CTSN exists to provide sound theological training for a variety of purposes. While the primary purpose is to provide necessary training for pastors through an accredited B.D. program, other programmes are also offered, including:
External Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S) program for Christian professionals and laity, Annual Pastor’s Refresher Course (PRC) In-Service Training for Pastors (IST)Spoken English program for ministerial students with resource persons from USA and Canada etc.
These are the notable programs in this regard. Lay training for workers in IELC is also carried out by the Seminary.
Our Lord Jesus Christ serves his church through his chosen pastors, and he delivers to gathered believers the most precious gifts of life, health, and salvation in his Word and Sacraments. And so that people who hear the Word of God may come to saving faith, Christ instituted the office of the public ministry of the Word. May the Lord God bless your deliberations, if you are considering dedicating your life to working in his vineyard.
Before you apply to the seminary, we encourage you to do the following:
1. Consult your pastor and members of your congregation, regarding whether they recommend that you apply.
2. Pray to God, as he invites you to, that he may guide you, give you wisdom and courage, and the gifts of his Holy Spirit.
3. Meditate on God’s Word in the Bible, especially on those passages that speak about the specific qualifications for pastors in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus.
Application begins with the B.D. Application Form, which may be accessed HERE.
Please pay careful attention to the required list of accompanying documents.
After the completed application form has been submitted and received, the Seminary will invite the candidate for an IN-PERSON written examination on three subjects: (1) Scripture knowledge, (2) English, and (3) general knowledge. The examination is in English and is a three-hour paper.
After correcting the paper, we shall invite the candidate for a personal interview. The faculty members will verify the candidate’s certificates, including the medical certificate, certificates of qualifications, and the certificate from his pastor.
For the students from the IELC, normally the candidates are identified and recommended to apply to the Seminary by the respective Synods. The final decision for admission is left to the faculty and principal of the seminary.
A Plus Two pass is required for entry to the B.D. five year program.
Any degree from an accredited college (B.A. or B.Sc. and above) is required for entry to the B.D. four year program. Priority is given to IELC candidates. Other students are admitted also, if they have good standing in their respective church backgrounds.
English is the medium of instruction at all levels at CTSN.
Concordia Theological Seminary is pleased to re-start One Year Bible Course from 2024-25 Academic year. This is a catechist course designed for any one who desires to have a foundational understanding about Lutheran theology. This course is also aimed to identify and prepare prospective candidates for Bachelor of Divinity program leading to pastoral ministry track in the India Evangelical Lutheran Church.
A plus two pass is required for admission for the one year bible course. The candidate must be an active communicant member of a local Lutheran congregation. The application can be downloaded here. The medium of instruction will in be English, Tamil and Malayalam.
The curriculum offers a comprehensive program of study in Scripture, Lutheran Confessions, congregational practice (with emphasis on evangelism and church planting), and church history.
The program equips students to be effective church planters and pastors so that the Word of God may be truthfully proclaimed and that the Sacraments of the church may be rightly and faithfully administered.
Concordia Theological Seminary is affiliated to Serampore University, so we follow the syllabus as prescribed by the Senate of Serampore University, which is common to all such affiliated colleges. For more details, you can download the current admissions and curriculum requirements of Serampore University here (BD Curriculum).
CTSN requires, in addition to the core requirements of Serampore University, a number of theological courses that are designed specifically to meet the needs of a confessional Lutheran church of the twenty-first century. Additional courses include, but are not limited to:
A B.D. candidate must complete all of his Senate of Serampore University papers, in addition to our Concordia Theological Seminary papers as required by the faculty.
If the candidate successfully completes his examinations, he can then be appointed as a probationer in his respective synod and mission field. Upon graduation with a B.D., the candidate is placed by the administration of IELC. Information about the current administration may be found on the IELC website.
The probationary period is for two years minimum, and if the candidate’s performance in ministry is not satisfactory, the period may be extended for one or two years, and in rare cases for longer. The seminary faculty will decide on the basis of his performance in the ministry and the letter from his supervising pastor.
Probationers remain under the direct supervision of the seminary until they are certified for ordination.