LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 409

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Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Task Force
received. Recognizing the existence of external variables such as economic conditions, a comparison of the data received by both surveys
provides information regarding the continued significant presence
of the licensed deacon program in the Synod, with little impact provided by the SMP program during its early years.
The 2009 and 2012 surveys asked district presidents to report the
number of licensed lay deacons serving in their districts in eight (8)
categories. Their responses were the following:
(1) Lay deacons functioning nearly or completely autonomously in
providing preaching and sacrament ministry, with only occasional
communication with a supervising pastor (2009: 60; 2012: 32)
(2) Lay deacons functioning nearly or completely autonomously in providing preaching ministry (no sacraments), with only occasional
communication with a supervising pastor (2009: 5; 2012: 7)
(3) Lay deacons functioning under direct supervision and serving as the
primary providers of preaching and sacrament ministry (2009: 81;
2012: 70)
(4) Lay deacons functioning under direct supervision and serving as the
primary providers of preaching (not sacraments) ministry (2009: 13;
2012: 12)
(5) Lay deacons functioning under direct supervision and serving as parttime providers of preaching and sacrament ministry (2009: 90; 2012:
152)
(6) Lay deacons functioning under direct supervision and serving as
part-time providers of preaching (not sacraments) ministry (2009:
71; 2012: 35)
(7) Lay deacons functioning under direct supervision and serving as the
primary providers of non-preaching, non-sacramental care (e.g., Bible
studies, devotions, visitation, youth ministry, etc.) (2009: 24; 2012:
35)
(8) Lay deacons functioning under direct supervision and serving as parttime providers of non-preaching, non-sacramental care (e.g., Bible
studies, devotions, liturgy, visitation, youth ministry, etc.) (2009: 196;
2012: 259)

According to these numbers, the three-year interval during which
the SMP program was getting underway actually saw an increase in
the total number of licensed deacons serving in the Synod (2009:
540; 2012: 602).
While the number of deacons functioning nearly or completely
autonomously in providing preaching and sacrament ministry (number 1 above) declined by nearly 50 percent (2009: 60; 2012: 32), the
number of deacons serving as part-time providers of preaching and
sacrament ministry (number 5 above) increased significantly (2009:
90; 2012: 152). Of particular interest to this task force report is the
number of lay deacons regularly providing preaching and sacrament
ministry (numbers 1, 3, and 5 above), totaling 231 in 2009 and 252
in 2012.
C. Other Data
The White Paper produced by the Specific Ministry Pastor
Committee contains much additional information regarding the SMP
program, including detailed outlines of the SMP curricula developed
by each seminary, types of students enrolled (including age, marital
status, educational background), tuition costs, participants’ opinions
(student, mentor, pastoral supervisor, and district president) opinions
regarding the SMP program, and more.
As a result of its own additional research, the SMP Task Force
offers the following to help to complete the context in which the general SMP program is operated.
Other Routes into the Pastoral Ministry
Currently, eight routes to the ordained ministry are provided by the
Synod’s seminaries, seven of those detailed on the Synod’s Internet
Website as follows.

409

Two residential programs are offered by both seminaries: Master
of Divinity and Alternate (Certificate) Route:
(1) Master of Divinity (M.Div.) This program currently forms two-thirds
of LCMS pastoral ministry students. It involves three years of on-campus study, plus a one-year vicarage (internship). Graduates receive an
M.Div. degree and may proceed to additional graduate-level study.
Ordinarily, a baccalaureate degree is required for admission.
(2) Alternate Route This program is open to laymen and male ministers
of religion—commissioned who meet specific eligibility requirements
involving both age and length of service. It involves a shorter period
of study than does the M.Div. program (approximately one year less)
and does not utilize Hebrew in the study of the Old Testament. It does
not result in the awarding of an academic degree, though some students in this program may also qualify for admission to the Master of
Arts degree program.

Two contextual programs are also offered by both seminaries, the
Specific Ministry Pastor program, which is the subject of this report,
and the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology. While the seminaries may use different pedagogical approaches for distance education,
both fall under the descriptions provided by the Synod on its Website:
(3) Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Program The SMP program is a distance-based, specialized program of theological education at both
seminaries and is available to those who are involved in a ministry site where they will serve as vicars for the first two years of the
program. After successful completion of the first two years and certification by the seminary faculty, students are ordained and complete
two more years of instruction. Participants have the approval and support of their home church and the LCMS district within which they
serve. Each SMP is supervised by an experienced LCMS pastor during and after his program of study and faces restrictions concerning
service in the pastoral ministry.
(4) Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) EIIT is a specialized
online education program at both seminaries providing theological education and formation for effective pastoral leadership within
immigrant-based churches. The program is created for men providing pastoral leadership from within an ethnic immigrant community
that is associated with the LCMS. Participants have the approval and
support of their home church and the LCMS district within which
they serve. Each student is supervised by an experienced LCMS pastor during his program of study.

The St. Louis seminary offers four additional contextual programs:
(5) Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) The CHS is operated by Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis, and offers seminary level pastoral and deaconess formation in the Spanish language. Prior to entering the seminary
level, students complete entrance or congregational level preparatory
courses. At the seminary level, courses are delivered through shortterm intensive courses given on campus or at extension-satellite sites.
Some courses are taught online. The curriculum takes serious consideration of how confessional Lutheran theology is applied in various
United States Hispanic/Latino communities. Students in the program
serve a two-year concurrent vicarage or deaconess internship under
the mentorship of local LCMS pastors. Eligible students can also
apply for a M.A. through the Graduate School.
(6) Deaf Institute of Theology (DIT) The DIT at Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, provides an alternative route to ordination for deaf and hardof-hearing LCMS members. The curriculum provides the necessary
broad foundation for missionary pastoral students. The DIT seminarylevel program uses online classes with sign language video clips and
mentoring by a local LCMS pastor. Annual on-campus seminars also
are required.
(7) Ethnic/Multi-Cultural Pastor Certification Program (EPCP/MPCP)
The EPCP/MPCP training programs are a partnership between
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia University Irvine
(California), and are available through the Irvine campus. This fouryear program of study (101 master’s credit hours) combines an
accredited M.A. degree with contextual vicarage, church-planting
activities. It is offered for those seeking to work in ethnic specific or
in cross-cultural specific contexts.

2013 Convention Workbook