Cindy Stone - Moscow Theological Seminary Board Member; Chair, Russia / Eurasia Initiative, Rio Texas Conference
For many years, I have listened to stories of what brought these young people, not just young in age but also young in faith, to study at the Moscow Theological Seminary. One thing stands out. They knew in the deepest parts of their hearts that there had to be something more. Something that would give them hope as they all struggled with loss, some with addiction or abandonment, others who sought to be loved. They wanted answers, and through their search, they found God was the answer. Their faith and their faithful way of life has amazed and inspired me. In a culture where complete trust and openness are rare, they have learned to reach out and share with the sick, the poor, the orphaned, the homeless, the stranger. They are each other’s family, and I have been blessed beyond all imagination as they have welcomed me into it.
Sergei Nikolaev, PhD - President, Moscow Theological Seminary and E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism in Ruediger and Gerlinde Minor Chair
In 1991, God inspired a bold, dynamic vision among leaders of the United Methodist Church: restore the church in Russia and Eurasia and bring more people to God. This historical moment resulted from the dissolution of the former Soviet Union and opened doors that had been closed for more than 100 years. Broad-based support from generous Methodists and their churches in the United States generated not only a resurgence of Methodist Christianity across the Eurasian continent but also the establishment of a Methodist Seminary in the heart of Moscow. In 2022, the Moscow Theological Seminary will celebrate its 25th anniversary.
The 1997 graduating class—the first group—of Methodist seminarians included two students who would embody exceptional theological training and leadership skills. Following initial studies at the Moscow Seminary, these two men attended Methodist seminaries in America. One of them, Sergei Nikolaev, received a Doctor of Philosophy from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University; the other, Eduard Khegay, received a Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Sergei now serves as president of the Moscow Seminary, and Eduard as bishop of Eurasia, the largest parish in the worldwide Methodist Connection.
In combination with their respective predecessors, these leader/scholars have been pivotal in helping the church in Russia and Eurasia grow from just a handful of congregations in 1991 to more than 100 today, across all 11 time zones. In a complementary way, the seminary’s innovative class scheduling, focus on solid biblical and theological education, and emphasis on vital spiritual formation have resulted in a student body of more than 90 students at this time. This population represents a larger student body than that of some American and all European seminaries. God certainly blesses His church in wondrous ways.
Elena Melnikova, D-Min - Vice President for Development and Administration, Moscow Theological Seminary
What is it that makes people seek to know God and be part of God’s work through this rather young religious education establishment? United Methodism in Russia is not mainstream. In many ways, it is counter-cultural for a society that still honors patriarchy and high church traditions associated with the Russian Orthodox Church. But it is very appealing, especially to the younger generation, because it brings new life and vigor, and because the Russian Methodist Church is about relationship rather than ritual. Russian Methodism has inherited good things from the Orthodox Church—mysticism and the spirituality of hearts strangely warmed—and went further to combine it with the Western simplicity of community and the Open Table.
Another thing that makes the Moscow Theological Seminary the desired place to be for many of its students is the supportive approach of women in ministry, be it an ordained ministry or lay leadership. The two vice-presidents of the Seminary hold the DMin from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C. Elena Melnikova and Olga Kobzeva, both Moscow Seminary alumni, have a heart for empowering women, especially those who are still reluctant to use the power God has equipped them with for doing ministry in this world. The United Methodist Seminary in Moscow is the only place offering this level of education, where women can study for ministry if they decide to answer their call.
But the greatest asset and treasure of the Seminary is its people - staff and students alike. John Wesley once said: “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth.”
And this is exactly what God is doing through the ministry of the Moscow Theological Seminary.
