concordia seminary
SPRING 2015
STUDENTS A DAY IN THE LIFE BACH AT THE SEM
CHINA LUTHERAN SEMINARY
COURSE IN ISRAEL
concordia seminary The Magazine
of
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
FEATURES Publisher
Dale A. Meyer Executive Editor
Jeffrey Kloha Managing Editor
Vicki Biggs Editor / Art Director
Jayna Rollings Illustrator / Designers
Julie Cronin Michelle Meier Assistant Editor
4 MAIN FEATURE: STUDENT LIFE Being a student at Concordia Seminary is about more than studying theology. It is about learning how to honor God with everything you do.
12 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT:
CONNECTING THROUGH LANGUAGE tudents in the Center for Hispanic Studies come from many different S backgrounds, but they share the same goal: to connect with Hispanic communities across the U.S. through the use of their native language.
16 FACULTY FEATURE: THREE PURSUITS FOR A THOUGHTFUL PROFESSOR hree new roles for Joel Okamoto collectively center on improving T Concordia Seminary’s curriculum, with the goal of forming more thoughtful pastors who are equipped to deal with complex theological questions.
Tiffany Leong Contributing Writers
Tiffany Leong, Becky Pagel, Megan Panarusky Contributing Designers
Jayna Rollings
IN EVERY ISSUE 3 From the President 12 Student Spotlight 16 Faculty and Staff Notes
18 News Worth Noting 26 Events 29 Alumni and Friends
Photographers
Jill Gray, Mark Polege, Harold Rau, Tiffany Leong Concordia Seminary magazine is a member of the Associated Church Press, the oldest interdenominational religious press association in North America.
Cover Image: Concordia Seminary students participate in a neighborhood renewal service project as part of orientation exercises at the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year. Photo: Jill Gray
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MISSION STATEMENT Concordia Seminary serves Church and world by providing theological education and leadership centered in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for the formation of pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars, and leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
To be added to the mailing list, or to receive the magazine electronically, address correspondence to: Concordia Seminary magazine, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Pl., St. Louis, MO 63105; call 1-800-822-5287; or email magazine@csl.edu. Congregations may request that copies in bulk for distribution within their churches. Copyright ©May 2015, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Pl., St. Louis, MO 63105. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of Concordia Seminary.
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
from the
President
O
n a trip overseas during my Lutheran Hour days, I was invited to sit on a panel of leaders in the Lutheran Church. The moderator asked us to introduce ourselves and tell what we do for a living. One pastor said, “My job is to preach the Gospel.” “Great!” I thought. Shallow sermons don’t help people as much as do full, thoughtful, faithful, and winsome presentations of God’s wisdom to us in Jesus Christ. Introductions over, the moderator guided the panel through various topics and then opened the floor to questions. An older woman told how pleasantly surprised she had been on a trip back to her native Sweden. When she visited the Lutheran church where she had grown up, she was happily surprised that the pastor was most outgoing and greeted the people before the service. To that the pastor on the panel said with a sour tone, “You can be sure I’ll never do that. My job is to preach the Gospel.” The room fell silent and needless to say, my opinion of that pastor changed. If I were to visit his church, I’m confident the sermon would be doctrinally correct and the worship liturgically proper, but the truth is, I wouldn’t want to go to that church. His pastoral leadership would have turned the culture of that congregation into something cold and uninviting. Every place has its own unique culture. A home with an addicted or abusive parent will have a culture far different and less desirable than the culture of a home where emotionally healthy parents raise their children without fear. Culture is something you sense, you experience, and if you stay long enough, you begin to take the prevailing culture into yourself and reflect it. A church’s culture isn’t spelled out in the bulletin or bylaws, in the sermons or Bible class, although those are not irrelevant to the atmosphere. The culture of Concordia Seminary is more than what is taught in the classroom and experienced in resident field education and vicarage. It includes the entire student experience. I hope you enjoy this issue and its focus on the total student experience during formation at our Seminary. We want our students to experience a culture at the Seminary that they’ll emulate when they are placed as servant leaders in the congregations where you worship. Dr. C.F.W. Walther told seminarians, “Think of the time when you will be the pastor of a congregation, and make a vow to God … that you will not stand in your pulpit with a sad face (as if you were asking people to come to a funeral), but like men who are wooing a bride or who are announcing a wedding…. People will notice that you are filled with joy because you are bringing the blessed message of joy to your congregation. Furthermore, they will notice that wonderful things are happening among them…. When you become pastors, you become helpers of Christians’ joy.”
Dale A. Meyer, President
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
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A DAY IN THE LIFE:
STUDENT
life
Concordia Seminary is more than just a campus; it is more than the classic architecture of the buildings, more than the stunningly beautiful grounds, more than the classrooms, dorms, and offices. It is even more than the students, faculty, and staff, though all of them are dedicated people who serve God in their own ways. It is about what happens when all of these things come together. The whole is the sum of these parts: a community filled with love for God and each other, helping people become who they’re meant to be. For students, this means more than just studying theology. It means learning how to honor God with everything you do, from playing on sports teams to being a good neighbor.
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Students on a seminary campus have stories. The journeys that brought them here involve many people and opportunities along the way. For most students, their journeys involved a worship life in a home congregation or college campus. And while it may seem natural for students and their families to connect and gather in spiritual life here, Concordia Seminary faculty and staff, knowing the human heart, don't leave the process to chance, but rather create intentional connection opportunities that are numerous and varied. Daily chapel is the first level of connection. It is wonderful to see students able to worship with their families, and it is overwhelming to sing, pray, and commune together on a regular basis. The chapel environment is welcoming to all as we experience God coming to us in His service in a variety of ways—always centered on the Word. The opportunities for student involvement are a great blessing whether it is through reading the Scriptures, singing in the choir, leading various styles of music, or assisting with the liturgy.
Chapel & spiritual life JO H N GENSLER
The intentional opportunities for the spiritual life connection of students and families go far beyond chapel. Students are assigned spiritual mentors on staff. Numerous Bible studies, service groups, and seminars are provided, advertised, and organized. Some are for a general membership while others focus on a particular group. The opportunities for student spouses to gather, study, and talk together show a specific understanding that, although classes are mostly filled with men (along with deaconess students), the Seminary process and community is for the whole family. Although the intentional opportunities are numerous, wonderful, and effective, the most important aspects for spiritual life connection and growth are those that happen throughout our everyday lives. It is amazing how quickly students, faculty, staff, and families form a community at the Seminary. Every faculty member becomes a mentor with a quick “How are you?� across the quad. Every staff member is truly interested in helping students and families in the process. Every student is ready with a wave and a smile or, when needed, a shoulder to lean on, and hands to pray with. God is at work through Concordia Seminary. He works through the classes to teach, through the faculty to train and form, through the staff to support and guide, through the friends and families to encourage, and through all to grant His gifts of grace, mercy, and love as He builds us up for service to His Church. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 >
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sports JO EL H ECKMAN N
While studies are certainly essential to pastoral formation, the Seminary isn’t all books and papers. A stroll through Concordia Seminary’s campus in any of the academic quarters is sure to reveal students, faculty, and their families taking in the fresh air and having some outdoor fun. The athletic scene at Concordia Seminary offers a generous amount of activities for both amateurs and more impassioned competitors. To begin with, a variety of club teams attract students looking for stiffer competition than their academic colleagues might offer. The club sports year begins in the fall with soccer, coached by Dr. Jim Voelz, and a brief tennis season, headed up by Dr. Rick Marrs. Basketball gives many students a chance in the winter to venture through the cold to Pederson Fieldhouse to shoot some hoops against local teams (and maybe beat Fort Wayne). Dr. Tim Saleska and Dr. Paul Raabe form a dynamic coaching duo, leading the Preachers basketball team forth in battle. Springtime ushers in the sights and sounds of the full tennis season, also coached by Dr. Marrs. Of course, no spring is complete without golf.
