Concordia Seminary Magazine | Winter 2018

WINTER 2018

EQUIPPING THE CHURCH CALLED TO A LIFELONG ADVENTURE OF LEARNING

GROWING IN THE FAITH

GENERATIONS CAMPAIGN RESULTS

FIRST LOOK

“ We have arrived,� says Dean of Chapel Dr. Kent Burreson as he begins the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation Service Oct. 31, 2017, in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. Photo: Jill Gray

WINTER 2018

ON THE COVER

Dr. Peter Nafzger, assistant professor of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, leads the 2018 Pre-Lenten Workshop, “The Gospel in Seven Words,” Jan. 19, 2018.

Photo: Harold Rau

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PUBLISHER Dale A. Meyer EXECUTIVE EDITOR Vicki Biggs MANAGING EDITOR Melanie Ave ART DIRECTOR Jayna Rollings

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CALLED TO A LIFELONG ADVENTURE OF LEARNING

IN EVERY ISSUE 5

From the President

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Student Spotlight

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News Worth Noting

GROWING IN THE FAITH

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Faculty Focus

Three laypeople share how Seminary workshops have helped them grow in the faith and better share the Gospel with others.

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Support Your Sem

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Alumni and Friends

Dr. Charles P. Arand explores how the Seminary seeks to equip students as Christian servants, and provide church workers and laypeople with resources and continuing education opportunities.

CAMPAIGN RESULTS ANNOUNCED The results of the Generations Campaign, the Seminary’s largest, are announced at a gala held in December 2017.

DESIGNER Susan Klein-Shelton WRITERS Charles P. Arand Melanie Ave Vicki Biggs Kim Plummer Krull Travis Scholl Kendra Whittle

OUR MISSION

PHOTOGRAPHERS Jill Gray Sid Hastings Jackie Parker Harold Rau Bridgette Sharp Kendra Whittle

LET'S BE SOCIAL!

Concordia Seminary magazine is a member of the Associated Church Press and the Evangelical Press Association.

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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.

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To be added to the mailing list, or to receive the magazine electronically, address correspondence to: Concordia Seminary magazine, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105; call 800-822-5287; or email magazine@csl.edu. Congregations may request copies in bulk for distribution within their churches.

Copyright ©February 2018, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of Concordia Seminary.

FROM THE

PRESIDENT President Lawrence Rast of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., and I are increasingly hearing talk that the two seminaries in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod should be consolidated. One of the reasons being put forward is the current low enrollments in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) programs at both our schools. It’s not just us. Fifty-five percent of seminaries in the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) are experiencing low M.Div. enrollments, but in turning this around we have an advantage over many ATS seminaries. The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod (LCMS) is a very closely knit church body — very! When word got out about the crushing burden of student indebtedness, you responded. Today tuition is affordable at both our seminaries. So also, as you hear of the critical need for more seminarians to become our future pastors, President Rast and I know you’ll get the word out in your congregation. In fact, applications for next year are up at both seminaries!

Providing resources to laypeople and pastors is an important service of our seminaries that is usually overlooked in consolidation musings. Pastoral formation is only part of what your seminaries do. Our seminaries have the largest gatherings of theologians in the LCMS and these faculty members converse with one another daily about how we can serve the church at large with relevant, insightful and practical theology that is true to Scripture and our Lutheran Confessions. And so we offer thousands and thousands of resources to congregations as you strive to be healthy and vigorous in the mission of our Lord Jesus to your community.

You are always welcome to visit us personally on campus but you can also access many of our resources online. Go to www.csl.edu. Click “Resources” and you’ll find: • Resources Overview • Gospel of Mark (our performative presentation of Mark) ibrary (including Library Research Guides, CSLScholar, •L Concordia Theology and much more)

Dr. Dale A. Meyer visits with attendees of the inaugural Dr. Jack Dean Kingsbury Lecture in New Testament Theology Sept. 28, 2015, in Werner Auditorium.

Photo: Jill Gray

•P astor Sabbatical (an opportunity to be on campus a week for personal enrichment) • Continuing Education (Faith and Writing Workshop, Lay Bible Institute, Multiethnic Symposium, Pre-Lenten Workshop, Summer Workshop Series, Theological Symposium) • Centers (Center for Hispanic Studies, Center for the Care of Creation, Center for Reformation Research and more) • Publications (Concordia Journal, Concordia Seminary magazine and Guild Lines) And our website lets you stay in touch with all the happenings on campus, and this campus is filled with energy! Providing resources like these would be severely reduced if the seminaries were forced to consolidate.

