One of the perennial hot topics in synodical circles is that of the (take yer pick) past/current/future “shortage of Pastors” afflicting the synod. This “shortage”, and the companion number of congregations in some sort of vacancy, has been the reason that non-Seminary training-tracks for pastors have become increasingly en-vogue in Missouri in recent years (e.g., SMP).

One of the questions that accompanies the topic is that of “CRM” pastors, or “candidate” pastors currently without a call. Over the years, CRM has become somewhat of a “scarlet letter” of sorts, where men go, and are never heard from again. Why? Well, there are stories. Unfit for ministry. Unfit to teach. Needed time away. Etc., et al… It can really be hard to pin down.

In any event, this all becomes of particular interest in light of the synodical statistic that we have 9,164 pastors… of which 5,356 are serving parishes — meaning roughly 40% are not. So, how many are CRM? And is that CRM status really being used against them? I’ve been able to come across some info (in a public forum, so it’s not secret or anything like that – goodness knows I’m not that plugged-in to any circles of power…), and I thought I’d pass it along, since I hadn’t seen it pop up in the blogosphere yet. Here’s the quote:

At long last, an update on the number of pastors on candidate status in the LCMS.

There are several types of candidate status, first of all. Some pastors, although they can be called to service, are on “non-candidate” roster status. This means that they are not seeking a Divine Call, but are in some kind of transition – maybe they’re selling Thrivent, doing something else, not able to consider a Divine Call, a myriad of things. They aren’t considered in the same way as those Pastors who are eligible and desirous of receiving a Divine Call.

The number of those pastors, as of today, is 227 in the LCMS. Inside that group there are a bundle of other descriptors – able to consider a Call but geographically limited, or wife not able to move at this time, etc. etc. But it’s a substantial number, in my opinion.

In addition, there are over 30 pastors who have completed our colloquium but have not received a divine call; they’re in the “placement pool.” Many/most of them are originally from another country – Korean, African nations, etc.

There are currently 436 parishes that are not calling a pastor. Many to most of them are served by retired pastors. The most frequent mode of providing pastoral care to congregations in the LCMS not able to provide full compensation is NOT the SMP student, but the retired pastor.

I can’t say that there’s any deep, deep meaning there, but it is interesting nonetheless.

We do not currently have a shortage of pastors in the LCMS. We do have a surplus of seminary-trained bureaucrats. We do have a broken understanding of the importance & necessity of AC XIV.

Will we have a shortage when current pastors in their 60′s+ start retiring? I don’t know. But I do know that it’s not right to use a “shortage” or a broken understanding of AC XIV as pretense to begin circumventing the OHM & create programs like SMP treat symptoms rather than underlying causes.

But, then, that’s what we do far too often in Missouri these days — attack symptoms rather than causes. It’s easier & more “effective”, isn’t it?

Feh!

-ghp

Here’s the thing: for a great many reasons, there’s not really a shortage. We’re churning out Sem grads who aren’t getting Calls & have seminarians who can’t get Vicarage placements. We’ve got over 800 pastors working as district and synodical bureaucrats. Pastor Beisel has a nice post on this over at One Lutheran… Ablog! (take note of the link that he has to a posting over at Priestmanship — it’s worth clicking on, too…).

Now for the absurd, ‘right-hand/left-hand’ part of all this…

Today, I just received an email from Synod, touting May as “Pastoral Education Month”. This, in and of itself, is a good thing, and not at all absurd. Let me pull out one quote, though…

With about 100 fewer seminarians than three years ago, and a growing number of retirement-age pastors, “now is the time” for the Synod to get serious about recruitment of pastors, according to Rev. Glen Thomas, executive director of the Synod’s Board for Pastoral Education.

If you haven’t read Pr. Beisel’s post yet, please go do so now & then come back & read that quote again. There’s a disconnect somewhere, don’tcha think? Why, when they can’t place all of the men they have right now, would they continue to perpetuate the fallacy that there’s an impending shortage? That’s just not right.

-ghp

Per this letter, the St. Louis Seminary (CSL) has jumped into bed with a renegade, conservative/”confessional”, faction of ELCA, WordAlone.

So, what many view to be as the crown jewel seminary of the LCMS (not me — I prefer CTSFW, but that’s just subjective based on my personal experiences at/on the CTSFW campus — I’ve known good pastors who are grads of both sems — and general, anecdotal observations that even in post-Seminex times, some dicey stuff can happen at CSL…) is now going to educate future pastors of the ELCA. Men and WOMEN. Priestitutes. Spiffy.

WordAlone, from what I’ve been able to discern, seems to have been moved into action in response to ELCA’s bedding down with the Episcopalians, as they really don’t like the historic episcopate. And they don’t like ELCA’s move towards blessing same-sex unions & ordaining gays/lesbians. But, they’re cool with ELCA’s focus on social justice, priestitutes, open communion, mindless ecumenism, Biblical errancy, and general disavowal of orthodox confessional Lutheranism (i.e., Christianity). Peachy.

What possible reason could there be for the powers-that-be at CSL to want to jump into bed with a group like WordAlone? Especially when they do so with delusional sophistry like this from Rev. Bartelt’s letter:

“Further, as discussed with your representatives, Concordia Seminary invites students to enroll into our graduate programs of theological studies, cognizant of our traditional, confessional position within the framework of historic and evangelical Lutheran theology. Indeed, we welcome those who are willing to engage in honest dialogue and conversation about controversial theological matters, including issues such as the historical-critical method and women’s ordination. We recognize that, as a denominational seminary, we do not prepare candidates for the Holy Ministry outside of the LCMS and those in church fellowship with her. We are also prepared to continue discussion of the initiatives of WordAlone Network to augment such graduate education as they see fit, including proposals such as a house of studies and the interchange of guest faculty.”