basketball JO EL N EWTO N
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One of my favorite Seminary activities is playing basketball. I enjoy playing for the Preachers because of the other people involved. Basketball is a great game and I’ve always loved playing it, but never have I been a part of a team like this. The guys are very encouraging, especially to a lowly first-year like me! We have fun during practice and games, and the atmosphere is one of constantly building up. The coaches offer good instruction
and work hard to help us improve. My teammates are helpful too— they help me to understand the different plays and drills, though sometimes I’ve forgotten for the fourth or fifth time! I was anxious when I walked into the first practice of the season, unsure of what it would be like and nervous about messing things up in the drills. I needn’t have been worried. Players and coaches alike strive to help everyone get
Student golfers get to hit the links with Coach Voelz, practicing for competition against local schools and seminaries, and for future elders' meetings. Club teams are equipped with impressive uniforms and dedicated coaches, pushing athlete after athlete to do his best. Each of these club sports allows for healthy competition, strong camaraderie, and numerous opportunities to use the gracious gift of exercise for the glory of God. Moving to more moderate recreation, the intramural program also provides a broad spectrum of students with a chance to compete and interact with other students and professors twice a week. Competitors are drafted by team captains in the fall, assuring a somewhat fair distribution of talent and vigor. The “hallowed” grounds of the athletic field play home to flag football and ultimate frisbee in the fall, with both a regular season and playoffs separating the pretenders from the contenders. Also occurring in the fall is the illustrious Faster Pastor 5K race on campus, in which joggers of all ages vie for the vaunted title of “Faster Pastor.” Winter
shifts the intramural scene to Pederson Fieldhouse. Here, students often rediscover their long-dormant sprinting abilities during basketball, while volleyball and dodgeball provide a healthy outlet for throwing, dodging, spiking, and diving. The warmer days of spring remind students of the newness of life in creation, and bring the return of the sweet sounds of a softball leaving an aluminum bat or a tennis ball colliding with racquet strings. Ball gloves and tennis racquets make their way out to the athletic field and the courts after long winter hibernations for some fun during the softball and tennis seasons, wrapping up the always eventful year in Seminary intramural competition. Other intramural activities also are scattered throughout the year, including table tennis, pool, and chess. Whether it’s chasing after a football or whacking the golf ball off a tee, sports play an important role in the life of the students at Concordia Seminary. Each activity allows students to build relationships, stay active, be a witness to others, and most importantly, glorify God with the gifts He’s granted to His people. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 >
better, and are very patient. Practices are moved around to accommodate schedules as much as possible, which I appreciate. In addition, if there is a conflict or just too much homework, practice can be set aside for that day with no consequences to the individual. It’s good to know that. Although we strive to be the best basketball team we can, everyone knows that our first priority as students is to learn and study. It’s wonderful to be a part of a team that’s so
competitive. Every player works his hardest and strives to better the team in whatever capacity he can. Perhaps the best part about the competition, though, is that it is not allowed to devolve into anger or ill will. Competition is a way to glorify God with the abilities He gave us, not to showcase our individual skills and fly off the handle when things don’t go well. God is at the center, and it’s not difficult to see His influence through the team and in the lives of the
players. Every practice and every game starts with a prayer, and we even get a little reminder of the two kingdoms theology before the games when we sing the National Anthem as a team. I appreciate how the players and coaches keep their priorities straight throughout gameplay and practice— that we represent Christ to the spectators, our opponents, and each other. That attitude is readily apparent in everything. There’s no place I’d rather play ball than at Pederson Field House.
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academics CASEY KEGLEY & AN D REW R. JO N ES
While sitting in Sieck Hall's room 201, listening to one of the world’s most prolific Lutheran Confessions scholars, Dr. Robert Kolb, we learned that Dr. Kolb had studied the Lutheran Confessions in the very same room when he himself was a seminarian. It was then that we realized the rich academic tradition of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. We were being incorporated into the history of that tradition. It brought some life into the classroom, even though it was 8 a.m. on a dreary Tuesday. Each of the four academic departments at Concordia Seminary contributes greatly to our acquisition of knowledge and preparation for the pastoral ministry. In a typical week, most students have one class from each of the four departments: systematic theology, exegetical theology, historical theology, and practical theology. In systematic theology courses, most basically, we learn how to talk about God. One of our mentors frequently refers to systematics courses as “confirmation on steroids.” We explore Lutheran doctrine, closely examining the Lutheran Confessions that outline our faith. We also learn how to speak with a distinctively Lutheran voice in a world that desperately needs to hear the truth about our God, who revealed Himself to the world through His Son, Jesus Christ. Every congregation expects its pastors to know the Bible very well. In exegetical theology courses we learn how to read and interpret the Bible in its original languages. God’s Word is so rich and exciting one could spend a lifetime studying its contents and still learn something new with each page turn. We do not learn all there is to know about the Bible in our courses, but we are equipped with the tools
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and resources to engage in continual study throughout our ministry. Exegetical courses are particularly helpful for preparing sermons and Bible studies. History may at first appear like a strange topic for future pastors to study, but the history of the Church helps us to understand who we are as God’s people and gain an appreciation for our brothers and sisters in Christ from previous centuries. We study topics such as the Lutheran Reformation, the history of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and other courses related to the context of important church decisions and documents, such as the Nicene Creed and Apostles' Creed. Each of the other three areas of theological study have practical application in themselves, but practical theology courses seek to combine aspects of every academic department into one big pastoral-preparation package. Many of the activities people most closely associate with pastoral ministry fall into the category of practical theology. These include leading worship, preaching, teaching, and pastoral counseling. These courses focus on the day-to-day life and service of a pastor. As men studying to become pastors, we are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the rich academic tradition of Concordia Seminary. Our formation does not end at graduation; our studies provide knowledge and skills for us to serve faithfully in the pastoral office, as we study God’s Word, teach sound doctrine, understand who we are as God’s people, preach the Word and administer the Sacraments, all for the purpose of bringing the joy of Christ to our future congregations.
housing
GREGO RY SCHAFFER
When my wife and I first started discussing our next steps in life, the thought of going to Concordia Seminary raised many questions. Outside of finances, there were two other concerns that kept coming up. What about our kids leaving their friends and the life they know? How are we going to transition our family from a town of 300 people to St. Louis with 3 million? Then we discovered the option of living in “The Woods.” I think we were both skeptical about how living on campus would resolve these concerns. However, I have been pleasantly surprised at how it has. Early on, I recognized that my fears for the kids would not be an issue. Prior to my family moving to campus, I moved in to take summer Greek classes. One day while I was studying, the doorbell rang. I answered it to find a kid hanging on the tree right outside the door. I asked if he rang, to which he responded, “Don’t you have any kids?” From the moment my kids arrived, there has been a steady stream of children ringing that doorbell. It is amazing how many kids of all ages live on campus. I can see now my children are making great friendships that will last a lifetime. It is also nice to see them having fun in an environment we know is safe. Early in our married life, my wife and I transitioned from a small town to the big city, so we knew the challenges of the coming transition. One of the things I was sure I would miss was the friendliness and sense of community you have in a small town. You can meet your neighbor in the front yard or go over to borrow the proverbial cup of sugar and find it hard to leave because you’re in a good conversation. How could we possibly find that here? On our move-in day it struck me that we were not just in a big city. There were about a dozen people carrying our boxes and assembling furniture that day. What we thought would be an all-day process took just a few hours. Everyone understands we are in the same boat, moving in and out multiple times. So, everyone pitches in as they can and takes care of each other. You not only see it on moving days, but in the Friday evening community BBQs, when families gather to take the kids “trick or treating,” when you share some time on a neighbor’s patio for a study break, and even, very literally, when you need to borrow a cup of sugar or in my case, a stick of butter. There is no doubt we are living in the big city. However, this close-knit community really is very separate from the big city, and has provided answers to my family’s questions beyond what I thought possible. In fact, it feels a lot more like home than I ever thought it could. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 >
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field education GERARD BO LLI N G < CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
A great pastor once told me, “There is more to being a pastor than just attending classes at the seminary. You have to attend life in the church.” Those powerful words prove so true as I reflect upon my time at MissionShift, field education, and now vicarage. I entered MissionShift my first year in an attempt to learn more about other cultures so I would be able to minister among them effectively. I expected a lot of reading, writing, and tedious research about other cultures. Instead, what I got was a hands-on experience that really did indeed “shift my mission.” In each class I met a pastor, deaconess, community developer, politician, or city planner who helped me gain knowledge that would help me in the field. What I had previously conceptualized as simply numbers and statistics were brought to life by refugee, immigrant, and third-culture visitors to our class. By telling us their stories they gave me a clearer vision of Matthew 28, and I realized that while we still go out to all nations and make disciples, all nations indeed also come to us via glocalization. Nothing could have prepared me for what a blessing my fieldwork experience would be. Immediately, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Louis involved me in the everyday life of the church. I made evangelism calls, taught Bible study, read readings, offered children’s messages, and started practicing my preaching. Field experience soon turned to vicarage as I currently serve as vicar at Bethlehem. With the
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guidance of Pastor John Schmidtke, I continue to be formed daily into a pastor. Rev. Schmidtke is a charismatic preacher, intentional teacher, attentive counselor, and consistent encourager. Observing him provides me each day with the tools I need in my “pastor toolbox” for ministry. I am able to preach regularly, teach, lead service, facilitate youth activities, lead the Wednesday outreach program, and lead other special events. One of the other major parts of my vicarage is my involvement in deaf ministry. I serve as the deaf ministry coordinator at Bethlehem, and continue to grow our deaf ministry as the Spirit wills. This includes not only inviting family members who are deaf to worship with us on Sundays but also making sure there are spiritual activities available for them to participate in during the week. Bethlehem has embraced sign language, and our entire church is learning sign language together to be able to connect with our members who are deaf. So indeed, now I know there is more to being a pastor than simply attending the Seminary, and I realize that fully. But I also know that like love and marriage, the Seminary and church leadership belong together. What I am learning in my classes directly connected to what I was learning at MissionShift, dealing with at field work, and experiencing on vicarage. I am excited to continue my journey into pastoral ministry, and I am elated that I belong to a seminary that provides me with hands-on learning experiences I will keep with me forever.
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So i n d eed, n ow i kn ow th ere is m o re to bei n g a pasto r than si m ply atten d i n g th e sem i nary... GERARD BO LLI N G
Before students become pastors, deaconesses, missionaries, and church leaders, they become a part of the Seminary community. They participate in campus events and activities, and they love and support other members of the community, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s through prayer, helping someone move, studying together, or baby-sitting someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children. If you feel like God is calling you to study at Concordia Seminary, we would love to welcome you to our community. For more information about degree programs, relocation, housing options, or applying, go to www.csl.edu, call 800-822-9545, or write to admissions@csl.edu.
