Marriage at the seminary
*This article first appeared in the 2007 edition of the Ќηρυξαтε magazine
Married students were a rarity during the first 90 years of the seminary’s history. Until 1952 the policy was to admit only unmarried students and to permit marriage and even engagement only under unusual circumstances. Synodical fathers were concerned that family responsibilities would undermine a student’s ability to devote the time necessary for preparation for the ministry.
In 1952 a faculty committee appointed to study the matter of student marriages reported that there had been a number of developments over the years which indicated that a new policy might be in order. The committee noted that over the decades the age for completing elementary school had advanced from 13 to 14. Following a synodical recommendation in 1919 to increase the pre-seminary course at Northwestern College from three years to four meant that students entered the seminary two years older than they had a generation or two before. An increasing number of requests for vicars resulted in a number of students reaching the age of 26 by the time of graduation.
On April 14, 1952, the faculty adopted the following policy:
-The seminary will continue to discourage student marriages as much as
possible without, however, making celibacy a condition for study in our school.
-The seminary will assume no responsibility for housing.
-The seminary will not accept family obligations of a student as an excuse for irregularity in his studies.
-The seminary will demand a written statement from the parents of both the student and the bride that they fully approve of the marriage.
-The seminary must be given the assurance that the student, in case some unforeseen expenses should occur, is in a position to meet them.
-A consultation with the dean is required.
Only under unusual circumstances were incoming students allowed to be married. The disposition of exceptional cases for the marriage of incoming students was left to the judgment of the seminary faculty and board.
This policy prevailed into the 1970s. The seminary catalog for 1974-75 indicated that the approval of marriage for students prior to entering the seminary would now be left to the judgment and disposition of the Northwestern College faculty and board. Enrolled seminary students in attendance, vicaring, or on a leave of absence were required to seek the approval of the seminary through its dean of students. In the 1980s Northwestern College began to allow traditional age students to be married already during their pre-seminary training, resulting in a further relaxing of the marriage policy.
Today students who wish to be married before coming to the seminary are counseled by the campus pastor at Martin Luther College. Students at the seminary speak with the seminary’s dean of students. The seminary strives to make sure that students receive pre-marital counseling from a pastor, are prepared for the financial challenges that marriage entails, and recognize the necessity of time management in balancing responsibilities toward school, work, and family. The seminary is also becoming increasingly concerned that all students have suitable medical insurance.
The seminary does not provide housing for married students, but seminarians have become quite resourceful in handing down apartments to succeeding classes. During the spring and summer months, the WLS Web site lists available housing for married students.
The relaxed marriage policy of the past few decades has not resulted in a great increase in the proportion of married students attending the seminary. Since the late 1970s the number of married students has varied between one third and one half of the student body. School year 2006-07 marked the first time that married students outnumbered single students. Including vicars, 54 % of last year’s student body was married. This school year single students once again outnumber married students.
