At Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Lancaster, PA, we joyfully embrace the historic pattern of raising up shepherds for God’s people. A key expression of this commitment is our support of Vicar Michael Usner as he serves in the role of an SMP Vicar while preparing for full pastoral ministry. Understanding what this role means, both theologically and practically, helps our congregation appreciate how God equips the Church to proclaim Christ faithfully.

An SMP Vicar refers to a student engaged in the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Program of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). The SMP Program, offered by Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a structured, four-year distance-education pastoral formation pathway tailored for men preparing for specific pastoral ministries in the LCMS. Participants continue to serve in their local congregation while they study, read, write, take part in online courses and engage in supervised practical ministry in the context where they will continue serving after ordination. This model of pastoral formation arose out of the Church’s need to meet a wide variety of ministry contexts, especially where a full-time residential pastoral training track may not be feasible or where an additional specifically trained pastor is needed for faithful proclamation and carrying on God’s mission to reach the lost and shepherd His people through Word and Sacrament ministry. By combining academic study with local, hands-on ministry experience, the SMP Program ensures that vicars gain both theological depth and real-world pastoral skill under the mentorship of seasoned pastors.

At Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Michael Usner has been called to serve the congregation as Vicar while he pursues his SMP formation. This means that alongside his studies through Concordia Seminary, he participates actively in the life of our congregation. Under the pastoral supervision and mentorship of Pastor Christopher Seifferlein, Michael shares in preaching, teaching, pastoral care, visitation, and other aspects of parish ministry that prepare him for future service in the Office of the Holy Ministry. The role of a vicar in the LCMS is deeply grounded in the doctrine of the Church and the Scriptures. Scripture lays out clear expectations for pastoral oversight: shepherding Christ’s flock with faithfulness, teaching sound doctrine, and caring for the spiritual wellbeing of the congregation (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). At Mount Calvary, we understand the vicarage as a continuation of this biblical pattern of forming pastors who are equipped in both mind and heart to serve Christ’s Church well.

Receiving the title “vicar” signifies that Michael is a pastor-in-training not yet fully ordained, but called by the Church to serve under supervision while completing his pastoral formation. This is an important distinction. As a vicar, Michael assists in worship, preaching, outreach, and pastoral visitation, gaining practical experience under the watchful guidance of experienced pastors, elders, and teachers within the congregation. Such mentored experience helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and lifelong pastoral service. The SMP Program’s concurrent vicarage requirement, that a student serve in ministry while taking distance learning coursework, aligns well with Mount Calvary’s commitment to lively liturgical life, deep theological grounding, and active pastoral care. Members will see Michael continuing to grow as he leads parts of the Divine Service, assists with Bible studies, engages with families, and participates in community outreach. In this way, the congregation of Mount Calvary not only supports the pastoral formation but also receives spiritual benefit from his growing gifts in ministry. Michael’s journey enriches our congregation and reflects our shared commitment to the preaching of Christ crucified and risen, to the administration of His means of grace, and to the nurturing of God’s people in faith and love as the Confessional Lutheran Church near Lancaster Pa.