The ULC feels strongly that the LCMS needs better strategy and execution on getting pastors in more and more of our empty pulpits, not to mention pastors for starting new congregations.
The ULC is also privileged to work with many churches in the Pacific Southwest District of the LCMS, led by President Mike Gibson.
Below are his comments and an attached “white paper” displaying the needs and opportunities available for raising up more LCMS pastors. The requested “white paper” on pastoral formation is supported by thirteen district presidents in the LCMS. I pray you find this paper helpful. The ULC did not write it, but we strongly support the heart behind it. Let's discover, develop, and deploy pastors for every current and future LCMS congregation!
President Gibson writes:
"You may be aware that the west coast DPs presented a paper for discussion at last week’s COP combined sessions with the two seminary faculties. The paper was originally generated at the request of Dr. David Peter of Concordia St. Louis to create a document that would offer a SWAT analysis on current methods and propose new pastoral formation efforts that focused on ’contextual formation.’ It was to be used at a joint faculty retreat on this topic to be held in May (still to take place) under a grant from the Lilly Foundation. Content was generated through the collective efforts of 13 district (including districts like Minnesota South and Northern Wisconsin) at a think tank that I gathered in Tempe prior to BPM. An outstanding writing team collaborated on the finished product. You’ll note that this is a both/and not either/or paper. Residential seminary is honored and celebrated, it is just not enough to achieve the goal of each congregation having a pastor to serve them (in all the varieties of needs, sizes, financial ability, etc.). We pray that it will generate conversation throughout the Synod."
Please read and share as led by the Spirit.
Jesus is Lord! Discover, develop, and deploy the next generation of pastoral leaders for churches!
Thanks for sharing this paper again. Reading it reminded me of my own alternative formation as a Pastor in the LCMS via Colloquy. Serving my entire 30+ year ministry in Arizona, first in the English District in Tucson and then in the Pacific Southwest District in Maricopa County, I have lived the benefit of context. Ministry in Arizona is different than Wisconsin, or even California. Having served 2 congregations that could not afford a full-time Pastor, my co-vocational life allowed me to earn a respectable living as a community college professor/counselor (which offered its own joys of ministering to students, staff and faculty as well as the congregations I served. There was very little “time off” for me,…
Thanks for forwarding this paper. A fascinating read with some information I’ve never heard. President Gibson wrote it was supposed to be discussed in May, but that hasn’t happened yet. Is it on a schedule? If not, I’ll be the first to provide “encouragement.” Lay leaders have responsibility to support the efforts to expand Pastoral formation opportunities.
As a current student in the CMC program (and thus someone who is deeply invested in the continuation of distance formation programs), there are two things I'd like to share:
First, it is always shocking to me that in conversations on this topic everyone likes to try and downplay the clear fact that the adoption of distance programs for general formation will be the end of the residential seminaries. This, at least from my perspective, is undeniable. Online programs don't currently take potential students out of the residential programs, due to the distance programs being so much more expensive, more niche, and more difficult to complete. The only people who enroll in distance formation currently are those for whom it…