Applicants are reminded of the nature and character of the seminary as an institution established by the church for the preparation of pastors and other professional workers, and for the carrying out of its theological enterprise. Grounds for acceptance include not only applicant's academic and personal record, but also the congruence of their intentions with the basic purposes of the seminary. ELCA applicants need to initiate the steps in the candidacy process as soon as possible, in most cases twelve months or more before beginning studies. ELCA applicants who do not seek ordination, and members of other church bodies desiring to enroll in the M.Div. program, may petition to have the CPE and internship requirements waived. LSTC admits and welcomes both men and women students of any race, color, or national origin.
Students enter seminary today with a wide variety of backgrounds.
College courses in religion can provide an excellent foundation, provided that such courses are not pursued to the exclusion of other liberal arts subjects. Especially useful and important are courses which provide instruction in biblical content. The Admissions Office will be happy to supply bibliographical resources and advise students who want to assess their readiness for their seminary program. The welcome diversity of today's seminary students makes it inevitable that there will be significant differences in academic readiness among entering students. Therefore, LSTC pursues a pattern for ensuring academic readiness that blends stated expectations, assessment in key areas of competence, and a strategy for introductory studies that brings students with differing academic backgrounds to a common level of participation in theological discourse early in the program of studies.