Jeff and Josh, Any academic institution seeking accreditation from an American accreditation agency is required to have graduated a class before it applies. Wittenberg Institute will look at the value of accreditation after we meet those requirements. Receiving doctorate level students from non-accredited programs is generally a non-issue. The Wittenberg Institute faculty and their recommendations will carry more weight than any of the theological accrediting boards.

Wittenberg Institute offers an M.Th. course and research based degree, and an M.Div. degree. For many students, the question of “placement” will be a non-issue. They simply want a solid, theological education whatever their intended vocation. Students seeking to be called to an ELCA or LCMS congregation as pastor will have additional requirements that we are unable and unwilling to offer (for example CPE or most of the “professional” courses for ministry). For those intending to be pastors in those denominations, we will recommend for them to do the M.Th. degree and then transfer to complete the internship/vicarage and final academic year at their “approved” denominational school. Wittenberg Institute will work with those denominational schools to receive the academic work completed at Wittenberg Institute in fulfillment of their courses in their catalogs.

For those denominations and congregations able to receive pastoral candidates directly, this is also a non-issue.

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Iggy, Wittenberg Institute has a great place for integrating congregations into the warp and wef of the school. Interested pastors should contact us to see about continuing and degree based education while in congregation.

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Jacob, we are unapologetically Lutheran, but enjoy conversations with all, particularly those who share in the Magisterial Reformation Tradition and those who share their theological legacy. There are many Anglicans who see the need for strong proclamation of Justification.

Hope this helps. You may contact me directly at aaron@wittenberginstitute.org with any further questions relating to the Institute.

Should the congregation choose to call a pastor from outside the fellowship, the denomination can take steps to sever the congregation’s membership.

A graduate from WI will probably need to go through a colloquy program if he wants a call within a given denomination.

The purpose of the Institute is to prepare scholars and Pastors for the Church. Wittenberg is in the process of talking with several of the major Seminaries to coordinate degree programs.

Furthermore, many of the Synods are congregational in polity. Technically, the congregations are able to call whomever they wish. The day is fast approaching, and even upon us in some synods, when congregations will determine which educational institutions they will recruit Pastors from. It won’t be the Synodical Label on the school, but the quality of men and the content of the education that will determine their choices.

Students are wise to be wary of their synod’s denominational agendas, but those same synods will almost certainly not take any student trained at an independent Lutheran seminary!