Sorry, but the historical-critical method & women’s ordination are not “controversial theological matters” that are open for “honest dialogue and conversation” — they are issues that have been discredited & debunked as sinful attempts to corrupt God’s clear Word.

And, if the LCMS’s seminaries are not for preparing candidates for those outside of the LCMS, then what could possibly be the purpose/benefit of letting some rogue outfit’s students/candidates take classes as part of their programs elsewhere? Let’s be honest here, in doing so, we are preparing them, for all intents and purposes. The LCMS will be complicit in allowing/enabling women to usurp the Pastoral Office. Stating a bylaw/policy doesn’t change that, not when the practice is so obvious.

This makes me very sad…

-ghp

Seminaries Need More Seminarians

From the article:

In 2005, 800 congregations in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod were without pastors, and there are more pastors retiring, or otherwise leaving the ministry, than are being ordained. Moreover, in the next decade there will be an increase in age-eligibilities for retirement.

Only 162 men graduated, in 2006, from the seminaries. For 2006-07, the two seminaries together show enrollment of 164 first-year students for the Master of Divinity degree, compared with 186 last year.

That number is only about half of the total exodus from the pulpit ministry for the most recent 12-month period.

Interesting stats, I think you’ll agree. Interesting, but not wholly accurate. Why not? Well, they don’t take into account the number of pastors that have been forcibly removed from their pulpits in unscriptural “firings” and either driven out of the ministry completely, or unwillingly placed on “CRM” status because they fit neither the congregation’s “itching ears” needs, nor the District President’s desired profile of a “good company man.” Equally troubling is that there is no mention made of the fact that the seminaries are facing problems both in finding vicarage placements for all eligible seminarians, and that there is an increasing problem of not having enough calls for qualified graduates.

IOW, there is no shortage — not of fully qualified, faithful undershepherds, that is. There might be a shortage of malleable company men who are willing to toe the line and scratch the itching ears.

What this is indicative of, I think, is that the toxic political situation in the LCMS is such that men are being discouraged from starting, completing, and enduring in the ministry. Thankfully, organizations like the Augustana Ministerium exist, to help fill the gap in support that faces our faithful undershepherds.

What’s sad is that the article from which I quoted seems to gloss over all these “unpleasant” realities when attempting to understand and explain the numbers, preferring to fall back on the old saw of “it’s too expensive!” Now, I’ll admit that the fiscal implications of a seminary education are daunting. They certainly were when I considered it a few years back. And it’s particularly problematic that the Synod has almost completely cut the seminaries off, funding-wise, especially when seminary education was a primary reason for forming the Synod back in the day.

That said, I in no way, shape, or form believe that finances are the primary deterrent to qualified men entering & staying in the pastoral ministry. No, Satan is not that obvious, for money alone is not the prime motivator for men who are truly called to the OHM. Money may be a component, but it’s only one of the many things that Satan uses to eat away at the will of the men called by Jesus to serve in His stead and by His command.

We sheep must certainly support our undershepherds in all ways — which certainly includes financial. But I know many good men who would gladly endure fiscal hardship and uncertainty in order to minister to the flock, if they would only receive the support & encouragement to do so without all the non-monetary barriers.

May God make such support the realized goal of all congregations.

-ghp

Dear Friends:

I wish to inform you that on the morning of September 19 our distinguished colleague, beloved professor, and brother in Christ, Dr. Kurt Marquart, died. After suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease, he died peacefully at home. Earlier in the evening he had baptized his new great-grandson, Evan.

As baptism joined Dr. Marquart and Evan to Christ’s death and resurrection, we confess that he now enjoys that full life that Christ gives to those who are joined to Him (John 10:10).

President Wenthe

The ‘net will be awash with remembrances of this great man — and justifiably so!

I only met him a few times, but I can say with confidence that nothing will be said that can do justice to the man and his years of faithful service to God, the Church, and the LCMS. I can honestly say that I have never met a man who was so brilliant (an intellectual giant!), yet so genuinely and winsomely pastoral.

We are all better off for the blessing of his faithful service, and I thank God for that blessing. I thank God that Dr. Marquart has been taken to his reward. I thank God for the saving grace that ensures that I will join Dr. Marquart in that same, Christ-earned, reward.

Amen!

-ghp

It’s amazing how often Gospel freedom is misused & twisted in such a way as to inject works into the salvation that is truly given by grace alone (through faith alone in Christ alone!). But it is. And it shouldn’t be. As Pr. Borghardt so skillfully proclaims.

-ghp

HT: Aardvark Alley for a new entry on my blogroll, Rev. Tim May’s On the Lutheran Church and Her Liturgy.

Pr. May has a particularly nice posting from Oct 19, entitled The Gift of Pastors (Eph 4:11-16), in which he expounds in a most edifying way on the subject of properly valuing the God-given gift & blessing of faithful pastors. His words are worth much consideration.

I am constantly aware of the blessing that God has given me & my family in the gift of our pastor (Pr. Joe Ostafinski). A faithful undershepherd is an unfortunately uncommon thing these days. As the sheep are called to judge the teachings of the undershepherd, so are we called to protect him. I consider it an honor to learn from Pr. Ostafinski, as well as to work with him in my vocation as a congregational Elder, assisting him & protecting him as he carries out his vocation as a called & ordained servant of the Word.

As we embark on a new Church Year, let us all be ever mindful of the gift God has given us in our pastors!

-ghp�

Fortunately, over at Incarnatus Est, Pastor Alms has just posted a very nicely written entry on Being Pastoral. In it, he does a wonderful job of examining just what it means to truly be pastoral, and how that differs from the milquetoasty definition that carries the day in all too many Christian quarters.

Highly recommended — Check it out!

-ghp