Seminary education still a “lively concern”

WINNIPEG – Stakeholders in the deliberations and findings of LCC’s Task Force on Cost-efficient, Sustainable, Seminary Education can avoid an adversarial process by participating in “regular, candid discussions,” says the group’s chairman.

“Even if the final recommendations of the task force do not meet with universal acclaim, it is important that the various parties to the discussion are given every opportunity to have their concerns heard and considered,” said Pastor Nolan Astley, task force chairman, in a report for The Canadian Lutheran.

The task force met during the fall and held several conference calls. It has also received and considered responses from three district conventions, as well as the seminaries.

The deadline for other submissions has passed.

A face-to-face meeting in January 2010 will focus on what Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) expects and requires from its seminaries.

A recent meeting of LCC’s Advisory Council on higher education included Pastor Astley. The Advisory Council includes presidents of the education institutions, the synod’s president and a representative from the board of directors.

The task force chairman thanked all those who have taken time to prepare submissions.

“It is obvious that seminary education remains a lively concern within the synod,” he said.

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