Trends come and trends go, but because you love your church and its seminaries, President Rast and I are confident congregations and seminaries together can increase enrollments. Without a pastor, some people will stop attending worship and some will lose their saving faith in Jesus. This is not a time to retrench! Recall the one servant who buried his talent. He angered his master. Those who multiplied their talents heard, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.

Enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:23 ESV). This challenging 21st century is a time like never before for our seminaries to provide you — laypeople, pastors, teachers and all church workers — with resources. Thank you for reading this issue. I pray you’ll learn more about the partnership Concordia Seminary desires to have with you and your congregation in mission and ministry. For Jesus’ sake!

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CALLED TO A LIFELONG

ADVENTURE

BY CHARLES P. ARAND

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he milestone 500th anniversary of the Reformation has just passed, but it provided a wonderful opportunity to give thanks to God for the theological treasures we have inherited.

This special time of commemoration and reflection highlighted anew that Jesus is the foundation of our faith; the church stands and falls on the work of redemption that He accomplished by means of His death and resurrection.

Not only did our observation of the Reformation anniversary give us the opportunity to look back to the gifts that God has bequeathed us; it also provides the impetus to look forward to taking these gifts of Christ to those who have not heard of Him. To do that requires us to take stock of the current landscape of our culture. Whereas Luther brought the Gospel to a society and culture that was largely shaped by Christian thought (even if many were Christian in name only), we send our students into congregations that now live in a culture that is shaped less and less by the Christian faith, morals and hope — a culture that many would say is post-Christian.

We have witnessed over the past several decades a decline in membership, the loss of influence within society, the flight of young people and the perception by many young people that the church has become irrelevant. Some say there is plenty of cause for wringing our hands in worry.

But as we equip our students for service to our Lord, we seek to do so not out of fear that we are losing ground or that we’ll lose the precious Gospel, but out of a confident hope born of a daring faith in the One who has joined Himself to us in His incarnation, dying a rejected man and being bodily raised to new life. As One who has been given the authority to speak for His Father — to forgive sins, to grant new life — Jesus sent out His disciples into the larger Greco-Roman world. That world was shaped by pagan philosophy and superstition — not by Christian thought.

Rather than withdrawing from that culture, the followers of Jesus plunged into society, making contact with people, engaging with them and translating the Gospel into the CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 >

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OF LEARNING

Attendees of the Pre-Lenten Workshop listen to a presentation

by Dr. Peter Nafzger “The Gospel in Seven Words” Jan. 19, 2018.

Photo: Harold Rau CONCORDIA SEMINARY, ST. LOUIS 7

“We hope to be of ongoing service to our pastors and congregations by providing a variety of continuing education opportunities.”

— DR. CHARLES P. ARAND

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language and thought forms that confronted them with both God’s Law and the Good News of the Gospel. (For an excellent treatment of Acts 17, see Dr. Mark Seifrid’s article in the January 2017 Concordia Journal, found online at concordiatheology.org.)

We at Concordia Seminary are seeking to equip our students for that kind of engagement with the world and to do so from a stance of a confident and daring faith. Luther states in his “Preface to the Romans,” “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake life itself on it a thousand times.”

First and foremost, we seek to equip our students by forming them as Christian servants so that they can live out their faith in a way that shows Christ to the world. Through their course work, students are prepared to address a society that has become biblically illiterate. Our students are immersed in the Scriptures so that they can join the psalmist in addressing God: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Walking alongside throughout this formation are our faculty, who provide one-on-one mentoring to help students in their own spiritual well-being and walk with Jesus.

Seminary professors and participants of the 2017 Theological Symposium visit after a session Sept. 19, 2017. Photo: Harold Rau

Second, we believe our students’ learning does not end with graduation. Just as Baptism immerses us into the life of Christ as His disciples, that same Baptism calls us as church workers and laypeople to a lifetime of studying the Scriptures and learning all that Christ has given us to cherish and live out. To help foster lifelong discipleship, we are committed to providing an ongoing variety of resources and continuing education opportunities.

Every fall, we host the Theological Symposium on campus.

This theological refreshment offers topics on preaching, catechesis, justification by faith and the theology of the cross.