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Connecting through language sharing God’s Word among Hispanic communities in the U.S. THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE CONNECTED, THANKS TO MOBILE PHONES, TABLETS, AND THE INTERNET. AS GLOBALIZATION BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER, IT’S IMPORTANT FOR EASE OF COMMUNICATIONS TO KNOW MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. THAT SAID, CONCORDIA SEMINARY STUDENTS ARE LEARNING THERE IS A UNIQUE BENEFIT TO USING A NATIVE LANGUAGE WHEN IT COMES TO CONNECTING WITH CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S.
Students in the Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) program at Concordia Seminary come from many Spanishspeaking countries, but they are assigned to serve churches with Hispanic populations in the mostly monolingual United States. These students experience a deep connection with their congregations because of what they share: a native language, a similar cultural heritage, and a common background and life experience.
JUAN GABRIEL VALLEJO VÁZQUEZ Vicar at Trinity Lutheran Church, Watsonville, California I am Juan Vallejo, born in Guatemala, Central America. I have lived in the United States since I was a young boy. I am very proud of my rich cultural heritage as well as my very, very rich Lutheran heritage.
“Language is a window into a people's culture and heart,” said Dr. Leopoldo Sánchez, director of CHS. “Through the Center for Hispanic Studies, Concordia Seminary forms Lutherans for Hispanic ministries in the U.S. Seminary-level formation is given primarily in Spanish, but the use of English is increasingly encouraged in the classroom and displayed by our students at various levels. Our approach reflects the bilingual and bicultural reality of Hispanic communities in the U.S. These are exciting times to pray for and support this important work.”
My father is a Lutheran pastor (he was a graduate of the Hispanic Institute of Theology, which was the predecessor of the Center for Hispanic Studies) and some years ago, the Lord also called me to study and become a pastor. So following the loving encouragement of my parents, I have been studying at the Center for Hispanic Studies. After finishing my first year, I took a leave of absence to finish a degree in psychology at San Jose State University, because I wanted to continue my theological formation at the Seminary by completing the M.A. delivered in Spanish. This will give me so many opportunities to serve the Lord in Spanish and in English.
In this special feature, CHS students have shared their stories, in their own voices:
And now to my Lutheran heritage: My grandfather, Alfredo Vázquez, was a
JUAN GABRIEL VALLEJO VÁZQUEZ
“ I PRAY THAT THE LORD
CONTINUES TO ENABLE ME TO SERVE IN HIM, AND IN HIS LOVE, BE HIS CONSECRATED INSTRUMENT OF PEACE.
”
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Left: Juan Vallejo with a cross carved by his grandfather. Above: Prof. Mark Kempff, CHS instructor and assistant to the CHS director (left), keeps a cross made by Vallejo's grandfather for his father, Rev Gerhard Kempff, in his office as a reminder of his heritage and those who came before him.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
LIGIA ISABEL MORALES CAMEROS
“ THE LORD PUT IN MY HEART THE DESIRE TO SERVE HIM ” Ligia Isabel Morales Cameros is pictured at the celebration of her Commencement with, from left, Dr. Leo Sánchez, Rev. Miguel Sanabria, and Prof. Mark Kempff.
carpenter; he made caskets for funeral homes in the small town of Zacapa, Guatemala. He and his family were faithful Christians and members of various Lutheran congregations in Guatemala and California. He was instrumental in bringing the Lutheran Church to Zacapa. Rev. Gerhard Kempff (’50) was one of the first Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) missionaries in Zacapa. My grandfather had a great love and respect for “Don Lico” as Rev. Kempff was nicknamed, and made him a special cross. This cross was always placed in a prominent place in Rev. Kempff’s study, and it traveled with him to Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and then to parishes in Montana, Texas, and Washington. Recently, Rev. Kempff’s widow sent that cross to her son Marcos, who serves as one of my instructors in the Center for Hispanic Studies at Concordia Seminary, so that he could give it to me as a precious reminder of my grandfather Alfredo. Full circle. There is so much history and so many memories shared with that beautiful handmade cross, so carefully made in the summer of 1952. I decided to have Marcos keep that cross because my father, Rev. Gabriel Enrique Vallejo, gave me a very similar cross that my grandfather gave to him. My mother told me to treasure that small cross as
a reminder of God’s love through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus. Now Marcos and I have the very same emotional opportunity, the joy, and the flood of memories as we keep these crosses in our places of ministry as a testament of those who came before us in the love of Jesus Christ. I wish to thank all, and I pray that the Lord continues to enable me to serve in Him, and in His love, be His consecrated instrument of peace.
LIGIA ISABEL MORALES CAMEROS deaconess student, M.A. graduate Deaconess at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Orlando, Florida I was born in Jutiapa, Guatemala March 25, 1964. By God’s grace, I attended church regularly with my family and actively participated in it as a young girl. Since my childhood and adolescence, I participated in all the youth groups and boards. I completed my elementary and middle school studies in Jutiapa. To complete my high school education, I moved to the country’s capital where I studied accounting at the Evangelical School of Latin America (Colegio Evangélico America Latina). There, I participated in the Christian Leaders group, the Camps for Kids Organization, and as a counselor. After graduating, I worked for three years in my profession.
Ligia Isabel Morales Cameros and her husband, Rev. Adolfo Borges, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Orlando, Fla.
It’s important to mention that ever since I was young, the Lord put in my heart the desire to serve Him, and that desire strengthened in high school. The Lord allowed me to study theology part time at the Central American Theological Seminary (Seminario Teológico Centroamericano). A year later, God opened the door for me to study for a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology full time. At the seminary, I met my husband, Adolfo Borges (adjunct instructor for CHS and current Ph.D. student at Concordia Seminary), and we were married in 1988. While taking classes at the seminary, I served in Sunday school, youth groups, and ladies groups, and the Lord gave me the opportunity to form a young women’s group in one of the churches, which continues to function today. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 >
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ARTURO MÉNDEZ
“ I CAN CLEARLY AFFIRM
NOW THAT CHS HAS HELPED ME IN BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
”
Arturo Méndez is pictured with a Sunday school class at Trinity Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas. < CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
When my husband and I finished our studies, we moved to Costa Rica, my husband’s country, to work in the ministry. Our three children, Ligia Raquel, Samuel Esteban, and Moisés Adolfo, were born in Costa Rica. After four years of serving in the ministry, my husband received a call to work at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Guatemala (Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey). We moved to Guatemala where my husband was an associate pastor for many years. There I continued to support my husband’s ministry through the Sunday school and youth group. I advanced in my studies and the Lord allowed me to obtain a master’s degree from the seminary. After five or six years, some of the members from Christ the King had the vision to plant a new church in Guatemala City. The new church started with Bible studies and Kids’ Club, of which I was in charge. The Kids’ Club grew, and the families of the children began to attend the Bible studies. After a year of working with the Kid’s Club, the missionary in charge of the new church asked me to work as the church’s administrator. I also led Bible classes at A Mighty Fortress School. The Lord blessed the ministry, and it was consolidated into A Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church.
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In 2001, God opened the doors for my husband to work in this country as a pastor in Orlando, Florida. My husband became an associate pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and the pastor for Iglesia Luterana Príncipe de Paz. During these years, I studied in Concordia Seminary’s CHS deaconess studies program, and I completed my two-year internship at Príncipe de Paz. I finished my courses in 2009 and I was certified in 2010. I was then accepted into Concordia Seminary’s M.A. program, which was delivered in Spanish. When I finished in 2013, I was the first CHS deaconess student to complete this degree. I am now a member of the board of directors for the fifth National Hispanic Lutheran Convention, where I serve with its current president, Dr. Leo Sánchez, and I have written devotionals for Portals of Prayer in Spanish. I am delighted and overjoyed to be able to teach classes for the deaconess program with the Center for Hispanic Studies at Concordia Seminary. The Lord, in His infinite grace, has allowed me to work in different ministries and to participate and support the pastoral ministry of my husband. I like teaching, discipleship, and training new leaders.
Arturo Méndez distributes school supplies at Trinity Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas as part of a student outreach program.
ARTURO MÉNDEZ Vicar at Trinity Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas The peace of the Lord be with you. My name is Vicar Arturo Méndez and by God’s grace and mercy, the Lord came into my life six years ago. I am originally from northern México, and my life was a mess; I was immersed in esotericism and gnosticism, and I was reading extensively about metaphysics. But Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has forgiven all my sins and has called me to serve Him. I started attending
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
EDILBERTO “BETO” ALZATE SO MANY YEARS OF “ AFTER PREPARATION, I SEE NOW HOW TH E LORD HAS FUFILLED HIS PROMISES.
” Edilberto “Beto” Alzate teaches a parenting class at a North Dallas school.
the Christian Family Center Church with Rev. Lincon Guerra, a graduate of the Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) program. Later I was given the opportunity to attend Concordia Seminary and CHS myself. I can clearly affirm now that the Center has helped me in biblical and theological studies. At this moment I am serving at Trinity Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas. I am indeed very grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to prepare myself theologically and provide me with the knowledge to lead others to Christ, because God has put them in my life. I am a worker-priest; I also work as a professional photographer. Life is not easy and I wish I could serve the Lord full time. But I am sure He has me in the right place at the right time and with the right people, so that I may give witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ— wherever I go and with whomever I interact. I am His instrument. Thank you for your unconditional love toward us. Thank you for that heart of service which helps carry out this
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work of support and preparation for all students, to fulfill the Great Commission, which our Lord Jesus Christ has entrusted to us. God bless you all.
