After years of preparation and a Call Day filled with joy, 112 Concordia Seminary, St. Louis students learned their placement of first calls to pastoral and diaconal ministry and assignments as vicars and deaconess interns.

First calls to serve as pastors, deaconesses, chaplains and missionaries in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) were announced at a 7 p.m. worship service in which Dr. Dien Taylor, president of the LCMS Atlantic District, delivered the sermon.  

“Serving sisters and preaching brothers are the ‘today’ answers to many past prayers offered by the humble saints long before their deaconesses and pastors were ever there. Now, wounded healers will proclaim and explain that Jesus is ‘my Lord and my God,’ not because we see clearly – but because we believe that the Lord still saves valiantly – proclaimed in words of hope and embodied in acts of charity,” said Taylor. “Broadcasting His victory over sin and death, the whole people of God will witness how the risen Christ who conquered death defeats their fears, hushes their worries and excites them for a promise-filled future. ‘I know the plans that I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to hurt you; to give you a hope and a future.’”

The pastoral students receiving calls included 42 Master of Divinity (M.Div.), three Residential Alternate Route (RAR) students, three Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) students, five Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) students and three Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC) students. Five residential Deaconess Studies Program students also received calls.

Earlier today, 42 M.Div. and three RAR students who will serve as vicars and six residential Deaconess Studies students who will serve as interns received their assignments at a 3 p.m. worship service. The vicarage and deaconess internships assignments provide students the opportunity for in-service education. 

During the vicarage and deaconess internship assignment service, Dr. Bill Harmon, president of the LCMS Southeastern District, preached.

“I guarantee you that over this next year — in fact, over the course of your entire ministry — you will have seasons of doubt and uncertainty. It might happen right after your first voters meeting. It certainly could happen after you leave the ICU as you share the commendation of the dying with someone you’ve grown to love who dies in a tragic way, and everything else in between that happens in ministry,” said Harmon, addressing the students. “When those times happen, remember that in the midst of things we cannot understand, we believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. Remember that now all the vault of heaven resounds. Christ has triumphed! He is living! And that victory is in your heart. That victory is your strength. That victory is your hope. That victory is your promise.”

All calls and assignments will be served in LCMS congregations and ministries. A complete list of assignments and placements, including an interactive map and photos, can be found at csl.edu/call-day or at the links below:

• Assignment of calls in alphabetical order
• Assignment of calls by district
• Vicarage and deaconess internship assignments in alphabetical order
• Vicarage and deaconess internship assignments by district
• Photo compilations of calls and assignments by district

Calls and assignments were shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, in real time during both services, and many people shared their celebratory comments and photos with the hashtag #callday2025.

“Jesus Christ is ‘the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth’ (Rev. 1:5 ESV). His merciful salvation and eternal promises are worthy of declaring to the ends of the earth, and these new servants of Christ will go forth to do just that,” said Seminary President Dr. Thomas J. Egger. “Each of these calls and placements represents the ongoing work of our risen Lord. He is providing pastors, missionaries, chaplains and deaconesses for His church, until He comes again.”

While today marks the campus’ primary annual Call Day celebration, the Seminary recognizes and celebrates additional calls throughout the year.

Those who are interested in attending the Seminary are encouraged to visit csl.edu/admissions or contact Enrollment at 800-822-9545 or [email protected].

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.