In September 2018, we will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation in which he set forth his famous theses on what it means to be a theologian of the cross. Thus, our topic for the 2018 Theological Symposium, set for Sept. 18-19, will be “The Cross is our Theology!”

Every spring, we also host the Multiethnic Symposium.

This event provides a place for pastors to come together with students to explore how we can serve all within our midst and reach out among an increasingly diverse culture. This year’s Multiethnic Symposium, set for May 1-2, 2018, will meet under the theme “Many Peoples, One Savior — Jesus: Affirming a Multiethnic Church.”

In addition to these recurring on-campus events, we offer a number of continuing education workshops around the country every summer, which bring together professors with pastors for study and discussion on a range of topics that explore how we can enhance our preaching, teaching and pastoral care.

The Concordia Seminary faculty also publishes the Concordia Journal (CJ), a vehicle of ongoing learning that follows in the tradition of the Concordia Theological Monthly (1930–72)

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Participants of the 2017 Multiethnic Symposium engage in a roundtable discussion. Photo: Kendra Whittle

and first Seminary President Dr. C.F.W. Walther’s Lehre und Wehre (Doctrine and Defense) (1855–1929). With scholarly articles, the CJ provides book reviews and homiletical resources for pastors, along with occasional reflections on trends in society and church.

In recent years, we have partnered with other schools and organizations on a particular issue of the Concordia Journal so as to bring Seminary voices together with other voices in the church. For example, several years ago we partnered with Concordia Lutheran Ministries and published an issue on aging, and this spring we are partnering with Concordia Publishing House to take an in-depth look at Confessing the Gospel and the Synod’s 2017 explanation of Luther’s Small Catechism, two new works that address in a modern manner the theological underpinnings of our church.

Our blog, concordiatheology.org, is a companion to the CJ. It is a place where Seminary professors can offer more immediate theological reflections on events and issues that

arise within our culture or share ideas on what it means to be Lutheran or how we as a church reach those beyond our borders. Readers can share their questions or thoughts on the articles, videos and other resources that are posted.

Looking to the future, we are working to develop a Christian Community Education program for laypeople. Through this program, participants may take online classes with the professors who taught their pastors. We also are partnering with Lutheran Hour Ministries to produce online resources for those who want to explore the Scriptures and Lutheran theology more deeply.

Five hundred years later, the Reformation continues to provide lessons for taking the Gospel to our world. One of the (albeit somewhat human) reasons that the Reformation succeeded was that the reformers took advantage of the recently invented printing press and flooded the market with the message of the Gospel. They did so by way of tracts, catechisms, hymnals, treatises, books, prayer books, sermon books, letters and more. We seek to continue that that tradition!

Dr. Charles P. Arand is the Eugene E. and Nell S. Fincke Graduate Professor of Theology and dean of Theological Research and Publication.

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BY MELANIE AVE

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PHOTO COURTESY SOLOMON CONRAD

“ I love surrounding myself with people of great faith, which is exactly the people at these seminars.

God uses them to strengthen my faith.”

SOLOMON CONRAD of St. Peters, Mo., was reading through

his church’s newsletter several years ago when he noticed something that caught his eye: a notice about a Lay Bible Institute at nearby Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Three times a year, the Seminary hosts the seminars, which are faculty-led studies of the Bible and how it relates to today’s life and events. The Lay Bible Institutes are open to interested laypeople, students, pastors and other church workers, and are offered every winter, summer and fall. Most are daylong seminars held on Saturday except in October, when they are scheduled on four consecutive Wednesday evenings.

As a fairly new Lutheran at the time, deeply interested in learning more about God’s Word and Lutheran theology, Conrad signed up immediately.

“I liked it so much I kept coming back,” said Conrad, a married father of two teenagers.

He is just one of many people who regularly take advantage of workshops, Bible studies, publications, events and other resources the Seminary offers to equip the church and its people to grow in their faith and share the Gospel with the world.

Conrad has attended seminars about the Reformation and its modern-day effects with Dr. Erik Herrmann, another with Dr. Charles P. Arand on creation, one with Rev. Ben Haupt on confessing Christ and one with Dr. Joel Okamoto on science and theology.

“The teachers are wonderful and effective in applying God’s Word to the specific subjects they teach,” he said. “I love

surrounding myself with people of great faith, which is exactly the people at these seminars. God uses them to strengthen my faith.”

