EMK Teoloogiline Seminar EMK Teoloogiline Seminar

Select your language

  • Eesti
  • Русский
  • English
  • General
    • News
    • Location
    • Mission statement
    • Contributions
    • Code of Ethics
    • Development plan
    • Self analysis
    • Constitution
    • Professional contest
    • Publications
    • History
  • Administration
    • Academic Council
    • Trustees
    • Rector’s Cabinet
    • Seminary staff
    • Faculty
    • Academic Affairs Committee
  • Academic Info
    • Schedule of Classes
    • Curriculum
    • Academic regulations
    • Counseling
    • Registration
    • Guide for Papers
    • Transfer of Subjects
    • Grading system
    • Tuition
    • Allowances for students
    • Library
  • Admission
    • Admission
    • Curriculum
    • Basic Christian Studies
    • Application
    • Admission Requirements
    • Forms of study
    • Tuition fee
    • International students
  • Open Courses
  • Students
    • Student Life
    • Board of Students
    • Diploma Papers
    • Graduates
    • Ukrainian students
    • Erasmus+ Education Mobility
  • Donate

General Information

    BMTS in 2018

The Seminary specializes in practical theology and biblical study. Lectures are given in Estonian and English languages with the simultaneous translation into English, Russian and Estonian.

The BMTS offers two main programs. The one year Certificate in Basic Christian Studies provides a biblical foundation for life and ministry. The three year Bachelor degree in  Theology and Mission provides, academic and practical training for professional Christian service. Monthly study sessions, 4 days per month allows students to complete their program while continuing full time work or ministry.

Address:
Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary, Narva mnt 51, 10152 Tallinn, Estonia
tel: +372 66 88 467, fax: +372 66 88 468 e-mail: seminar ® emkts.ee
Bank Account: Bank Name: Swedbank, Bank address, Liivalaia 8, Tallinn 15040
Recipient: Eesti Metodisti Kirik
SWIFT: HABAEE2X, Account No: 221010980782, IBAN EE842200221010980782

Contacts and Location

Location:

Theological Seminary is located in Tallinn Methodist Church, in address
Narva mnt 51, 10120 Tallinn

 

Registration number:

80196661

 

Bank details:

Eesti Metodisti Kirik
Swedbank IBAN EE842200221010980782

 

Contacts:

President: 668 8467, rektor®emkts.ee
Dean: 668 8467, dekaan®emkts.ee
Sekretary: 668 8467, seminar®emkts.ee
Library: 668 8464, raamatukogu®emkts.ee
IT manager: 668 8507, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.®This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Social media: 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.EMK Teoloogiline Seminar
Instagram: emkts_ee

Mission Statement

Mission: To provide theological higher education and offer continuing education that supports the spiritual formation of learners and prepares them for serving both the church and society.  ​

Vision: To be an educational and competence centre that offers students a life-changing learning experience through an engaging educational process, meeting the needs of both the church and society. In addition to providing contemporary theological higher education, it aims to create opportunities for continuing education, being recognized both nationally and internationally.   ​

Code of Ethics

Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary prepares Christian ministers, leaders and lay workers for churches and Christian organisations by supporting their spiritual formation and offering theological higher education and continuing professional training that takes into consideration the needs of church and society.

Read more …

Constitution

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 1. The Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary (henceforth: The Seminary) is a private school which gives applied post-secondary higher education.

§ 2. The holder of the Seminary is the Estonian Methodist Church (EMC), a non-profit organization (registration number 80196661).

The Estonian Methodist Church is the legal successor of the Eesti Metodisti Kiriku Teoloogiline Seminar (registration number 01800659). The name of the Seminary in English is Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary.

§ 3. The Seminary is a structural subunit of the Estonian Methodist Church with all the rights and obligations ensuing from it. The Seminary has its own bank account, seal and other attributes.

§ 4. The address of the Seminary is Narva St. 51, 10120 Tallinn.

§5. In its operation the Seminary will observe the legislation and other decrees of the Republic of Estonia, the constitution of the EMC and the present constitution.

