What we want

„Many German seminaries are becoming increasingly irrelevant to ministry. Either they emphasize ‘practical theology’ at the expense of important subjects like ethics, church history, sects, original languages, etc., or they give academic degrees with little emphasis on character development, and provide little contact with experienced pastors or missionaries. MBS seeks to provide the best of both.”

Prof. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher

MBS allows students to create a course of study that equips them specifically for their ministry, rather than forcing the student to “fit a system.” It is one of the few theological institutions that recognizes work done at other theological institutions. MBS caters to those who can only study part-time. And we would rather send a seminary to the students than send students to a distant seminary. 

Only God’s eternal commandments are inviolable, not our cultures or traditions. To paraphrase Jesus’ comment on the Sabbath, educational institutions and theology are for man, not man for education.    

MBS does not see the world as an enemy, but rather as a part of God’s creation that is to be reconciled with Him; therefore, we aim to take every thought captive (II Cor. 10:5) and to test our thinking and actions regarding how they address and transform the surrounding culture.

Christianity is not limited by national borders; consequently, MBS is intentionally open to learn from Christians from other cultures. We welcome teachers and students from all over the world to give our students a global perspective on God’s kingdom.

Thomas Schirrmacher, founder of MBS writes, “The MBS goal is that all aspects of theological education are directed towards church planting and world missions. Missions are at the center of the curriculum.”

Our training program is intended to enable our students to fulfill their various personal ministries not only in their own lives, but also in the lives of their congregations and in the global church (2 Tim. 3:17). We consciously judge our program on its relevance for practice. Our instructors have practical experience in ministry and missions.  Experience in church and missions is central to our study programs.

Paul’s missions mandate is spelled out in greatest detail in the book of Romans. MBS sees good, thorough biblical doctrine as the motor which drives us to evangelize.  Germany is the beachhead for theological liberalism in Europe. The undermining of the authority of Scripture still riddles the church and its seminaries. MBS is one of the few theological schools based in the German speaking countries which holds to the infallibility of the Word of God.

Just as Paul based his missionary activity on the careful and extensive explanation of his gospel in the book of Romans, we want to encourage local and global missions based on thorough, thoughtful, biblical foundations. We will strive for academic excellence without retiring into an intellectual ivory tower or speaking a language incomprehensible to educated lay people. Like Paul, we will attempt to speak the whole counsel of God both to believers and to our cultures.