Pastoral Studies Program
Ordination in the LCANZ
ALC is entrusted with the task of preparing candidates for the pastoral ministry (General Ministry and Specific Pastors), however it is the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ) who is ultimately responsible for the decision to ordain a candidate who has completed one of ALC's Pastoral Studies Programs. The LCANZ and ALC journey together with potential candidates as they move through the stages of the program.
Program Overview - General Ministry Pastors
The General Ministry Pastoral Studies Program generally involves the equivalent of four full-time years of theological study and formation. This includes:
- completing an academic award
- local fieldwork
- periodic formational reviews
- self, peer and mentor reflection
- online ALC community worship
- a final supervised pastoral ministry placement
The General Ministry Pastor (GMP) is delivered using a combination of synchronous, online classes and face-to-face intensives. This means students can remain in their local community to engage in the program - there is no need to relocate to Adelaide. Financial support is available to domestic students to facilitate attendance at intensives.
GMP Program stage 1 - Discover
The first requirement of the General Ministry Program is to complete Discover. Discover has been developed to assist potential candidates and others to discern God’s call. This combines academic study, practical ministry and personal reflection in congregational setting. Participants will compile a portfolio of evidence which is presented to the LCANZ Secretary of the Church and becomes part of the process for proceeding to stage 2 of the program.
GMP Program stage 2
For potential candidates, completion of Discover triggers a formal application and approval process for official entry into the General Ministry Program. This process includes a psychological assessment.
Once an approval process has commenced, participants continue with academic, fieldwork and formation activities for the duration of the program. Candidates will continue to gather evidence which demonstrates their progress towards achieving the Pastoral Graduate Outcomes (PGOs).
The academic award can still be completed even if an individual is not accepted into (or complete) the Pastoral Studies Program.
GMP Program stage 3
The final stage of the GMP Program focusses on completing a relevant academic award and advanced contextual learning, and an evaluation of readiness for ministry. This stage usually includes a significant supervised pastoral ministry placement which may be a traditional vicarage or a tailored, alternative form of supervised ministry.
Readiness for ministry is evaluated with reference to the PGOs and other church requirements including a second psychological assessment, reports from the placement supervisor and other relevant information.
At the conclusion of stage 3 ALC makes a recommendation to the LCANZ about the potential candidate's readiness for ministry.
Program Overview Specific Ministry Pastors
Specific Ministry Pastors (SMPs) are ordained to serve in a predetermined context. Unlike the General Ministry Program, where potential ordination candidates self-nominate, engage in further discernment as an intentional element of the program, and make themselves available to be asked where they are needed at the conclusion of the program, Specific Ministry Pastors are already serving in their designated context when they start their program of study. They are asked by their local community to train for ordained service to that same community, and they remain in that context at the conclusion of their study. You cannot self-nominate to train as an SMP. With the approval of the District Bishop, SMPs are sent to train by their calling body.
The Specific Ministry Program assumes that those who have been asked to train as an SMP come with substantial prior biblical, theological and pastoral knowledge and skill. This may have been gained during previous formal theological study or as a result of life experience and involvement in Christian community. For this reason, the SMP program is shorter- generally the equivalent of a year full time, and it focuses on Lutheran systematic theology, history and practice. You might hear this program of study referred to as “the Lutheran spine” It has gained this label because it contains the units which are the backbone of what it means to be Lutheran- Lutheran theology, Lutheran history and Lutheran worship practices.
GMPs and SMPs share classes with each other and with people studying for interest or for ministries which are not ordained. Except for intensives, all classes are delivered using synchronous online webinars, so while ALC’s library and administration hub are located in Adelaide, our students, and increasingly our academic staff, are distributed around Australia, New Zealand and internationally.
If you would like further information about any aspect of the Pastoral Studies Program submit an enquiry here.
