Letter from Meeli Tankler, President of the Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary

We share a letter from Meeli Tankler, new President of the Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary. This was part of the electronic BMTS Prayer Chain.

Dear Friends of the Seminary!


This is my first letter to you as a newly elected President of the Seminary. I am deeply grateful for every friend of the Seminary whose prayers are supporting our daily work, and with whom we can share our joys and concerns. May God bless you all abundantly!

Beginning a new study period we are first of all thankful that God has given us both students and teachers, and we pray for blessings upon all of them. But we ask your special prayers for these 18 students who only began their Seminary studies this fall. Youngest two of them have just graduated from high school, and oldest ones are in their sixties but all of them have come here, deeply dedicated to their studies, and feeling that God has His special calling for them.

In August we celebrated 15 years of Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary. Our Bishop Christian Alsted hold a lecture about the challenges that theological education faces on 21st century, and there was also a round-table discussion on this topic. Our good neighbors -- Presidents of the Lutheran and Baptist Theological Seminaries –came to congratulate us as well as the representative from Estonian Council of Churches. There were also written congratulations from Academy of Theology, and Theological Department of Tartu State University. Many students, graduates, teachers and other friends had gathered on this occasion, and the new President was installed.

We remembered gratefully the courageous beginning of the Seminary 15 years ago, and especially the strong faith and dedication of Olav Pärnamets, Eddie Fox and Wes Griffin which laid a solid foundation on which we stand today. Several graduates gave also their “birthday present” to our Seminary bank account which we are very thankful for. In August we also had our Academic Committee meeting, and we are thankful for our faculty’s dedicated work and also their concern about students who seem to get tired and overwhelmed. There is lot of good will to support and encourage the students, and to strengthen the Christian fellowship with each other.

In September, our beloved Seminary professor Pille Valk died of cancer. Her role in developing a curriculum for religious education in Estonian public schools has been tremendous, and we pray that God would find a good successor to continue this job. Pray for her family and friends as they are in grief.

Looking back with deep gratitude, we are also looking forward with faith and trust. We sincerely believe that our Seminary will continue to play its role not only in Estonia but also in the whole region for those interested in studying and developing in faith in order to work for God’s Kingdom. We are trying to find ways to spread information about possibilities to study God’s Word, and we are looking for new channels for financial support to our Seminary. Please keep these things also in your prayers!

"Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail." (La 3:22).

May God bless you abundantly,
Meeli Tankler, President of the BMTS