the Word at Work
A n o c c a s i o n a l n e w s l e t t e r
Mission
The mission of the Institute of Lutheran
Theology is to educate and prepare
ordained and lay Lutheran leaders,
followers of Jesus Christ, for
evangelical vocations SO THAT: they
may walk in the WAY of Jesus Christ,
know the TRUTH which is Christ, and
witness their resurrected LIFE in Christ
for all to see.
Contact Us:
Institute of Lutheran Theology
910 4th St
Brookings, SD 57006
605-692-9337
www.instituteoflutherantheology.org
email:admin@instituteoflutherantheology.org
A Message from:
Dennis Bielfeldt,
CEO and Provost
“Greetings in the Name of Christ”
The Institute of Lutheran Theology is
heading in a definite theological
direction characterized by these
affirmations:
*We are theological realists,
believing that the Triune God is not
merely a structure of human
consciousness, but exists apart from
human awareness, perception,
conception and language.
*We are semantic realists,
believing that theological language
does not merely express the depth
of human being or emotion, but
rather makes truth-claims about
God, and what God has done for us
in Christ Jesus.
*We advocate theophysical
causation, believing that talk of
God’s mighty acts in history does
not merely express the depth of
human being and consciousness,
but rather declares that God has
causal powers, that some natural
events would not occur in the way
they do apart from God’s power.
*We advocate a Lutheran theology
of nature,
Institute of Lutheran Theology
Issue 8 ~February 2009
believing that good Lutheran theology
cannot merely isolate divine activity
within the arena of language, but that
the natural course of the universe
itself must be understood as a
fundamental place where God’s
power and love are present.
*We hold to the internal clarity of
Scripture, believing that Scripture is
not merely a text from the ancient
world whose meaning is obscure and
only discernible through application of
new scholarly approaches to the text,
but that Scripture is in itself clear, that
any obscurity on Scripture’s part is
due to the fallenness of human
nature.
*All of these assertions place us in
some tension with presuppositions
that have operated in Lutheran
theology over the last two centuries.
The last assertion, in particular, shall
raise eyebrows in our time. We
believe that just as God is clearly at
(Continued on next page)
 I n s t i t u t e o f
L u t h e r a n T h e o l o g y

(Continued from first page) Student’s of ILT

work in the universe whether
or not human beings Pastor Tom Walker,
recognize it or not, so too is ILT Dean of Administration
Christ clearly at the center of
Scripture whether human
beings can perceive it or not.

We ask all of you to join with
us in this exciting program of
retrieving a robust
confessional Lutheran
theology for our time. We
need your prayers,
recommendations for
students, your presence in our
classes, and your financial
support!
You won’t want to miss
our annual
Mount Carmel Event
June 7 - 10
Alexandria MN
Fourteen people are in various
stages of discernment about
becoming students at the
Institute of Lutheran Theology
next fall. The number of
inquirers is roughly double that
figure. During December and
January the number of
inquiries has nearly tripled
over previous months. These
are very good signs for being
able to have a good student
body next fall when the
pastoral training programs
start.
A key factor for getting off the
ground next fall will be good
support for student financial
aid. Because the ILT is not
yet accredited, students will
not have access to standard
financial aid resources and
student loans.
We will need individuals,
congregations, and private
foundations that are willing to step
forward with funding to help our
students with the cost of attending
school. Because the ILT enables
the families to stay where they are
and for students and student
spouses to continue to work at
their jobs, this need will not be at
the level of most students
attending seminary. However,
some assistance will be necessary.
We are right now in the process of
putting together student grant and
loan funds. If you would be willing
to help us with this important work,
please contact us right away. You
can reach us by phone at 605-692-
9337 or by email at:
admin@instituteoflutherantheology
.org

