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July 2001
Greetings from Fortaleza, Brazil!
This time we have decided to share some information about the
Fortaleza Theological Seminary, where we have been working as
a missionary family here in the northeast of Brazil, in the lovely
city of Fortaleza.
Until 1982 the IPIB had only one seminary, founded in 1905 and
located in São Paulo, within one of the wealthiest and
highly populated regions of Brazil. All students of the denomination
who wanted to study theology had to move to São Paulo.
After their studies they rarely returned to the region from which
they came. Northeast Brazil is the poorest region of the country,
and the churches are small and weak due to the shortage of pastors
and well-trained leaders. After a second seminary was installed
in the city of Londrinas, in the state of Paraná, the General
Assembly of the IPIB decided to start a third one in the city
of Fortaleza in 1986, the most accessible seminary in the northeast.
The seminary’s main purpose is to prepare leaders in their
own context and to be a theological center for church renewal.
It is part of our Reformed tradition to adequately prepare leaders
for the most important task of the church—to proclaim the
good news of Jesus Christ. After 15 years, this project has been
successful. The majority of the students who graduate work in
the northeast and north of Brazil, serving the church as pastors
and leaders in different ministries.
Programs offered by the seminary
Master’s degree For those who have a bachelor’s
degree, this program works in a module system, meeting three times
a year with recognized scholars. Applicants must submit a curriculum
vita, a dissertation proposal, and take a contemporary and Biblical
language test. Students can do research in three fields: Bible
studies, mission, or pastoral studies.
Bachelor of Theology A four-year program for those preparing
for the pastoral ministry. Requirements include a high school
diploma, affiliation to a Christian church, and endorsement by
the session of the local church and the presbytery (or equivalent
bodies).
Mission program A two-year program with emphasis on the
practical, this is for those who do not intend to be pastors,
but wish practical theological training for missionary activities,
new church development, or other ministry in the church.
Music Program This two-part program prepares men and women
for the ministry of music in the church (one-year) and offers
the opportunity for students to learn musical instruments such
as the piano and the guitar.
Extension Lay Program An off-campus, distance-learning
program to train lay leaders. This program is open to groups as
well as to individuals.
Faculty
We have four full-time and ten part-time professors. Full-time
faculty and the majority of part-timers are pastors who are deeply
involved in the life of local churches. It is part of the philosophical
understanding of the seminary that professors must combine their
academic teachings with pastoral involvement.
As part of a partnership between the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
and the IPIB, the PC(USA) has sent us to work at the seminary.
In addition, the PC(USA) has also sent our colleague Neiva Rodrigues
to teach English as a second language.
Next steps of the Seminary
- To start a Christian education program
- To start a family counseling program
- To publish a periodical on theology
- To improve the library (at present, the library has 6,000
books. Our goal is to have 10,000 in 2002.)
- To increase the Arnold Scholarship Fund, which has been created
to provide financial resources to help needy students.
- One of the great victories achieved
Finally, after many decades of debates, the General Assembly
of the IPIB has decided to ordain women to the ministry of Word
and Sacrament. Currently, the seminary has 87 women enrolled out
of a total of 231 students.
The vision for the future
The seminary in the future sees itself as a self-supporting institution
more involved with the church’s life and in our community,
offering courses and opportunities being faithful to our Reformed
heritage.
Hope this information will encourage you to become more interested
in the great things God is doing in other regions of the world.
We ask you to keep us in your prayers as we walk the faith in
Jesus Christ together with this Christian community.
Yours,
The Greens: Ricardo, Reyna, Kerry, Ashley and Richard
The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 258
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