PRESS RELEASE
Association Free Lutheran Theological Seminary Corporation
Canadensis, PA
Friday, June 14th, 2019

Members of the Free Lutheran Theological Seminary Corporation voted 24-1 to adopt the name “Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary” at their annual meeting held at Spruce Lake Retreat Center in Canadensis, PA. Known commonly as the Free Lutheran Schools (FLS), the Corporation operates a two-year college-level school of the Bible known as “Association Free Lutheran Bible School” (AFLBS) and a four-year, master’s-level pastoral training program known as “Association Free Lutheran Theological Seminary” (AFLTS).

Due to consistent input that the name of the institution was confusing to those not already closely connected to to the Schools, the Schools’ Board of Trustees surveyed 2,500 alumni and 50 Corporation members. The survey revealed strong consensus that a name change was needed. According to Pastor Wade Mobley, president of the Free Lutheran Schools, “A vast majority wanted to keep ‘Bible’ and ‘Free Lutheran’ not just in our description, but in our name. The Schools exist to establish students in the eternal and inerrant word of God for a life of faith in Jesus Christ and faithful service in his kingdom. ‘Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary’ accurately describes the history, mission, and practice of the Schools. We believe that this name change will make it easier to invite students from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area to consider us as a place to study God’s Word for two years as they continue their academic pursuits.”

“Free Lutheran” refers to the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC), the church body that operates the Schools. “Free” describes both the congregational polity of the body and the freedom and spiritual life created by the gospel of Jesus Christ. “Bible” emphasizes the primary source of teaching at the Schools, where a majority of classes study books of the Bible at a collegiate and graduate level. “College” differentiates the undergraduate program from secondary institutions commonly known as “high schools.”

For more information, please contact Pastor Wade Mobley, president of the Free Lutheran Schools, at wade.mobley@aflbs.edu.

Founded in 1964 by the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (www.aflc.org), the Free Lutheran Schools (AFLBS.edu) include a two-year post-secondary program (Association Free Lutheran Bible School) and a four-year pastoral training program at the Masters of Divinity Level (Association Free Lutheran Theological Seminary). The Free Lutheran Schools Corporation is a fully and nationally accredited member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS, www.tracs.org). Collectively, the Schools will be known as “Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary” sometime during the 2019-2020 academic year.