Faith

Lutheran

Seminary

 

At Saint James College

Seminary Education Program for Adults Called to Ministry

Administration:   admin@adminoffices.org.   863-441-3000

 

 

 

SEMINARY WHOSE SPECIALITY IS HELPING ADULTS

ENTER PARISH MINISTRY

 

Our program offers an urgently-needed blend of traditional Lutheran values combined with basic lessons needed to cope with the realities of parish ministry during the current clergy shortage.

 

As hundreds of churches, particularly in rural areas, try to serve the faithful with vacant pulpits, Faith Lutheran Seminary is committed to preparing ordained and lay ministers for the mission of pastorship.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1026">

/// HELPING THOSE CALLED TO CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP

 

Even though a parish may lack a theologically-trained professional pastor, we are discovering that the congregation may well have one or two faith-filled members who feel called to study for the ministry.  Sadly, in spite of this call, we are learning that most cannot leave their jobs, homes, farms, and families to enroll in the “bricks-and-mortar” seminaries upon which we have so long relied.

 

Faith Lutheran Seminary was born out of such a need.

 

Our mission is to honor this call by enrolling eager and willing folks from local parishes in a comprehensive program leading to lay and ordained ministry.

 

 

 

AFTER LUTHER – A NEW CHANGE IS UPON US

 

Just as Martin Luther saw the need for the great religious changes that he ushered in during the sixteenth century in Germany, today the Church is facing contemporary changes and challenges.

We are sadly discovering that graduates of high school and conventional college programs tend not to seek ministerial training in sufficient numbers.  And, the established Synods and denominations are increasingly unable (or unwilling) to provide small community churches with pastors and other essential resources. 

Against this backdrop, a number of former “big denomination” pastors banded together to initiate the seminary and ministerial/chaplain study programs at

Saint James College

Our faculty consists of masters and doctorate-prepared professors, including those who’ve served as parish pastors, chaplains, and teachers at distinguished colleges and universities.

 

INNOVATIVE DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM

 

Saint James College’s seminary and divinity programs are among the pioneers in offering Adult Learner theological education both on-site and online.  While secular schools are increasingly responding to the overwhelming public demand for online education, Saint James College has been a pioneer in the field and has led the way within the religious academic community.  Our programs include The Center for Ministerial Studies, Faith Lutheran Seminary, and the American Chaplain Training Institute.

 

As a convenience for busy adults or those in rural areas unable to attend physical campuses, lessons are sent to students by email.  As each lesson is completed, it is sent back to the seminary where it is read and evaluated by a faculty mentor.  Then, usually within 24-hours, the next lesson in the series is emailed back to the student.  The lessons are sent in Microsoft Word so they can be opened very conveniently by those who have slow dial-up internet connections, or who may have limited computer skills.  (In some cases, for a very small printing and postage fee, lessons may be sent by U.S. Mail, although this necessarily slows down the educational process considerably.)

 

 

 

OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE AN EXCELLENT

STARTING POINT

 

 

The Faith Lutheran Seminary offers both basic theological training and also teaches practical “nuts and bolts” skills such as fundamental liturgical studies, Comparative World Religions, basic pastoral counseling, ethics, prayer, and grief work.

Our Adult Learner Fast-Track seminarians are then ready to shoulder the mantle of responsibility of parish ministry in the rapidly-growing number of smaller churches currently lacking pastoral leadership.  It is anticipated that our graduates’ parish appointments will be under the direction of an experienced professional minister, but their time at Faith Lutheran Seminary will have laid the groundwork for entry-level pastoral responsibilities.

 

CONTINUING EDUCATION:  From this initial platform, Faith Lutheran Seminary and the divinity programs at Saint James College will offer graduates the opportunity to continue learning skills that are essential to the pastor of even the smallest parish community.  Also, they may continue their studies online to obtain Bachelors degrees, Masters, and Doctorates in divinity, Master of Business Administration in Church Management, and also to achieve status as Certified Chaplains.

 

 

TUITION

 

Our program is government-chartered as a not-for-profit ministry and strives to provide world-class education at the lowest possible tuition rate. 

 

Entry Level Minister Ordination Studies:  Consists of 21 fundamental lessons for the very part-time or volunteer minister.  This basic series is designed not only to provide simple pastoral skills and techniques, it also offers training in avoiding common mistakes.  As the Hippocratic Oath teaches, “First, Let Me Do No Harm.”)  $250 tuition.

 

Professional Level Pastoral Ordination Studies:  This training consists of 35 essential ministerial training lessons whose purpose is to equip committed adult learners for professional pastoral duties in parishes that are currently unserved.  In this series, the student will learn more about parish management, pastoral counseling, and outreach.  $750 tuition.

 

Entry Level Chaplain Studies:  This series is similar in nature to the Entry Level Ministerial Studies mentioned above but does not lead to ordination.  Instead, its intent is to provide basic skills for those who may do chaplaincy work at rest homes, long-term care facilities, etc.  $250 tuition.

 

Professional Level Chaplain Studies:  This series provides more advanced training in the specialized ministry of Chaplaincy service and is designed to qualify the graduate for  Certification as a Chaplain for parish, Hospice, Hospital or, perhaps, as a Jail Chaplain.

$750 tuition.

 

COMBINATION ORDINATION ORDINATION and CHAPLAIN TRAINING:

Because some institutions such as many Hospices require that chaplains also be ordained ministers, we are able to offer combined studies that dovetail the curricula itemized above.  This allows credits in one program, say Ordination, to be applied toward Chaplain Certification training.  Normally, this would be $750 each, or a total of $1,500.  However, because combining coursework permits the seminary to expend fewer administrative and faculty resources, we are able to reduce the total tuition to only $950 for these joint programs.

 

DEGREES:  For information about bachelors, masters, or divinity degrees, please contact our director, The Reverend Thomas A. Oie, MBA, PhD … or our chancellor, Janice A. Learman, MSW, PhD. at admin@adminoffices.org, or 863-441-3000.