The Ad Hoc Commission was authorized by the 2007 synod convention to analyze the way the synod works and to propose comprehensive, long-term strategies to help the synod carry out its mission. Forward in Christ sat down with commission member Danny Wehmeyer to find out about the Ministry Direction committee’s recommendations about called worker education and a synodwide doctrinal study.

Question – What were the main thoughts about continuing education for called workers?

Answer – We realize that as wonderful as our education is at the college and seminary level, they don’t teach you everything you need to get through life. They teach you enough to get out there and get going. So instead of just saying everyone needs continuing education, let’s give them a framework to work in. It’s meant more to encourage—not to enforce. To say, “Look, it’s a good thing to do continuing education.”

Question – Is this thought different than what was thought in the past?

Answer – I don’t think this is new, but I do think it’s keeping it in front of people. The college and the seminary have been doing forms of continuing education for a long time. I just think they could be better utilized. Also, it’s not just a matter of going to Summer Quarter or going back to Martin Luther College. You can go downtown and take a career course in time management or administrative skills or other things that you need.

Question – What about the cost of ministerial education?

Answer – There is concern that each year as our students graduate either from MLC or the seminary, their debt is more and more . . . Part of this is just because the cost of education has gotten higher. We’re saying, if you’re frugal, you work hard, you have a job, and you’re still coming out with a big debt, then we as a church body want to make it a priority to help you.

Question – Is the idea to keep tuition lower or provide more scholarships?

Answer – All of the above. It’s a mixture of scholarships but also fellowships at the seminary for guys who have special gifts in music or whatever. We didn’t want to limit.
We also looked in terms of if we can reduce the overall tuition or cost. The discussion was: Is it better to cut it up front or to say we will give you rebates for each year that you are in the ministry? There was not full agreement in the Ad Hoc Commission on how to do this. We’re going to let the voters decide.

Question – So what exactly is the synodwide study?