Lutheran Graduate School of Theology (SALT)
Encyclopedia
Lutheran Graduate School of Theology in Madagascar (SALT) was officially inaugurated on Sunday, November 12, 1989 at Ivory Avaratra, Fianarantsoa
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Fianarantsoa
Fianarantsoa is a city in south central Madagascar.Fianarantsoa is the capital of Haute Matsiatra Region. It was built in the early 19th century by the Merina as the administrative capital for the newly conquered Betsileo kingdoms....
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The objectives of the Malagasy Lutheran Church for setting up SALT
- SALT is an extending level of the former "Lutheran Theological Seminary" which we had at the same place, for higher studies in theology.
- The FLM has set it up to better train church workers in higher knowledge of theology and leadership, and to better serve afterward the church in so various working areas, at different levels (parish, district, synod, institution/department).
- It is also aimed at providing the Regional Seminaries with Teachers of theology.
SALT curriculum for three years of studies
- Apart from the regular papers and the final examsFinal examinationA final examination is a test given to students at the end of a course of study or training. Although the term can be used in the context of physical training, it most often occurs in the academic world...
at the first and second years, students, at second yar, are required to write a "Short Memoir" (50p to 60p in Malagasy languageMalagasy languageMalagasy is the national language of Madagascar, a member of the Austronesian family of languages. Most people in Madagascar speak it as a first language as do some people of Malagasy descent elsewhere.-History:...
) or (30p to 45p in French or English) to complete the requirements of the delivering of the "Licentiate degree in Theology". - At the third year, students have ckasses only in the first semester, and with elective courses, and a final exam. The Second Semester is focused at researches and the writing of a "Memoir" (100p to 150p in Malagasy, or 75p to 100p in French or English) in view of the "Master's degree in Theology".
- Either for the "Short Memoir" or the "Memoir", students have to pass an Oral Assessment to defend their masterpieces.
- The Jury members for the "Short Memoir" are SALT's lecturers only. But for the "Memoir", apart from SALT's lecturers, examiners within the FLM setting and from outside SALT, are invited to assess orally the students.
Recruitment of lecturers
- Theologians (women and men) with the "Doctorate in Theology" can be appointed by the FLM to teach theological subjects at SALT.
- Other subjects (such as foreign languages, sociology, anthropology) can be taught by lay people with the appropriate skills and academic level (Master's, Doctorate).
Recruitment of students
- Admission to SALT is through a selective and competitive process.
- Candidates must take part in the national competitive tests for new class
- The first one of each Regional Synod who gets a general averageGeneral averageThe law of general average is a legal principle of maritime law according to which all parties in a sea venture proportionally share any losses resulting from a voluntary sacrifice of part of the ship or cargo to save the whole in an emergency...
"10 / 20", or beyond that, is admitted as a "scholarship recipient student". So the number of "scholarship recipient students" depends on the number of the Church's existing Synods. - Those who get that required average, but at the lower ranks, can be received as "non-scholarship recipient students from SALT" or "self-supporting students".
- Candidates must be holders of the government national "Baccalauréat" degree (on general education or in technics) and the "Baccalauréat" in Theology delivered at the 5th year of studies at the Regional Lutheran Theological Seminaries (STPL).
Assignments required of the students
- Apart from the lectures offered by the lecturers, students are asked to make researches during their studies.
- They have to write papers in each subject/department, according to the times set for that.
- Apart from the regular papers during the first two years, and the final exams at the end of the first and Second years, students, at the Second year, are required to write a "Short-Memoir" (50p to 60p in Malagasy) or (30p to 45p in French or English) to complete the requirements for the delivery of the "Licentiate degree in Theology".
- At the third year, students have classes only in the first semester, and with elective courses, and a final exam. The Second Semester is focused at researches and the writing of a "Memoir" (100p to 150p in Malagasy, or 75p to 100p in French or English) in view of the "Master's degree in Theology".
- Either for the "Short Memoir" or the "Memoir", students have to pass an Oral Assessment to defend their masterpieces.
- The Jury members for the "Short Memoir" are SALT's lecturers only. But for the "Memoir", apart from SALT's lecturers, examiners within the FLM setting and from outside SALT, are invited to assess orally the students.
SALT Mission Partners
- NMS (Norwegian Missionary Society) in Norway
- ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaLutheran Church in AmericaThe Lutheran Church in America was a U.S. and Canadian Lutheran church body that existed from 1962 to 1987. It was headquartered in New York City and its publishing house was Fortress Press....
) - Danmission in Denmark
- ANELF (Alliance Nationale des Eglises Luthériennes de France) in France
- LWF (Lutheran World FederationLutheran World FederationThe Lutheran World Federation is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the...
) in Geneva