Alternate Route to Ordination - Concordia Theological Seminary

A need has existed and continues to exist in the LC-MS to provide theological education programs alternative to the traditional four-year M.Div. program. Such routes are available to men who demonstrate circumstances exceptional enough to warrant that they not be required to complete the M.Div. program in order to be certified for a call into the pastoral ministry of the LC-MS. As in the case with the M.Div. program, these programs will focus on the spiritual, academic and personal development of the students. Unlike the M.Div. program, no academic professional degree will be granted. However, upon successful completion of the program, a certificate will be granted.

Admission Requirements

Candidates for admission shall be male and shall be:

Graduates of the Synod's colleges, whose names appear on the roster of the Synod as commissioned ministers of the Synod, and who have at least eight (8) years of successful experience as commissioned ministers of the Synod and are communicant members in good standing of a congregation of the Synod, or;
Communicant members in good standing of a synodical congregation who are ordinarily at least 35 years of age at the time of application, ordinarily have accumulated at least ten (10) years of significant experience directly related to Word and Sacrament ministry (elder, lector, evangelism caller, Bible class teacher, etc.) in a Missouri Synod setting, and have ordinarily successfully completed at least sixty (60) semester hours of college-level coursework.
Men licensed by their district presidents to perform functions belonging to the pastoral office.

All candidates will demonstrate spiritual, emotional, aptitudinal, social and cultural qualifications to serve as a pastor as identified in Scripture (I Timothy 3 and Titus 1); if married, have a spouse who is a communicant member in good standing of a synodical congregation and who offers spousal support and understanding of each partner's respective role and involvement in ministry.

Admission Procedures

The process for application and admission to Concordia Theological Seminary normally takes from 6-12 months prior to enrollment. An applicant must submit the following documents for the admission process:

An application for admission and a $42.00 check ($35-Application fee / $7- Background Review fee).
A completed, signed and dated Background Check Authorization form.
A recommendation from the applicant's pastor (form provided with application).
Four personal recommendations (forms provided with application).
Information listing the ten (10) years of significant church experience (elder, lector, evangelism caller, Bible class teacher, etc.) in a Missouri Synod setting.
Applicants should arrange to have official transcripts sent to the Admission Office by the Registrar of the college(s) they have attended.
Applicants should contact their district president to schedule the district interview. It is the responsibility of the district interview committee to arrange this interview. The results of the interview will be forwarded to the seminary's Admission Office.
Applicants are required to complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test and have the scores forwarded to the seminary for consideration as part of their application for admission. Those applicants who already have a master's, doctorate or equivalent degree are not required to take the GRE. GRE test scores beyond five years will not be accepted. GRE Information Bulletins can be obtained from the Admission Office or at any college Registrar's Office. The GRE is also available by computer at many locations.

Entry Level Competency

Students will need to demonstrate that they possess entry-level competence in Old Testament content and New Testament content. This demonstration is not required prior to admission to the program, but is required to enroll in certain courses in the program. Students may demonstrate that they possess entry-level competence in each of the listed areas in one of two ways:

By passing a competency test during the 12 months prior to the date of beginning studies in the program, or
By passing a pre-seminary level course offered by the seminary.

Residence and Curriculum Requirements

Course and residence requirements are established by the synod and approved by the faculty and include:

Residence

For commissioned ministers, not less than six full-time quarters in residence.

For laity, not less than seven full-time quarters in residence.

Course and Professional Work
For commissioned ministers and laity, a program load of 90 quarter hours of course work, six quarters of field work, and one year of vicarage is required.

Modules

Each student is required to take four modules while on campus. These modules cover specific, practical areas of pastoral ministry in four categories: specialized ministries; specialized pastoral care; evangelism and outreach; other topics. Aminimum of one module from each category is required. (No more than two modules may be from any one category.) Modules will ordinarily involve six contact hours, as scheduled by the instructor. No credit will be given for modules, nor will any tuition or fees be charged. Student attendance is required, but there are no reading assignments. Pass/fail grades only will be given.

Advisor on Personal Growth

The Personal Growth Toward Ministry program provides M.Div. and Alternate Route (A.R.) students with the opportunity to assess their strengths and potential growing areas. Students consult with the Advisor on Personal Growth regarding strategies and resources to assist them in refining their pastoral skills and remediate potential obstacles to effective ministry. Each student develops and implements a Personal Growth Program designed to meet his personal and professional needs. Resources available for the Personal Growth Program include meetings with the Advisor on Personal Growth, assessment instruments, individual guidance and Personal Growth groups.

Administrative Procedures

Students in the A.R. program will be subject to the same high academic, interpersonal and ministerial standards of students in the M.Div. program. They will work with the Advisor on Personal Growth, have access to personal and family counseling, and be subject to pastoral assessment throughout their program.

Credentials

No academic degree is offered. Acertificate will be awarded upon successful completion of the program.

Alternate Routes Program—M.A. Relationship

Students who complete the A.R. program, may at the same time fulfill the requirements for the Master of Arts (M.A.) program. However, the requirements for each program are considered separately when evaluating the transcripts of the student, either for the M.A. or the A.R. program. A.R. students need to apply and be admitted to the M.A. program.

Distance Education Leading to Ordination (DELTO)

Distance Education Leading to Ordination (DELTO) is the off-campus option of the Alternate Routes program. This specialized program is restricted to those men who are currently performing the functions belonging to the pastoral office for a mission group or vacant congregation, where that group would suffer severely and/or disband if the man left to attend a residential program. Course introductions are held at local sites or are conducted via video conferencing or computer. Each course is then completed with the guidance of an approved local pastor, who serves as the student’s mentor. Interested men should contact our seminary’s DELTO office.

Alternate Routes Program—M.Div. Relationship

Students who complete the on-campus A.R. program and, after spending time in the parish (normally a minimum of three [3] years), desire to return to the seminary in order to complete the requirements for the M.Div. degree, are granted some flexibility in their program. They need to make up the difference between the M.Div. level hours that they have already completed and the total number required for the M.Div. degree (currently 139). Specific course requirements are waived. However, credit totals within each department must be maintained to ensure a well-rounded education.

For further information about the Alternate Route Program, contact:

Rev. Richard Nuffer, Alternate Route Advisor
Concordia Theological Seminary
6600 N. Clinton St.
Ft. Wayne, Indiana 46825


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