Introduction

A major part of the knowledge base prompting development of an approach to help cover tuition for seminarians were anecdotal indications of extremely inadequate information among LCMS members regarding financial challenges facing seminaries and seminarians. To ascertain the accuracies of these indications and determine their frequency and magnitude of shortfalls, this Awareness Survey was designed and administered in the summer of 2004. Questionnaires were distributed to 118 (3%) randomly selected giving units of 10 LCMS churches of two Mid-Michigan circuits. 40% of questionnaires were returned.

Summary of Results

          1) There are about 6,000 LCMS churches in the United States. To what extent do you                 estimate pastoral vacancies exist?

              Of the 47 who responded, 24 (51%) indicated  “I don’t know.” Two responded in terms               of number of churches, 600 and 700, respectively (The actual was 900 or more). In               terms of percentages responses ranged 5% to 50% (The actual was about 15%).  But it               should be noted that many church pulpits reported  as vacant are permanently served by               a pastor with responsibilities for more than one congregation Judging from the               persistent level of the number of churches calling a pastor, the proportion of “active”               vacancies may be in the 8-10% area and in the aggregate, somewhat less than 900.

          2) In response to the question “Is the number of pastors eligible to retire increasing,                unchanged or decreasing?”

              Responses were, respectively, 68%, 2%  and 2%;28% answered “I don’t know.
              ”More  than three-quarters responded to the question with two-thirds expressing the               belief the proportion was increasing. There were ordination increases in the 1980s and               current age distributions of  pulpit  pastors suggest we are nearing, or at the threshold               of an increase in eligibilities for retirements.

          3) Are you aware that in the 1995 Triennial Convention, the Synod enacted a resolution                directing the Board of  Higher Education and the seminaries to cover full tuition for               seminarians and that implementation started in 1999? 

              Response: Yes, 17%; no, 83%.  
              For a long period through the 1960s, Synod coveredtotal costs of seminaries and no               tuition was charged.  From the early 1970s, the proportionate coverage by Synod               declined steadily and the policy change in 1995 was = followed by virtual complete               termination of support for seminaries by the start of the 2004-05 academic year The               seminary communities and persons linked to them were  the early ones to become               informed. Under the circumstances it is not a surprise that as many as 83 percent were               unaware in the summer of 2004.

          4)The seminaries receive funds from a number of entities as well as individuals. Of all               funds they receive, what proportion do you estimate are provided by Synod?

              No answer (15), 32%. Please see (Slide3) for range of answers by those who
              Responded.
  
              Answers to question #3, along with the wide range of replies to this one speak               convincingly as to the existence and magnitude of information deficit among LCMS               members regarding financial circumstances of the seminaries and seminarians. It is               especially significant that no one came close to the actual level (1%) for question               number 4 and that over one-third placed the percentage at 50% or higher .

          5) Have you heard of the Adopt-A-Student program in effect at
               Concordia Seminary, St Louis? 

              Response: yes, 32%; no, 68% This is one of the categories under which donors may               contribute toward support of seminarians’ tuition. Early each academic year the               seminary chooses students to correspond with individual donors. This has many               pleasing aspects to both parties, extending to ordination, installation and  beyond.

          6a) Have you  received  directly from a seminary or observed in a periodical or on                  internet, an invitation to contribute toward coverage of seminarians’ tuition?
                 Response: Yes, 32%; no, 68%.
 
          6b. If you answered yes, did you send a contribution?
                 Yes (4), 27%; no, (11) 73%. Those who answered “no” to 6(b) were asked their                   reasons for that reply. 
 
                 Responses: “We support many different Lutheran causes such as      education (a                  Concordia University), Lutheran World Relief, Wheat Ridge; Give at church to support a                  seminarian; “I am not sure why”; “Other charitable contributions and can not support                  as many as we would like.”;  “Not a priority:”; “Our church is planning new facilities, any                  church offerings are for that:”; “Did not know the person:”;  I did not think about it too                  much and there are a lot of organizations requesting funds:”;  “Financial status at                  home.”; “Did not  think about it after being asked or put it off because short of cash at                  the  time”.