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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 132

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

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132

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

Year Program Began: Thousands of pastors have been formed
in the LCMS since 1839. The Master of Divinity degree
began in 1971.
Statistics
Roster Status: General
Total Number of Pastors Produced: Est. 20,000–25,000 between both seminaries
Attrition Rates: Not known
Requirements

who are 35 years or older, commissioned ministers, or have
significant experience in parish life.
Specific Needs Not Addressed in Other Programs: The residential AR provides a comprehensive theological education
with extensive grounding in both theology and practice,
exegetical skills based on the Greek language, and ministerial formation leading to certification as a general pastor for
those with significant church experience.
Statistics
Roster Status: General

Educational Prerequisite: A bachelor’s degree with liberal arts
criteria, though a limited number of students may be admitted without a bachelor’s, based on other rigorous criteria.
Age Requirements: No age requirement
Experiential Prerequisite: Basic spiritual formation; sense of
commitment to pastoral candidacy
Language and Level: English
Academics

Total Number of Pastors Produced: CTSFW (residential): 127;
CSL: 85 since 1996
Program Completion Rates (Past Five Years): Not available
Attrition Rates: Not known
Requirements
Educational Prerequisite: Ability to work at master’s level; two
years college minimum; ordinarily will possess a bachelor’s
degree, though some do not

Degree or Certificate: MDiv

Age Requirements: Ordinarily at least 35 years of age

Biblical Languages: Greek/Hebrew

Experiential Prerequisite: 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 a graduate of a Synod college or university, on the
Synod roster of commissioned ministers, and have at least
eight years of experience as a commissioned minister of the
LCMS.

Region: Nationwide
Financial Assistance: Full tuition agreement via the seminary’s
partnership covenant. Funding from several sources, including academic scholarships.
Residential and Contextual Learning: All education is residential in a classroom setting.
Curriculum Length: CSL: 98 semester credits plus formation
and language labs; CTSFW: 139 quarter credits plus field
education
Program Length: Four years
Vicarage: One-year full-time vicarage
Location: Residential
Call
Call and Ordination: At conclusion
Ministry Context: Generalist, upon final placement
Supervising Pastor Required? If So, How Selected? No supervising pastor required while students complete coursework.
Faculty advisors assigned. There is a field work pastor
supervising assigned field work in a parish.
Continuation Path (Besides Normal C.Ed.): Many stay for
STM

A.2. Alternate Route
Residential Route
Purpose
Program Goal: Forming general pastors
Year Program Began: Fall quarter of the 1996–1997 academic
year. Previously, this was under the auspices of the colloquy program. Colloquy was listed under 1992 Bylaw
6.87–6.99 as listed in the 1995–1996 academic catalog.
Special Church Needs That Prompted the Program: Residential
alternate route closely parallels the MDiv, but is for men
2023 Convention Workbook

Language and Level: English
Academics
Degree or Certificate: Certificate or MA
Biblical Languages: Greek
Region: Nationwide
Financial Assistance: Full tuition agreement via the seminary’s
partnership covenant. Funding from several sources, including academic scholarships.
Residential and Contextual Learning: Residential AR education is residential in a classroom setting. Students who have
completed the SMP program may earn AR certification either residentially or by taking the same MDiv-level courses
via online streaming of classes.
Curriculum Length: CSL: 77 semester credits, additional
formation and language labs, Greek, and vicarage year;
CTSFW: 93 quarter credits, plus Greek and vicarage year
Program Length: Three years
Vicarage: One-year full-time vicarage after all coursework has
been completed
Location: Residential
Call
Call and Ordination: At conclusion
Ministry Context: Generalist, upon final placement
Supervising Pastor Required? If So, How Selected? No supervising pastor required while students complete coursework.