Lutheran Denominations

TheScott · Mar 2, 2009

Hi all,

I am currently an LCMS lutheran, but I am trying to enter seminary and become a pastor. My problem is, my wife is strongly Roman Catholic, and this precludes me from entering either of the LCMS seminaries. I was looking at some of the smaller Lutheran groups that could take me. They have to be accepting of my wife and non-ELCA. So far I have been looking into AFLC and LCMC. Any advice on this?

Thanks

DaRev · Mar 2, 2009

TheScott said:
Hi all,

I am currently an LCMS lutheran, but I am trying to enter seminary and become a pastor. My problem is, my wife is strongly Roman Catholic, and this precludes me from entering either of the LCMS seminaries. I was looking at some of the smaller Lutheran groups that could take me. They have to be accepting of my wife and non-ELCA. So far I have been looking into AFLC and LCMC. Any advice on this?

Thanks

You are going to have a problem wherever you go. Even if a seminary takes you, you will have a problem getting a congregation to call you.

Does your wife have a strong objection to looking into the Lutheran Church?

filosofer · Mar 2, 2009

TheScott said:
Hi all,

I am currently an LCMS lutheran, but I am trying to enter seminary and become a pastor. My problem is, my wife is strongly Roman Catholic, and this precludes me from entering either of the LCMS seminaries. I was looking at some of the smaller Lutheran groups that could take me. They have to be accepting of my wife and non-ELCA. So far I have been looking into AFLC and LCMC. Any advice on this?

Thanks

Howdy. And welcome.

Just to note, LCMC still accepts womens ordination, so you would still see a lot of ELCA teaching/leanings.

AFLC tends to be minimalistic regarding acceptance of the Lutheran Confessions (three ecumenical creeds, Augsburg Confession, and Luther's Small Catechism).

BigNorsk · Mar 3, 2009

There would be the possibility of independant congregations calling you. I think it would also be possible for the Free Lutheran or Lutheran Brethren.

It goes back to the congregation is the church and if they call you, there is no synod that is in a position to say they can't.

Your wife wouldn't be a positive, but then a lot of congregations, with all the working wives, have gotten away from the attitude that the wife is an unpaid full time employee.

So it's possible. It likely would mean you wouldn't get the "best" positions. Might be 3 small congregations at the same time for instance, but there's still enough of a shortage, that if you are solid, your wife is not insurmountable.

If you could stand a bunch of low church people you can contact the seminary and get a definitive answer http://www.lbs.edu/

Mr. Boe is the Dean, probably the one I'd say to speak to and the Systematics professor. He's a graduate of both Concordia in Ft Wayne and Conordia in St. Louis.

You can email him at eboe@lbs.edu

He might recommend speaking with someone else, but I think he can probably answer your questions and would be well versed in any differences between the LCMS and Lutheran Brethren, so that's why I'd say to talk to him if you are interested.

Marv

MarkRohfrietsch · Mar 3, 2009

I don't know if this still holds true, but I know of one LCC Pastor who's wife was Presbyterian (she became Lutheran eventually; after her husband was called to his second congregation). He attended Concordia in St. Catherine's Ontario. LCC is in full fellowship with LCMS.

Aibrean · Mar 5, 2009

That sounds like trouble. Stick with your beliefs first and foremost. If you pick a synod, pick it to fit your theological standards, not whether your wife will "fit in".

DaRev · Mar 5, 2009

This may sound harsh, but as a Pastor you will be expected to manage your own family as per 1 Timothy 3:5, "But if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?" This includes ones wife being in submission to her husband as the head of the household as Christ is the Head of the Church. This is an issue that you would need to work out within your own household before proceeding to enter the ministry, regardless of synod.

LutheranHawkeye · Mar 5, 2009

TheScott said:
Hi all,

I am currently an LCMS lutheran, but I am trying to enter seminary and become a pastor. My problem is, my wife is strongly Roman Catholic, and this precludes me from entering either of the LCMS seminaries. I was looking at some of the smaller Lutheran groups that could take me. They have to be accepting of my wife and non-ELCA. So far I have been looking into AFLC and LCMC. Any advice on this?

