In order to graduate with a Lutheran Teacher Diploma (LTD) and become eligible for a Call in a Lutheran school, or another LCMS calling entity, the student must do the following:
Students preparing for the teaching ministry in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod are required to complete the following (6 of these semester hours may used to fulfill Common Experience requirements.)
EDU 3261 Vocation of the Christian Educator
EDU 3333 Teaching Religion
REL 1301 New Testament History and Reading
REL 1311 History and Literature of the Old Testament
REL 2352 History and Philosophy of the Reformation
REL 3341 Lutheran Doctrine
There is currently a shortage of teachers who are eligible to receive calls for service in our Lutheran schools. Over 125 calling entities contact Concordia University Texas each year regarding about 175 available positions. It would be thrilling to be able to provide each of these schools with a qualified candidate.
Graduates with a Lutheran Teacher Diploma (LTD) from Concordia are eligible to receive a call in any school associated with The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. There are nearly 1400 early childhood centers, over 1000 elementary schools, and more than 100 high schools within the system.
Upon completion of the Lutheran Teacher education program, students will receive a Lutheran Teacher Diploma (LTD). The LTD makes the student eligible to receive a call and enter into the public ministry of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS). Graduates placed in their first assignment are eligible to become ministers of religion--commissioned of the LCMS.
A call is extended by a single congregation, a group of congregations, a recognized service organization, a synodical board, a district board, or any other entity that has the authority to extend a solemn call.
Students are placed into their first called position through procedures that culminate in the final year before graduation. A congregation, or other calling entity, with open positions will contact the Director of Placement regarding available candidates. The Director of Placement will work with the students and the calling entities throughout the process.
The Lutheran Teacher Diploma (LTD), is granted upon graduation to all students who have successfully completed a course of study designed to help them become effective teachers in a Lutheran school. Those who graduate with an LTD are eligible to receive a call to teach in a Lutheran school and to apply to be on the minister of religion--commissioned roster of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.
The LCMS minister of religion--commissioned roster is a list of non-ordained church workers who have received their first call or subsequent calls from a calling entity. The following steps are needed to get on this roster of Synod:
All commissioned ministers on the roster of the Synod who serve a legitimate calling entity are considered by the Synod and the Internal Revenue Service to be called and self-employed. They are eligible for certain tax benefits such as housing allowance, but must pay self-employment tax.
For more details, please contact the Director of Placement, Dr. Paul Buchheimer at 512.313.5102 or paul.buchheimer@concordia.edu.
The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Lutheran School Portal
Lutheran Education Association - resources for Lutheran educators
Preschool Teacher Information for preschool teachers
Education World Resources for all educators