Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2013 · 65th Convention, St. Louis › Page 29

LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 29

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

⤓ Download page image (full resolution)

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

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)

30
26

25
25

26
23

Deaf Institute

TOTAL: ALL CONTEXTUAL
PROGRAMS
LEADING TO ORDINATION

222

249

210

TOTAL: ALL PROGRAMS
LEADING TO ORDINATION

767

740

699

Deaconess
(non-Master of Arts)

8
44
35
10
70

10
46
34
14
71

13
35
32
11
79

167

175

170

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)

•

Fall
2010

Fall
2011

Fall
2012

524
21

470
21

462
27

•

545

491

489

•

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