Concordia TheoBLOGical Seminary

You are at the point where you are fairly certain you want to become a pastor. You’re a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, so that leaves you with two options as far as seminary is concerned: Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO and Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. The names are very similar, but you’re way too sophisticated by now to be confused by that.

So how do you know which seminary to attend? First you have to deal with all the prejudices. Your pastor came from Seminary X and he thinks that Seminary X is the best seminary ever on planet earth and he thinks that all the good pastors come from Seminary X and every one that comes from Seminary Y is the pits. The thing is that your uncle went to Seminary Y and he’s not the pits. And your college roommate’s lab partner’s best-friend’s brother-in-law knows a guy who went to Seminary Y and he’s a terrific pastor. Or maybe you read a killer article in The Lutheran Witness by some pastor in Podunk, Guam and you Googled him and it turns our he went to Seminary X like your home pastor but then he did a doctorate at the “other” seminary so now you’re really mixed up.

Let me give you some advice. Certainly, collecting the recommendations of pastors, friends, classmates, and family members is wise. Listen to those wiser heads. But when push comes to shove, you want to make a choice based on your own research and experience. Let’s be honest. Opinions are often based on old news, half truths, personal whims and clouded memories.

The number one suggestion that I can give is this: GO VISIT. Actually setting foot onto a seminary campus is the best thing you can do if you need clarity. Sit in on classes, attend chapel, mix and mingle with the current students, get to know the faculty.

Before you visit, do your research. Look at the seminary website (ours is www.ctsfw.edu) and read up on the professors and their accomplishments. Find out a little bit about what’s happening in the here-and-now. Talk to people, but talk to a wide variety of people.

First, let’s agree that both LCMS seminaries are excellent institutions with many relative strengths and weaknesses. Now begin to weigh those strengths and weaknesses from your own particular perspective. Investigate things such as cost-of-living in that area, especially if you are married with kids.

A seminary is like a person in the sense that it has its own unique personality. What is the personality of each seminary like? Is it friendly and approachable? Is it haughty and stuffy? Is it energetic or apathetic? Of course, your impressions might differ from the guy standing next to you. These are sometimes subjective considerations, but they are important nonetheless.

Check the course of study. How does the seminary form pastors? What is the approach? How do the academics, field experiences, worship and social times work together?

You, by God’s grace, are planning to become a pastor! That is terrific news! The angels rejoice because they know that you will bear the message of life to save many souls. You will enroll at one or the other of the LCMS seminaries. Visit and investigate. You won’t regret it.