FOR THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH

From its founding days, Concordia St. Paul has served the church by providing workers for congregations and schools throughout The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). While this was CSP’s sole focus over the first seven decades of its existence, the University remains committed to this important work1

Preparing Students

Seeing the real need to prepare more workers for congregations, schools, and other ministries within the LCMS, Concordia established its Church Work Tuition Guarantee in the fall of 2021. Now in the second year of the guarantee (and first year where pre-seminary and predeaconess students pay zero tuition), CSP’s church work population grew 42% year over year.

“Our bold action with the Church Work Tuition Guarantee is recognized throughout the LCMS as a deep commitment to the church’s growth and future,” shares President Brian Friedrich. “I continue to be amazed at the positive comments I receive from church leaders, church workers, laypersons, alumni and friends of CSP.”

CSP’s Associate Vice President for Faith and Ministry, Rev. Dr. Mark Koschmann, believes that the university’s church worker preparation is unparalleled. “CSP is an ideal university for students preparing for church vocations because of the commitment CSP has made to its surrounding multiethnic, urban community, and consistently proclaims God’s Word of promise to all its students and the surrounding neighborhoods,” he says.

Concordia also equips students to serve in the life of the church beyond those looking to serve full-time. Through a program like the Solus Christus Fellows, for example, students in any major or program gather weekly with their peers to study and discuss theological topics and explore how God calls them to various vocations in which to serve.

A recent alum, Alhrik Schommer, BA ‘21, was greatly impacted by his time in Solus Christus and theology classes. Schommer works full-time in the financial sector, but also leads the junior high group at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Roseville, Minn.

“Taking theology classes while having a business major allowed for me to see my vocation as something more than a job, but instead something that conjoins my various circles of life rather than separates [them],” he shares.

Extending The Reach

Just as the University invests in preparing students to serve the church, it is deeply committed to ensuring it is a resource and partner for the church at-large. The goal is “enriching the ministry of the local church,” Koschmann says.

Now in its third year, the Center for Biblical Studies continues to serve a growing number of God’s people through seminars and workshops that are held online and virtually. More than 350 individuals have attended at least one event, representing 33 of 35 LCMS Districts plus a number of other Lutheran denominations.

Concordia St. Paul partnered with Concordia Seminary, St. Louis on a number of occasions in the past year: the University sponsored the Winter 2022 issue of the Concordia Journal, partnered with the seminary to present a continuing education course titled "Missional Leadership in the Urban Context", and served as one of the lead sponsors for the seminary’s annual Multiethnic Symposium under the theme “Rise and Enter the City: The Hopeful Church in the Multiethnic City.”

At the 2022 LCMS Youth Gathering, CSP was one of the event’s top sponsors and provided a Gathering Bible for each one of the 20,000 participants. CSP was also wellrepresented by faculty and staff who served in a variety of capacities at the Gathering.

DRIVEN BY THE GOSPEL

Koschmann reiterates that CSP has much to offer our students and the broader church. “Concordia’s Lutheran ethos can build up resiliency, tenacity, and courage among its students,” he affirms. “By addressing the problems of the world straight on, Concordia demonstrates its integrity and its deep and abiding hope by trusting in the salvific work of Jesus Christ.”

This Gospel focus—and how it plays out in all areas of life—propels Concordia forward and enables the University to impact the life of the church and beyond. As CSP does this, Friedrich sees God at work everywhere. “I continue to be humbled and astounded by what God is doing in this place,” he says.

STORY: Billy Schultz, BA '08, MA '11, Assistant to the President for Communications

1 Prof. Oswald Overn’s A History of Concordia College notes that the memorial to the 1893 synodical convention which requested a new school in the Twin Cities included both church work and non-church work students: “The synod is requested to establish a school in the district where future teachers and ministers can receive the earlier-years of their education. The plan is shown to be educationally feasible, and the wish is expressed that students who do not intend to enter the professional service of the church may also attend.” (5)