Set these dates aside and

watch for more info to
come!
 Why I Support ILT
By Douglas Morton
I am a confessional Lutheran
pastor in The Lutheran Church –
Missouri Synod (TLC-MS). I
support my church body and its
universities and seminaries. Yet,
at the same time, I support the
Institute of Lutheran Theology.
Here are my reasons why:
I have not always been LC-MS.
As a matter of fact, I have roots in
the church bodies that make up
the present ELCA. I was baptized
and brought to faith in Christ in
the old United Lutheran Church in
America (ULCA). I received my
Sunday School education, was
Confirmed, and received my
college education in The
American Lutheran Church
(TALC). However, in the early to
middle 1970s I came see, what I
believed, was the handwriting on
the wall for my old church bodies.
Thus, I ended up going to
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, a
seminary in The Lutheran Church
– Missouri Synod. Ultimately I
joined the LC-MS in 1979 shortly
before my graduation. I do not
regret my decision.
In the 1970s I was looking for a
confessional Lutheran school
where the entire faculty held the
Scriptures in high regard. I did
not believe I could find one such
school in the church bodies of my
youth.
Yes, there may have been
schools where individual
professors held a very high regard
for the Scriptures and the
Confessions, but it was at
Concordia Seminary where I met
an entire faculty who willingly
placed themselves under the
authority of the Scriptures. In
these Scriptures Christ spoke his
word of law and gospel. This
faculty held to the Lutheran
Confessions because (quia) they
agreed with the Scriptures, not in
so far as (quatenus) they thought
they agreed with the Scriptures.
I find the Institute of Lutheran
Theology to be a school where
the faculty also has a high regard
for the sacred Scriptures and
have bound themselves to the
Lutheran Confessions. Had
something like ILT been around in
the 1970s, I may have sought it
out as a way to further my
Christian education and as a
route into the Holy Ministry.
This is not to say that, as a pastor
in The Lutheran Church –
Missouri Synod, I agree totally
with all the nuances on doctrine
that make up the teaching staff of
the Institute. We may have
certain differences. These are
things we can always discuss in a
manner that befits those who
have bound themselves to Holy
Scripture and to the Lutheran
Confessions.
What I do find in the Institute, and
in its teachers, is a refreshing
view of the Holy Scriptures and
faithfulness to the Lutheran
Confessions. For this reason I
have not only supported the
Institute financially, but have also
sought to help it in other ways.
In our day there is an erosion of
Christian truth in many of the
denominations and seminaries.
This is one of the reasons why it
is encouraging to see the
formation of the Institute of
Lutheran Theology. We need
more schools like it in order to
train both lay people in life-giving
Scriptural doctrine, as well as in
training pastors for the office of
the Holy Ministry.
Above are the reasons why I
support the Institute of Lutheran
Theology. It is a breath of fresh
air in an often stagnate and
degenerating theological climate
that makes up many main line
denominations and seminaries.
My prayers are with you ILT! So
are my financial support and my
help in any way I can. God has
some great things in store for you.
Also, through you, God has some
great things in store for the
Lutheran Church, the greater
Christian Church, and the world at
large.
 910 4th St
Brookings, SD 57006
Ph: (605) 692 9337 Fax: (605) 692 1460
email: admin@instituteoflutherantheology.org
www.instituteoflutherantheology.org

