Challenges for MLS and Synod

Decreased funding for our Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod is causing financial problems throughout our synod’s ministries.  All areas, Home Missions, World Missions, Parish Services, Synod Administration, and the Ministerial Education Schools, are facing severe funding cuts over the next two years.
 
The synod’s funding for Michigan Lutheran Seminary will probably drop about $500,000 for the next school year.  This will require MLS to eliminate about a dozen called and non-called positions.
 
The MLS Policy Council is developing a plan to recommend to our Governing Board to achieve this downsizing.  The Board will announce the positions eliminated at the end of the first week in June.  The Policy Council’s plan will maintain our solid college preparatory curriculum and our broad extracurricular program.  However, some changes may be necessary since we will have fewer teachers next year.
 
This is not good news for MLS.  The same thing will be happening at Luther Preparatory School and Martin Luther College, in our mission programs, and elsewhere in our synod.  Job losses like these are occurring all over our country in the difficult financial times we are going through.  Some of our students’ families are going through the same experiences.
 
We ask three things of our broad Seminary Family:
1.    Concern for all of our faculty and staff members as they face the possibility of their positions being eliminated
2.    Prayers on behalf of our faculty and staff that our gracious God give them strength, patience, and understanding in the coming weeks and months
3.    Prayers not only for MLS but all our synod’s work, that God continue to bless our ministries and to keep them strong in these challenging times
 
            Lord Jesus, since you love us,
            Oh, spread your wings above us
            And shield us from alarm.
            We rest in your protecting arm.
                                CW 587