The workshops have deepened his understanding of the Scriptures, and he has shared his newfound knowledge with friends and family alike.

“Rev. Haupt’s class made me think about how the church has for centuries been mainstream in society, but we may be returning to minority status and persecution as in the early days,” Conrad said. “Dr. Herrmann’s class was very enlightening regarding how so many different areas in the present age were affected by Luther’s Reformation.

Dr. Arand’s class reinforced how we are to be stewards of God’s creation. Dr. Okamoto’s class left me with insight into how to reach and witness to scientific nonbelievers in a cosmological way.”

An added benefit to attending the Seminary’s events?

Conrad has made several new friends, friends who share his love of theological education.

“I definitely recommend people attend, as it will grow their faith and enrich their lives,” he said.

Questions are welcome during the Seminary’s ongoing Lay Bible Institutes. Photo: Jackie Parker

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PHOTO COURTESY PAULA DUSTMAN

Dr. Erik Herrmann, front row left, led the “Reformation Reverberations” Lay Bible Institute Feb. 4, 2017.

Herrmann is the associate professor of Historical Theology, chairman of the Department of Historical Theology, director of theological resources and special projects, and director of the Center for Reformation Research at the Seminary.

Photo: Jackie Parker

“From that first class I wanted to learn more.”

‘I WANTED TO LEARN MORE’ Like Conrad, PAULA DUSTMAN of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., also has benefited from the Lay Bible Institutes at the Seminary.

The retired Los Angeles police officer grew up in a Roman Catholic family that rarely practiced the faith. “I never read the Bible and didn’t have a clue who Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were,” she said.

As a child she said her family life was “not normal.”

Throughout her childhood and much of her adult life, she always felt like something was missing. But what?

Time moved on and in 2004, after she and her husband retired, they moved to Missouri. About six years ago, she was in a parking lot, unable to get a key in her car door. A local Lutheran pastor stopped and asked if he could help. “After helping me with my car, we started talking and he told me who he was,” she said. “He said he led a Bible study at the apartments nearby.”

Perhaps she would like to come? With the nagging sense of something missing still playing in her mind, she accepted his invitation.

“Many people don’t understand the Holy Spirit but I can

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tell you I felt His power working in me,” she said. “From that first class I wanted to learn more. I started going to church every Sunday, went to Bible study and talked with people in the church to learn more about the Lutheran faith.”

Dustman eventually was confirmed. Then, like Conrad, Dustman saw a notice in her church bulletin about a class being offered at Concordia Seminary. “I didn’t even know what Concordia Seminary was,” she said. It was a small blurb about one of the Seminary’s Lay Bible Institutes.

“I went and loved it,” Dustman said. She sat in a classroom at the Seminary — the same classrooms where pastors are trained and formed — and delighted in the deep dive into theology under the tutelage of esteemed Seminary professors.

“It was just amazing to be able to sit there and ask questions,” she said. “Nobody ever makes you feel bad if you don’t know something. They don’t mind you asking questions. It’s just fun to have all those people there who enjoy studying too.”

She has become a Seminary regular, attending institutes on Revelation, John and Arand’s institute on creation. “I think it’s all the detail you get in one day that’s wonderful,” she said. “It’s an amazing place to study. It’s beautiful. And it’s not expensive.”

PHOTO COURTESY MARK ZIMMERMANN

The focus of the October 2015 Lay Bible Institute was “Confessing Christ and Living His Mission in the Early Church and Today.” Rev. Ben Haupt, assistant professor of Practical Theology and director of Library Services, led the seminar. Photo: Melanie Ave

“ I grew to understand more about my faith and my relationship with Christ and how to approach my life from a more Christian and religious perspective.”

‘CHRISTIAN IN THE WORLD’ For MARK ZIMMERMANN of St. Louis, he saw the Seminary’s offerings as a way to learn more about the subjects he often writes about as an editor of worship, Bible study and devotional materials for Creative Communications. He also leads a Bible study at his church and blogs about theological topics at Creative Christian Perspectives.

He has attended the Reformation Lay Bible Institute with Herrmann and the science seminar with Okamoto.