EDILBERTO “BETO” ALZATE pastor at LINC-North Texas, Dallas, Texas My name is Edilberto “Beto” Alzate, of Colombia, South America. I have been married for 27 years and have two grown children. I currently serve as director of Hispanic Ministries at LINC-North Texas in Dallas, Texas.
Seminary and the Center for Hispanic Studies. It has been such a blessing to study in this prestigious Lutheran seminary. I was accepted immediately and since then I have been a dedicated student. I received a call to serve the Lord with LINC-North Texas and was ordained Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015. After so many years of preparation, I see now how the Lord has fulfilled His promises. As I continue to serve Him, I am confident that His Word fills and enables us all to trust in Him, so that we can serve others in His love, and follow His lead as His instruments of peace, proclaiming His Word.
I come from a very poor family—life was very, very difficult. My mother showed me how to stand strong and strive for a life worthy of respect and dignity. And here I am.
I thank God, you, and all those who have invested their lives and resources so I could graduate and become certified to serve as a Lutheran pastor.
In my spiritual quest, God has led me to get to know Rev. Oscar Benavides, director of LINC-North Texas. After a short time, God confirmed to me that He had chosen me to work with Hispanics in this part of Dallas. I immediately connected with Concordia
I thank God for the lives of all those who continue to support this Hispanic ministry, because God’s Word is being spread; it can and will touch hundreds of lives, and many fruits will be collected in the different places where God is leading us.
“ THROUGH THE CENTER FOR HISPANIC STUDIES, CONCORDIA SEMINARY FORMS LUTHERANS FOR HISPANIC MINISTRIES IN THE U.S. … THESE ARE EXCITING TIMES TO PRAY FOR AND SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
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Three pursuits for a thoughtful professor JOEL OKAMOTO FILLS NEW ROLES TO HELP LEAD CONCORDIA SEMINARY INTO THE FUTURE Dr. Joel Okamoto has long been known at Concordia Seminary for his challenging questions and courses. As a professor of systematics, it is his job to teach students to explain God and Scripture in a rational, “systematic” way. But more specifically, it has become his passion to teach students to craft answers to the real questions people are asking about Christianity even when those questions are deep, and complex. “We used to joke that when he became a pastor, he’d have to become a pastor of the Lutheran Church of Think Really Hard,” said David Lewis, fellow professor and friend since both he and Okamoto were Concordia Seminary students. “He is very perceptive with regard to the shape of Lutheranism and of Christianity in the 21st century, especially from a cultural, linguistic, and theoretical perspective. But he always tries to link that to the implications for pastoral ministry. He asks theoretical questions, philosophical questions, but always to get at how the church’s life can be most effectively fulfilled in the present,” said Dr. Kent Burreson, dean of the chapel and fellow professor of systematics. Okamoto completed his undergraduate degree at the Massachusetts Institute
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Dr. Joel Okamoto sports his trademark red sneakers on the steps outside of Luther Tower.
of Technology in materials science, but claims he was not very fond of school until he began studying at the Seminary, where he experienced a good deal of spiritual growth and became very engaged with the material. Sometimes this happened through classroom debates. “He’s almost always right; I’d never want to have to debate him,” said Lewis, who is grateful that back in school and even now, he and Okamoto agree on most issues. Okamoto recalls these classroom debates as well. In the midst of a particular debate he was winning, he remembers realizing, “Boy, I get this; this is kind of cool!” Yet Okamoto is clearly not focused on “winning.” His most important goal for his students is that they grow in their
capacity to confess Jesus Christ as Lord, and especially to do that consistently in many realms of their lives. Secondly, he wants them to mature in how they ask and answer questions. “It is a good thing to have correct answers,” he said, “but it’s better to have good answers.” A good answer can be one that has depth of insight. A good answer can also be one that is actually helpful to the real person asking the question. And yet, “answers are only as good as questions.” Sometimes the most important work is learning to ask better questions. It is no surprise, then, that such a professor would be given three new roles to help lead the Seminary forward in a thoughtful, faithful way.
FACULTY AND STAFF NOTES
One of these roles allows him to continue and expand what he already does: Okamoto was chosen as the first recipient of the Waldemar and Mary Griesbach Endowed Chair of Systematic Theology. Practically, in addition to affirming his leadership in the systematics department, the endowment is meant to allow him some extra time for study, research, writing, and continuing to respond to major religious questions. This chair has special meaning for Okamoto because the Griesbachs were parishioners of Okamoto’s father, and they gave the endowment in honor of their pastor’s ministry. Okamoto also has been asked to oversee the implementation of the Science for Seminaries grant—a grant for which he led the application process. Given to 10 American seminaries by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the grant will help each seminary to incorporate more science into its curriculum and community (see related story on p. 20). The seminaries are given freedom to do this in a way that each feels is faithful and intellectually honest. So far, for Concordia Seminary, this has meant the insertion of new material into a handful of courses, and could include other applications over the grant’s two-year disbursement.
“He (Okamoto) wants to form the flashes in his eyes and sneaks out most thoughtful, reflective, constructive through a brief, slight smile. theologians possible. This is one of the reasons he was chosen to be in charge It also takes a certain joy to become of our curriculum review committee,” known as the professor who wears said Burreson. Burreson explained that red sneakers. While he has long worn Okamoto thinks holistically, seeing how comfortable shoes, his red pair garnered all parts of a whole fit together. Even attention during the ceremony in which among the faculty, said he received the Lewis, he is looked Griesbach Endowed to for his clarity of Chair of Systematic thought, analysis, and Theology. Shortly It is a good thing discourse. “He’s one of thereafter, the shoes the people to listen to.” received a nod from to have correct Seminary President answers, but it’s Dale A. Meyer, and Okamoto takes his work seriously, and he are now seen much better to have is serious about the right more frequently. good answers. things. What Okamoto likes most about being Thus, in red sneakers, DR. JOEL OKAMOTO a part of the Seminary Okamoto continues community is that to lead the charge “everyone is serious in wrestling with the about Jesus.” complex questions and issues that face the Christian church, Yes, he is serious, but that quality is through new roles and familiar ones. backed by fiery passion and joy. When “He’s a great Christian brother, a solid Okamoto talks about opportunities man all the way around,” said Lewis. to spark change—change that is “It’s a blessing for me and everybody meaningful and important—excitement else to work with him here.”
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Finally, “no class is safe,” said Okamoto, as chair of the Curriculum Review Committee. Okamoto explained that a comprehensive re-examination of the Seminary’s curriculum has not taken place since the 1950s, and the time is right to undertake such a project. What changes are coming in the curriculum review? Identifying the desired outcomes is step one, explained Okamoto, and the review is still in that first phase. Anything could happen, even a change to the way something has been done in the past—though he doesn’t feel that is likely. “The toothpaste is out of the tube, as it were,” he said. Left to right: Dr. Gerhard Bode, Dr. Timothy Saleska, Dr. David Peter, and Dr. Joel Okamoto sing with fellow faculty members at the 2013 Opening Service.
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Course in Israel brings Bible to life Last August, a group of 17 students and to develop new preaching and teaching two professors left Concordia Seminary skills based on their experiences. By for a 14-day class in Israel. At the time, all accounts, they more than met both there was much concern in St. Louis, goals. Pastor Tom Zelt from Prince of and the country, about unrest in nearby Peace Lutheran Church in Fremont, Ferguson, Missouri, following the shooting California, served as the trip leader, of a black teenager by a white police having been to Israel more than 25 times. officer. In fact, the Dr. Rick Marrs, associate day they left a no-fly professor of practical zone was issued over theology at the Seminary, Ferguson. Trading God’s hand was served as the faculty mentor a city in upheaval and adviser for the trip. definitely on for the Middle East, where a tentative “We walked where Jesus was this trip. cease-fire had only born and walked and taught TOBY SCHMIDT, just been reached, the His apostles,” said Marrs. FOURTH-YEAR group trusted God “We realized how seeing M.DIV. STUDENT would be with them the land changes the way on their journey. we hear Jesus’ words in the Gospel.” The history of the “God’s hand was Holy Land, shared expertly definitely on this trip,” by Zelt, was of primary importance. said fourth-year student Toby Schmidt, “Now when we read Scripture, the describing how the fighting ceased at just words (English, Greek, and Hebrew) pop the right times for their trip to proceed with even more clarity and meaning.” as planned. Although there were some reminders of the turmoil in the region, But this was more than simply a such as when rockets and an F-16 flew “spiritual experience” for the students. overhead as they visited Abraham’s well It was a Seminary course that combined at Beer Sheba, they felt very safe. In fact, exegetical and pedagogical theology the cease fire held until after they had and included many hours of prework. returned home. Students were assigned a number of books to read and more than 20 hours The primary goals of the course were of map work before the trip. From a to study the Bible within the context of geographical standpoint, they became the geography of the Holy Land and familiar with where key biblical figures
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had walked and where important battles, and even miracles, had taken place. After visiting the locations in person, the students were challenged to think about how they would effectively teach “the Word becoming Flesh” to people in their future congregations and were graded upon their lecture plans and knowledge of the land. For second-year student Andrew Lehenbauer, physically walking in the footsteps of Jesus and other biblical figures was an experience that helped make the stories come to life. “It’s almost as if the land is another Gospel,” he said. “Standing there, taking it all in, helped me to understand what was going on behind the scenes. Israel is like a pop-up book for the Bible with stories really coming to life.” Most days began by 8 a.m. with devotions taking place on the bus en route to their first destination. On average, the group toured seven to 10 sites each day. Some of the many places they went included Nazareth, Mount Arbel, Beer Sheba, Bethlehem, Mount Carmel, Aphek, Jericho, the Jordan River, and Jerusalem. The map work they had done before the trip enabled them to match the actions described in the Bible to the physical locations they were visiting, which helped bring the stories alive.
