Dr. W. Mart Thompson will join the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis as associate professor of practical theology and director of the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program beginning in the winter quarter of the 2016-17 academic year. He will be installed during a special chapel service Nov. 30 in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus.

Thompson brings almost 30 years of experience as a parish, campus and rural pastor to the Seminary. For the past 15 years, Thompson has served as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Pevely, Mo.

“Congregations are the centers of Gospel ministry, and so our theological work at Concordia Seminary is focused on sending forth pastors and deaconesses who will be servant leaders for Jesus in their churches and communities,” said Seminary President Dr. Dale A. Meyer. “The entire church is blessed as Dr. Thompson joins our faculty as a professor and mentor in the formation of seminarians for ministry. We invite you to rejoice with us!”

In addition to his professorial duties, Thompson will assume the role of SMP director, a position now held by Dr. Andrew Bartelt, the Seminary’s Gustav and Sophie Butterbach Professor of Exegetical Theology.

Thompson will be a familiar name for many Seminary students. Since 2012, he has served as a guest professor at Concordia Seminary and at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he has taught courses for the SMP and Doctor of Ministry programs.

Thompson holds a Master of Divinity (’88) and Doctor of Ministry (’08) from Concordia Seminary. He has yearned to teach practical theology since his days as a Seminary student.

“I desired to apply the Law-Gospel theology I was learning in very practical ways in my own life and ministry; and what I learned I was passionate about sharing with others,” he said. “That interest led to developing practical applications of Lutheran theology in a multitude of parish ministry areas. For example, my final project for the Doctor of Ministry degree was on introducing Gospel-care small groups into a traditional Lutheran congregation.”

After earning his Master of Divinity, Thompson served as a campus pastor and rural parish pastor from 1988-92 at the Campus Lutheran Chapel in Mankato, Minn., and St. John Lutheran Church in Rapidan, Minn. From 1992-2000, he served as the pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Monett, Mo., overseeing the construction of a new church campus and the development of a preschool and child care program.

Thompson’s areas of interest include Christian education and catechesis, family and youth ministry, parish planning and administration, pastoral care and counseling, small group ministry and assimilation, and stewardship education.

He has served The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in various capacities for three decades. Currently, he is the Mission Board Chairman for the LCMS Missouri District, National Advisory Board Ambassador for the Concordia Center for the Family and a field education supervisor for Concordia Seminary. Also, Thompson recently adapted a seminary course about assimilating into congregational life for use by the LCMS Witness & Outreach Ministry nationwide. He is a regular presenter at LCMS-affiliated events, where he has offered his expertise on topics ranging from the doctrine of vocation to family friendly churches.

Thompson enjoys tennis, weightlifting, scuba diving, backpacking and traveling. He and his wife, Cheryl, have three children.

About Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). To learn more, visit www.csl.edu.