Thanks

Uh Oh...this isn't good for me. I've never had a Lutheran girlfriend...ever. I mean I think I have good taste in women. So does this mean from now on don't date girls that are devoutly another religion because if marriage does eventually happen the St. Louis and Ft. Wayne Seminaries won't allow me to become ordained?

LutheranHawkeye · Mar 5, 2009

Oh and it seems it would be more drastic to leave the LCMS altogether than to help properly catechize your wife.

filosofer · Mar 5, 2009

The rule used to be that she had to be catechized by the time of vicarage.

That was shortly after fire was discovered.

wildboar · Mar 5, 2009

I left the Reformed churches for Lutheranism about a year and a half ago. At the time I pursuing the ministry in the URC. I left the URC for the LCMS but my wife did not. So at least at this point I've laid aside any possibility of going to any seminary. It was quite a nightmare when I was in the URC and trying to pursue the ministry. I felt like I was dealing with church politics various elders of the church expected completely opposite things of me. I thank the Lord that I have not yet had to deal with any real politics in the Lutheran church (probably at least in part because I'm not pursuing the ministry) but I would imagine that most ministers have to to some degree and it can get ugly. I would hate to be in such a situation without the full support of my wife. I know it's hard but I would strongly encourage you to set aside the pursuit of the ministry until you and your wife are on the same confessional boat. Pastoral life causes enough stress on a marriage as it is.

RadMan · Mar 5, 2009

LutheranHawkeye said:
Oh and it seems it would be more drastic to leave the LCMS altogether than to help properly catechize your wife.

Marrying someone of another denom is not a challenge as some people might surmise but------it definitely can be a point of serious dissension. I've heard people say that it can be a challenge and help shore up their beliefs. Don't believe it. Today we are being assulted on every front from society. We don't need another free radical thrown in to challenge us. I went through a marriage that should have, for all practical purposes, been a "sho-in". Even the distictions between the libs and conservatives in the LCMS caused an irreparible rift in my last marriage. Some people say there might have been other problems that cause the problem but in the long run it was differences in basic Christian beliefs.

Again I say it's not a challenge but a sever point of contention.

DaRev · Mar 5, 2009

filosofer said:
The rule used to be that she had to be catechized by the time of vicarage.

That still is the case. If a married seminarian's wife is not a member of an LCMS congregation, he will not receive a vicarage call. I think the sems discourage admission until such is the case because the student wouldn't be able to proceed into his vicarage year otherwise.

LutheranHawkeye said:
Uh Oh...this isn't good for me. I've never had a Lutheran girlfriend...ever. I mean I think I have good taste in women. So does this mean from now on don't date girls that are devoutly another religion because if marriage does eventually happen the St. Louis and Ft. Wayne Seminaries won't allow me to become ordained?

You can date all the heterodox girls you want. Just if you get married, she needs to convert.

LutheranHawkeye · Mar 6, 2009

Haha I didn't expect to laugh from this thread...thanks Rev!

DaRev · Mar 6, 2009

LutheranHawkeye said:
Haha I didn't expect to laugh from this thread...thanks Rev!

Glad I could help.

doulos_tou_kuriou · Apr 27, 2009

wildboar said:
I left the Reformed churches for Lutheranism about a year and a half ago. At the time I pursuing the ministry in the URC. I left the URC for the LCMS but my wife did not. So at least at this point I've laid aside any possibility of going to any seminary. It was quite a nightmare when I was in the URC and trying to pursue the ministry. I felt like I was dealing with church politics various elders of the church expected completely opposite things of me. I thank the Lord that I have not yet had to deal with any real politics in the Lutheran church (probably at least in part because I'm not pursuing the ministry) but I would imagine that most ministers have to to some degree and it can get ugly. I would hate to be in such a situation without the full support of my wife. I know it's hard but I would strongly encourage you to set aside the pursuit of the ministry until you and your wife are on the same confessional boat. Pastoral life causes enough stress on a marriage as it is.

My wife is from the URC too! It is interesting to find someone else connected to that body, since it is somewhat small.
The LCMS council of Presidents had made the rule (which used to be more unofficial) official several years ago saying that any wife not in the LCMS or a church in fellowship would not be ordained. It used to be possible to get around this but now that it is an official rule your wife really has to be Lutheran if you ever plan on seminary. Blessings on whatever path you and your family choose.

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