The first-ever cohort of students from the Online Deaconess Studies (ODS) Program, along a cohort of Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Program students, were recognized Jan. 17 during the chapel service at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Their recognition in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus celebrated the completion of intensive courses for these students and their calls to ministry and program completion.

“The SMP Program prepares men to serve in specific ministries to help meet the pressing need for pastors in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), while the ODS Program equips women to serve as deaconesses,” said SMP Program Director Dr. W. Mart Thompson. “We rejoice with these students, especially the ODS cohort, as they reach this historic milestone and receive their calls and diplomas.”

Thompson also expressed gratitude for the vital support from the students’ families, congregations and mentor pastors. “Our students highly value the theological education they receive from world-class Seminary professors, which they immediately apply in their ministry context,” he said. “We give thanks for their dedication to this work and the ongoing support of their communities.”

The SMP Program is a four-year program in which men receive theological education in the setting in which they will continue to serve — as pastors of congregations or in other ministries of the LCMS — following certification, call and ordination. Local pastor-mentors work with SMP students to provide day-to-day guidance, encouragement and prayer.

The SMP students recognized for pastoral calls include:

• Delbert Beideck, placement pending
• Eugene Bostwick, Peace Lutheran Church, King George, Va., LCMS Southeastern District
• Zachary Bultemeier, Trinity Lutheran Church, Henrico, Va., LCMS Southeastern District
• Brady Gurganious, Zion Lutheran Church, New Palestine, Ind., LCMS Indiana District
• Michael “Paul” Kasaty, Christ Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb., LCMS Nebraska District
• Tommy Lee, Messiah Church, Prattville, Ala., LCMS Southern District
• Timothy Onnen, Christ Lutheran Church, Montrose, Colo., LCMS Rocky Mountain District
• Thomas Penrod, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Gettysburg, S.D., LCMS South Dakota District
• Jacob Phillips, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Southaven, Miss., LCMS Southern District
• Eric Ronsick, Trinity Lutheran Church Egypt Mills, Cape Girardeau, Mo., LCMS Missouri District
• Alessandro Rubino, The Life Lutheran Church, Old Westbury, N.Y., LCMS Atlantic District
• Jeremy Seger, Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Evansville, Ind., LCMS Indiana District
• Kenneth Sherman, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lakeland, Fla., LCMS Florida-Georgia District
• Frederick Sylvester, Bethel Lutheran Church, New Orleans, La., LCMS Southern District
• Steven Tomac, Faith Lutheran Church, Yerington, Nev., LCMS California-Nevada-Hawaii District
• Jason Yunker, Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Evansville, Ind., LCMS Indiana District

The SMP students recognized for program completion include:

• Jeremiah Bauer, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Carrollton, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Andrew Greer, Messiah Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Neb., LCMS Nebraska District
• Joshua Hoffman, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Norwood Young America, Minn., LCMS Minnesota South District
• Kenneth “KC” Knippa, The Table Church, Celina, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Frederick Limmel, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Excelsior, Minn., LCMS Minnesota South District
• Ryan Pennington, Fortress Lutheran Church, Harker Heights, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Bryan Varblow, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church of the Irish Hills, Brooklyn, Mich., LCMS Michigan District

The ODS Program is a four-year program in which women are equipped for diaconal service through a seminary education while in the setting in which they will continue to serve — as called deaconesses of congregations or in other ministries of the LCMS — following certification, call and consecration. Local pastor-mentors work with ODS students to provide day-to-day guidance, encouragement and prayer.

The ODS students recognized for program completion and calls include:

• Alene Kidd, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Pineville, La., LCMS Southern District
• Grace Macduff, placement pending
• Robin Moyer, call pending, LCMS Mid-South District – Board of Directors, Cordova, Tenn., LCMS Mid-South District

The Seminary recognizes and celebrates calls throughout the year although the campus’ primary Call Day celebration typically is held in April. During call celebrations, students receive their first calls to ministry as well as assignments for vicarages and deaconess internships. The Seminary’s next primary Call Day is set for April 30, 2025.

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 csl.edu.