Tis the season! So, you know you are applying to seminary.  Now what?  Once the paperwork of the application is complete, isn’t that it?  Well, since many of you will be traveling home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, here are some tips on how best to prepare yourself and those closest to you [who will likely support you through seminary] so you do not lose focus…or tragically, your holiday appetites.

1. Talk with your pastor. Ask for his guidance and prayer before, during and after acceptance into seminary.   Remember, he was there. His insights and encouragements are valuable.
   
2. Prepare your home congregation. Talk with members, and maybe even attend a council meeting to prepare them for your enrollment.  Remember, financial support will be asked of your home congregation, so the earlier you can prepare your church for this in their budget, the better.
3. Show your family and friends the course catalog. [For those relatives who might be interested], the catalog gives a very nice layout of what you will be studying and training. Discuss with them your vocational goals, and fears…and ask them for their support.
   
4. Keep in touch with your Admissions Counselor. He/She wants you to be confident about your choice to attend seminary, and we know there can be various hills and valleys en route to that proverbial destination.  Allow them to counsel, pray for and direct you in your situations.  Remember, each Admissions Counselor was where you were, too.
5. Moving preparations. If you are renting, you will want to give your landlord at least 60 days notice of your leaving. This will all depend on when you can start classes (Summer/Fall). Similarly, if you own a home, putting it on the market or finding renters could be best accomplished sooner rather than later-since the state of the housing market is so turbulent.  Otherwise, moving is “simply” a matter of deciding what you will be able to bring, or need to liquidate, in order to live comfortably in a residence hall room (if single) or in a home/apartment in Fort Wayne (if married). Houses or apartments in Fort Wayne can be found on this website, but there are more websites, too. Please ask our Relocation Coordinator, Marsha Zimmerman, if you need those. marsha.zimmerman@ctsfw.edu
6. Personal Prayer! Uncertainty abounds in making major life changes.  However, our certainty and comfort always comes from Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.  Calling on him in both times of need and thanksgiving offers us the assurance of our Lord’s unchanging love, care and protection for us.
7. Reading. Along with your regular Scripture readings, these are additionally helpful in seminary preparations. “Why I am a Lutheran” by Robert Preus.  “Pastoral Care under the Cross” by Richard Eyer, and “Life Together” by Dietrich Bonheoffer.  More extensive reading lists will be sent post-acceptance into seminary.
8. Word and Sacrament. While this goes for all Christians, it is important that future seminarians and deaconess students receive God’s good and gracious gifts on a regular basis, in preparation for enrollment.  This is part and parcel of the seminary’s worship life.  God’s Word and His Sacraments benefit and reassure us of eternal life, salvation and the forgiveness of our sins; the very Means that God may call you future pastors to be stewards of, and you future deaconesses to point the lost to.

Applying for seminary is not simple paperwork, or a phone call from the Admissions Department giving applicants the “green light” to come.  Formation as a servant of the Word, and a servant of Mercy begins with the very unique relationship that God has formed with each of us at our Baptisms.  Our desire to serve God does not inherently come from ourselves, but from the good and perfect work God has done in Christ Jesus. Prepare yourself with humility and hope that you will learn and know what it means to be a confessor of Christ-crucified. Seminary is an invaluable step in shaping each student to be like our Lord; giving them a solid foundation on which to stand so they may be sent out to reach, teach and care for all.

After all, God gives us the various people mentioned in the above list to reach, teach and care for us. While it is a comfort to know that we are temporarily not alone in our situations, ultimately we have been given a Savior that assures us of our eternal communion with He, the angels, archangels, and and all the company of Saints.  We are truly never alone because Jesus applied Himself on our sinful behalf- thanks be to God!

Perhaps you have had a sleepless night or two, and a thought that keeps coming into your head.  And you say to yourself,  “Maybe, I could be a pastor.  Maybe, that’s what I was meant to do.  But, how do I know if I’m called?”

I think of young Samuel.  As you may recall, Samuel was lying down in the temple, when he heard a voice calling his name. (1 Samuel 3) Thinking it was Eli, he ran to the priest.  But Eli said that he had not called Samuel, and told him to go back to bed.  Again, Samuel heard a voice calling out his name, and again he ran to the priest.  Sensing what was going on, Eli advised, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So, Samuel went back to bed, and heard the Lord calling,  “Samuel, Samuel.”  At which point, Samuel answered, “Speak for your servant hears.”

Well, that’s all well and good, you say.  But, the voice in your head is a thought not a sound.   So, you remain restless, and wondering, “Is the Lord calling me?” If only there was someone like Eli who could help me out!”

Now, unless you’re some raving egomaniac, you’ll probably have some self-doubts.  Moses was worried he wouldn’t be a good enough speaker.   Isaiah thought of himself as too great a sinner to stand in the presence of the holy Lord, much less serve as his spokesman and prophet.  And bold, brash Peter, upon being called, cried out, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8)
Who among us is better educated than Moses?  And, will I even be able to pass Greek?  And who among us is more holy than Isaiah or Peter?   Indeed, none of us is truly worthy to be a pastor. And, it seems only right that we say, “No, I can’t do it.  Better men are needed.”

Perhaps, though, you do have an Eli, someone who can see your potential.  That Eli might be another member of your church, or perhaps, your pastor.  And your pastor might be saying, “Have you ever considered becoming a Pastor?”  Or, “You know what, I think you’d be a good preacher.”  Or, “I think you have what it takes.” If you have doubts, if you are wondering, give your pastor a call.  As is very often the case, others often have a better perspective on us, than we do ourselves.  And, if others confirm what you suspect, then you’re probably on the right track.

And, one last thing to consider.  There are many folks like Jonah, who come to the seminary only after many years of wondering.  After many sleepless nights.  If you think the Lord is calling you, and your pastor agrees, then he probably is.  And, frankly, life’s short.  The harvest is great and the workers are few.  So, yes, admit that you are unworthy of the office.  But, then, be bold in answering the Lord’s call.  For it is through unworthy servants that his gospel is preached, and people are brought into life and salvation.

Dr. Peter Scaer

Someone at church told you that you’d make a good pastor.  You find that you enjoy volunteering at the church.  The church youth group (or bible class or men’s club or evangelism committee) responds well to your leadership.

Not many of us get a burning bush in the desert telling us, like Moses, to be God’s spokesmen.  But the above examples are good indications that you’d be well suited for the pastoral office.

So now you’re more than interested.  The idea of becoming a pastor is on your mind every day.  Naturally, you are worried about how you’ll support your family if you go back to school.  You wife is supportive but cautious.  The kids don’t want to move.  Self doubt roars in the background.

All of that is common and natural.  Jesus never promised that your life on earth would be easy.  And if the easy life is what you seek, you should definitely not become a pastor.  If you are not willing to lose everything, including your family, don’t become a pastor.  If you are not willing to be ruined, humiliated, tortured and killed, then do something else.  Obviously, most pastors don’t face those extremes of persecution but the willingness is all.  Die to the world.

If you’ve now been sobered and are still reading this post, then you should definitely take the next step.  Every long journey begins with those first few tippey toes.  What is your next step?  For some of you, the next step is to phone my office (800-481-2155).  For others, the next step is to pay a campus visit.  But for many of you who have already talked to us and have been to the campus, now is the time to fill out the application.  Go here to download an application form.  Fill it out and send it to me today.  You don’t know what tomorrow may hold.  Do it TODAY!

If you think that you could be at the seminary in fall 2009 or 2010, then RIGHT NOW is the best time to apply.