Nomination forms for the seventh annual Exploring Church Careers Event (ECCE) and the fourth annual Exploring the Pastoral Ministry Event (EPM) were mailed on February 1 from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis to pastors, Lutheran high school educators, directors of Christian education and other church leaders. This action marks the beginning of the nomination process for both events. The ECCE will be offered July 30-August 2 and the EPM will be offered August 2-5, 2005. Both events take place on the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis campus.

The two events are designed to identify, inform and encourage youth with respect to church work vocations. They will include Bible study, on-site visitation opportunities with those serving in the featured work vocations and opportunities for youth to gain college and seminary information pertaining to each of the featured vocations. The ECCE also includes representatives from the Concordia University System schools and Valparaiso University to inform youth regarding the preparation that leads to service in the variety of church vocations presented. While the ECCE is limited to 80 participants and will include information regarding a wide variety of church work vocations, the EPM is limited to 50 participants and will focus exclusively on the pastoral ministry.

Nomination forms may be submitted by anyone who is a member of a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation. Additional information and nominations forms are available on the Seminary’s Web site (www.csl.edu/HighSchoolYouth.htm). Youth must be in high school (9th-12th grade) in the next academic year (2005-2006) to be eligible. The nomination form may be duplicated for multiple nominations. Youth should not nominate themselves and no money should be sent with nomination forms. Upon receipt of the nomination form, a registration form will be mailed by Concordia Seminary to the nominee. Registration is effective when the completed registration form and the registration fee(s) are received by Concordia Seminary. No registration forms or fees will be accepted prior to March 1, 2005.

“While all Christians serve God in their various vocations, we want youth to hear of the inherent joys and challenges they will face if they serve in church work vocations,” said Rev. Glen Thomas, vice president for seminary relations at Concordia Seminary. “I hope pastors, educators, parents and many others in our church will take advantage of the opportunity to nominate young people for these events.”

A $50 registration fee is the only charge youth pay to attend the ECCE, in addition to travel costs. All activities, meals during the event and on-campus lodging are provided at no cost to participants. Travel scholarships are available to ensure that travel costs do not prevent youth from attending.

The EPM will allow participants the opportunity to study theology with Seminary professors, worship with the Seminary community, hear pastors discuss the joys and challenges of the pastoral ministry, take part in a Servant Event and attend a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game. A $60 registration fee is the only charge for youth to attend the EPM. All meals and lodging at the event are provided free of charge.

The ECCE is made possible by a grant Concordia Seminary received to assist in the process of identifying, informing and encouraging high school youth toward service in church work careers. The grant is from Lilly Endowment Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind.

For more information on the ECCE or the EPM, contact the Admissions Office, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105; 314-505-7722; ECCE@csl.edu.