Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) Diaconal Program

ETHNIC IMMIGRANT INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY (EIIT) DIACONAL PROGRAM

The Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) offers a specialized program for women in mission and ministry in first-generation ethnic immigrant, non-English language dominant and other culture- specific contexts in North America. The program leads to commissioning as a deaconess in the LCMS.

Women who seek admission to the deaconess formation track are encouraged to complete the entrance-level Leadership Advancement Process (LAP) courses in Old Testament, New Testament and Christian Doctrine. They may then apply for admission to EIIT — Deaconess Studies.

GOAL

The EIIT Program provides a basic understanding of Lutheran theology and practice within the context of first-generation, non-Anglo cultures, leading to certification as a rostered deaconess of the LCMS.

No academic degree is earned upon completion of the EIIT Program.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) Deaconess Program curriculum is designed to achieve the following student learning outcomes:

Theological Foundations

1. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program accepts the Scriptures and the Lutheran

Confessions as authoritative for faith and life. 2. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program appropriates the theological disciplines as frameworks for theological reflection and diaconal practice.

Personal and Spiritual Formation

3. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates a life of spiritual health, characterized by the Gospel of our Lord Jesus

Christ. 4. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates a life of vocational health, characterized by the Gospel of our Lord

Jesus Christ. 5. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates a life of relational health, characterized by the Gospel of our Lord

Jesus Christ. 6. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates a life of cultural health, characterized by the Gospel of our Lord

Jesus Christ. 7. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates a life of physical health, characterized by the Gospel of our Lord

Jesus Christ. 8. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates a life of emotional health, characterized by the Gospel of our Lord

Jesus Christ. 9. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates a life of intellectual health, characterized by the Gospel of our Lord

Jesus Christ. 10. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates a life of financial health, characterized by the Gospel of our Lord

Jesus Christ. Cultural Interpretation and

Engagement 11. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program analyzes and engages cultural and global realities.

Servant Practice and Leadership

12. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates the ability to provide Christcentered care and counsel to people of various ages and social conditions according to their needs. 13. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates the ability to lead devotions in various situations and encourages personal and family devotional practices. 14. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates the ability to teach the Word of God for the benefit of her students. 15. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program

demonstrates the ability to plan and facilitate the worship life of a congregation. 16. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates the ability to guide and support members of a congregation in their communal life in Christ. 17. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates the ability to prepare and lead members of a congregation to bring the

Gospel to those outside the church. 18. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates the ability to guide and support members of a congregation to care for and serve those in need. 19. A graduate of the EIIT Deaconess Program demonstrates the ability to provide appropriate advice to the leaders of a congregation to facilitate carrying out the congregation’s goals.

ADMISSION AND APPLICATION

The admission criteria and application procedures are the same for EIIT pastoral and deaconess applicants. The requirements also are the same regarding district endorsement and mentors/supervisors. See the EIIT pastoral section in this catalog.

CURRICULUM

This interdisciplinary curriculum will be delivered, taught and received in the contextual and missional ministry settings in which each student is at work. It is therefore very specialized and individualized, requiring local mentors to spend significant time with their assigned students. Students will be expected to demonstrate a working mastery of the material in each course before moving on to the next course. All courses will be taught as web-based and so require a facility and orientation to electronically mediated teaching and learning.

The EIIT curriculum follows a narrative structure that begins and ends with focus on diaconal ministry. The program consists of 24 courses: 20 half-semester courses and four short Winterim courses. Each year of courses consists of five half-semester courses and one short Winterim course.

The EIIT courses are taught online in the English language and will have live, online sessions scheduled throughout each course. Competency in computer usage and in the English language are essential. All courses of the EIIT Program are granted zero credit hours, and no academic degree is awarded at the conclusion of the program.

INTERNSHIP

Students in the EIIT Diaconal Program are assigned as interns in their locations of service upon admission to the program.

CERTIFICATION AND PLACEMENT

Policies and procedures regarding certification and placement are presented in the Academic Policies & Procedures section of this catalog.

ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Academic Policies & Procedures section of this catalog contains important information that applies to all Concordia Seminary students. If the information for this program is more specific than the general policies, the more specific policy shall prevail.

Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) Deaconess Certificate Curriculum Deaconess Formation Curriculum 24 Courses

PRA4412 Introduction to Diaconal Ministry EXE441 Reading the Bible Faithfully EXE442 Faithfully Reading the Gospels PRA4421 Diaconal Care in Times of Distress PRA443 Care in the Congregation EXE443 Faithfully Reading the Epistles of Paul SYS441 The Christian Faith PRA444 Teaching the Christian Faith PRA445 Witness and Evangelism PRA446 Servant Leadership SYS442 Confessing the Faith Today HIS441 Christians Engage the World EXE444 Faithfully Reading the Old Testament SYS443 Means of Grace PRA4471 Deaconess as Bible Teacher PRA448 Contextualized Counseling EXE445 Basic New Testament Theology HIS442 The Lutheran Church: Then and Now HIS443 Lutherans and Other Denominations PRA4491 The Lutheran Deaconess PRA455 Lutheran Worship [Short Course] HIS455 Missouri Synod Fellowship [Short Course] PRA456 Witness and Evangelism Practicum [Short Course] PRA457 Church Administration [Short Course]