“There’s nothing I dislike about being president of Michigan Lutheran Seminary,” says Paul Prange, the school’s current president. “I especially love the student interaction, both inside and outside of the classroom. Watching young people realize how the gospel applies to their lives is a daily thrill.”

With that in mind, it’s not hard to understand why Prange returned the call to serve as Board for Ministerial Education (BME) administrator when it was first extended to him in October 2008. In addition, Prange says, “When I received the call last fall, there were some areas of Michigan Lutheran Seminary that I thought still needed attention from me, especially recruitment and mission advancement. In the passing months, those things have become more stable and secure. During those same months, the synod budgeting process became more urgent.” That led Prange to accept the BME’s second call to be its administrator, filling a position that was vacant since August 2008 when its former administrator, Pastor Peter Kruschel, transitioned into his new call as a home mission counselor.

Prange began his work as BME administrator in March, although he will also serve as president of Michigan Lutheran Seminary until the end of this school year. As BME administrator, Prange coordinates the work of the four schools that prepare WELS called workers—Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon; Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis.; and Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw.

God has blessed Prange with many gifts that will serve him well in this new call. As Donald Sutton, BME chairman and pastor at St. Paul, New Ulm, Minn., says, “Paul Prange has a love for ministry, a passion for and experience in ministerial education, and a keen intellect. He also understands the WELS ministerial education system as well as anyone in our synod.”

These gifts will help Prange as he faces tough decisions in his first months as BME administrator. With the projected synod shortfall, all areas of ministry are reevaluating how they can serve God with fewer resources.

Regardless of shrinking budgets, Prange believes that “the congregations, schools, and missions of our synod need a steady supply of well-trained, reliable workers. Our ministerial education schools are our investment in the future of our church, and everyone in the synod has a stake in the success of our ministerial education schools.”