A critical shortage of seminary students continues to threaten the future of our church, and NC Synod congregations are being asked to help financially, according to Drs. Cinde and Ron Rinn, co-chairs of an LTSS campaign within the synod to address the problem. The campaign is named “Opening Doors: Answering the Spirit’s Call.”
Last year the ELCA had 330 first-call positions but only 91 available seminarians. In N.C. 76 percent of first-call vacancies stayed vacant, said Cinde Rinn, pointing to the lack of potential pastors as a growing crisis unfolding within the synod.
A video featuring Phil Martin of Augsburg, Winston-Salem, and a former member of the synod’s candidacy committee, pointed out that concern over the resulting debt is often preventing potential candidates from attending seminary in the first place. Current LTSS students also talked about their financial worries and how support from the synod makes them feel sustained in their decision to attend seminary.
The LTSS campaign within the synod is seeking to raise a total of $2 million to assist and encourage N.C. seminarians, including: $1.5 million for scholarships, $250,000 for housing and other expenses, and $250,000 to help with the seminary’s required cross-cultural experience.
A total of $627,000 has been raised since the campaign launched last year and is now being focused on congregational participation. Helping to eliminate seminarians’ debt depends on all of us across the synod … it’s time to answer the Spirit’s call, said Ron Rinn.
Story: Cindi L. Clemmer of Clemmer Communications is also the wife of the Rev. Palmer D. Clemmer, Hickory.
Photo: The Rev. Ray Sipe, Chaplain Trinity Place, Albemarle; Pastor Mt. Gilead, Mt. Pleasant and St. Martin, Concord.