“I liked the expertise of the presenters and the new way of looking at things,” Zimmermann said. “For instance, I came to really understand more about Martin Luther’s life and how he introduced making the secular sacred in our vocations, no matter what we are called to do. I learned more about the church at the time of the Reformation and the sharp divide between the common people and the religious ministers. I learned more about how scientists look at the world versus Christians and how our worldview is based on faith and not strictly on the scientific discovery.”

“I have become less compartmentalized in my thinking, not just keeping thoughts on church and faith related strictly or solely to Sunday mornings, but at work, at home, in my neighborhood.”

Zimmermann has happily shared his theological learnings with others.

He has shared nuggets of knowledge from both institutes he has attended in his Bible study and on his blog. In conversations after lunch on Sundays, Zimmermann said he has become more confident in sharing scriptural insights from sermons.

“It makes me feel more in touch with how I need to be more of a Christian in the world, even if it’s in small ways,” he said.

Melanie Ave is communications manager at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

But the education didn’t stop there for Zimmermann.

“I grew to understand more about my faith and my relationship with Christ and how to approach my entire life from a more Christian and religious perspective,” he said.

Find Concordia Seminary resources at www.csl.edu/resources.

CONCORDIA SEMINARY, ST. LOUIS 13

Mike Fieberkorn receives his call to Quincy, Ill., May 1, 2013. Photo: Harold Rau

Serving as shepherd, servant

BY KENDRA WHITTLE

For Rev. Mike Fieberkorn, an opportunity to gather in Werner Auditorium at Concordia Seminary and listen to a former professor deliver a theological lecture is a chance to renew and refresh. An afternoon spent in Sieck Hall with a noted theologian is a privilege. Just stepping back onto the Seminary’s campus is a “reset button” for this Master of Divinity (M.Div.) graduate who is now pursuing a doctorate from his alma mater.

Fieberkorn is a 2013 Seminary alum who never wants to stop learning.

A Sturgis, Mich., native, Fieberkorn knew he was always interested in theology, an interest that piqued when he was in confirmation class as a teenager. However, after high school graduation, Fieberkorn decided to attend the Air Force Academy, fulfilling a dream to participate in Division I football along with the opportunity to serve his nation.

Graduation from the academy meant a five-year commitment 14

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to serve and, as such, he began his professional life as a military officer.

“It was a time of discerning,” Fieberkorn said. “Do I want to do this or is God calling me to do something different? I felt like I would always wonder about being a pastor if I didn’t pursue it.” Along the way, he was encouraged by pastors and fellow congregation members who believed he had the gifts for ministry. In the end, Fieberkorn says he “decided God was calling me to spend my days in His Word, preaching and teaching.” Nevertheless, looking back, he recognizes his time in the military served as fantastic preparation for eventual service in the ministry — being a leader, working with people in real-life settings and being proactive during challenges.

After six years of active duty in the Air Force, Fieberkorn enrolled at Concordia Seminary to pursue a Master of Divinity so he could be ordained as a pastor. Upon graduation, he was called to St. James Lutheran Church

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT in Quincy, Ill., in 2013, where he currently serves as senior pastor.

He said while the completion of his M.Div. and his first call were satisfying events, he felt a desire to continue his studies.

He also was blessed with leftover funds from the GI Bill.

He had already completed several class credits for a Master in Sacred Theology, so his initial plan was to complete that degree and be done.

But he said it soon became clear to him that he wanted to go further academically, so he began work on a Ph.D. as a reduced residency student at the Seminary. He said the decision to stay in the parish in Quincy as opposed to returning to St. Louis for full-time study was a matter of vocation.

“At the end of the day, my vocation as a pastor and as a husband and father was more important than my vocation as a scholar, but this was a way to do both,” said Fieberkorn, who is married with three young children. “The distance program is a good thing for me. As education changes and the church changes, I commend the Seminary for offering a Ph.D. Program that allows pastors to stay in the parish.”

Seminary Graduate School Director Dr. Beth Hoeltke agrees.

“A reduced residency program allows our pastors to pursue intensive theological education, without taking them away from their congregations,” she said.

At present 72 students are enrolled in the Seminary’s reduced residency Ph.D. Program. The program includes about three years of course work, where students largely study and work Rev. Mike Fieberkorn, right, chats with fourth-year seminarian Jeremiah Jording at the 2017 Theological Symposium.

Photo: Harold Rau

from home. They come to campus for two weeks twice a year for intensive classroom study. Earning a Ph.D. typically takes about seven years. As such, the remainder of the students’ time is spent preparing for language and comprehensive content exams, as well as research and completion of a dissertation.

