A total of 40 students from the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) [1], Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC) [2], Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) [3] and Online Deaconess Studies (ODS) program [4]s were recognized Jan. 16, 2026, 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 Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod offers various paths to the pastoral ministry. Today, we are please to recognize called candidates through three of these programs: SMP, CMC in conjunction with Concordia University Irvine, Irvine, Calif., and EIIT. In addition, one ODS graduate has received a call into diaconal ministry. These ministerial formation programs combine both online and residential classes with an internship,” said Placement Director Rev. Timothy Scharr. “We rejoice with the 18 SMP men, one CMC man and four EIIT men who received calls into the pastoral ministry and the one ODS woman who received her call into diaconal ministry as they begin their called, ordained or commissioned service in our Synod.”
The Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Program
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.
SMP students receiving calls and presentation of theological diplomas include:
- William Curley, The Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Bryans Road, Md., LCMS Southeastern District
- Troy Curtis, Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Palm Bay, Fla., LCMS Florida-Georgia District
- Chase Drake, Epiphany Lutheran Church, Pearland, Texas, LCMS Texas District
- Rory Fry, Gathering Lutheran Church, Robinson, Texas, LCMS Texas District
- Bruce Gatz, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Winsted, Minn., LCMS Minnesota South District
- Timothy Good, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Springfield, Ill., LCMS Central Illinois District
- Arnold (Dean) Graumann, Faith, St. John and St. John Lutheran Churches, Altus/Granite/Lone Wolf, Okla., LCMS Oklahoma District
- Andrew Gunzelman, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Leawood, Kan., LCMS Kansas District
- David Kaiser, St. James Lutheran Church, Shawano, Wis., LCMS North Wisconsin District
- Jacob Koehler, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind., LCMS Indiana District
- Jason Obermiller, Immanuel and Immanuel Lutheran Churches, Loup City/Merna, Neb., LCMS Nebraska District
- Christopher Odenbrett, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Winsted, Minn., LCMS Minnesota South District
- Bradley Person, Faith Lutheran Church, Adel, Iowa, LCMS Iowa District West
- Joseph Pierson, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Logan, Utah, LCMS Rocky Mountain District
- Timothy Richter, Zion Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Fla., LCMS Florida-Georgia District
- Nathan Sieveking, Hosana Lutheran Church, Mankato, Minn., LCMS Minnesota South District
- David Singer, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Clovis, Calif., LCMS California-Nevada-Hawaii District
- Anthony Tin, Canaan Lutheran Church, San Francisco, Calif., LCMS California-Nevada-Hawaii District
SMP students recognized for program completion include:
- Shane Acers, Hope Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa, LCMS Iowa District West
- Jamie Bauknecht, Messiah Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Neb., LCMS Nebraska District
- William Beck, Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colo., LCMS Rocky Mountain District
- Patrick Brooks, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Southgate, Mich., LCMS Michigan South District
- Tyler Coyne, Crosspoint Lutheran Church, Lakewood, Ill., LCMS Northern Illinois District
- Frank Johnson, Zion Lutheran Church, Hillsboro, Kan., LCMS Kansas District
- Kyle Johnson, Samaritan’s Lutheran Church, Albertville, Minn., LCMS Minnesota South District
- Jacob Koehler, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind., LCMS Indiana District
- William (Jeff) Lane, Faith Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kan., LCMS Kansas District
- Benjamin Marsh, Shepherd’s Gate Lutheran Church, Shelby Township, Mich., LCMS Michigan District
- Timothy Phanco, Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Myrtle Beach, S.C., LCMS Southeastern District
- Greg Rathke, Trinity Lutheran Church, Freemont, Neb., LCMS Nebraska District
- William Rowland, Peace Lutheran Church, Hurst, Texas, LCMS Texas District
- Lawrence (Larry) Rugger, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Matteson, Ill., LCMS Northern Illinois District
- David Schultz, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bay City, Mich., LCMS Michigan District
- Joel Springer, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Springfield, Ill., LCMS Central Illinois District
The Cross-cultural Ministry Center
The Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC) has been established by Concordia University, Irvine, Calif [5]., in conjunction with Concordia Seminary and with the LCMS Pacific Southwest District [6], to provide directed preparation for ordained ministry to men who will serve in the sociocultural contexts of specific ethnic populations and multicultural communities.
The CMC student receiving his call is:
- Les Schaefer, St. James Lutheran Church, Imperial Beach, Calif., LCMS Pacific Southwest District
The Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology
The Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) offers a specialized program of preparation for men who want to serve as pastors and women who want to serve as deaconesses in immigrant and ethnic minority communities in North America. Students who successfully complete the program receive the Certificate of Vocation that enables men to receive a call into the ministry of the LCMS and women to be commissioned to serve in deaconess ministry.
EIIT students receiving their calls include:
- Amanuel Abdalla, Associate Pastor, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Phoenix, Ariz., LCMS Pacific Southwest District
- Luther Ashkaba, Associate Pastor, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Phoenix, Ariz., LCMS Pacific Southwest District
- Robert Mutombo, Associate Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Appleton, Wis., LCMS North Wisconsin District
- Absalom Nasuwa, Associate Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Dallas, Texas, LCMS Texas District
The Online Deaconess Studies (ODS) Program
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 student recognized for program completion and her call is:
- Naomi Moon, Rocky Mountain District of the LCMS, Englewood, Colo., LCMS Rocky Mountain District
The Seminary recognizes and celebrates calls throughout the year although the campus’ primary Call Day [7] 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 28, 2026.
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) [8]. To learn more, visit csl.edu [9].