... and thanks for visiting our site. Its goal is to assist in the development of pastors for future service in pulpits of The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod. We hope you’ll find a commonality of God-pleasing thinking on this subject. The materials on this site will be useful for anyone wishing to make a single donation, as well as for a person aspiring to lead in the establishment of a coordinated, sustained effort to expand participation in the support of the cause in one or more congregations. We appreciate your interest. The life of the denomination is dependent upon such endeavors.

Once you have decided, to contribute directly to seminaries, please do the following:

A) If you intend to contribute directly to Concordia, St Louis, please check here ( Forms for St Louis will appear.).

1.. Enter planned periodic (or single) amount on Student Aid line.
2. "donation from" line, click box and choose one of three possibilities
3. "Donation Frequency" line, click box and choose one of three possibilities.
4. "Donation start date" , click box and choose one of three possibilities.
5. "Optional Area" enter information if contribution is in honor/memory of someone
6. Enter routing and account number if from checking or savings account; usual data if using credit/debit card. 7.. Click "Process donation".

B) If you intend to contribute directly to Concordia, Ft Wayne, please check here. (Forms for Ft Wayne will appear.) (On line payments accepted only by use of credit cards)

1.On Student Aid line, enter intended total amount for a year or other period.
2.Payment Information: Enter answers on all lines they relate to credit cards.
3. Fulfillment Options: check relevant circle.
4.Additional Information - this is optional.
5.In final frame, Student Aid line, repeat amount in item (1), above.

NOTE:
Both seminaries accept on-line payments by Thrivent's "Simply Giving" program which employs a paper application form. Some churches have forms available.

For convenience of LCMS members (and others) ready to initiate periodic payments (monthly or weekly) to seminaries, there is available on our website (www.gabrielmessengers.org) a procedure to accept payments drawing on one's checking or savings account also by using credit/debit card. The same features are provided in statements we have begun sending to some churches and individuals. Those members without access to a computer may make use of Thrivent's "Simply Giving" form. Churches are encouraged to have this form downloaded and available on paper in the church office. The completed form should be mailed to one of the seminary addresses given below.

To more fully attain the potential that the above procedure offers, it is desirable that a volunteer Gabriel Messenger be identified to take a lead role in presenting the proposition to a larger segment of a congregation's membership. In some cases the appropriate person may step forward upon the slightest introduction of the matter. In other congregations, it may be essential that the introductions be in greater depth. Thus a former officer of the body or, if necessary, a present staff member could call together a group of members for a general discussion of the daunting situation. For this a check list such as given later below may be used. In the ensuing discussion it is probable interest would build in many minds and a potential candidate would be identifiable.

Letter From the Presidents

Preface

This project emerged from a trial application of a rather simple concept. It was deemed necessary to inform LCMS members, in person concerning the financial plight of seminaries in trying to help seminarians cope with tuition. The informing should be done by members of the congregation who are designated Gabriel Messengers (GMs) It was reasoned that encouraging direct contributions at low threshold levels ($10.00 per month and up) would lead to substantial increases in total participation. Immediately the question surfaced, why have direct contributions become necessary? This was the signal some searching was needed for historical perspectives as a base for adequately handling such questions. The rest is history. You will see some of the results and recommendations on this website.

It is appropriate here to draw on an adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. The discussion which follows may be more comprehensively grasped if you first have a look at three charts: 1) The cost challenges facing students; 2) Major shifts in flow of work-at-large funds after reaching churches; and 3) drastic changes in the pattern of seminary income sources.

To observe these in sequence, click on the slides in order. To close each, click  "Back" on the menu bar.

Financial Woes Lead to Decline in Seminary Enrollments    

The two seminaries of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod {LCMS} are in serious financial distress. To adjust for resource limitations, the institutions have reduced their internal budgets. Some conditions for extending financial aid to seminarians have been made more restrictive which together have lessened the support from that promised at the outset of the program in the late 1990s. By the fifth year of that program, total new student enrollment had increased nearly 40 percent. But a significant effect of the financial distress has been a major decline in new student enrollments, back approximately to the level at the beginning of the program. In 2006, a total of 172 men graduated from the seminaries. This is considerably below the current rate of retirements from pulpits and prospects are that this rate will increase in the near future. Moreover, accumulated church vacancies stand at about 800, and at any given time approximately half of these have calls pending.

Synodical Support for Seminarians Declined Drastically

Several trends in LCMS entities’ receipts and allocations have contributed to the Synod’s present inability to support seminaries/seminarians. Particularly significant have been the increases in direct allocations to their ministries by Districts and churches. From 1989 to 2004, the two components combined increased about two-thirds ($40 million). Consequently, over the same period, receipts for Synod’s budget from church offerings (via Districts) dropped about one-third or $10 million. In 2004, Synod’s contributions covered about 1 percent of seminaries’ operating costs, compared with 30 percent two decades earlier, and much more than that in prior periods. In an attempt to compensate for declines in other income components, the seminaries expanded staff to solicit directly from individuals and churches.(See Slide 12)

Direct Financial Contributions to Seminaries Recommended

The lack of awareness by most LCMS members as to the magnitude and gravity of problems facing our seminaries and seminarians is a formidable problem in solicitations and in other efforts. In fact, if individuals on governing bodies of churches, Districts, and other entities were more fully aware of the implications of their decisions for seminaries/seminarians, perhaps the future for our supply of pastors would appear less troubling. Placing the problem in some perspective, promised tuition support for the two seminaries is equivalent to 1 percent of 2004 receipts by LCMS churches. The program presented below is designed to intensively disseminate relevant information within churches. This would entail volunteers, “Gabriel Messengers,” contacting members individually and/or in groups. WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN DO BETTER. Sustained efforts will be made to increase participation in directly supporting seminarians by giving $10.00 and up to moderate amounts (preferably monthly) directly to the seminaries. The apostle Paul said, the Macedonian churches’ overflowing joy “welled up in rich generosity… they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” (2 Corinthians 8: 1-3). 

We express our gratitude to individuals in the two seminaries and National Synod offices for responding so generously to requests for a variety of data. In some cases we asked for background on derivations and interpretations. Where possible, responses were patiently provided. We had anticipated including more downloadable items from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft Wayne.  But at closure for this edition none had arrived. This website will be revised at intervals.

Viewers who read the text components in sequence presented will notice some repetition on particular subjects. This was done to help give perspective for those who may choose to read just some segments.

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