§ 6. The sphere of authority of the holder is:

1) to create legal, economic, organizational and other guarantees for the operation of the Seminary;

2) to open and close the Seminary;

3) to ratify the Constitution of the Seminary as well as any changes and amendments to it;

4) to ratify the budget as well as the report of the fiscal year;

5) to approve and dismiss the Rector of the Seminary;

6) to approve the Board of Trustees of the Seminary;

7) to inspect the activities of the Seminary and to solve problems in the work of the Board of Trustees and Rector’s Cabinet.

Read more …

Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary Development Plan 2024-2028

INTRODUCTION 

The Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary (BMTS) is a private higher education institution offering applied higher education. 

The goal of the BMTS is to prepare Christian workers, clergy, and leaders for churches, as well as Christian and charitable organizations, by providing theological higher education rooted in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition and addressing the needs of the church and society. The Seminary also aims to support spiritual formation during the educational process and to organize continuing education for EMC workers.  

The previous development plan concluded in 2023. Representatives of the EMC, students, and Seminary staff have been invited to participate in the preparation of the new development plan. 

Read more …

The Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary: A History of Vision and Impact

The Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary (BMTS) has a compelling and detailed history spanning more than 30 years—from a vision born under Soviet occupation to its current role as a significant theological institution in the Baltic region.

I. The Vision and Foundational Years (Pre-1994 to 1994)

The origin of BMTS lies in Soviet-era Estonia, where theological education was prohibited and access to Christian resources tightly restricted. Yet leaders like Olav Pärnamets, denied formal theological training, carried a deep conviction that the Estonian United Methodist Church (UMC) needed its own seminary. This aspiration, rooted in necessity and unwavering faith, would eventually give birth to BMTS.

bmts history 1

Following the collapse of communism and Estonia’s restoration of independence in 1991, that dream began to take shape. A key turning point came when Dr. H. Eddie Fox, Director of World Evangelism for the World Methodist Council, sent Wes and Joy Griffin—both graduates of Asbury Theological Seminary—to Estonia to work alongside local Methodists in establishing the Seminary. Dr. Fox remained a faithful member of the BMTS Board of Trustees until his death on July 28, 2021.

Another foundational figure was Andrus Norak, who completed his Master of Divinity at Asbury in the spring of 1994. Upon returning to Estonia that summer, he played a central role in developing the Seminary’s statutes and curriculum, later becoming its first rector.

Support came quickly through a ten-year partnership with Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which provided financial backing, including salary support and infrastructure development.

BMTS was formally established in August 1994, with initial classes held during a study seminar at the Methodist camp at Aa (Camp Gideon). The curriculum from the beginning included both a four-year degree in theology and a one-year certificate in practical theology. Early faculty included Dr. Chuck Killian, Kersti Raudsepp, and Margit Sepp. Wes Griffin served as Academic Dean until the end of 1995.

II. The Apteegi Street Experience and Early Growth (1994–1999)

In September 1994, regular studies began in cramped quarters on Apteegi Street in Tallinn’s Old Town. Conditions were far from ideal: one overcrowded classroom, improvised dining arrangements, and a “broom closet” library. Administrative offices were partitioned into narrow shared spaces.

bmts history 2

Despite the physical limitations, these early years were marked by warmth, unity, and spiritual intensity. Many students were mature Christians and lay pastors, some of whom had endured decades of religious suppression under communism. Among them were Anne Saluraid (now New Testament lecturer) and Rein Laaneser (educational technologist).

BMTS was multilingual and ecumenical from the start. Courses were conducted in Estonian, Russian, and English with real-time translation, thanks to equipment donated by Asbury UMC. Students came from Lutheran, Baptist, Pentecostal, Orthodox, and Catholic backgrounds. The result was a vibrant, Pentecost-like learning environment.

bmts history 3

Initially, no tuition was charged. All student expenses—including food, transport, and housing—were covered by donors. A modest tuition fee was introduced in 1997 and gradually increased as Estonia’s economy developed. Today, about one-third of BMTS’s budget is supported by domestic income, with the remainder raised through national and international support.

