One way the Lord prepares men for the pastoral ministry in Lutheran Church–Canada is through the Pastors with Alternate Training (PAT) program.

Created by convention resolution, PAT recognizes that some faith communities need the services of an LCC pastor, but for a variety of reasons (e.g., remote location, cultural or linguistic challenges, lack of existing resources) cannot find one.

Each PAT student is assigned a local pastor as a mentor. The PAT program consists of 23 courses, some of which are taught during intensive weeks at a seminary, while most are delivered by pastors who are close to the PAT student—important so that the future pastor remains in his community as he learns, serving local believers and being mentored.

PAT studies usually take at least four years to complete, after which the student is ready for ordination as an LCC pastor. The program involves the following steps:

• A congregation or faith community submits an application explaining why they would like to be designated as a PAT site.
• LCC’s President’s Ministry Council (PMC) considers the application and votes to approve, deny, or request further information.
• The Regional Pastor works with the group to identify a candidate.
• The PAT candidate submits to the President’s Ministry Council the application form with recommendations from the Regional Pastor, synodical outreach executive or Regional Ministry Council, and a local LCC pastor.
• Once approved, the applications are forwarded to the PAT Coordinator and Committee, which is composed by a member of each of LCC’s seminaries, one mentor-at-large, the PAT Coordinator, and a member of the PMC .
• The PAT Coordinator and Committee begin the process of communication with the PAT candidate to assign a local mentor and course instructors.
• The PAT student undergoes annual evaluation of academic and formational progress as he moves towards ordination into the ministerium of LCC.

The PAT program continues to undergo evaluation and revision as it responds to challenges and opportunities in the Canadian mission context.

Any group interested in applying for PAT site status, please contact your Regional Pastor. For further information and to download application forms, see Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary’s PAT information.