Commencement [1] exercises for the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis 2026 graduating class will take place Friday, May 15.
The commencement events begin at 10 a.m. (CT) with the Theological Diploma Service in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. Theological diplomas will be presented at this service to all graduating students eligible to receive a call as a pastor or deaconess in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Dr. Timothy Saleska [2], the Seminary’s Gustav and Sophie Butterbach Professor of Exegetical Theology, will deliver the sermon.
Commencement will take place at 7 p.m. (CT) outdoors in the Seminary’s Main Quadrangle. Academic degrees and honors will be presented during this ceremony. Rev. Theodore Krey [3], regional director for the Latin America and the Caribbean region of the LCMS, will deliver the commencement address.
Five special honors also will be awarded:
- Doctor of Divinity, Dr. Kenneth Block
- Doctor of Letters, Dr. Brendan Wolfe
- Doctor of Laws, Rev. Theodore Krey
- Christus Vivit Award, Kris Schuldt
- Distinguished Alumnus Award, Dr. William Knippa
This year’s graduates will be joining some 9,000 called leaders of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod around the world and will be graduating during the 100th year of the Seminary’s operations on its Clayton campus.
The Theological Diploma Service will begin at 9:30 a.m. (CT) and for the Commencement ceremony at 6:30 p.m. (CT). They will be livestreamed on Facebook [4], You Tube [5] and at csl.edu/live [6].
Everyone is encouraged to share celebratory comments and photos with the hashtag #CSLGrad2026 on social media.
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) [7]. To learn more, visit csl.edu [8].