Important milestones during this period included:

  • Üllas Tankler appointed Acting Dean (1995)
  • Mark Nelson joins faculty (1996)
  • Kersti Raudsepp becomes Academic Dean (1996)
  • BMTS receives state accreditation as a private higher education institution (1998)
  • Lii Lilleoja assumes the role of Dean (1998)
  • First graduation ceremony held in the under-construction Baltic Mission Center (1998), with 19 graduates

III. Expansion at Narva Street and Program Development (2000–2012)

In January 2000, BMTS moved into the newly built Baltic Mission Center on Narva Street 51. This marked a dramatic improvement in facilities, including purpose-built classrooms, a library, dormitories, cafeteria, and professional interpretation booths.

bmts history 4

Key developments during this period included:

  • Distance Study Program (2000): Students could now attend intensive sessions three times a year, balancing studies with full-time work.
  • English as Official Language of Instruction (2002): Students from Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, and Brazil accessed Estonian lectures via simultaneous interpretation.
  • Mission to Finno-Ugric Peoples (from 2002): BMTS launched long-term outreach to indigenous peoples in Siberia. A milestone came in 2009 when Nadezhda Popova became the first Komi person to graduate from a Protestant theological seminary.
  • Modular Study Program (2006): Monthly weekend sessions became the most popular study format for local students.

bmts history 5

Leadership transitions continued: Andrus Norak stepped down in 2007, Lii Lilleoja served as Interim Rector, and Dr. Meeli Tankler took office in 2009. A strategic development plan was implemented for 2010–2013. The Seminary also joined the eLearning Consortium in 2011 and began offering continuing education for pastors in 2012.

IV. Modernization, Partnerships, and Consolidation (2013–2023)

BMTS continued to evolve into a modern, internationally connected institution.

  • Curriculum Reform (2013–2016): A new three-year curriculum titled “Theology and Mission” was implemented, shaped by a regional needs assessment.
  • Strategic Partnerships: BMTS signed MOUs with Asbury Theological Seminary, the Salvation Army, and various Pentecostal organizations. In 2014, it joined the European Council for Theological Education (ECTE).
  • In 2018, Dr. Külli Tõniste became rector
  • Celebrated 25th anniversary in 2019
  • Church Planting Conference (2020): Co-hosted with Asbury, reflecting BMTS’s missional focus.
  • Erasmus+ Charter (2022): Enabled faculty and student exchanges, with the first partner visit from Belgium in 2023.

Technological upgrades included a full-scale hybrid classroom in 2021, which allowed seamless online and in-person instruction.

Funding and Scholarships:
BMTS began receiving grants from the UMC Central Conference Theological Education Fund (CCTEF), covering ~15% of its annual income. In 2022, the Holston Foundation provided a $100,000 gift, and a wartime scholarship fund was established to support displaced students.

V. Recent Developments (2023–Present)

In July 2023, the Estonian Methodist Church disaffiliated from the UMC. Robert Tšerenkov was appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees. Rector Dr. Külli Tõniste went on sabbatical, and Taavi Hollman served as interim rector.

bmts history 6

In 2024, Dr. Laur Lilleoja was appointed Rector. He initiated a renewed development strategy, including:

  • Signing new cooperation agreements with the Estonian Free Church Theological Seminary and the Institute of Theology of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Receiving 7-year full state accreditation in February 2024
  • Preparing to launch micro-degree programs in fall 2025 and a Master’s program by fall 2026
  • Increasing Erasmus+ mobility and expanding continuing education offerings

VI. Legacy and Impact

As of 2025, BMTS has 297 alumni from over 30 countries, 78% of whom were active in ministry. The Seminary has become a beacon of theological formation in the Baltics, empowering leaders for churches, missions, and social ministry across Europe and beyond.

bmts history 7

It stands today as a living testimony to God’s faithfulness—shaped by the sacrifices of visionary leaders, sustained by prayer and global support, and committed to the continued equipping of servant-leaders for the Church and the world.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
(Psalm 32:8)

Self analysis

Self-assessment submitted for accreditation

 

📄 Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary self analysis 2024

 

📄Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary self analysis 2021

General

  • News
  • Location
  • Mission statement
  • Contributions
  • Code of Ethics
  • Development plan
  • Self analysis
  • Constitution
  • Professional contest
  • Publications
  • History

EMK Teoloogiline Seminar | Narva mnt 51, Tallinn | 668 8467 | seminar@emkts.ee
Pank: Eesti Metodisti Kirik | Swedbank IBAN EE842200221010980782

Bootstrap is a front-end framework of Twitter, Inc. Code licensed under MIT License. Font Awesome font licensed under SIL OFL 1.1.