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First Call Theological Education Assessment
See also
Detailed Summary
First Call Theological
Education Update for 2003
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly established First Call
Theological Education as a program to be fully implemented in
1997. About 2/3 of the synods actually started their programs in
1995 or earlier with help of seed funds from Lutheran fraternal
organizations. Thus, many synods - individually or in regional
clusters - have experienced 3-4 cycles of their three-year
programs. Themes from yearly reports by synods and regions have
been:
- A widespread acceptance of FCTE
as an important part of transition into ministry.
- Synod clusters or regional
programs as the most dominant FCTE delivery model.
- Importance of involving target
audience in designing programs.
- High regard for colleague and/or
mentoring programs.
- Appreciation from synods for
having flexibility in core programming which responds to needs
and contexts identified by synods.
- Some FCTE expectations/goals
remain largely undocumented by synods; e.g., learning covenants,
electives, structured reading.
- Desire to continue churchwide
gatherings of FCTE coordinators to learn from each other.
This past February 22-24, 2003 we
brought together 72 synod/regional FCTE planners, colleague
group leaders and first call leaders for a FCTE Summit to
dialogue about where we are now with this churchwide commitment.
A consensus was reached that no significant changes need to be
made in the program, but that the program would be strengthened
by paying attention to the following:
- More emphasis on spiritual
formation.
- Intentional training of
colleague group leaders/ mentors.
- Educating and preparing,
supporting FCTE congregations as partners in this program.
- Churchwide ownership of FCTE,
providing staff and funds for programming.
- Involve first call leaders in
planning of synod/regional programs.
- Meet needs of lay rostered
leaders in FCTE programming.
- Develop “holy habits” of
collegiality, mutual accountability, sabbath time with
family/friends.
- Strengthen FCTE programs in
areas of missional identity, understanding context and
strategies for revitalizing congregations.
For a more detailed summary,
click here.
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