Church Relations

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod	Concordia University System
Atlantic District	Eastern District
Florida-Georgia District	New England District
New Jersey District	Southeastern District

Concordia is sponsored by the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and a member of the Concordia University System. It is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York to offer both associate, bachelor, and master degrees.

The Concordia University System builds national identity, enables cooperative endeavors, and enhances the strength of the ten colleges and universities of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Concordia College–New York is the only LCMS college on the East Coast.

Concordia College New York is the regional college for the East Coast Common Endeavor (ECCE)—an association of east coast Districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. The Districts included are: Atlantic, Eastern, Florida-Georgia, New England, New Jersey, and Southeastern.

The East Coast Association of Congregations (ECAC) is a partnership of churches that helps Concordia prepare students for successful careers and lives of service in church and community. Since the ECAC's inception in 1982, over 235 congregations from 14 states have committed themselves to this endeavor.

For 125 years, Concordia College has been the Concordia of the East Coast – your Concordia. Today, Concordia College is financially independent and no longer receives any regular subsidy from the national church body. Rising to the challenge of providing quality higher education within a Christian framework to East Coast Lutherans at an affordable cost, Concordia’s Board of Regents has made a commitment of major financial scholarships for Lutheran students through the Fortress Grant program – up to $12,500 off tuition for incoming Lutheran students. And, for those students declaring an intent to serve as Church Workers, the Vocatio Scholarship provides a grant of up to full tuition. The Board now asks regional congregations to unite with them in this commitment to Lutheran students by joining and supporting the ECAC.

Now more than ever, Concordia College needs financial support from Lutheran congregations along the East Coast. If your congregation is not currently a member of the ECAC, we strongly encourage you to join this partnership!

Concordia College pledges to provide its students who are members of ECAC congregations:

• A high-quality education within a distinctive Christian atmosphere where students will be challenged to serve Christ in whatever occupation they choose.
• An annual ECAC $1,000 scholarship to all full-time students, regardless of program of study—in addition to all other financial aid for which the students might qualify.

Concordia asks ECAC member congregations to:

• Pray for Christian education in general and Concordia College in particular during Sunday morning worship.
• Strongly encourage young men and women with gifts for ministry to prepare at Concordia for church-service careers.
• Provide annual financial support. Member churches are challenged to pledge 1% of their annual budgets toward Concordia College and its unmatched scholarship program for Lutheran students.

For more details on ECAC, contact Kathy Dresser, Director of Church Relations, by email or at 914.337.9300 x2157.

ECAC Church List

Apply for membership to the ECAC Program (East Coast Association of Congregations) here

The Concordia Lay Deacon Program (CLDP)  is a collaborative program between the East Coast Common Endeavor (ECCE) Districts of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Concordia College-New York.

The program seeks to train lay leaders for ministries of word and service in the congregations of the ECCE districts. The CLDP consists of 10 online courses offered through Concordia College-New York taken over two years. In addition, Lay Deacons will complete 200 hours of service under the supervision of their pastor.

Go here for Lay Deacon Program FAQs. 

Program Courses

2017-2018 Course Schedule

Year A

• Christian Doctrine
• Old Testament
• New Testament
• Theology and Practice of Worship
• Christian Service and Care

Year B

• Interpreting Scripture
• Teaching the Faith
• Sharing the Faith
• Evangelism
• History of the Church

Registration/Application Steps

1. Speak with your local pastor. If your congregation is vacant, speak with your District office.
2. Review the deacon guidelines and complete the application.

Guidelines & Application

3. Send all application materials including the letter of recommendation from supervising pastor, approval letter from district, and signed copy of deacon guidelines to Concordia Lay Deacon Program Director.

If you have any questions about applying, please contact Reverend Paul Sauer at 914-337-9300 x2216.

All materials should be sent to the following:

Reverend Paul Sauer
Concordia College
171 White Plains Road
Bronxville, NY 10708

4. Following the submission of your application, you will be contacted by the Concordia Lay Deacon Program Director.

• Atlantic District-LCMS - Located on the Concordia College campus, visit the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod website for information on their support of Lutheran churches, schools and ministries.
• Concordia University System - Concordia University System builds national identity, enables cooperative endeavors, and enhances the strength of the colleges and universities of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as they engage students of diverse ages and cultures in quality, Christ-centered, value-oriented, Lutheran higher education for lives of service to church and community.
• The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - In grateful response to God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and the world.
• Mission Training Center - The Mission Training Center (MTC) is a cooperative project of ten districts of the LCMS responding to the need for training and official recognition of many mission leaders, full-time, part-time, and volunteer, who are serving in LCMS congregations and domestic mission sites on the east coast.
• Village Lutheran Church & Chapel School - Located across the street from Concordia College, Village Lutheran Church is our chapel worship/Eucharist sponsoring congregation.

LUTHERAN AID

Program Name	Amount Per Year	Requirements/Restrictions
Vocatio Scholarship	Up to Full Tuition	Active member of an LCMS congregation, meets general admission criteria, must be enrolled in one of the following programs: Pre-Seminary, Pre-Deaconess, Lutheran Teacher Diploma
Fortress Grant	Up to $12,500	Active member of a Lutheran church, meets general admission*
East Coast Assoc. of Congregations Grant	$1,000	Member of active ECAC congregation
Concordia Church Worker Dependent Grant	$1,000	Dependent of rostered Lutheran minister or teacher
Lutheran High School Graduate Grant	$1,000	LHS graduate; first-time freshman only
LCMS District Aid	Variable	Determined by church-service student's home district, separate application required

*To qualify for the Fortress Grant (Lutheran Awards), you must be a Lutheran member in good standing for at least one year, submit a pastor letter of recommendation, and meet above stated criteria.

Please note: Academic and Fortress grants cannot be combined. All awards many be adjusted based on your official high school/college transcript.

For more information, please contact our Financial Aid office.