In his dissertation, Fieberkorn hopes to address discerning the will of God for how Christians live their lives.

Fieberkorn readily admits it’s a lot to manage, being a pastor and a graduate student, but he recognizes that there’s great benefit to him and his congregation. “I think it’s easy to fall into old patterns as a pastor,” Fieberkorn said. “But when you’re in the classroom and in the books, your mind is continually stimulated to learn new things, discover new things, and that carries over into Bible studies and other aspects of teaching and worship in the church.”

If that wasn’t enough, Fieberkorn is a strong proponent of the theological resources provided by Concordia Seminary for both pastors and laity. He is a regular attendee of the Seminary’s annual Theological Symposium and Multiethnic Symposium, which bring together pastors and theologians from around the country.

Fieberkorn acknowledges that since Quincy is just over two hours from St. Louis, it’s easy to commit to going to such events, but he says his love of theological study keeps bringing him back as well. He also says the opportunity to keep learning under his former Seminary professors is a blessing. “I think the Seminary and the professors are a huge gift to the church,” Fieberkorn said. “They create and offer Bible studies and sermon series and continuing education opportunities. They’re called there because the church has recognized them as gifted men, and so we owe it to ourselves to make use of their gifts.”

In addition to learning and growing academically, blessing the people of his parish with this knowledge, Fieberkorn says his advanced studies and participation in continuing education events have strengthened his personal faith and his calling from God. “It’s a good reminder that I’m doing what I need to do,” Fieberkorn said. “When I come back to the Seminary, I am reminded that I am doing what I need to be doing in my life.

The church needs to learn more about God’s Word if it is going to continue to grow.”

Kendra Whittle is a communications specialist at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

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The Reformation Service included several children’s choirs. Photo: Jill Gray

Reformation Service caps year of celebration The “three solas” of the Reformation were in the spotlight as the Seminary hosted the 500th Anniversary Reformation Service Oct. 31, 2017, in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus.

“In this day and age, in our changed American culture, sometimes our church is a little short in confidence in the Gospel,” said Seminary President Dr. Dale A. Meyer.

“It is our prayer this evening that this anniversary of the Reformation comes at the time that we the church need it, to be inspired again with the confidence and good courage that comes in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The worship celebration was structured around Martin Luther’s “three solas,” with meditations on each of the three teachings central to the Reformation. Dr. Leopoldo A. Sánchez M., the Werner R.H. and Elizabeth R. Krause Professor of Hispanic Ministries and director of the Seminary’s Center for Hispanic Studies, offered a meditation on Sola Gratia (Grace Alone). Dr. Peter Nafzger, assistant professor of Practical Theology, offered a meditation on Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone). Dr. Erik Herrmann, who serves as associate professor of Historical Theology and chairman of the Department of Historical Theology, offered a meditation on Sola Fide (Faith Alone).

The music-filled evening featured two Seminary choirs — Laudamus and the St. Louis Lutheran Chorale. Performers also included singers and musicians from Lutheran High School South and other area Lutheran schools and congregations. Meyer gave the closing meditation.

Attendees received a commemorative 500th Anniversary Reformation Service program that included the meditations on each of the solas — Latin for “alone.” The service was filled to capacity and extra seats were added in the narthex. Overflow seating was added in Sieck Hall.

Dr. Erik Herrmann offers a meditation on “Sola Fide.”

Photo: Jill Gray

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NEWS WORTH NOTING

Festschrifts published in honor of Professors James W. Voelz, Robert Kolb Two renowned Concordia Seminary professors have been honored by colleagues with Festschrifts, or honorary volumes.

UPCOMING EVENTS February 9

Alumni Basketball Game February 9

Green & Gold Days Dr. James W. Voelz, the Dr. Jack Dean Kingsbury Professor of New Testament Theology, was recognized in The Press of the Text: Biblical Studies in Honor of James W. Voelz. The book is a collection of articles from 20 scholars on four continents on topics that reflect many of Voelz’s personal and professional interests including Greek language, hermeneutics, lexicography, translation theory and theology of both biblical testaments and contemporary issues in church and world. Contributors include Voelz’s colleagues at Concordia Seminary, Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., and his former graduate students. It also reflects the collegial work Voelz has done in scholarly and international societies, such as the Society of Biblical Literature and the prestigious Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (SNTS).

