Purpose:
The Lutheran Servanthood School (LSS) is an educational program whose chief purpose is to assist in the training of qualified lay people to serve as a lay deacon or lay deaconess in their home congregations. Upon completion of the curriculum, LSS will issue a certificate of recognition. LSS will also recommend to the home congregation that the graduate be considered as a lay deacon or lay deaconess candidate. LSS classes may be attended without credit by any interested lay person.
Qualifications:
Students are officially admitted to LSS when they request admission and present a recommendation from their home congregation’s pastor. Recommendations should only be issued to those who demonstrate a desire to serve. The recommending pastor will serve as the student’s ongoing supervisor/advisor while they are in the program.
Curriculum:
LSS has an official class curriculum. The classes may be taught by a pastor or any other suitable instructor. Each student must complete a total of twenty-four credit hours. A credit hour is defined as one class hour over six weeks. Credit for classes taken outside of LSS may be granted. No more than five credit hours may come from outside sources. Five elective credit hours may be granted to any student commissioned as a Stephen Minister– whether trained locally or nationally. Submit all requests to the LSS Registrar.
Seven core classes are required. Each core class is worth two credit hours for a total of fourteen credit hours. The remaining ten credit hours may be completed by taking additional Lutheran Confessions classes, suggested elective classes, and/or other elective classes of the student’s design (worth one or two credit hours). All students’ designed electives must be approved by LSS for credit.
Core Classes
1. Old Testament I (two credit hours)
2. Old Testament II (two credit hours)
3. New Testament I (two credit hours)
4. New Testament II (two credit hours
5. Diaconal Ministry (two credit hours)
6. The Creeds, Small and Large Catechism (two credit hours)
7. One other Lutheran Confessions class (two credit hours)
Other Lutheran Confessions Classes
(to be Selected by the Student in Consultation with their Pastor)
1. Augsburg Confession (two credit hours)
2. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession (two credit hours)
3. Smalcald Articles and the Treatise (two credit hours)
4. The Formula of Concord (two credit hours)
Suggested Elective Classes
(to be Selected by the Student in Consultation with their Pastor)
1. Worship (two credit hours)
2. Homiletics (two credit hours)
3. Luther’s Theology (two credit hours)
4. Christian Ethics (two credit hours)
5. Christian Apologetics (two credit hours)
6. Introduction to Teaching (two credit hours)
7. Institutional Ministry (Hospital, Prison, etc.) (one to two credit hours)
8. Organizing and Practicing Mercy Ministry (one to two credit hours)
9. Student Designed Elective (one to two credit hours)
Process
The candidate’s pastor (and the congregation’s deaconate, if there is one) will accept the admission request for training from the candidate as appropriate. The student will coordinate training with his/her pastor. Upon completion of each course, the instructor is responsible for evaluating the learning and achievement of the students taking the course for credit. If the student has met the course requirements then his/her pastor will contact the LSS registrar in writing to verify the course completion. Once the student has met the curriculum requirements then LSS will issue a certificate of recognition and recommend the candidate to his or her congregation.
Flowchart Checklist
☐ Candidate is approved by Pastor/Deaconate for admission into deaconate training program
☐ Candidate is admitted to LSS based upon recommendation by his/her Pastor
☐ Candidate completes curriculum coursework and/or applies for coursework approval
☐ Course instructor verifies successful completion of course with recommending Pastor
☐ Recommending Pastor informs LSS of course completion
☐ When all coursework is completed (usually 24 credit hours) then the Recommending Pastor will inform the LSS that the candidate has completed his/her training
☐ LSS will issue a Certificate of Recognition
☐ LSS will also recommend the candidate to the home congregation for consideration for service as a lay deacon or lay deaconess