Specific ministry pastor program
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Last fall the two LCMS seminaries enrolled their first students in the program, which involves close collaboration between congregations, districts, and the seminaries. Beginning with an identified need, a congregation, a circuit, or a district may invite a man with the scriptural qualifications to apply for the SMP program. The district examines the application and submits a completed application package to the seminaries. Before being admitted, a man must demonstrate basic competencies in the Old and New Testaments, Lutheran doctrine, worship, preaching, teaching, and Christian witness.
These competencies can be acquired through lay training offered by districts, our Concordia universities, and our seminaries. Once admitted, an SMP student serves as a vicar during his first two years in the program. He takes instruction mostly by Internet and meets with an assigned pastor-mentor. After completing eight seminary courses during that period, he will be eligible for ordination and a call to his vicarage site.
During the next two years, he completes eight more courses while continuing under the supervision of a mentor pastor. Most of the courses are M. Students will be advised academically by the director of the program and registered by the Registrar. Because students in this track are already ordained, they are not required to complete Resident Field Education or a vicarage. Admissions Standards Triangle. Curriculum Triangle. Credit Distribution Triangle. The annual deadlines are:. The SMP Program is designed for mission and ministry opportunities where a pastor with a Master of Divinity degree might not be available and a pastor trained for a specific ministry and location is needed.
To be eligible for the SMP Program, a man must be serving in a ministry of an LCMS congregation that has identified the need for a pastor, desires his service as a pastor and may be:. An applicant must be under the supervision of an ordained pastor of the LCMS who will serve as his pastor-mentor throughout the course of study. Following completion of the program, supervision of the SMP pastor will continue through a pastoral supervisor appointed by the appropriate LCMS district president.
Each course is counted as two-semester credit-hour courses and are billed as such. During the first two years of the program, the student also serves as a vicar in the congregation that has asked him to prepare for the pastoral ministry.
The standard vicarage administrative fee is a one-time charge for the entire vicarage, but it is billed over two years. Tuition and Fees. The SMP Program curriculum builds on basic competencies in biblical and doctrinal knowledge, demonstrated skills in leading worship, preaching prepared sermons under supervision, and witnessing and teaching the faith, leading to fundamental competency for pastoral ministry under ongoing supervision.
The SMP curriculum follows a narrative structure that begins and ends with a focus on pastoral ministry. In between, the courses are organized in two cycles that follow an intentional progression, with certification, call and ordination after successful completion of the first cycle.
The curriculum also includes a requirement that students participate in two field seminars or conferences during the course of the program. Students are responsible for selecting and participating in these workshops or conferences with the approval of the program director.
These are in addition to attendance at district and circuit conferences which are expected of pastors and vicars. All courses are designated as two semester credits, but note that no academic degree is granted at the conclusion of the program. The SMP vicarage is conducted concurrently while taking courses and preparing for ministry in a supervised ministry setting.
A concurrent SMP vicarage is usually 24 months. Congregations with an SMP student applying for a concurrent vicarage will complete two vicarage agreement forms. The congregation will submit the completed vicarage application and agreement forms to its LCMS district office.