Archived Courses
Dennis Bielfeldt, “Luther: An Opinionated Introduction”
Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt teases from Luther some of his best
thinking about the nature of church, of the sacraments, of ordination, Upcoming
and of human suffering. This four part series will also include an
overview of Luther's life and times.
Lay Courses
Mark Mattes, “Philippians” (Course times are CST)
This course examines the Apostle Paul's letter to the Church at
Philippi. We will discover the source of his joy as faith in Christ in spite "The Pursuit of the Paranormal"
of his imprisonment. by Fred Baltz
Sunday Nights -
James Nestingen, “Teaching the Catechism” March 15 - April 26, 7:30-8:30 pm
Dr. Nestingen directs this course especially to parents of young
“Luther: The Three Great Treatises”
children to encourage them to again use this teaching tool to provide
by Jim Nestingen
youth with the foundation of basic Christian teachings. Monday Nights -
starting March 16, 7:30 pm
James Nestingen, “Lutheran Confessional Writings”
This course is an eleven week introduction to the history and “The Screwtape Letters of C.S. Lewis”
theology behind The Book of Concord, the founding documents of the by Paul Spaulding
Lutheran tradition. Tuesday Nights -
March 17 - April 28, 7:30-8:30 pm
Gregory Peterson, “Science & Theology”
This course introduces students to the problems bequeathed to For more information on the
theology by the rise of the natural and social sciences. It examines, courses,
from a Lutheran standpoint, the plausibility of God in our scientific age. check out our website:
www.instituteoflutherantheology.org
Stephen Turnbull, “Galatians”
In this course we will explore the radical good news of the Register with Nikki Berreth,
crucified Jesus and the revolutionary letter that Paul wrote to defend it. Assistant to CEO & Provost
The book of Galatians has a history of shaking up the church. Could it 605-692-9337
be that God wants to use it to shake you up?
 Financial Challenges of 2009
2009 proves to be a challenging
year for all non-profit groups
relying upon support of donations
in these tough economic times.
With the down-fall of the stock
market, the housing market
crashing, the great loss across
the country of jobs and numerous
companies being forced to down-
size and re-strategize their
business position, the Institute of
Lutheran Theology is also feeling
the pinch. ILT has seen the loss
of the financial support by the
WordAlone Network for the 2009
budget year. This is a loss of
$15,000 from our budget that we
did not anticipate.
While we are at a critical point in
forming our programming, we are
in more need than ever to see the
continued support of prayer and
financial contributions from those
excited by the education and
change provided by the Institute
of Lutheran Theology. Your
donations are crucial! Even a
monthly contribution of $25 from
every supporter of ILT would
make a difference. We operate
on a very tight operational budget
dedicating only $140,000 total
compensation toward annual staff
salaries.
Our staff of seven is paid out of Gift forms are available by
this line to carry out the daily contacting the Institute business
business of working toward office at:
getting our program accredited
admin@instituteoflutherantheology.
with ATS, bringing on Designated
org or by calling 605-692-9337.
Teaching Centers, carrying out
the Christian Life Series lay
Donations are accepted online at:
educational offerings, www.instituteoflutherantheology.org
our newsletter distribution, and or by mail to:
speaking engagements of the
Institute. When compared to Institute of Lutheran Theology
similar organizations, the Institute 910 4th St
is proud to operate on minimal Brookings, SD 57006
salary lines which allows us to
dedicate our financial support to
the task of providing
confessionally-based, scripturally-
grounded education to lay and
pastoral preparation.
For supporters who are also
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
members, please consider
utilizing your GivingPlus matching
dollars to support the Institute.
This is free money that derives
from matching donated dollars to
eligible, qualifying Lutheran
programs recognized by Thrivent
Financial. ILT is a recognized,
eligible program. Thrivent
Financial will match $1 for each
$2 contributed toward the Institute
of Lutheran Theology up to a
matched gift of $300 per year.
Individuals can donate monthly,
quarterly or a one-time gift and
have the gift(s) be eligible for
matching.
 Faculty & Staff Notes
Dennis Bielfeldt had published
"The Draft Social Statement on
Human Sexuality: How not to
Derive 'Ought' from 'Is’”, Oct 2008,
The Journal of Lutheran Ethics
(http://archive.elca.org/jle/
article.asp?k=806). In addition,
his translation of Anna Briskina’s,
“Die finnische Lutherforschung”
recently appeared as, “The
Finnish Luther Research,"
Lutheran Quarterly 22 (2008), 16-
39. Bielfeldt keynoted at St.
Matthew Lutheran in Galena IL,
delivered three addresses at the
Canadian Association of Lutheran
Churches Annual Meeting in
Cochrane, Alberta, and in January
2009 traveled to Marengo, IA,
giving a day-long theology
conference where he delivered
three addresses around the
theme, “Reclaiming our Lutheran
Heritage: Five important
Theological Themes Lutherans
have Lost.” Bielfeldt also
continues to post to his academic
theological blog:
http://disputationes.blogspot.com.
The Substance of the Faith:
Luther’s Doctrinal Theology for
Today, by Dennis Bielfeldt, Mickey
Mattox, and Paul Hinlicky was
published earlier in 2008 by
Augsburg/Fortress Press.
Greg Peterson had published Staff
“In Praise of Folly? Theology and
Tom Walker traveled with
the University.” Zygon: Journal of
Dennis Bielfeldt to Edmonton,
Religion & Science 43(3): 563-
577, “Maintaining Respectability: Alberta, to meet with officials
from Concordia Lutheran
Response to Nicholaos Jones.”
Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta in
Zygon: Journal of Religion &
Science 43(3): 593-8, and November, and returned for
“Uniqueness, The Image of God, meetings in January 2009.
and the Problem of Method:
Randy Freund and Nikki
Engaging Van Huyssteen.”
Zygon: Journal of Religion & Berreth represented ILT at the
Science 43(2): 467-474. Also he WordAlone Theological
presented “Neurospirituality: A Conference in Golden Valley, MN
Lutheran/Protestant in November.
Perspective” at the Conference
Doug Dillner represented ILT at
on Neuroscience & Spiritual
Practices: Transforming the German Days at Concordia
Embodied Mind, October 12-14, Seminary, St. Louis, and
Claremont School of Theology, attended two WordAlone Board
Claremont CA, “Are Evolutionary/ meetings.
Cognitive Theories of Religion
Relevant for Philosophy of
Religion?” at the American
Academy of Religion Annual
Meeting, Chicago IL., November
1-3, 2008, and Neuroscience, Our Board of Regents
Transcendence, and Moral
Hon. G. Barry Anderson
Exemplars,” at the American
Academy of Religion Annual Rev. Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt ~ CEO
Meeting, Chicago IL., November Dr. Doug Dillner ~ President/Chair
1-3, 2008. Mr. Paul Erickson
Jim Nestingen taught a course Dr. Hans Hillerbrand
at the Northwest House of
Dr. Jack Preus
Studies in November and
Mr. Fred Schickendanz
December and now is teaching a
graduate course at Concordia Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto
Seminary, Fort Wayne.
Rev. Kip Tyler
Harold Schlachtenhaufen (Dr. George Forell ~ Advisor)
published Faith Ethics in 2008
(Gov. Al Quie ~ Advisor)
Author House, Bloomington, IN.