A map created by second-year student Andrew Jones illustrates where stories from the Bible took place and shows the deep connection between the Gospel and the land. Photo: Andrew R. Jones
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NEWS WORTH NOTING
The photo at left is second-year student Andrew Jones’ map of Joshua 10. It shows Joshua’s trek from Gilgal (at the top with the green arrow going down) to Gibbeon, Beth Horon, and Azekah. Other landmarks such as the Aijalon Valley, marked in brown, also are noted. Beyond the edges of the map, the actual landscape of the region can be seen. “It was a long day for Joshua and a long day for us as well,” Jones said. “It’s overwhelming in a way to behold all this. To think these characters actually ran through here. They lived and fought and died in this region—from Abraham to Joshua to David to Solomon, and continuing on to Jesus Himself.”
Concordia Seminary students stand atop Mount Arbel, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, taking in the view of area where much of Jesus’ ministry took place. Photo: Robert Bailey
“The focus of the trip was to equip They also learned about living as a new pastors with an understanding of Christian in Israel from Dicko, their the biblical account in its geographic, Israeli tour guide. As an Armenian historic, and cultural setting, and to Christian, Dicko was able to avoid the pick up tools to be able to teach it red tape and friction between Jews and effectively,” said Zelt. “However, we Muslims and their group was able to didn’t ignore the present day situation travel freely to sites claimed by both sides. of the Christians who struggle daily.” They visited the Holy The situation is Sepulcher, the Temple personal to Zelt, Mount, a mosque, who has parishioners and an Armenian with Christian family Standing there, chapel where they saw members in the Gaza Christian graffiti from area who keep them taking it all in the third century A.D. informed of what it’s helped me to like to live out their Christian faith in such understand what’s The idea for the students’ trip to Israel came from a place. going on behind an anonymous donor at Zelt’s church who The group made an the scenes. wanted future pastors to important stop at learn the Word of God ANDREW LEHENBAUER, Christmas Lutheran SECOND-YEAR M.DIV. STUDENT right where it happened. Church in Bethlehem, That donor provided whose pastor, Mitri funds that greatly reduced Raheb, is a close the cost for the students f r i e n d o f Z e l t ’s. and made it affordable for them to go. Raheb’s staff explained their ministry Zelt, with his extensive experience in among the Palestinian community as leading trips to the Holy Land, was well as what it’s like to be a Palestinian the perfect leader. Christian.The group took some time to sing Christmas songs in the For the Seminary, his leadership was sanctuary and explore a cave stable a double blessing because the students underneath the church that was benefited not only from his extensive probably very much like the stable knowledge of Israel and the Bible, but where Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
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also from his experience as a parish pastor in the mission field. “One of our strategic priorities is to connect students with congregations,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kloha, provost of Concordia Seminary. “Having Pastor Zelt leading the trip and sharing his insights was an incredible experience for them. The more that we have good pastors helping our students grow, the better prepared they will be to serve their future congregations.” Feedback about the trip was overwhelmingly positive. “This class and tour has been one of the most formative experiences in my Seminary education,” said Schmidt. “I read, reflect on, and teach the Bible in a whole new way. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for all Seminary students, pastors, and professors to go to the Holy Land. If you are going to be teaching the Bible, you should really go where it all happened.” The Seminary is grateful to the donors who helped make this trip, and others like it, possible. If you would like to help students and faculty learn through formation trips, please contact our Advancement staff at 800-822-5287 or advancement@csl.edu, or make a gift at www.csl.edu/give. Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
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Praise from 2014 accreditation visits Jeffrey Kloha. “Their academic expertise, commitment to professional development and leadership, and service to the LCMS made a significant impression.”
Every department helped the Seminary prepare for the HLC and ATS accreditation visits. This 10'3" long collection of files represents the preparations made ahead of time.
Concordia Seminary celebrated successful reaffirmation of its accreditations from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in 2014. Both associations highlighted the Seminary’s particular strengths, among them its exceptional faculty and commitment to quality education. The ATS noted also the Seminary’s dedication to biblical exegesis, which affirms that emerging pastors will be well formed in Lutheran theology. “Of particular note in both reports was our outstanding faculty,” said Provost Dr.
Also earning high marks were the Seminary’s programs designed to connect its strong theological foundation with congregational ministry. “The Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology and MissionShift, our urban ministry training program, were particular highlights in the reports,” said Kloha. The Seminary’s excellent stewardship and its success in weathering the Great Recession was a highlight in both reports. “When I first began my work at the Seminary in 2005, my attention was directed to the accreditation reports from 2004, noting the institution’s heavy reliance on gift income to operate and the accreditors’ suggestions that we diversify these sources of income,” said Michael Louis, the Seminary’s executive vice president. “Since that time, and through the recession, the Seminary has steadily gained financial stability and even strength. Our operations are leaner, our gift income is still strong, but we have also begun that much
needed income diversification. The 2014 accreditation visits and reports recognize and support that.” Visitation teams from HLC and ATS were on campus last spring, and their recommendations were received in formal reports released last summer. As a result of such positive findings, the next accreditation reviews will not take place until 2023-2024. “A potential pastor, Paul says, ‘must be well thought of by outsiders’ (1 Tim. 3:7). That’s one reason why accreditation is very important, so that the transcripts and diplomas of church workers who graduate from Concordia Seminary are credible in the larger world of academia,” said Dr. Dale A. Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary. “Accreditation is likewise important within the church, so you can have confidence that your professors and scholars can hold their own in presenting our historic faith and teaching it to coming generations of pastors and deaconesses. Thank you to all—faculty, staff and students— who put in uncounted hours for this successful outcome!”
Grant brings science to the classroom Concordia Seminary is in its first of a two-year journey to weave more science into its core curriculum and campus conversations. Thanks to the “Science for Seminaries” grant from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), officially extended Oct. 8, 2014, the Seminary has the opportunity to equip pastors to provide better counsel when questions of faith and science arise. “Many people look to their religious leaders for guidance on issues relating
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to science and technology, even though clergy members may get little exposure to science in their training,” said Jennifer Wiseman, director of the AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion. Beyond curriculum integration, the funding supports science resources, guest speakers, campus events, and more to promote the relevance of science in seminary training. Concordia Seminary is one among 10 seminaries in the United States and Canada to receive the Science for
Seminaries grant. At the end of two years, the AAAS will take what each seminary has learned and make it broadly available. “Pastors are very important for overcoming false impressions and misunderstandings about both the Christian faith and modern science,” said Dr. Joel Okamoto, professor of systematic theology and project contact. “This program gives Concordia Seminary a very fine opportunity to help pastors present and future to do this faithfully and fairly.”
NEWS WORTH NOTING
Concordia alum to lead China Seminary China Lutheran Seminary (CLS) in Hsinchu, Taiwan, is the only Lutheran seminary in the world that operates completely in the Chinese language, and Concordia Seminary has had a close relationship with the institution for more than 20 years. Last September that relationship became even closer when a graduate of both seminaries, Dr. Samuel Liu (’05), was installed as CLS’ new president. “CLS is in a unique position to train Lutheran church leaders for service wherever Chinese people live, including China, of course, but also Southeast Asia and virtually all places,” said Dr. Henry Rowold, emeritus professor of international research and longtime LCMS missionary in Taiwan. CLS was founded in 1966 by four Lutheran mission agencies working in Taiwan. What started as a small Bible college grew and added new programs, including a Master of Divinity, an active mission program, a Master of Theology in Luther studies, and island-wide training programs for laypeople. In the early 90s, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) built a strong relationship with CLS. Dr. Jeffrey Oschwald, associate professor of exegetical theology and coordinator of international seminary exchange programs, who was serving with the LCMS Board for Mission Services, joined the CLS faculty in 1994.
CLS’ previous president, Dr. Thomas Yu, led the seminary for more than two decades and formed and guided CLS into the seminary it is today. In 2004, Concordia Seminary recognized his service by awarding Yu with an honorary doctorate. Since Yu’s tenue, Concordia Seminary partnered with CLS through the ministry of other graduates. Dr. Stephen Oliver and Dr. Jukka Kääriäinen serve as full-time faculty at CLS, and some Concordia Seminary professors also have traveled to CLS to teach intensive courses or serve as part-time instructors for their respective programs. Oschwald continues to serve CLS part-time as dean of its master’s program in Luther studies, and Rowold returns annually to teach. Liu was an ideal candidate to serve as president of CLS, as he grew up in Taiwan and graduated from CLS himself. He earned a doctorate with an emphasis in biblical studies in 2005, and since served as a professor and academic dean at the Los Angeles branch of China Evangelical Seminary (based in Taiwan). His personal relationship with both seminaries will go a long way in continuing Concordia Seminary’s close relationship with CLS. Rowold said, “Through sharing of resources, both CLS and Concordia Seminary seek to share the Gospel wherever God sends His people.”
“ Through sharing of resources, both CLS and Concordia Seminary seek to share the Gospel wherever God sends His people. DR. HENRY ROWOLD
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Top picture: Incoming China Lutheran Seminary (CLS) president, Dr. Samuel Liu, left, exchanges documents with outgoing CLS president, Dr. Thomas Yu, at Liu's inauguration Sept. 13, 2014. Bottom picture: Dr. Henry Rowold, emeritus professor of international research for Concordia Seminary, delivers an address at the inauguration of Dr. Samuel Liu.
