New cohort of students for Pastors with Alternate Training program

CANADA– Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s Pastors with Alternate Training (PAT) program welcomes a new cohort of eight students, scheduled to begin class on April 10, 2025. The first course, Introduction to Theology, will be taught by Rev. Dr. Sam Thompson, a professor of Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta.  

LCC’s PAT program was first approved and ratified by our synod’s convention in the year 2002. The purpose of the PAT program is to provide LCC with pastors for extraordinary circumstances in unique ethnic, cultural, or geographical situations where Word and Sacrament ministry is not readily available. 

This program has been in existence for over twenty years, and has recently undergone an expansion in keeping with LCC’s goal to equip leaders (More information on this expansion can be found in the March/April issue of The Canadian Lutheran magazine). 

Early on, there were growing pains involving getting organized, recruiting candidates, and ensuring quality instruction. The program was designed by Rev. Dr. Andy Bacon and Rev. Dr. William Mundt, from LCC’s two seminaries. The first leaders were Mission Executives, Rev. Dr. Glenn Schaeffer and Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel. More recently, in coordination with LCC’s President’s Ministry Council, the program was reorganized and reformatted by Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger, President of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines. In this expansion, Rev. Kevin Walrath now serves as PAT Coordinator, scheduling courses and instructors and ensuring effective movement through the program for the cohort of students. 

Previously, courses were largely administered to one student at a time. Today, with online learning becoming increasingly common, the possibility of multi-student classes with qualified Lutheran instructors is our preferred option. At present, there are twenty courses in the curriculum.  

Lutheran Church–Canada and LCC’s PAT Coordinator joyfully announce this new cohort of students entering into the PAT program—of various ages and circumstances, and originating from Canada, Sudan, and Ethiopia. 

Please pray for these eight men as they begin their preparations to serve the Lord’s Church in their unique circumstances bringing the good news of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, to the people. 

For more information about LCC’s PAT Program, contact your Regional Pastor, the PAT Committee, or concordia-seminary.ca/pat/

—————

Print this article