Affiliation for Diaconal Ministry

Steps in Affiliation for Diaconal Ministry

• Obtain entrance to candidacy from your synod candidacy committee. 
• Apply for admission (affiliated) through the Office of Admissions and submit the $500 affiliation fee and entrance approval documents during your first term of studies at the non-ELCA seminary. 
• Upon meeting admission requirements, receive MA-affiliated status from Luther and be assigned a faculty advisor. 
• Visit Luther Seminary for an Affiliation Consultation. 
• Attend Diaconal Ministry Formation Event 
• Participate in 40 hours of supervised Spiritual Direction
• Make plans with the Contextual Learning office regarding supervised field experience and diaconal ministry project. 
• Present plan for completion of theological education requirements, field experience and diaconal ministry project to candidacy committee as part of endorsement interview (or earlier if applicable) 
• Participate in field experience. (Students must be endorsed by the candidacy committee prior to beginning field experience.) 
• Complete academic requirements. 
• Complete faculty and synod approval and assignment for first call.

The ordering of these steps may change based on individual circumstances and plans for completing diaconal ministry requirements.

It is the responsibility of the candidate to maintain ongoing contact with Luther, initiating contact with appropriate faculty and staff to fulfill the candidacy requirements.

Affiliation is expected to take place within the candidate’s first term of study at the non-ELCA seminary. Affiliation and admission to the seminary is based on the admission requirements of the MA program of the seminary. Your affiliation requires continued good academic standing at your primary seminary and continued progress with ELCA candidacy. The ELCA Education and Vocation Unit has determined that an affiliation fee of $500 to be paid to the ELCA Seminary at the time of application for affiliation. Other tuition and fees are outlined in the Luther Seminary catalog and are applied after the candidate is enrolled at Luther.

Affiliation Consultation

The purpose of this meeting is for affiliated students to have the chance to visit Luther’s campus and begin to make the contacts that will be essential to a successful field experience and completion of theological education requirements. The hope is that this consultation will provide a plan for completing degree and candidacy requirement with the greatest efficiency possible. Several meetings will take place during this consultation:

• Meet faculty advisor 
• Meet with admissions personnel  
• Meet with ELCA candidacy coordinator for details about candidacy expectations 
• Meet with staff from the Contextual Learning office to begin preliminary plans for field experience 
• Meet with advisor and either the Registrar or Associate Dean for Specialized Ministry to determine a recommended course of study at both seminaries (to be approved by the candidacy committee at endorsement) 
• Meet with personnel in Financial Aid Office (if applicable) 
• Tour campus and answer any other questions you might have about Luther or our community

Course Model for completing core Theological Education requirements for Diaconal Ministry

Old Testament Foundation
OT 1110                   Pentateuch
OT2110-OT2119        Prophets
OT3110-OT3117        Psalms and Wisdom Literature

New Testament Foundation
NT1210-NT1213         Synoptic Gospels
NT2210-NT2218         Pauline Tradition

Church History Foundation
HC1310             Church History from the New Testament to the Present

Church Doctrine Foundation / Systematic Theology
ST1410              Overview of Christian Teaching

Ethics
ST2420                         Ethics I
ST3420-ST3433             Ethics II

Lutheran Confessions
IC2620      Lutheran Confessional Writings

Church in Society
a number of courses are possibilities for completing this requirement including classes from the following Curricula areas:

CC        Cross Cultural
CL        Congregational Leadership
CM       Christian Mission and World Religions
CY        Children, Youth and Family Ministry
IC         Interpreting and Confessing
LD        Leadership for Mission
RM       Rural Ministry
UM       Urban Ministry