# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2013_S29 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SYNOD REPORTS Significant Office of Pastoral Education Activities (2010–2013) • • • • • • • • • • • • Since November 2010, administered the Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support (PALS) initiative, assisting pastors and their wives in the first three years of post-seminary parish life. Chaired meetings of the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Committee and conference calls of the SMP working groups at both seminaries to facilitate implementation of the SMP program (see 2007 Res. 5-01). A “White Paper” report to the Synod concerning the SMP program is available at http://www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=1165. Chaired a task force comprised of district presidents and seminary representatives to examine seminary admission requirements and processes, suggesting improvements. Chaired a committee to begin an annual process of receiving assessment of seminary graduates two and five years after seminary graduation by lay leaders in their congregations (Pastoral Growth and Support Project). Chaired three task forces which provided new entry-level competence examinations for the seminaries. Worked in partnership with the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund to encourage and facilitate monetary support of the seminaries and seminary students. Provided for the distribution of grants from the Synod (unrestricted and restricted) to the seminaries. Convened annual (or twice-annual) meetings of the seminary presidents, academic deans, deans of students, admission directors, assessment officers, and others to discuss items of mutual interest and foster collegial cooperation between the two seminaries. Continued publication of a quarterly Pastoral Education insert for the Reporter. Arranged an LCMS Theology Professors Convocation (June 2012) comprised of all Concordia University System professors who teach theology and all seminary professors for the purpose of theological discussion and joint work on theological issues for the benefit of the church. Convened three meetings of the Concordia University System school pre-seminary program directors to discuss matters of mutual concern and interest, including discussions with appropriate seminary faculty and staff members. Collaborated with the Office of National Mission to convene a “think tank” of respected individuals in the LCMS to address the need to identify, inform, and encourage more young men toward pastoral ministry. Distance Education Leading to Ordination (DELTO) Ethnic Immigrant Institute Cross-Cultural Ministry Program (Irvine) 26 24 0 30 26 25 25 26 23 Deaf Institute 1 1 0 TOTAL: ALL CONTEXTUAL PROGRAMS LEADING TO ORDINATION 222 249 210 TOTAL: ALL PROGRAMS LEADING TO ORDINATION 767 740 699 Deaconess (non-Master of Arts) 23 18 15 8 44 35 10 70 10 46 34 14 71 13 35 32 11 79 167 175 170 7 18 13 964 951 897 Advanced Degree Programs Master of Arts Master of Arts—Deaconess Master of Sacred Theology Doctor of Ministry Doctor of Philosophy/Doctor of Missiology TOTAL: ALL ADVANCED DEGREE PROGRAMS Special/Other Students TOTAL ENROLLMENT Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana (2010–2013): Concordia Theological Seminary exists to from servants in Jesus Christ who teach the faithful, reach the lost, and care for all. God continues to bless the seminary richly as it carries out this mission under Christ’s leadership for the sake of the church and the world. Among the many blessings your seminary has experienced over the past three years: • • Seminary Data While a complete “State of Seminary Education” report is posted at www.lcms.org/pastoraleducation, the following data provide a review of seminary enrollment over the previous triennium: • • • LCMS Seminary Enrollment (headcount, both seminaries combined) Program Description Residential Programs Leading to Ordination Master of Divinity Alternate Route TOTAL: ALL RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS LEADING TO ORDINATION Contextual Programs Leading to Ordination Center for Hispanic Studies Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) 29 • Fall 2010 Fall 2011 Fall 2012 524 21 470 21 462 27 • 545 491 489 • 12 17 18 • 127 157 143 • An orderly presidential transition, as Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr. succeeded Dr. Dean O. Wenthe in June 2011. Strong leadership has continued to characterize the president’s office. Ten-year (the longest possible) continuance of accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools for all academic programs of the seminary. Increasingly strong recruiting of students and solid finances. Successful completion of the first four-year cycle of the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program. Celebration of 10 years of deaconess training, including a hybrid online-residential MA in Deaconess Studies in recent years. Implementation of a revised Doctor of Ministry program that combines academic and pastoral excellence, distance and residential learning components, yet is very affordable. Reception of a $250,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment to fund research and education for students, congregations, districts, and Synod on the issue of overcoming the burden of student indebtedness. Approval by the Association of Theological Schools of a Comprehensive Program for distance education. An outstanding faculty with rich pastoral ministry experience as well as the highest academic credentials from such outstanding universities as Harvard, Yale, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Durham, Oxford, Drew, Marquette, Princeton, and Basel. Expanded missional formation through both domestic programs in Baltimore, Chicago, and New Jersey, and internationally through study abroad programs in Madagascar, Russia, South Africa, Kenya, and India. 2013 Convention Workbook