PMC and boards of LCC seminaries meet, evaluate progress

EDMONTON – The President’s Ministry Council (PMC) and the Boards of  Regents (BOR) of our two Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) seminaries met on January 30 in Edmonton to continue the work that began at their initial meeting in February of 2023 and to evaluate progress made on the five challenges and six commitments that were previously identified.

This year’s meeting was hosted by Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) at Providence Renewal Centre in Edmonton in conjunction with the regular meetings of the BOR of each seminary. As host of this year’s joint meeting, CLS Board Chair Rev. Scott Lyons guided the group through a review of the 2023 document. While many challenges remain, some of the commitments have seen progress. It is important to recognize that these areas of commitment are not mutually exclusive; work in one area must involve work in others as well. The PMC and BOR of our two seminaries will continue to work closely together on them. 

1. Increase Prayer: Group members have been fervent in prayer that the Lord of the Church would continue to provide workers for His harvest, and the PMC renews the call for all members in our synodical family to continue to pray fervently for this. To assist in this matter, the two seminaries will be working together to provide prayers for the church based on the liturgical calendar.
2. Strengthen Alignment: The seminaries reported that they are working together as much as is feasible, given constraints such as time zones, different academic calendars, and so forth. They share a number of courses, and the faculties meet together regularly.
3. Acknowledge Reality: In connection with the following commitments, this occupied much of the discussion time. It is critical that we recognize that our traditional expectation of ‘one congregation, one full-time pastor’ has not been the recent reality; nor is it likely to move in that direction in the future. The seminaries are evaluating new approaches to pastoral and diaconal formation that may better serve our congregations in the complex contexts we face in 21^st-century Canada. Work will also begin in April on concretely defining more ways to assist congregations in receiving the gifts of our Lord in situations where full-time pastoral and diaconal care is not a possibility. 
4. Enhance PAT: Although the Pastors with Alternate Training (PAT) program has been in place for a number of years, significant roadblocks have prevented it from being well-used. A redefinition is in order based on our current reality. To that end, the PMC and seminary presidents will spend two days together in late April to begin developing an expanded and revised program. This new program is intended to strengthen assistance to congregations without full-time pastoral or diaconal care. An example of this is the training of lay leaders to conduct devotional services in situations where a called pastor is not available.
5. Use Online Tools: Use of online tools has been growing, and the PMC and seminaries will seek further appropriate uses for them (e.g. sharing courses between seminaries, CLS’ Quest courses, auditing CLTS courses, PMC training videos, etc.)
6. Apply our Strategic Framework: LCC has a Strategic Plan that has guided much of our work since it was formalized in 2021, and includes the work of recruitment, formation, and continuing education for pastors and deacons in our synod. This work is always ongoing; we have seen an increase in some partnership efforts (e.g. use of seminary professors as presenters at conferences, convocations, and other events). One area that has not received as much concrete attention is recruitment. One hope is that recruitment will be strengthened with the broadening of some programs like PAT and lay leader training. In addition, it continues to be true that one of the strongest ways that recruitment happens is within the local congregation. Members of our congregations are especially encouraged to identify and speak to those in their midst who may be suited for the pastoral and diaconal offices.

The PMC and Board of Regents of our seminaries are grateful for the prayerful and financial support of so many across our synod, and implore the members of LCC to continue this support. The work of training and forming pastors, deacons, and the laity is essential to the life of the church now and in the future; for through such service we, our neighbours, and generations to come are able and will continue to be able to receive the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation that have been won for us by the Head of the Church, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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