e-mail: admission@ctsfw.edu

 

"Jesus therefore said to them again, 'Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained." John 20:21-23

It is exciting, and perhaps a bit overwhelming, to contemplate coming to the seminary. However one quickly adjusts, and soon the seminary environment becomes home. After a short time the seminarian is called away from home and into "fields white for harvest." That field might be literal, in a small town in the middle of farm fields somewhere in the Midwest. Or it could be in the inner city, where a field can only be seen in the figurative sense. Or perhaps it might be in a far away country, where the fields are a different color and speak a much different language. Wherever one is sent (which is the meaning of the word mission), the Call is certain to be initially overwhelming, just as it was for the disciples.

Following Jesus' death the disciples were afraid and uncertain of their future. This is how seminarians frequently feel. I remember my first Call to the inner city of Chicago; the euphoria soon gave way to reality and a recognition that the task that awaited me was far beyond my abilities. How much more for the disciples? They would soon be called to be Christ's witnesses in "Jerusalem, and Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." Talk about being in over your head. But the resurrected Lord came and stood among them, and gave them His peace. And then He commissioned them, called them, and equipped them with the Holy Spirit. They would not be alone. He granted them the Office of the Keys, that peculiar church function by which Christ remits the sins of those who are penitent, and retains the sins of those who are not. This was not something that just anyone and everyone could do; this was reserved for the "Called and ordained servants of the Word." The disciples were the first to occupy the pastoral office but certainly not the last. Their primary role was to administer Christ's Word and Sacraments according to His bidding and to be faithful even unto death. Though we are separated by centuries, it is the same Call that He gives men today as they enter into the Holy Ministry: to faithfully preach His Word and administer His life-giving Sacraments in a world that is dying in sin.

How easy, and tempting, it is to lose sight of this. The Rev. Carl Schlutz once related the following to a young seminarian: "When I was first in the ministry, my goal was to save the world. After a number of years I decided to be content to save the people in the city where I was serving. After more time elapsed in my ministry, I changed my focus on saving the people in my congregation. Finally, toward the end of my ministry, I realized that I didn't need to save anyone, for they have a Savior, Jesus Christ, and it was up to HIM to do the saving. I was simply his tool." Pastor Schlutz, whom the Lord has now called to glory, was a very wise man and a very faithful pastor. We would all do well to heed his words.

We live in a success-oriented society, one in which numerical growth, power, personal prestige, and popularity are the bottom line. When pastors leave the seminary, we are prone to buy into this type of thinking. Far too many pastors are more concerned with feeding their egos than with crucifying them. As a result, we place the emphasis on what WE are doing, where WE are doing it, and how WE can get it done. This results either in disappointment when OUR expectations aren't met, in which case we place our name on a Call list, convincing ourselves that our work is finished; or it creates a false sense of satisfaction with ourselves and pride (albeit cloaked in sanctified "Jesus talk") in what we have accomplished for the sake of the kingdom.

Christ does not call us to success, nor to making the mission (whatever that may mean) our primary mission. He calls us to feed His sheep, to faithfully proclaim His saving Gospel of Word and Sacrament, to sow seeds of salvation, and allow the Holy Spirit to grant growth if, when, and where He chooses. This was the Call of those first pastors, and it remains the primary calling and purpose for the pastoral ministry today.

Throughout my various recruiting and counseling correspondences with many women the young and mature alike continuously ask me, "Deaconess DeGroot, what does it take to be a good deaconess?" This is a very good question, and yet sometimes the hardest to answer briefly. In my finite wisdom, I often times construct practical, biblical guides for these women to contemplate. The following are examples of open-ended questions that I put back into a prospective student's court to ponder:

"What do you think the similarities and differences are between graduate level work and deaconess formation?"
"How well do you handle stress? What are your outlets and hobbies?"
"What is your understanding of marriage and sexual propriety?"
"What do you understand about women's service in the Church?"
"What do you believe is appropriate behavior in the seminary community, an internship, or parish setting?"
"What is your communication style and how is that received among peers?"
"What are some areas of personal growth you desire and need?"
"How often do you exercise?"
"What is your idea of temperance?"
"Who do you turn to for support and guidance? Do you have a pastor you will stay in contact with during seminary? If no, please ask to have one assigned."
"Do you have any doctrinal contentions with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod?"
"Do you have a history of any chronic illnesses (physical, mental, emotional)? If yes, how have you been managing it, and how will you continue to manage it throughout seminary, internship, and placement?"

The list invariably goes on. Not completely written off the cuff, those questions are certainly based on the biblical principles that St. Paul discussed in the qualifications of overseer and deacon (I Timothy 3) "Let them be tested." Since deaconesses in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have unique leadership roles and responsibilities within the Church, how they are viewed both behaviorally and theologically is quite important too. These questions need be asked, and prospective students do well to think them through.

However, those queries are just the beginning of what we impart to our prospective students. Are any of you thinking at this point, "If I just come up with the right, biblical answers to these questions and demonstrate them in word and deed, then I will be a good deaconess"? Well, you'd be partly right. But lest we be so myopic and think that the Gospel has everything to do with us and our deeds, we'd all be fooling ourselves! We would certainly not last as Christians, never mind deaconesses, with that understanding.

No, as we contemplate deaconess formation and seminary, it is important to initially and simultaneously digest God's Word for ourselves. Psalm 77:12 says "I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds." The Psalter is not talking about any old person or hero but about our Almighty God's work and His deeds. Moreover, it is the Old Testament covenant with God's people pointing toward the Gospel, the salvific work of Christ crucified on the cross for the world, and Jesus conquering sin, death, and the devil. This is the thing most needful for our lives and souls in order to proclaim it to the world. The Psalter knew it then, and we know it now, as it is revealed by the Holy Spirit in Scripture.

The original question, "What does it take?" is better articulated, "WHO does it take to be a deaconess, or pastor, or Christian?" And the simple answer for all three is Jesus. Jesus, the Word made flesh, binds Himself to us in the waters of Holy Baptism, gives of Himself in His Supper, and beckons men and women forth to be servants (diakonos) of His Church. This Word, Jesus, promises to edify our bodies and souls and help us conduct ourselves in His righteousness. His Word enables us to "give up childish ways" to serve God and neighbor, pointing all to feast on the faith, hope, and love that abides in, with, and under Christ Jesus alone. It doesn't take us at all to be a good deaconess or Christian. But we are partakers of Him in order to share the Gospel and demonstrate His mercy rightly as deaconesses.

Jesus gives us everything: salvation, life everlasting, forgiveness of sins and Himself. Jesus is what it takes to be a true servant, formed to teach the faithful, reach the lost, and care for all. Women contemplating this service, won't you partake?