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Concordia Seminary begins 184th academic year

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The 184th academic year for Concordia Seminary, St. Louis [1] began Friday, Aug. 26,  with the Opening Service in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus.

During the Opening Service, Seminary President Thomas J. Egger [2] preached on the 2022-23 academic theme “Sharing the Gospel—Sharing our Lives” [3] based on 1 Thess. 2:8.

“May the coming year be a year lived in the Christian vocation of love and self-giving,” Egger said in his sermon. “Let us be like those early Christians in Acts chapter 2. The believers were together and had all things in common. Day by day, they attended temple together and broke bread together in their homes, receiving their food with glad and generous hearts and praising God. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship … and to prayers. Like them, like Paul and the Thessalonians, let us come together regularly and often and let not the devil hinder us. Let us share the Gospel with one another. Let us share our lives with one another.”

During the service, the Seminary’s new Provost and Professor of Exegetical Theology Dr. Ronald Mudge [4] was installed. In addition, three current professors were installed into new positions: Dr. David Adams [5] as the first W.G. Ray and Louis J. Rechtzigel Professor of Biblical Studies [6]; Dr. Joel Elowsky [7] as the first Frank and Valerie Fuerst Professor of Historical Theology [8]; and Dr. Timothy Saleska [9] as the Gustav and Sophie Butterbach Professor of Exegetical Theology [10]. One visiting professor, Dr. Vilson Scholz of São Leopoldo, Brazil, also was recognized. Three new staff members also were installed: DCE Caitlin Dinger as the administrative assistant for distance programs, Rev. Jesse Kueker as an admissions officer and Rev. Thomas Schlund as an admissions officer. In all, 15 new staff were recognized, and 10 faculty and staff were recognized for new positions.

Also, 44 distance students who received their vicarage and internship assignments were recognized. The Seminary welcomed 121 new students for the fall term across its Ministerial Formation and Advanced Studies programs.

Concordia Seminary’s residential and distance Ministerial Formation programs include: Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Residential Alternate Route (RAR), Deaconess Studies, Online Deaconess Studies (ODS), Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT), Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP), Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS), General Pastor Certification (GPC) and Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC).

The Seminary’s Advanced Studies department includes the following programs: Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Ministry and Master of Sacred Theology.

The following Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) [11] students were assigned as vicars during the service:

The following Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) [12] students were assigned as vicars:

The following Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) [12] students were assigned as deaconess interns:

The following Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) [13] student was assigned as vicar:

The following Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) [13] student was assigned as a deaconess intern:

The following Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC) [14] students were assigned as vicars:

The following Online Deaconess Studies (ODS) Program [15] students were assigned as deaconess interns:

The Seminary recognizes and celebrates calls throughout the year for students enrolled in programs such as SMP, EIIT, CHS, ODS and CMC; however, the majority of students receive their first calls to ministry at the annual Call Day celebration. Call Day is set for April 26, 2023.

“May God uphold and preserve us in the coming year and deal mercifully with us for the sake of His Son,” Egger said before officially opening the new academic year. “May God enliven us by His Spirit that we joyfully share His Gospel and share our very lives and selves, calling on His help and kindness.”

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) [16]. To learn more, visit csl.edu [1].

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