Serving in Ministry with LCMC

Information from the LCMC Ministry Board

Welcome to the Ministry Board Informational Page.  Whether you're an individual interested in finding out more about serving in ministry with LCMC or part of a congregation who needs to fill a leadership position, you can find information to help you through the process here.

To find what you are looking for, please select a category from the list below.

 


CONGREGATIONS

It is the responsibility of the congregation to seek pastors to serve in their congregation’s ministry.

Reminder from the Ministry Board: It is the congregation’s responsibility for due diligence when vetting a candidate for your position of pastor. The hiring congregation (not LCMC or the Ministry Board) is responsible for assuring that any criminal background, work history, and reference checks are completed. Congregations are encouraged to ask many theological and pastoral-practical questions of a pastoral candidate. More guidance for a congregation through the call process can be found in the Call Packet. If you have specific questions, you may contact the Ministry Board Congregational Liaison.

The Ministry Board recognizes the authority and responsibility of congregations of LCMC to call their pastors. A call from a congregation may be either a Certified or a Contract call. Congregations are welcome to contact any clergy regarding a possible call. LCMC Certified clergy are listed under the Pastors Directory.

Definitions of “Certified” and “Contract” Pastors can be found in the Call Packet, Attachment A: Ministry Standards found on page 22.

By creating a myLCMC account, you will be able to post a leadership position on our Church Staffing page.

Internships: Internships are wonderful partnership opportunities for seminarians and congregations. LCMC does not regulate internships. Some districts may provide help with internships. Internships may have various lengths, compensation, and may include traditional or non-traditional seminary education opportunities. Seminarians are strongly encouraged to have an LCMC mentoring pastor who may or may not belong to the same congregation. Seminarians and Congregations contract with each other. Here are some suggestions to include in such a contract: name of mentoring pastor, specific learning opportunities and goals, length of internship, approximate work hours, compensation. Review the Call Packet for more information. Internship opportunities may be listed in the Church Staffing database.

You will need to create a myLCMC account to be able to post seminarian internships and scholarship openings.

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CLERGY

It is the responsibility of the pastors to seek opportunities to serve in ministry.

The Ministry Board recognizes the authority and responsibility of congregations of LCMC to call their pastors. A call from a congregation may be either a Certified or a Contract call. Congregations are welcome to contact any clergy regarding a possible call. LCMC Certified clergy are listed in our Pastors Directory.

Definitions of "Certified" and "Contract" Pastors can be found in the Call Packet, Attachment A: Ministry Standards found on page 22.

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SEMINARIANS

It is the responsibility of the congregations to raise seminarians for future ministry in the life of the church.

You may contact the Ministry Board Liaison

For your benefit, review the LCMC Ministry Standards and Call Packet. Seminarians are not required to contact LCMC until they are seeking LCMC Certification, however, LCMC seminarians are encouraged to seek mentorship and learning opportunities through other LCMC congregations and pastors. The most valuable support for seminarians comes from their congregations and districts. In addition to spiritual and practical support, districts may help students through seminary applications and necessary endorsement paperwork, mentorship and internship, and applying for first call. (see District Directory)

To be listed online in our Seminarian Directory, if you have any seminary requirements which require LCMC endorsement, or for any seminary questions, you may contact the Ministry Board Liaison.You may contact the LCMC Military Endorser regarding miliatry endorsement. Early in the seminary process, you should notify your seminary that you are in the LCMC candidacy process. Keep all records of your seminary, CPE, internship, or other education documentation and references for you personal presentation when interviewing for call with a congregation. Approximately 6-months prior to your graduation and ordination, contact the LCMC Pastoral Certification Coordinator to arrange your certification interview. (see LCMC Board & Staff)

For more information, questions regarding the seminary process, or to add or update your status on the Seminarian Directory, contact the Ministry Board Liaison for Seminarians.(see Seminaries & Seminarians

  • Other Ministry Training Options
  • Internships and Scholarships: Seminarian Link
  • Seminarian Debt Relief Form (to be filed after graduation, when serving an LCMC congregation)

     

    Internships: Internships are wonderful partnership opportunities for seminarians and congregations. Internships should be 1) intentionally designed for a student’s educational pastoral experience, 2) supervised or mentored by another Lutheran pastor, 3) documented with records and references to be kept by the student. LCMC does not regulate internships. Some districts may provide help with internships. Internships may have various lengths, compensation, and may include traditional or non-traditional seminary education opportunities. Seminarians are strongly encouraged to have an LCMC mentoring pastor who may or may not belong to the same congregation. Seminarians and Congregations contract with each other. Here are some suggestions to include in such a contract: name of mentoring pastor, specific learning opportunities and goals, length of internship, approximate work hours, compensation. Review the Call Packet for more information. Internship opportunities may be listed on the Open Positions page.

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    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    • What about Mission Congregations?

      The Mission Loan Fund is organized by the LCMC- Lutheran Men.

      Church Plant Helpful Information: A task force to compile information and possible options for church planting, to aid in fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission, was begun at the LCMC 2008 Convention. To network and to receive information gathered regarding Church Plants, contact the Ministry Board Liaison. For Church Plants see (LCMC Board & Staff).

    • What about Chaplains?

      Seminarians interested in going directly into a chaplaincy ministry could be called and deployed as a chaplain by an LCMC congregation. LCMC as an association of congregations does not ordain. Congregations do. Therefore the way LCMC handles specialized ministry by a newly graduated seminary student is that that student would be called and ordained in a congregation and then deployed by that congregation to the chaplaincy role. This "deployed" relationship need have no financial or other obligation by the congregation except that the congregation consider the person to be doing ministry in partnership with them, and that the chaplain report to the congregation about the ministry in an agreed upon manner.

      Those pastors who already have been ordained and served in ministry can use this "called and deployed" arrangement if they are hired for a chaplaincy position.

      Those seeking endorsement for military chaplaincy should check the "Boards and Staff" Board and Staff directory page on the LCMC website for the LCMC Military Endorser and contact that individual.

     

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