MISSION STATEMENT

Equipping and developing leaders, volunteer and professional, for the work of mission and ministry in the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod.

The Associate Level, which begins its third cycle on Octt. 4, 2003, consists of courses basic to being a Lutheran mission leader. They include The Christian Faith, Old and New Testament Surveys, Worship, Proclaiming the Faith, and Pastoral Care. Learners completing this level will receive a certificate of Ministry Associate.

MTC will initiate training on the Specialist Level on September 20, 2003. This level is for those who are seeking to serve as church workers in a more focused capacity. This year, the following courses will be offered: Interpreting the Bible in Translation, Teaching the Faith, Leadership in a Missionary Age, Early Church History, American Church History and Proclaiming the Faith. A three-day seminar, The Divine Drama, will be offered each June on this level. Two tracks of Ministry Specialist are currently offered. One is in Missiology and the other is foundational for Seminary training. In the future, more variety will be offered on the Specialist level, as other specialties are added. Currently specialties of Youth Director, Teacher Colloquy, Family Life Ministry, and Immigrant Missionary are also under consideration. A certificate for Ministry Specialist will be awarded to those completing 10 MTC courses.

The other track is designed as an alternate route to ordination program. Here, 20 additional courses required by the Seminaries would certify a male candidate through a revised Distance Education Leading To Ordination (DELTO) program now under redevelopment in the LCMS. 10 courses of the MTC have been approved by the Seminaries as the first third of the courses required for the new DELTO program.

Other more advanced courses will be available through the MTC for those who pursue their ministry specialties to a professional outcome. Currently there are two tracks available, though others will follow. The Missionary Track will include courses, seminars and mentored experiences designed to equip a candidate for a professional calling as missionary or mission field developer. Those completing this track will be certified by their districts as Missionaries. They will also have completed the college requirements for a major, which together with transfer credits and/or basic liberal arts courses will earn an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia, NY. Students who have completed the second level are now working with the Concordia faculty on their degree completion programs.