Spend a minute a day with Dale Meyer YOUR PURCHASE MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
Concordia Seminary President Dr. Dale A. Meyer has written thousands of devotions for his popular Meyer Minute blog, blessing and encouraging countless Christians in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Meyer's new book, Timely Reflections, includes 365 personally selected "Minutes" with a Bible reading and prayer. This devotional is available now! Your purchase makes a difference. Tri-Pillar Publishing will donate 30 percent of the $19.95 purchase price to the Seminary. Or get the Concordia Seminary limited edition of the book free with your gift of $100 or more at www.csl.edu. ORDER ONLINE AT WWW.TRIPILLARPUBLISHING.COM OR BY PHONE AT 714-602-7192
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
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Professor Feuerhahn enters rest Dr. Ronald R. Feuerhahn, emeritus professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, died Friday, March 13, 2015.
Feuerhahn served on numerous committees and boards, including the LCMS Commission for Doctrinal Review, the LCMS Commission on Worship, and, while in Britain, the ELCE Board for Overseas Missions, the ELCE Lutheran Free Conference of Great Britain, and the ELCE Executive Council.
A 1963 graduate of Concordia Seminary, Feuerhahn was ordained at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cape Girardeau, Missouri. From 1963 to 1967, he served as a missionary in England and Wales. H e a l s o s e r ve d a s His theological and pastor at St. David’s academic work focused L u t h e r a n C h u rch , in the area of modern Cardiff, Wales, from church history, the 20th 1964 to 1970, and at century ecumenical Resurrection Lutheran movement, and in Church, Cambridge, particular the theology England, from 1970 and work of Hermann to 1977. From 1977 to Sasse. He published 1986, he was preceptor numerous articles on at Westfield House, the Sasse and edited several seminary of the collections of Sasse’s Dr. Ronald R. Feuerhahn Evangelical Lutheran essays. He also produced Church of England (ELCE), in the definitive bibliography of Sasse’s Cambridge, England. writings. A Festschrift was published in his honor in 2002: Lord Jesus Christ, Feuerhahn joined the Concordia Will You Not Stay. Seminary faculty in 1986. He also became Seminary archivist in 1999. “Through our beloved Dr. Feuerhahn, Over the course of his ministry, God communicated the richness of His
Word to generations of people countless to us but all known by the Lord who gave this dear teacher to His Church,” said Dr. Dale A. Meyer, president of the Seminary. “He had a deep and scholarly knowledge of modern Christianity, was expert in the writings of Hermann Sasse and others, and excelled in giving his time and gentle care to the many students who loved him.” Feuerhahn earned a bachelor’s degree in history at Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1959, a Master of Divinity at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1963, a Master of Philosophy at Cambridge University of England in 1980, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the same institution in 1992. Feuerhahn retired in May 2008 after 22 years of distinguished service as professor of historical theology and Seminary archivist at the Seminary. With his retirement, an illustrious career of international service to Lutheran church bodies on several continents came to a close.
Bring your family together with Table Talk Does your family take part in weekly devotions together? If you’re looking to start devotions, or try something new, Concordia Seminary has just the thing to help you share the Bible with your family. Table Talk is a new weekly family devotional series based on the texts from the current week’s lectionary. It is a great resource to help you and your family dig into Scripture and grow in faith in just 15 minutes. You can find the current week’s Table Talk devotion, along with
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archived issues, on Concordia Seminary's website. It’s also posted each week on the Seminary's Facebook page. Go to www.csl.edu/resources/tabletalk/ every week to download the devotions, or find it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ ConcordiaSem. Links also are available on Twitter using hashtag #TableTalk and our handle @ConcordiaSem. Get started, or continue, on a devotional routine now by downloading Table Talk and begin enjoying quality devotional time with your family right away.
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NEWS WORTH NOTING
Bach at the Sem
NEW CONDUCTOR BUILDS ON LEGACY The 2014-2015 season of Bach at the Sem is the first conducted under the baton of new music director, Dr. Maurice Boyer, only the second full-time director of Concordia Seminary’s acclaimed concert series. Boyer’s leadership builds on the rich history of choral music at the Seminary and the dedicated musicians specializing in the heritage of Lutheran choral and liturgical music who bring major works of the Renaissance and Baroque periods to the local community. Musical Ancestry of Bach at the Sem It started in 1955 with the formation of the Concordia Cantata Chorus— founded and directed by recent Seminary graduate Robert Bergt. The ensemble quickly gained national and international acclaim for the quality of its performances, and invitations to perform soon flooded in from organizations across the U.S.. In 1966, the Concordia Cantata Chorus sang at the International Heinrich Schütz Festival in Holland. In connection with this festival, the chorus also performed in England and Germany. Recordings from the Dutch festival reached across northern Europe all the way to South Africa.
for a series of organ recitals featuring selections by J.S. Bach performed by renowned concert organist Martin Jean. The performances were underwritten by Richard and Phyllis Deusenberg. In 1993, while still serving at the Tokyo conservatory, Bergt reconstituted the American Kantorei upon the encouragement and with the support of the Duesenbergs and their brother Robert and sister-in-law Lori Duesenberg—all longtime friends of the director and the Seminary. The first concerts were scheduled around Bergt’s leaves from the conservatory in Tokyo. Dr. Jeral Becker, a member of the Kantorei from its beginning, assisted Bergt and serves as assistant conductor to this day. The Legacy Takes Form Shortly after the American Kantorei was brought together again, the Bach at the Sem concerts debuted. In 1995, Bergt returned to Concordia Seminary permanently and served as artist-inresidence, focusing his efforts on the popular concerts and related educational events until his death in 2011.
During the two seasons following Bergt’s death, Bach at the Sem continued, thanks to the work of many gifted guest conductors, including Boyer, while a search was conducted for a full-time music director. In the fall of 2014, Boyer, an associate professor of music at Concordia University Chicago, was hired. Boyer also remains on the faculty at Concordia, Chicago and conducts the university’s chamber orchestra and teaches all levels of ear training. He also directs or conducts other local music groups. Boyer’s touch with Bach at the Sem is evident in the significance of the programming throughout his inaugural season. His passion for and understanding of Bach’s works are infectious, and the community’s continuing support for Bach at the Sem is clear, as evidenced by increasing attendance. Bach at the Sem concerts, performed in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus on the grounds of Concordia Seminary, are free and open to the public. For more information, or to make a gift in support of the concert series, visit http://bach.csl.edu.
The American Kantorei In 1969, Bergt, now an associate professor at Concordia Seminary, founded the American Kantorei as successor to the Cantata Chorus. This group of professional musicians and vocalists, as well as seminarians and voice students from the St. Louis area, provided an immersive educational experience, steeped in liturgical music. There was a hiatus while Bergt went on to teach and conduct at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; Valparaiso University; and the Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo. However, beginning in 1991, the Seminary invited classical music fans back to campus Dr. Maurice Boyer conducts the American Kantorei at the March 15, 2015 Bach at the Sem concert.
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Concordia Seminary celebrates 175 years are foundational to the Seminary’s community and legacy. After a special chapel service in the morning, guests had the opportunity to attend lectures that considered generations of Christians past and future, peruse book and art displays, take home free books from the library, and finish the evening with a host of family-friendly fall activities.
“On this 175th anniversary of Concordia Seminary, we celebrate what God has done here,” said Dr. Gerhard Bode, associate professor of historical theology, dean of advanced studies, and Seminary archivist. “We give Him thanks for what He has accomplished in this place and through His people.” On Oct. 10, 2014, in order to mark 175 years of raising up leaders for God’s people in the Lutheran church, Concordia Seminary hosted a daylong celebration, attended by some 700 guests. The day included opportunities for learning and fellowship—both of which
“It was a great time,” said Dr. Dale A. Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary. “Thanks to all who came to join the celebration, and to all who continue to remember this mission in their prayers. This Seminary belongs to the Savior and we are eager for the future.” As Meyer suggests, the event was an opportunity for students, faculty, family, and friends alike to marvel at God’s larger mission across time. “The graduates of this institution have been used by God to bring His life-giving Word to people all over the globe so that they too can be saved,” said Tom Schlund, a fourth-year Master of Divinity student. “It is neat to think that we are now part of that history and are being formed here to be sent out to do the same thing.”
Seminary student James Miller added a historical touch to the 175th Anniversary Celebration by dressing as Dr. C.F.W. Walther, the first president of Concordia Seminary.
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It is neat to think that we are now part of that history and are being formed here to be sent out to do the same thing. TOM SCHLUND
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Left: Seminary student Paul Flo helps a child decorate a pumpkin in the Kid's Corner as part of the 175th Anniversary Celebration. Right: Joe Pollach & the St. Louis Express Band entertain the crowd with polka music during the Oktoberfest celebration for the 175th Anniversary event.
