LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 414

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Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Task Force
The option of SMP students to pursue a M.Div. is seen as a great
strength of the SMP program.

... As Identified by SMP Students
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Students have found the SMP program to be challenging and are
pleased with the program and what they have learned. The order of
the classes is logical and sequential. One course seems to build on the
previous and prepares the students for the next course. The courses
grow progressively deeper.
The professors have been responsive and helpful. Students are
impressed with the knowledge of the professors and the depth of their
understanding. On-campus intensives have helped create relationships
between students, professors, and support staff.
In some SMP students’ educational experience, this program is seen to
be one of the most challenging. It is certainly not “the easy way out”
to become a pastor. The material has been challenging, the professors
have encouraged students to dig deeper, and the time commitment has
been significant.
An unexpected strength for many students is the closeness and the
camaraderie they have experienced within their cohort. Classmates
have not only been supportive in the coursework, but they keep in
steady contact, pray for one another, encourage one another, and offer
resources and support for ministry. Some have travelled significant distances to attend the ordinations of others or to visit classmates.
SMP students report this long-distance program has allowed them to
enter the pastoral ministry. With families, many would not been able
to pursue pastoral ministry otherwise.
The technology used in the SMP program has been a strength in that
it allows for a flexible study schedule, online learning, and a variety
of other learning opportunities. It has also allowed students to learn
alongside classmates from all over the country... to learn from them
and understand ministry from a more “global” perspective. There is
excellent interaction with peers in discussions of class assignments
and a full classroom experience via online technology. The discussions are enhanced by the sharing of real life experiences in current
ministry settings.
The two years of vicarage experience is seen by SMP students as wonderful asset to this program. Much has been learned under the tutelage
of mentors.
The SMP program indirectly has lit fires in the hearts of others for service to Christ and the church. SMP students have been impressed with
the number of classmates who have either been part of new missions,
new campuses, or have been instrumental in starting new ministries
in their congregations. This seems to be a wonderful means to help
our Synod and church be on the cutting edge toward growth, reaching
out, and reaching the lost.

students involved in the program and took copious notes of those
conversations, including their opinions regarding concerns associated with the program.
... As Identified by Faculty and Staff of Seminaries
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... As Summarized by the SMP Task Force
The Specific Ministry Pastor Program provides its students with
some theological formation, but contextualization is the Specific
Ministry Pastor Program’s greatest strength since the student is
immersed in the work of pastoral ministry. Direct contact with the
professor of a particular class, regular contact with a mentor, and student cohort relationship development are all blessings to this program.
The student is also able to remain in the context in which he learns
to be a pastor so there is less cost to the student in this program compared to the residential seminary program, at least at this point. The
Specific Ministry Pastor Program consists mainly of more mature and
experienced students and is able to provide Word and Sacrament ministry to remote areas and ethnic ministries that would have a difficult
time providing funding for a full-time pastor position.

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... As Identified by District Presidents
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B. Concerns Regarding the Specific Ministry Pastor Program...
As mentioned above, the task force discussed the SMP program
with a fair sampling of faculty, district presidents, mentors, and
2013 Convention Workbook

Teaching SMP students takes more time than a traditional class and
there is a concern that SMP students are getting more attention than
residential students. However, some say it is not enough. While there
is theological formation of SMP students online, there are those who
believe that it is only enough to learn about our doctrine but not enough
to be shaped and formed by it to the extent that one will be able to
defend the Christian faith in the midst of the challenges of a fallen
world.
Some professors are not seeing a change in students that being
immersed in theology seeks to bring about. These students need time
away from their home context to focus on theology because they lack
theological knowledge. SMP students are missing out on the formation that takes place in face-to-face meetings with fellow students over
coffee, in the dining hall, and in residence halls.
There are also professors who believe that one needs to take a student
out of his own context in order to teach him properly. For example,
Jesus said, “Follow Me.” The disciples left others behind. The Lord
extracted His disciples from their home context for three years. There
is, at the very least, a need to get SMP students to the seminary more
often.
It was stated that this program, with its lower academic requirements,
will only work for one generation. In other words, it will weaken the
Office of the Pastoral Ministry. SMP is considered by some to be
unable to sustain our confession as a confessional church. If we lose
our confession, we lose the Lutheran Church.
The SMP program was an unfunded mandate to the seminaries. In
addition, it costs a lot to offer the SMP program due to the extra time
it takes to teach and the money needed to offer courses online.
Professors have not been trained in distance learning. Such training is
needed but costly.
There is little communication on campus about the SMP program, and
it is rarely discussed at faculty meetings. When it is discussed, it is
the source of some contention for some. Additional part-time faculty,
including parish pastors, have been hired after seminary professors
have initially provided the courses.
Costs are even higher to the seminaries due to the fact that each seminary has its own SMP program.
An inconsistency exists for admission to the SMP program and the
residential program. This is due to the fact that the seminary is not the
only agency screening students.
A remark was made that the seminaries thought that the SMP program
would stop the practice of licensing, but it has not. The SMP program
was also presented as being specific, as the name indicates, but it is
open. In fact, there is very little specific about it.
Frustration was expressed that the largest percentage of specific ministry pastors in the field are currently apprentices to pastors of large
congregations seeking to bypass seminary formation.
There is also a belief among some that pragmatism is ruling this program, i.e. that education is incidental to doing ministry and that the
SMP model is built on the foundation of non-Lutheran denominations.
The philosophy of the SMP program is field context education, which
is different and not as academically rigorous as seminary education.

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There is a need to enhance communication with the District President
by the SMP student and the seminary as the student progresses through
the SMP program. The mentor also needs to be held accountable for
his work to make sure that he is providing the assistance and oversight
which is needed by the SMP student.
There are questions about when a SMP student can receive a call and
concerns about whether SMP candidates are properly prepared. The