Frequently Asked Questions

• Who can take classes with MTC?

  Anyone can take classes with Mission Training Center!

  • Individuals looking to be certified by their district or ministry organization.
    MTC provides the educational piece in training programs offered by many entities. Students work with their district or organization to learn what classes they must take and what other requirements the program might have. Note: MTC does not certify anyone but only provides a portion of the certification process. Be sure to connect with your district or organization prior to registering for an MTC class. They often have a separate application process.
  • Individuals needing Continuing Education Units to maintain their current certification.
    Check with the organization that certified you to see if MTC classes will fit their requirements for CEUs.
  • Individuals wanting to grow in their personal faith, knowledge, and outreach.
    Anyone can take MTC classes! Each course is taught with outreach and ministry in mind. As you learn a subject matter, the missional focus will bolster your outreach to those you meet in your everyday life.
  • Anyone!
    You don’t even need to be Lutheran. Classes are presented from a Lutheran perpective but the information and processes taught are relevant to any Christian.

  Contact MTC with any questions you have.

• How many hours do courses meet?

  MTC courses run for four (4) or eight (8) weeks. Each course meets for two hours per session each week.

  • 4 week courses meet for 2hrs/week = 8 scheduled learning hours.
  • 8 week courses meet for 2hrs/week = 16 scheduled learning hours.

• When are courses offered?

  MTC courses which are delivered online are regularly scheduled by MTC. The intent is that each course will be offered at least once per calendar year and with no more than 18 months between iterations. Click here to view the current Online Course Schedule. One-on-One, Self-Directed Study, and Field MTC courses are scheduled by local instructors in collaboration with the MTC Director. See the FAQ on this page regarding modes of delivery for more information on these options.

  Online courses meet via a video-conferencing platform. The instructor and students log in the same day of the week for either 4 or 8 weeks.

  Weekday classes may meet on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays, typically at 6:00-8:00 PM Pacific time.

  Saturday classes meet 8:00-10:00 AM Pacific time.

• What modes of delivery are used for the courses?

  MTC uses four modes of delivery for training:

  Online
  MTC offers participants an online delivery system. Each course is taught via a video-conferencing platform for either 4 or 8 weeks, for two hours each week. Participants and instructors meet at a set time each week as determined by MTC in a synchronous fashion, that is, live online instructors teaching and fielding questions from the participants signed in for the courses. Any slides shown, videos played, or documents shared are visible. Participants interact live with instructors and others in the courses.

  Register for an online course here.

  Self-Directed Study  
  MTC offers the possibility for individuals to access recorded online classes through the internet and move through course sessions at their own pace. Weekly course sessions recorded during normal online course hours are available for participants. There is no interaction with others in the courses or with instructors. Assignments are required as if the participant is involved in the online course with slight modifications. Assignments are normally evaluated by local missional pastors, supervising pastors of licensed lay deacons, or other missional content experts.

  For more information on the Self-Directed Study option, contact the MTC office.

  One-On-One
  MTC offers participants a one-on-one instructor experience. Some individuals learn best moving at their own pace in a one-on-one or one-on-two learning community. Instructors are normally local missional pastors, supervising pastors of licensed lay deacons either in training or doing continuing education, or other missional content experts with excellent teaching capacity. Meeting times and length of instruction are determined by the instructors and participants in courses.

  For more information on the One-on-One learning option, contact the MTC office.

  Mission Training Center Field Site
  MTC offers participants a more typical classroom experience at an MTC Field Site. Courses are taught at an agreed upon place and pace by the participants and instructors. Anyone is able to attend, but only those who desire a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion are required to turn in and have assignments evaluated. Instructors are normally local missional pastors, supervising pastors of licensed lay deacons either in training or doing continuing education, or other missional content experts with excellent teaching capacity.

  For more information on setting up an MTC Field Site, contact the MTC office.

• Do I have to be Lutheran or a member of the LCMS to take an MTC course?

  Anyone may join an MTC course! While the classes are primarily designed for lay leaders seeking eventual licensure in their LCMS district, the content is applicable for all Christians looking to dive deeper into their faith and learn practical ways to put that faith into action as they partner in God’s mission.

• What is expected of a student in an MTC course?

  Students who take courses through MTC are expected to complete assignments, readings, projects, attend, and actively join the conversation in the learning sessions. Class assignments are graded on a pass/fail criteria. Though courses are not intended to be as rigorous as undergraduate courses taken in a university, they do expect a level of rigor which surpasses high school learning and study.

• What are the benefits of taking MTC courses?

  MTC courses prepare individuals for missional ministry in congregations, in faith communities, and in their local communities. MTC certificates showing satisfactory completion might be used to indicate competencies acquired for various ministry and leadership opportunities. Students take MTC courses:

  • to prepare for ministry in a congregation or for their own personal and professional development.
  • to prepare for entrance into a future training institution.
  • to prepare for service in a church’s larger organization (synod, district, judicatory, headquarters).
  • to prepare for licensing as Licensed Deacons in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. (Each district individually administers that process).
  • to prepare to enter the Specific Ministry Pastor training program at seminaries of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
  • as prerequisites for matriculation into the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

• How much do courses cost?

  MTC courses have several fee levels:

  1. Students who enroll in online or self-directed courses pay $150 for 8 hour courses or $300 for 16 hour courses plus books. Students receive a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion for successfully finishing each course.
  2. Students who enroll in One-on-One courses pay $100 per course plus books. Students receive a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion for successfully finishing each course.
  3. Students who enroll in Field MTC courses pay $100 per course plus books. Students receive a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion for successfully finishing each course.
  4. Participants who attend Field MTC courses but do not desire a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion are not assessed a fee by MTC.

• How many courses does a student need to take?

  MTC is a training organization and does not determine how many or what particular courses are necessary for entering other training institutions or for receiving licensing, certifications, endorsements, etc., from any church body or organization. Organizations determine which courses are required for any institutional matriculation or future ministry or service in the organization.

  Students interested in their own professional and/or ministry growth may select any courses which they believe will be beneficial for their own ministries.

  Visit Tracks & Resources to see the specific courses required by our partnering entities.

  Students should check with the organization through which they are working to determine specific requirements.

  Students interested in entering the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod are required to take three core courses: MTC001 Old Testament, MTC002 New Testament, and MTC003 The Christian Faith: Doctrine.