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NEWS WORTH NOTING
Faculty Publications THOMAS EGGER
JOEL BIERMANN A Case For Character. Towards a Lutheran Virtue Ethics (Fortress, 2014)
Over the last several decades, as the old foundations of society have toppled, morality and personal character have been set adrift and often vanished altogether. How can character be cultivated when it seems no one is willing or able to provide a definitive description of character to which humans should aspire? Dr. Joel Biermann’s book explores this problem and argues that Christian doctrine, specifically as articulated within a Lutheran framework, is altogether capable of encouraging a robust pursuit of character formation while maintaining a faithful expression of justification by grace alone through faith alone. Dr. Biermann is professor of systematic theology. A video reading guide for the book is available at: http://concordiatheology. org/2014/07/new-video-reading-guide-for-a-case-for-character
“Jesus: The Second and Greater Adam,” in The Restoration of Creation in Christ: Essays in Honor of Dean O. Wenthe (Concordia Publishing House, 2014) JOEL ELOWSKY
Consulting editor of Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity, Angelo DiBerardino ed. (IVP Academic, 2014) JEFFREY GIBBS
“Christ is Risen, Indeed: Good News for Him, and for Us.” Concordia Journal 40 (2014)
PETER DOBLE AND JEFFREY KLOHA eds. Texts and Traditions: Essays in Honour of J. Keith Elliott (Brill, 2014)
Keith Elliott is one of the foremost scholars of the text and canon of the New Testament. He has twice been featured in the “Major Figures” series of Ph.D.-level courses at Concordia Seminary. This Festschrift (a collection of writings in celebration of a scholar’s career) contains essays by 18 world-renowned scholars on aspects of the study of the New Testament and early Christian history. Dr. Jeffrey Kloha, provost and professor of exegetical theology, is a former student of Elliott's and co-editor of the volume. Kloha contributed an essay on the text of Luke, while Dr. James Voelz, also a professor of exegetical theology, contributed an essay on the language and style of Mark. http://www.brill.com/products/book/texts-and-traditions
ERIK HERRMANN
“Luther’s Absorption of Medieval Biblical Interpretation and His Use of the Church Fathers,” in The Oxford Handbook of Martin Luther's Theology, Kolb, Dingel, and Batka, eds., (Oxford University Press, 2014) JOEL OKAMOTO
“Evangelism in an Age of Normal Nihilism,” Missio Apostolica 22 (2014)
JAMES VOELZ Fundamental Greek Grammar (Concordia Publishing House, 2014)
The fourth edition of Dr. James Voelz’s Greek text, first published in 1986, has been updated and now includes a “Review of English Grammar” to help students who are new to the study of Greek grasp basic linguistic categories as they seek to acquire another language. The text reflects Voelz’s decades-long experience in teaching beginning Greek. This volume is used throughout the Concordia University System and at other seminaries, such as Dallas Theological Seminary. Dr. Michael Eschelbach, professor of New Testament at Concordia University Irvine, comments: “Year after year, my Greek students benefited from this grammar and, like me, continue to go back to it for fundamentals and renewed enthusiasm for reading the New Testament in the original language.” http://www.cph.org/p-24740-fundamental-greek-grammar-4th-edition.aspx
PAUL RAABE
“‘Daddy, Will Animals Be In Heaven?’ The Future New Earth,” Concordia Journal 40 (2014) DAVID SCHMITT
“Telling God’s Story” Concordia Journal 40 (2014)
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UPCOMING ON-CAMPUS EVENTS MAY 17 Bach at the Sem concert
MAY 19 Faculty Author Reception
MAY 22 Commencement JUNE 9-11 Alumni Reunion
JUNE 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 Carillon Concerts on the Quad JUNE 25-26 Carillon Festival Concerts
JUNE 1-5 Christian Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Workshop JUNE 27JULY 2 Vocatio 26
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JULY 17-18 Next Steps
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
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EVENTS
2015 SUMMER WORKSHOPS JUNE 15-17, 2015
JULY 20-22, 2015
JUNE 15-17, 2015
JULY 20-22, 2015
JUNE 22-24, 2015
JULY 20-22, 2015
Making Sense of Your Preaching Presenter: Dr. Okamoto St. John Lutheran 5589 Van Atta Rd. Oskaloosa, Iowa 52577 Contact: Rev. Sam Beltz 517-339-9119 pastor@stjohnosky.org
Philippians: Life Together in the Gospel Presenter: Dr. Kloha St. James Lutheran Church 4771 Broadview Rd. Cleveland, Ohio 44109 Contact: Rev. Paul Hoffman 216-351-6499 stjames4771@juno.com
JUNE 22-25, 2015
JULY 27-29, 2015
AUGUST 17-19, 2015
JULY 6-8, 2015
JULY 27-29, 2015
AUGUST 17-19, 2015
AUGUST 3-5, 2015
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT ERIKA BENNETT BENNETTE@CSL.EDU 314-505-7286
Follow Me: Making Disciples Ritually in a Post-Modern World Presenter: Dr. Burreson Trinity Lutheran School 4900 McCain Rd. Jackson, Mich. 49201 Contact: Rev. Eric Ekong 517-784-3135 ericekong@tlmjackson.com When Things Fall Apart: The Book of Job Presenter: Dr. Rowold Immanuel Lutheran 2416 Jefferson Park Ave. Charlottesville, Va. 22903 Contact: Rev. Benjamin Maton 434-295-4038 pastormaton@hotmail.com Reforming Christian Devotion Presenter: Dr. Herrmann Zion Lutheran Church 300 Lake St. Alexandria, Minn. 56308 Contact: Rev. David Hinz 320-763-4842 dhinz@zionalex.org Influenced by a Cloud of Witnesses: Reading the Psalms for Spiritual Strength Presenter: Dr. Saleska Concordia University Portland 740 SE 182nd Ave. Portland, Ore. 97233 Contact: Rev. Bruce Rumsch/Prof. Chad Lakies 503-640-1693 padre@trinityhillsboro.com Biblically Responding to Conflict Presenter: Dr. Rockenbach Camp Okoboji 1531 Edgewood Dr. Milford, Iowa 51351 Contact: Lori Gamble 712-337-3325 lorigamble02@gmail.com
JULY 13-15, 2015
Gladly Hearing the Word Presenter: Dr. Kloha St. John’s Lutheran 809 Sixth Ave. West Bend, Wis. 53095 Contact: Rev. Jeff Dorth 262-334-4901 jdorth@stjohnswestbend.org
Jesus and Jerusalem: Studies in Matthew 21-28 Presenter: Dr. Gibbs Resurrection Lutheran Church 100 W. Lochmere Dr. Cary, N.C. 27518 Contact: Vicar Nathan Scheck 919-851-7248 nkscheck@gmail.com Paradigms of Mission and Our Mission Today Presenter: Dr. Schumacher St. Andrew Lutheran Church 1005 1st Avenue St. E West Fargo, N.D. 58078 Contact: Rev. Clark Jahnke 701-282-4195 revchjahnke@ideaone.net
One Creed, One Story, the Grand Story of God and His Creation Presenter: Dr. Arand St. John’s Lutheran/Mt. Calvary 1419 East Ave. Holdrege, Neb. 68949 Contact: Rev. Mel Mertens 308-995-2208 pmertens@gpcom.net Jesus and Jerusalem: Studies in Matthew 21-28 Presenter: Dr. Gibbs St. John's Lutheran Church 154 S. Schaffer St. Orange, Calif. 92866 Contact: Christina Meadows 714-288-4425 cmeadows@stjohnsorange.org The Reconstruction of Mankind: Where Science and Theology Meet Presenter: Dr. Weise Bethany Lutheran Church 9101 Lamar Ave. Overland Park, Kan. 66207 Contact: Rev. Bryan Drebes 913-648-2228 x119 bdrebes@bethany-joco.org
AUGUST 10-12, 2015
The Catechism for a Lifetime Presenters: Dr. Arand and Rev. Broge Concordia Seminary 801 Seminary Pl. St. Louis, Mo. 63105 Contact: Erika Bennett 314-505-7286 bennette@csl.edu
AUGUST 10-12, 2015
Our Life in Christ: Exploring Discipleship in Daily Life Presenter: Dr. Cook Trinity Lutheran Church 4200 Old Warren Rd. Pine Bluff, Ark. 71603 Contact: Rev. Dean Clausing 870-534-4316 dfclausing@gmail.com
AUGUST 10-12, 2015
Theology for Pastoral Ministry in a Scientific Age Presenter: Dr. Okamoto New Life Church Lutheran 6000 148th St. N Hugo, Minn. 55038 Contact: Rev. Peter Nafzger 651-429-1975 pastor@newlifehugo.org The Reconstruction of Mankind: Where Science and Theology Meet Presenter: Dr. Weise St. Luke Lutheran 5589 Van Atta Rd. Haslett, Mich. 48840 Contact: Rev. Trevor Sutton 517-339-9119 pastortsutton@stlukehas.com
Ministry
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EVENTS
UPCOMING FACULTY SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS JUNE 2015 DR. DALE A. MEYER June 4-6, 2015 Bible Study Leader LCMS Rocky Mountain District Convention Denver, Colorado
DR. DALE A. MEYER June 14-16, 2015 Devotion Leader LCMS Missouri District Convention Springfield, Missouri
DR. DALE A. MEYER June 7, 2015 Preacher Redeemer Lutheran Church Fort Collins, Colorado
DR. JEFFREY GIBBS
June 28, 2015 Sermon for Life Observance Immanuel Lutheran Church Perryville, Missouri
JULY / AUGUST 2015 DR. DALE A. MEYER July 25 – August 1 Dean Camp Arcadia Arcadia, Michigan
Paying for Concordia Seminary has never been more affordable. Financial aid opportunities for incoming students: Regent Awards and Presidential Awards! Find out about our Regent Awards: http/www.csl.edu/regent-awards/ Learn more about our Presidential Awards: http://www.csl.edu/presidential-award/
WWW.CSL.EDU/ADMISSIONS/FINANCIAL/AID • 314-505-7202 • FINAID@CSL.EDU
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Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
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ALUMNI AND FRIENDS
Seminary Guild Update Thanks to the Seminary Guild, a number of campus areas popular among students are in line to receive needed updates this year. At press time, renovations to the library’s student study lounge have been completed—and are being enjoyed by students! The Food Bank and Re-Sell It Shop received new carts, storage containers, and other
needed equipment. Still on deck are renovations to the student gathering area in Loeber II.
burden of the basic necessities. I’m so thankful that the Sem Guild donates to these crucial resources for us students.”
