Entering the ministry can be a wonderful opportunity to serve God and His people, but it's not for everyone. How do you know if God is calling you to this particular form of ministry through the SMP program? There are many factors in making such an important decsion, but the questions below may help as you reflect and pray about the challenge and opportunity of ordained ministry.
Are you a man interested in caring for the people of God through Word and Sacrament ministry?
Yes
No
Wonderful! The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are indeed few. As our Synod faces the challenge of staffing exising congregations and developing new ones we will need the willingness of men such as you to serve the people of God in all times and places.
If you're a woman interested in the care of God's people, please consider Deaconess Ministry as an alternative for using the gifts God has given you to care for His people.
Are you mature in faith and understanding?
Yes
No
You're a potential candidate for the SMP program. Pastoring a church while learning "on the job" is not something done lightly and a certain level of maturity and experience is essential.
Because of the nature of the SMP program's pace and immediate vicarage, admission to the program is generally reserved for those who have shown maturity in faith and in caring for others. If you'd like the opportunity to grow in your faith while preparing for full time ministry, there are many residential paths to full time Word and Sacrament minstry which will allow you the time you need without the pressures of "on the job" training. Contact our Admissions Department to learn about the other possibilities.
Are you presently serving or will you be serving in a church that intends to call you as its pastor?
Yes
No
Good! It sounds like you're in an SMP situation.
SMP is intended as a way of pastoring churches that might otherwise go vacant for financial reasons, for new ministry starts, and for situations where an associate or assistant pastor is desired. As such, all applicants are required to be sponsored by a church, ministry or district which intends to call them upon completion of the program.
Are you "above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkeness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money"? (1 Timothy 3: 2-3 NIV)
Yes
No
Those are high standards, but they're the ones our Lord has set for those who seek to be pastors in His Church. Give them prayerful consideration as you seek to serve Him in this ministry
Those are definitely high standards! If you're just a little nervous about being able to live up to them, good! All of us who enter in to the ministry do so with an awareness of the high standards expected of us. If, however, you have specific concerns or questions, feel free to contact us.
If you feel you're a candidate for the SMP program, please see the admissions information located on our documents page
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