Vicarage & Internship

The vicarage program is a year of full-time practical experience in a parish or related setting for pastoral ministry students, who work under the guidance of a supervising pastor, typically in the third year of study. The vicar, who is not yet called or ordained, is a student assistant, not a pastor or assistant pastor. 

Vicarage assignments are announced in late April at the annual Vicarage and Deaconess Assignment Service, which precedes the annual Candidate Placement Service. For Alternate Route students, the vicarage is the last year of their program; Master of Divinity students return to the Seminary for a fourth year after completing their vicarage.

The primary goal of the vicarage is that the vicar listen, learn, and do the work of a pastor under care and supervision. Ideally, the vicarage helps the student continue to grow in Christ, develop attitudes and skills essential for Lutheran ministry in real-life situations, and apply this development to serving the church. Input from the completed vicarage is used in recommending a candidate placement for the student. 

The Vicar

The vicar serves as an assistant to the pastor, handling tasks that familiarize him with various aspects of the pastoral role. Working under the supervision of the pastor, the vicar interacts with members and provides guidance as needed. He is not expected to subsidize his own vicarage but should manage finances wisely. For tax purposes, the vicar is considered an employee of the congregation.

The Congregation

The congregation where the vicar serves provides the setting for gaining supervised practical experience. Congregations are asked to understand the Synod’s Policy on Official Acts (see below), which explains what vicars can and cannot do, and provide support for the vicar. Congregation members interact with the vicar and may provide feedback for evaluations.

The Supervising Pastor

The supervising pastor guides the assigned vicar and is responsible to the Seminary. He is expected to supplement Seminary classroom education, provide counsel, and function as a partner of the Seminary faculty and an agent of the Synod. The supervising pastor is responsible for the performance of all official acts. He should provide opportunities for the vicar to gain firsthand experience in all phases of ministry. The supervising pastor serves as a role model and provides supervision, guidance, reflection, and evaluation. He is encouraged to meet regularly with the vicar for planning and discussion.

The Seminary

Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), prepares and assists students and vicarage supervisors by providing the manual and guidelines, approving vicarage assignments, scheduling and reviewing reports and evaluations, and providing information and support. 

The Synod

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) depends on congregations for this contextual learning opportunity. Through its constituted boards, it supervises pastoral education and preparation of candidates. The LCMS Council of Presidents makes vicarage assignments and sets guidelines for vicar support. 

The supervising pastor is encouraged to provide the vicar with experience in all phases of pastoral responsibility. Areas covered include, but are not limited to:

• Orientation to the physical setting, the community, and expectations.
• Sermon preparation, delivery, and critique, including studying biblical text, crafting sermons, and receiving feedback. 
• Teaching, preparation, lesson plans, curriculum development, and actual instruction in various settings like parish school, Sunday school, Bible classes, confirmation, vacation Bible school, and youth groups. 
• Worship service and occasional rites, including learning about liturgy, selecting hymns/readings/prayers, preparing bulletins, and understanding roles in worship.
• Pastoral care: visits, counseling, active listening, and confidentiality.
• Parish administration and leadership: gaining familiarity with church budget, accounting, record-keeping, office routines, church property care, and attending various board and committee meetings (including board of elders, education, stewardship, evangelism, finance, and trustees). 
• Outreach, evangelism, and missions: discussing different approaches, participating in congregational evangelism efforts, and engaging with the community. 
• Balancing pastoral parish life and personal life: learning about finances, personal budget, stewardship, balancing time, and maintaining personal wellbeing.

Policies established by the Council of Presidents and seminary faculties govern the performance of official acts by vicars. These policies aim for good order, proper understanding of the pastoral office, and the student’s training. 

• “Official acts” are activities a pastor performs by virtue of his office, such as leading public worship, preaching, baptizing, administering the Lord’s Supper, solemnizing marriages, officiating funerals/interments, confirmation, ordination, and installation. 
• The supervising pastor is responsible for the performance of all official acts. 
• With proper authorization and supervision, a vicar may perform some official acts as part of training. 
• A vicar is authorized to conduct public worship services or parts of them, preach, and assist the supervising pastor and congregation in many ways, always under supervision. 
• A vicar should not baptize, except in emergencies.
• A vicar should not administer the Lord’s Supper (including pronouncing absolution or consecrating elements). 
• A vicar should not solemnize marriages, administer confirmation, or officiate at funerals/interments or ordination/installation rites, although he may conduct parts of services where these rites are included.
• A vicar is in no case considered regularly called to the pastoral office. 
• Exceptions to these policies require a congregational vote to request authorization from the District President and the seminary Director of Vicarage.

Reports and evaluations are scheduled by the Seminary for both the vicar and the supervising pastor. The purposes are to help the vicar understand the total ministry, evaluate his experience, and provide information for his final year and placement.