Following the first meeting of the synodical Specific Ministry Program (hereafter SMP) Committee on September 12, 2007, the following information is provided as an initial response to many questions regarding the work of this committee. We are moving forward as aggressively as possible toward the implementation of Resolution 5-01B of this past summer's convention. The committee's work in this meeting was intense and productive, and provided initial answers to many questions, a sense of prioritization of issues, and a timetable for moving forward.

This information does not represent an official statement of policy or procedure at this time, nor does it represent an official report of the committee. It is provided to give direction and response as we move forward together.

1. Is there an initial timetable for implementation?

   Based on conversations with both our seminaries, it is anticipated that implementation of the SMP program with the teaching of first courses can take place in the fall of 2008.

2. What has to happen before then?

   There is a significant amount of work to be done and logistical issues to be worked out, but the SMP committee, working closely with both seminaries and the Council of Presidents, believes that this is still realistic.

   - Specific admissions procedures need to be developed, including the role of the District President (to be discussed at the COP meeting in November).

   - Since this program is contextually based, local ministry contexts will need to be engaged and qualified. Procedures will need to be developed, which will also engage the district president.

   - The important role of the local mentor needs to be clarified, and the process for qualifying mentors be developed.

   - Most importantly, the seminaries will need to have a curriculum ready that is tailored both to the needs of this program and to the best practices of distance education models and technologies.

3. How can students begin to prepare for admission and matriculation?

   Concerning the application process, it is essential to remember that the process is ministry driven rather than student driven. Thus the first step in an application process is the nomination of a student by a congregation or other calling entity, processed through the District President.

   Once nominated, a student will apply for admission to one of our seminaries by the usual process (contact with seminary, application form, district interview, etc.).

   Because students will be engaged in ministry upon entrance into the program, spiritual and formative experiences and competencies will be carefully evaluated.

4. Will the academic requirements be the same as for M.Div. students, including an undergraduate degree?

   Students who intend to apply for academic credit toward an M.Div. will need to meet academic standards of that degree, which ordinarily (but not necessarily) requires an undergraduate degree. Those who do not intend to go on to an M.Div. do not need an undergraduate degree, but they will need to demonstrate the competence to make acceptable progress and the ability to achieve the goals of the curriculum.

5. Will there be pre-seminary academic work or experiences required?

   As with all seminary applicants, basic competency in Old Testament and New Testament Bible knowledge and facility, as well as fundamental knowledge of Christian doctrine, will be required. These are evaluated by the synodical entrance level competency exams (ELCEs). Coursework to prepare for such competencies will continue to be available and recommended through the district and other programs.

   It is also anticipated that further competencies and experiences will be required, but some flexibility will be provided for the individual needs of both student and his ministerial context. For example, since students will be placed as vicars upon their matriculation, basic competency in conducting worship, preaching a prepared sermon, and teaching will be expected and evaluated at the district or local level. It is anticipated that spiritual and personal maturity as well as specific experience and competency also in evangelism, and in giving witness to the faith through life and lifestyle to both believers and unbelievers, will be required and evaluated at the district level. The district president may recommend existing curricula from the district programs to achieve these competencies.

6. What will be the costs of the SMP program?

   Costs and tuition will reflect the quality of this program. Research has shown that distance education models which pay proper attention to issues of pedagogy, formation, community, and outcome assessment involve greater expense than residential programs. Such costs, however, are more than offset by eliminating student relocation. This program will also allow for and encourage financial support at the local level where the ministry is being received.

   It is anticipated that the per course costs will approximate those of residential coursework, but with students taking four courses per year (as compared to 12-15, plus summer courses, in a residential program).

   Students will also attend one on-campus seminar per year, as well as specific field seminars to be determined.

   At this point the seminaries are not able to offer financial aid, but it is anticipated that congregational and district support will be available.

7. Does the SMP program replace DELTO?

   Although Resolution 5-01B does not specifically address this question, it is clear that the new proposal builds on previous work, more specifically the DELTO program, and in many ways enhances and improves it. In fact, much of the energy for SMP came from the recognition that DELTO was unable to meet the increasing needs in the field. At the very least, the SMP program addresses the same needs as DELTO did, and in fact, expands and improves the synodical response to those needs. (For example, DELTO applicants were restricted to situations where there was no other Word and Sacrament ministry available; SMP is not so limited).

   Thus, for all practical purposes, the SMP program replaces DELTO.

8. What are the differences, then, or changes from the DELTO program? If DELTO was working, why did we fix it?

   In many ways, DELTO was working, but not in all circumstances. For example, the admission requirements were deemed too restrictive for certain situations.

   - As noted already, the SMP program is driven by a better appreciation of the needs of the field to raise up special ministry pastors within such specific ministry contexts.

   - Further, the SMP proposal offered an opportunity to address the larger questions of new educational models in a more comprehensive and cohesive way.

   - Most notably, the SMP proposal allows for an earlier ordination within the program itself, allowing for those who provide pastoral ministry to do so from within the pastoral office (AC XIV) and yet remain ongoing students in a regularized program of pastoral formation.

   - Finally, the SMP curriculum will be taught at a Master of Divinity level, so that coursework done in this program may be applied to an M.Div. degree, as an option and incentive for students to continue toward that credential. DELTO was a non-degree, certification program, while SMP allows for an M.Div.

9. So what happens to current DELTO students, including those already engaged in the district level "first 10" courses?

   All current DELTO students (at seminary level) will continue in their program under the assumptions with which they began.

   For those who would be ready for a new DELTO cohort this fall (those having the first ten courses completed but not admitted to the seminary portion of DELTO), a special and so-called "interim" transitional cohort has been formed at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. This cohort will be based on the "old" DELTO model but will begin to utilize new courses being developed for the SMP program (and taught on a ten-week term and at an M.Div. level).

   Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne still has its DELTO program open, and therefore students currently taking the first courses are encouraged to apply, should they wish to finish the DELTO program via Fort Wayne, as soon as possible.

10. What about other routes toward pastoral certification and ordination, especially those for ethnic minorities?

    Specialized programs to meet the needs of ethnic ministry, specifically the program of the Center for Hispanic Studies, the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology, the EIIT/POBLO program, and the Deaf Institute of Theology, will continue as in the past. It is anticipated that these programs will be better coordinated toward the standardized template created through the SMP program. At this time, however, they will continue to meet the needs for which they were designed and implemented.

11. What is the continued role of district lay training programs?

    These continue to serve the niche for which they are already serving: as training for lay ministry, i.e. the ministry of the laity as well as appropriate licensed deacon training. Such curricula will also continue to be engaged for the various admission qualifications and experience noted above for the SMP program, which leads to certification, call, and ordination for pastoral ministry.

12. What about Synod's lay ministry program at Concordia University - Mequon?

    This will also continue to serve the niche for which it is designed: preparing certified and rostered lay ministers as a synodical program.

13. Will the licensed deacon program instituted by the 1989 Convention Resolution 3-05B continue?

    This past summer's Resolution 5-01B regarding the SMP proposal did not address the question of licensed deacons. Resolution 5-02 did speak to this question. That resolution allowed for a continuation of this program, but asked that the needs for it be evaluated in a report to the 2010 Convention, to be prepared by the Board of Pastoral Education and the Council of Presidents.