Edited by Travis Scholl Dear future pastoral student, Due in no small part to the encouragement of my parents and my pastor, I’ve known since middle school that I would attend the Seminary. In my mind it was always a matter of when and not if. In retrospect, my Seminary education began both later and […]
By Tiffany Hudson First-year Master of Divinity (M.Div.) student Christian Pieper can’t start a class without being asked if he’s related to Franz Pieper, the former president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. “I get asked that in almost every introductory class,” he laughed. “As far as I know, I’m not.” Pieper never seriously considered becoming […]
By Tiffany Hudson When Beth Menneke started working at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, she began, as she puts it, as “an assistant to an assistant.” Now serving as the Seminary’s registrar, Menneke feels blessed that God led her to work at the Seminary even though it was not the career she had planned. She grew […]
By Kendra Whittle Paul and Linda Arbesman spent much of their marriage on the move. Throughout their years together they moved twice in Maryland, twice in New Jersey, to California for three years, back to New Jersey and finally settled in Connecticut. But they say, no matter where they’ve been, there’s one thing that has […]
The Rev. Dr. Dale A. and Diane C. Meyer “Helpers of Joy” Endowment was announced at the Generations Campaign celebration gala held Dec. 2, 2017. The Meyers established the endowment. Gifts to this endowment are a tribute to the ministry of the Seminary’s beloved president and first lady and will ensure that future generations will […]
By Kendra Whittle A young Spencer Mielke wore a white acolyte robe in the sanctuary of Trinity Lutheran Church in Danville, Ill., and intently watched as his pastor led the liturgy. And that’s when it hit him. Mielke wanted to be a pastor. “I could so vividly see myself doing that,” he said. “The door […]
By Mark Rockenbach The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) is an accrediting agency for 270 graduate schools of theology in the United States and Canada. According to its website, ATS member schools enroll around 74,500 students. Recently I had the opportunity to attend an ATS conference where it was reported that only 50 percent of […]
By Kim Plummer Krull While Dr. Ralph Blomenberg appreciates that Concordia Seminary gave him an excellent theological education to begin his pastoral ministry, he also appreciates that he graduated in 1981. As the changing world continually presents new ministry challenges, the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seymour, Ind., pastor recognizes the need to continually “hone the edges” […]
By Kendra Whittle For Rev. Mike Fieberkorn, an opportunity to gather in Werner Auditorium at Concordia Seminary and listen to a former professor deliver a theological lecture is a chance to renew and refresh. An afternoon spent in Sieck Hall with a noted theologian is a privilege. Just stepping back onto the Seminary’s campus is […]
By Travis Scholl For Professor Peter Nafzger, joining the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 2016 was like coming home in more ways than one. Not only did Professor Nafzger complete both his ministerial training and doctoral work at the Seminary (M.Div. 2004, Ph.D. 2009), but he was born, baptized, raised, educated and confirmed […]
By Melanie Ave “I love surrounding myself with people of great faith, which is exactly the people at these seminars. God uses them to strengthen my faith.” Solomon Conrad of St. Peters, Mo., was reading through his church’s newsletter several years ago when he noticed something that caught his eye: a notice about a Lay […]
By Dr. Charles Arand The milestone 500th anniversary of the Reformation has just passed, but it provided a wonderful opportunity to give thanks to God for the theological treasures we have inherited. This special time of commemoration and reflection highlighted anew that Jesus is the foundation of our faith; the church stands and falls on […]