“Concordia Seminary’s Food Bank and Re-Sell It shop are blessings for my wife and me,” said Peter Adelsen, a secondyear student. “Food is a huge cost, and the food bank helps to lessen the financial
To date, the Guild has raised over $15,000 for its campus service projects this year. To join the Guild, or contribute to the project fund, visit www.csl.edu/friends/seminary-guild/.
Left: Left to right: Seminary Guild members Gail Brauer, Willie Meisner, Diane Meyer, Joyce Bischoff, and Judi Winker pose for a photo at the Dec. 12, 2014 meeting. Right: At their Dec. 12, 2014 meeting, Seminary Guild members donated clothing, toys, and other items for distribution to Concordia Seminary students and their families.
2015-2016 Concordia Seminary Adopted Service Projects Textbooks for incoming students. . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,600 CHS and EIIT Students. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000 Food Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,500 Chapel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,500 After Chapel Coffee Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $800 Re-Sell It Shop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $300 Campus Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500 Field Education – Student Off Campus Events. . $1,000 Can you Spare a Quarter? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100 Families in Transition (FIT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500 Direct-to-Student Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,000 Community Student Gatherings . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000 Campus Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$300 Loeber II Furnishings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000 Student Intramural Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,500 International Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000 Student Scholarships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000
A Guild membership is from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. Name (or Society)______________________________________ Address_______________________________________________ City, State, ZIP_________________________________________ Telephone (_______)____________________________________ Email_________________________________________________ Name of Congregation___________________________________
q Individual Membership ($10) ________
q Society Membership ($25) _________
q Project Fund Donation _____________
TOTAL ___________________________
Please make check payable to Concordia Seminary Guild and send to: Alice Kastens 5101 Kings Park Drive St. Louis, MO 63129
With a Guild membership, you will receive the Guild Lines newsletter. Project donations will be used for any of the Guild projects, unless they are specified for a particular project. Thank you for your support!
TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20,600
For questions concerning the Seminary Guild, please call 314-942-7254.
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Q&A with Deaconess Kristina Paul Q: Why did you become a deaconess?
Q: WHAT IS A DEACONESS? The LCMS website gives a solidly detailed answer to this question (http://www.lcms.org/?pid=443), but in short, a deaconess is a theologicallytrained woman who uses the passions and gifts God has given her to serve in ministry. That sounds incredibly openended, and in truth, it is. Deaconesses serve anywhere from parishes to jails, overseas mission plants to Midwest nursing homes. That is the brilliance of a Concordia Seminary education—it is a refined-by-fire process that results in a God-bent worldview, ready and willing to perform in a wide spectrum of servant ministry.
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“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a question every kid is asked during childhood. For me, “deaconess” was certainly never an answer I gave. Actually, I didn’t have a solid grasp of what a deaconess was until well into my first year at the Seminary. I originally was looking at St. Louis for graduate programs in social work. My dad (a Lutheran pastor) suggested that I take a look at the deaconess program at CSL while I was down here visiting other schools. In a wonderful Godordained coincidence, I happened to meet with another deaconess student who said the following to me, “Your time at the Sem will not always be easy, but at the end of the day, you get to sit at the feet of some of the greatest theological minds in the world today.” At the time, I wasn’t as interested in a diaconal call as I was in hammering out some doubts and questions I had about my faith. One could say I came for the thinking, and stayed for the ministry.
Q: How has God uniquely gifted women for ministry? Sometimes in our culture, we are pressured to think that men and women are equal in all senses. As Lutherans, we say that’s true to a point—we are equal in dignity and humanity, and especially in worth as viewed through the eyes of our Creator. However, we also know full well that our Creator intended man and woman to be different, and to complement each other in community. This idea echoes in ministry. While not necessarily true of every woman, women tend to be more verbal, more tenderhearted, more relational. In parish ministry especially, deaconesses and other female called workers can offer a beautiful balance to the Word and Sacrament ministry offered by pastors.
That being said, there is an incredible variety to the gifts God gives each woman, gifts that she is free to employ in His service. Some women may be blessed with leadership gifts, and so their call might be managing volunteers in a women’s shelter. Others may have the gift of teaching, so they’d find themselves leading a confirmation class or women’s study. As uniquely as God creates humans, both male and female, He also crafts unique ministry situations as opportunities for those humans to serve.
Q: What is the role of a deaconess in the life of a congregation? There is a broad range of ministry opportunities, even just within parish diaconal ministry. There are, of course, common threads: leading Bible study, visitation, counseling, etc. However, some parish deaconesses may find their time spent doing different things entirely. In addition to the above examples, I am also blessed to coach volleyball and basketball, teach our seventh grade religion class, coordinate our young adult ministry, lead our social concerns efforts, participate in visioning for our congregation, and more.
Q: How is her role unique from that of the pastor? In other words, what does a deaconess do that a pastor cannot do? The short answer? Be a woman. Pastors are capable of a full spectrum of ministry, but there are definite times when the situation requires (or at least would greatly appreciate) a woman. Pastors can certainly hold the hand of a woman who has miscarried, or who is recovering from a hysterectomy, or who has been abused at the hands of her husband, but there is something that sisters in Christ share that is different and special. Besides this, pastors simply cannot do
ALUMNI AND FRIENDS
ministry all by themselves. It isn’t healthy for the pastor or the congregation, and denies the truth of the body of Christ. It is a wise pastor who surrounds himself with staff and volunteers who complement his gifts and passions, who support his strengths and compensate for his weaknesses. Parish deaconesses are uniquely positioned to support the pastoral role, providing balance to the male/ female dynamic of relational ministry.
Q: What are some of your greatest challenges serving as a deaconess? It has been said that a weakness is a strength taken to the extreme, and so it is with my call. The immense variety also carries immense responsibility, and so one of the everyday challenges is simply time management. Much like a pastor, I don’t “clock in and clock out” of my role as a deaconess. There are evening and weekend responsibilities, sometimes late night hospital visits or counseling calls. I am also a wife and a mother, a daughter and a disciple, so balancing all of these vocations can definitely be a challenge at times.
Q: What would you have to say to a girl or woman who might be thinking about becoming a deaconess? I’d say, “That’s great!” In all seriousness though, if someone was really considering becoming a deaconess, I’d want to ask her about what other skills and passions she has. Concordia Seminary provides the foundational framework for solid theological thinking, but amid all the Giertz and Chemnitz, Sasse and Pieper, there simply isn’t time to hone professional skills that are direly needed in today’s churches. If she were coming straight out of college, I would strongly advise her to get a different job for at least two years. Besides paying
down any remaining student debt, or possibly saving up for the Seminary, a deaconess is tempered and strengthened by her “real world” experiences. I was a social worker, a wheelchair van driver, an administrative assistant, a barista, a real estate assistant, and a youth director, among other things. As crazy as it sounds, there are skills and abilities I gained from working each of those jobs that benefit me in my current call as a deaconess. If she were a second-career deaconess, I would simply encourage her to spend a day on campus. Sit in on one of Dr. Biermann’s or Dr. Herrmann’s classes, have lunch in Wartburg Commons, invite a deaconess student to have a coffee at Kaldi’s. Pray. Talk to her pastor. Then, if so led, pursue [the] Seminary boldly.
Q: What ministry opportunities are available for deaconesses outside of the congregational setting? Deaconesses serve in many areas outside of the parish, from nursing homes to state prisons, from Lutheran schools to group homes for those with special needs. Deaconesses are missionaries, writers, managers, editors, teachers, and social workers. Again, this variety is the beauty of diaconal ministry: it can take
Q: What are some characteristics pastors or laity should look for in order to identify someone who would make a good deaconess?
as many forms as there are women who
A good characteristic to mark would be a servant heart; someone who looks for opportunities to help others. Another good indicator would be someone who is a good listener; that skill can be learned or improved upon, but really, compassionate conversation is a gift of God. Also, the person should demonstrate an inquisitive mind about spiritual matters, should ask good questions and thoroughly enjoy making connections in the scope of God’s Word. Finally, a really good indicator would be someone who can lead others to service and fellowship, who often can be found encouraging others in their faith walk. A deaconess can find it all too tempting to try to do all the ministry herself, but what the Church really needs are women who are willing to disciple others to service through acts of mercy, teaching the faith, and spiritual care.
Q: What are your greatest joys serving the Lord as a deaconess?
put on the navy suit and gold insignia of the deaconess uniform.
I love the variety of the service I get to do. One day I may be planning a women’s Bible study, the next I’m grading skits performed by my seventh grade class. One day you might find me driving around to hospitals and nursing homes visiting with members, the next I’ll be meeting someone in my office for counseling. I get to coach and teach and vision and write, and this buffet of options is all enjoyed in the service of the Lord.
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