Tim notes: In a thread set aside for the ELCA seminaries status, we seem to have devolved into a bit of a partisan conversation betwixt the Concordia's, which although interesting,misses the point, does it not?
The "stand-alone" status of the seminaries with long-traditions of support and loyalty, regardless of the current reality, create an environment of tough choices. The hard business must contend with the deep emotionality, particularly in those who have deeply invested in the present seminaries.
I doubt that any pro-active decisions with an eye to the long term health and well-being of the Church (whether ultimately successful or not) will be made by seminaries or their boards, but rather the unfolding cultural realities will force decisions that will be heralded as forward thinking as the leadership spins them, but will in reality, be the result of having few if any choices left at all.