The Lutheran teacher instructs students in God’s Word, plans daily devotions, teaches all subjects in the light of God’s Word, disciplines using law and gospel correctly, counsels students and families, encourages sanctification, and coordinates music and worship activities for use in the school and church. Carrying out these responsibilities requires thorough instruction in God’s Word, the Lutheran Confessions, and their applications in a Lutheran school context. The teaching ministry certification program for kindergarten to post-secondary teachers helps teachers carry out their important responsibilities as spiritual leaders.
Guidelines for Ministry Certification
WELS K-16 Teaching Ministry Certification is intended for all teachers from kindergarten to post-secondary.
The synod’s preference is that men and women qualify themselves as school teachers by graduating from Martin Luther College (MLC). However, because not all school teachers are graduates of MLC, these certification guidelines developed by the Conference of Presidents (COP) of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod seek to establish an adequate standard of teacher training that will ensure proficiency in carrying out the aims and objectives of WELS schools. These guidelines set standards that are readily attainable by teachers who, by conviction, desire to teach in WELS schools. Finally, these guidelines also make it possible to carry out an orderly program of inservice training for teachers who are rendering a needful and valuable service in our schools but who have not yet fulfilled certification requirements.
Definitions
- Certified Teacher Graduates of Martin Luther College (MLC), of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS), and of other seminaries or church bodies in fellowship with the WELS become certified teachers upon recommendation for a regular call into the teaching ministry. Others who have met the requirements for certification as outlined in these guidelines are certified by action of the COP.
- Uncertified Teacher A teacher who has not met the requirements for certification as outlined in these guidelines.
- Permanent Call A call which is extended to a ministry-certified teacher.
- Provisional Call A call which is subject to annual renewal and is extended to a teacher who qualifies for admission into the teaching ministry certification program. Evidence of satisfactory progress toward certification is required for renewal.
- Provisional Minister of the Gospel Status conferred to called teachers who are enrolled in and making satisfactory progress toward teaching ministry certification.
- Minister of the Gospel Status conferred to called teachers who are ministry-certified.
- Satisfactory Progress Completing three credits of coursework in 24 months.
Requirements for Certification
1. Eligibility for Entrance
The certification program shall be open to persons who
- currently hold a call to a congregation, or
- are graduates in elementary or secondary education from a college other than MLC or WLS, or currently hold a teaching license, and
- are in fellowship with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
2. Courses
Graduates of schools other than Martin Luther College (Studies in Educational Ministry) and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary who wish to become certified shall have the requisite academic training and shall meet the certification requirements outlined below. The courses shall be determined by the director of teaching ministry certification. Substitution of courses requires prior approval. Graduates from other colleges are required to complete a minimum of three credits of coursework through MLC. These three credits could be taken on the MLC campus, at off-campus sites, or online.
- Religion 15 semester credits in the following prescribed courses or approved substitutes
- Undergraduate Level
- THE8001 Genesis to Exile 3 cr (THE1001)
- THE8002 Prophecy and Gospel 3 cr (THE1002)
- THE8003 The Apostolic Era 3 cr (THE2001)
- THE9001 Biblical Teachings I 3 cr (THE3001)
- THE9002 Biblical Teachings II 3 cr (THE3002)
- Graduate Level (Acceptance subject to MLC graduate admissions requirements)
- THE5001 Old Testament Theology 3 cr
- THE5002 New Testament Theology 3 cr
- THE5003 Biblical Hermeneutics 3 cr
- THE5004 History of Christianity 3 cr
- THE5005 Systematic Theology 3 cr
- Undergraduate Level
- Christian Education 3 semester credits in the following prescribed course
- EDU9540 Principles of Christian Education 3 cr (undergraduate)
- EDU/THE5006 Foundations of Ministry (graduate)
- Professional Experience
A five-week student teaching experience in a WELS school at the grade level in which you are seeking certification to be arranged on an individual basis. This experience should be pre-approved by the director of teaching ministry certification. It may take place in the teacher’s own classroom. Those currently serving in a WELS school fulfill this requirement with a summative teaching evaluation.
Congregations are encouraged to assume the cost of credits for certification of their teachers.
Procedures for Obtaining Certified Status
1. Enrollment into the Program
- Application for admission into the program shall be made to the ministry certification office, which shall be responsible for acceptance of applicants into the program.
- For those currently called to teach:
- A completed application.
- Official transcripts from WLC, BLC. No other transcripts are needed.
- For those not currently called to teach:
- A completed application.
- A pastor’s recommendation.
- All official college and university transcripts.
- For those currently called to teach:
- Applicants must submit an official transcript of credits earned at colleges other than MLC.
- Applicants who are presently teaching must submit a recent teaching evaluation from their supervisor of instruction. Applicants just graduating from college should submit a copy of their student teaching experience.
- Applicants must submit a testimonial of good moral character signed by their pastor.
2. Pursuing the Program
- Courses for certification credit may be taken through MLC’s online courses, on-location, or on-campus courses.
- Candidates must remain active by taking at least one course within 24 months.
- Those who are currently called will maintain their minister of the gospel status by completing a minimum of three credits of coursework every two years. Failure to make progress within a 2-year period will result in removal of the applicant from the teaching ministry certification program and a loss of minister of the gospel status.
- Neither acceptance into the certification program nor successful completion of the requirements assures one of a call into the teaching ministry. The credentials of all such persons are given to those WELS officials who are responsible for providing congregations with lists of qualified candidates from which to call a teacher for an existing vacancy.
3. Eligibility for Certification
- A minimum grade point average of 2.00 for the three Bible courses THE8001, THE8002, and THE8001).
- A minimum grade point average of 2.00 for the two doctrine courses (THE9001 and THE9002).
- Upon an enrollee’s successful completion of this program, a recommendation for certification shall be made by MLC to the COP. If an enrollee is teaching with a provisional call at the time of completion, the enrollee’s pastor and principal must concur with the recommendation; in other cases, the enrollee’s pastor must concur.
Responsibility for Certification
The COP shall act on all recommendations for certification and shall notify all concerned of its decisions.
