Planned Giving Gift Summary - Lutheran Church-Canada

G. 53
� Two-year MA (Biblical and Christian Studies) Graduate: a minimum of 30 credits, including a 12 credit
thesis, in one of three concentrations: Old Testament, New Testament, Christian History /Doctrine
These programs offer options to students in order to provide Liberal Arts education, with the specific focus of
Religious (Christian) Studies. They also provide the necessary courses to meet the colloquy requirements for
Lutheran Teachers and the general pre-seminary courses necessary for pre-seminary preparation (e.g. Greek/
Hebrew/Latin)
At an early stage in its work, the Task Force realized while its mandate, strictly speaking, was to focus on cost
efficient sustainable seminary education and thus on the two seminaries of the church body, the potential of closer
association between the university college and the seminaries was a subject worthy of attention. This initial
investigative direction was confirmed by a number of submissions to the Task Force that called for a closer working
relationship between the seminaries and CUCA.
To explore this option further, the Task Force asked Dr. Gerald Krispin, president of CUCA, to advise the Task
Force on the possibilities for integration of seminary education into its mission. We are thankful Dr. Krispin was
amenable to this request.
In broad strokes, the proposal as submitted for the integration of the seminary education into the program of CUCA
would see seminarians complete their university course work at CUCA and at the same time be enrolled in the
seminary in a program that leads to a degree from the former and certification (via a diploma) from the latter. The
university component would focus primarily on “academics” while the seminary would work to inculcate orthodoxy
in doctrine, preaching, teaching, and practice. While new to LCC, such a model is not original. Our sister synod in
Germany uses a similar model and here in Canada both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church have a
university component of pastoral education which is concurrent with seminary formation.
However, while there would be greater connection between the university college and the seminary, the seminary
would retain its ecclesial identity due to its explicitly pastoral focus, and would have its own Board of Regents that
oversees its mission and vision and ensures the calling of orthodox and confessional faculty members.
Consequently, seminary faculty would be deemed adjunct professors of the university, and be on its payroll as well
as advisory members of the Religious Studies Division. Conceivably, three full-time permanent individuals,
supplemented by some sessional instructors, would be required on the seminary faculty to execute the practicum
component and to oversee pastoral formation. Furthermore, the Board of Regents of the seminary would appoint a
maximum of two advisory members to the Board of Governors of the University to maintain not only the seminary’s
interests, but further strengthen the ecclesiastical bond of the university with Lutheran Church–Canada.
To be sure there are a number of attractive aspects to this alternative. These include such things as greater
cooperation between seminarians and students training for service in the diaconate and interaction with a greater
number and diversity of faculty than is possible at present. At the same time, a student would also benefit from the
mission and service opportunities at CUCA, including the annual mission trips, work at the various ministries in the
Edmonton area, and engagement in the university chapel.
However, despite these potential advantages, there are also significant cautions, not the least of which are the
financial implications arising from such a merger. CUCA is itself struggling to maintain its fiscal integrity. Recent
and proposed future increases in the costs of the Synodical worker benefit plans have had a dramatic impact on the
university college’s bottom line (it is the largest employer in the Synod) and these costs will continue to be a
challenge. In addition CUCA is in the process of redefining its relationship with Concordia High School and seeking
ways to address the $266,000 accumulated operating debt of that area of its operation. Over the past few years
staffing cutbacks have been made at the university college and further staff reductions appear to be on the horizon.
Simply put, CUCA is not in position at this time to assume any increased debt relating to theological education.
Cost estimates provided to the Task Force from the University College indicate at minimum, CUCA would need to
receive $325,000 from the Synod to operate the present CLS alone as a formation centre for applied theological
education and certification. As noted previously the Synod anticipates in the near future the total amount of money
available for seminary training will be around $308,000. It is also expected combining the CLS program with CUCA