He said he's delighted with the program's results. Roger Rogahn, associate director for the PLTS Southern California Program, notes that it takes as long as the traditional four-year seminary training. We're trying to find a few exceptional people well trained to 'set the church on fire' who can be effective in ministry. Normally students must be over 40. Rogahn, who also serves as mentor to several Hispanic students, said the program succeeds because students address real problems and issues.
Students completing the program receive a certificate but no academic degree.
Rogahn notes that with two exceptions all graduates of the program have been ordained. Richard Nysse, a Luther Seminary professor who has taught the program's Old Testament courses since the beginning, said he's impressed by the eagerness of the students. The students don't see classes as a hurdle. The best part of the program is the immediate proximity to the practice of ministry. Although the ELCA has struggled to meet its goals of ethnic diversity, the PLTS alternate route program is emerging as an effective way to develop ministries to diverse communities by identifying leaders within those communities and equipping them with pastoral and theological skills.