Will could say "Hold up, bud, you are litcherally a novice! Your account is called 'becoming Lutheran'!! Why on earth do you think you are qualified to teach in the church at this point? Be a faithful member of your congregation for fifteen years before you even consider discerning a call to the ministry."
Because that is what the Bible says regarding the office of overseer in 1 Tim 3 and Titus 1.
But I guess holding that line would be "Law." Law bad! Grace good! Instead it's "dude nice, party at my meme church on the way."
The LCMS sem and roster system does not select for proven, seasoned men with demonstrable experience managing a household. It selects for men who will be dutiful middle-manager drones of LCMS Corp. And those are the sort you want, you'd best get them when they're young, pliable, and self-assured.
Your shepherds, Missouri. Weebs and good ol' boys all the way down.
PS. There is no "pastor shortage." Deliberately deceptive term designed to frame the conversation according the priors alluded to above. Pure narrative massage. But that's a story for another day.
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