# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S294
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

1. Presence
necessary to support
ongoing ministry

Unique
Admission
Requirements

English as a foreign
language/American
sign language

Nationwide

Distance education

Language &
Level

Region

Location

2. More appropriate
than residential
program due
to language
or educational
background

Language/cultural
fit. Must have been
actively involved
as a communicant
member in an LCMS
parish for at least
2 years prior to
enrollment.

Experiential
Prerequisite

EIIT/DIT

Distance education
with on-campus
residential intensives
and extension
centers

Nationwide

Spanish, but English
is encouraged in
the classroom and
optional for some
class assignments.

1. Presence
necessary to support
ongoing mission and
ministry
2. More appropriate
than residential
program due
to language
or educational
background and
socioeconomics

Language and
cultural fit. Actively
involved as a
communicant
member in an LCMS
parish for at least
2 years prior to
enrollment.

CHS (at CSL)
Language/cultural
fit; must be LCMS
member for 2 years.

CMC

Distance education with required
residential seminars or on-campus
intensive courses

Nationwide

English

Hybrid (min. 8
courses face-toface; remaining
synchronous video
conference)

Region 5 (West
Southwest)

English competence
to work at a master’s
theological level. All
non-native English
speakers are
assessed and take
English prerequisite
classes if needed.

1. Presence necessary to support
Presence necessary
ongoing ministry
to support ongoing
2. Nomination of district president and ministry
placement as vicar

Demonstrated pastoral fit—no
length of time stated, but “must
be committed to the Lutheran
Confessions” and “willing to uphold
the doctrinal positions of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.”
Also must meet the “personal and
spiritual qualifications as expressed
in 1 Timothy 3:1–7.” Should be involved
“in an existing congregation, ministry,
or district-approved planned mission
start” and “be in possession of the
characteristics ordinarily and biblically
expected of the pastoral office.”

SMP (Both Seminaries)

Residential

Nationwide

English

Mature; “second career.”
Need at least 10 years
of significant experience
directly related to
Word and Sacrament
ministry (elder, lector,
evangelism calls, Bible
class teacher, etc.) in
an LCMS setting. May
also be graduates of
a synodical college/
university, on the
synodical roster of
commissioned ministers,
and have at least 8
years experience as
commissioned ministers
of the LCMS.

Alt. Route
(Both Seminaries)

Residential

Nationwide

English

Basic spiritual
formation; sense
of commitment to
pastoral candidacy

MDiv Residential
(Both Seminaries)

NA

Nationwide

Mostly English,
though we
do provide
interpreters
for those more
comfortable in
other languages.

Qualifications laid
out in Scripture

(1 Timothy 3)?

Does the man
think as a
Lutheran pastor?
Is he above
reproach, etc.

Colloquy