminary, ensuring this ministry of preparing shepherds who will preach and teach His word and care for His people for generations to come.”
Olson also encouraged congregations to support Concordia Seminary by hosting a Seminary Celebration [2]. Special kits are available upon request that provide all the resources necessary to host a celebration. To request a kit, call 800-822-5287 or email [email protected] [3].
To learn more about the Generations Campaign, visit www.csl.edu/generations [1]. To make a gift, call 800-822-5287, email [email protected] [4] or visit www.csl.edu/give [5].
About Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) [6]. To learn more, visit www.csl.edu [7].