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Admission
A L T E R N A T E R O U T E T O O R D I N A T I O N
The need continues to exist in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to provide a theological education program alternative to the traditional four-year M.Div. program.
Such a route is 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. As in the case with the M.Div. program, this program will focus on the spiritual, academic and personal development of the
students. Unlike the M.Div. program, no academic credit or professional degree will be granted. However, upon successful completion of the program, a theological
diploma will be granted.
Admission Requirements
Candidates for Admission shall be male and shall fit one of the following three categories:
- 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 years of
successful experience as commissioned ministers of the synod (teacher, DCE, DCO, etc.) 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 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 60 semester hours of college-level course work, or;
- Men licensed by their district presidents to perform functions belonging to the pastoral office. (e.g. a lay minister), or;
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, he must 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 following is what the applicant must have in his file in order to be considered for admission:
- A completed application form for admission. (Same application as M.Div.)
- A $35 application fee.
- A letter of evaluation and endorsement from the pastor of the congregation where the applicant holds communicant membership.
- A letter of endorsement from the applicant’s district president.
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended by the applicant.
- Letter(s) of evaluation and recommendation from the current president(s) of any synodical college(s) attended by the applicant.
- A completed report form submitted by the district interview committee in the district where the applicant holds communicant membership.
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.
- By taking and passing the Old and New Testament courses by
correspondence.
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.
Administrative Procedures
Students in this diploma program will be subject to the same high academic, interpersonal and ministerial standards as students in the M.Div. program. They will work
with the personal-growth adviser, have access to personal and family counseling, and be subject to pastoral assessment throughout their program.
Credentials
No academic degree is offered. A theological diploma will be awarded upon successful completion of the program. At that time, the student is eligible to receive a
call to serve as a pastor in an LCMS congregation.
Placement of the Candidate
Certification of the candidate for placement will be the responsibility of the faculty. Placement of the candidate will be by the Council of Presidents in consultation with
the seminary placement officer.
Diploma Program - M.Div. Relationship
Students who complete the Diploma program and, after spending time in the parish (normally a minimum of three 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 137). Specific course requirements are waived. However, credit totals within each
department must be maintained to ensure a well-rounded education.
Diploma Program - M.A. Relationship
Students who complete 72 hours of academic work in the Diploma program are eligible to apply for the M.A. in Religious Studies degree. For specific details and
course distribution requirements, contact the Registrar’s Office.
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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