February 10

Editors included Concordia Seminary faculty members Dr. Andrew Bartelt and Dr. Paul Raabe, as well as former Seminary Provost Dr. Jeffrey Kloha, now director of Collections Operations with the Museum of the Bible.

Green & Gold Days

The book was published in spring 2017 and is available for purchase in the Seminary’s Campus Store, from Wipf and Stock and from Amazon.

“Early African Christianity” Winter Lay Bible Institute February 17–19

Taste of the Sem March 8–10

Contemplate March 22–25

Laudamus spring tour March 27

The Gospel of Mark April 6

April 13–14

The Gospel of Mark April 15

Laudamus St. Louis concert April 24

The Festschrift in honor of Dr. Robert Kolb is titled From Wittenberg to the World: Essays on the Reformation and its Legacy in Honor of Robert Kolb. The volume, which includes essays from scholars throughout the world, displays the monumental influence Kolb has had on Reformation studies, our understanding of Martin Luther’s life and legacy, and our awareness of global missions. The book will be available later this year.

Call Day April 28–30

Hmong Symposium May 1–2

Multiethnic Symposium May 15

Faculty Author Reception

According to publisher Vanderhoeck and Ruprecht, colleagues and co-workers of Kolb address his insights into the history of the Reformation era and the impact of those Reformation issues (and quarrels) on the life of the church in the world today.

May 18

Editors include Concordia Seminary faculty members Dr. Charles P. Arand and Dr. Erik Herrmann, and Academic Assistant Dr. Daniel Mattson.

events, visit www.csl.edu.

Commencement For more information about these events or a calendar of all Seminary

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Professor Emeritus Rev. Juan Berndt enters rest Dr. Juan G. Berndt, professor emeritus at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, was called to rest with Christ Jesus Oct. 18, 2017.

Berndt retired in 1996 after 46 years of ministry as a missionary, pastor and teacher.

“Juan Berndt showed us through his life and ministry the wonderful heavenly promise, ‘A great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb’ (Rev. 7:9),” said Seminary President Dr. Dale A. Meyer.

Dr. Juan Berndt

Born in 1925 to a Lutheran missionary family in Argentina, Berndt was the eldest of 10 children. He graduated from Concordia Seminary in Villa Ballester, Argentina, in 1950 and was ordained in 1951. His first call was to a parish of five congregations centered in Oberá, Misiones, in northern Argentina. In 1954, the Mission Board of the then Argentine District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) called Berndt to begin work in Chile in the area of Playa Ancha, Valparaiso.

In 1965, Berndt was called back to the seminary in suburban Buenos Aires, Argentina, to teach systematic and practical theology with an emphasis on training missionaries for the work in Argentina and neighboring Spanish-speaking countries. He taught there for almost 15 years, before accepting a call to Faith Lutheran Church in Laredo, Texas, in 1979.

para Ministerios Hispanos and then with the Instituto Hispano de Teologia, an extension of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

He served in this capacity until retiring in 1996. In his retirement, he served as a liturgist and preacher at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Chicago, Ill., for the congregation’s German services until retiring fully in December 2013. Berndt was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in 1993.

A funeral was held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Melrose Park, Ill., with interment at Concordia Cemetery.

Berndt was preceded in death by his wife, Erma Berndt, nee Beckmann; two children, Ronny and Cristian; and three siblings, Erna, Herbert and Manfred. He is survived by his children, Ursula (Ron) Abresch, Jerry (Yolanda) Berndt and Cordy (Mike) MacDonald; grandchildren, Martin, Mariana, Jonathon, Laura, Ximena, Veronica, Gabriela and Laura; great-grandson, Danny; and siblings, Margarita, Martin, Lee, Ted, Dorothy and Ernie.

“Although we grieve the loss of our brother Juan, a true father in the faith to many of his colleagues and former students, we cannot help but give joyful thanks to our gracious Lord for the gift of His faithful servant,” said Dr. Leopoldo A. Sánchez M., director of the Center for Hispanic Studies. “His colleagues and students will always remember Dr. Berndt’s wit and generosity of spirit.”

The faculty, students and staff of Concordia Seminary have been blessed by Berndt’s ministry and teachings.

He will be missed.

From 1983 until his retirement in 1996, Berndt was called to train Hispanic workers, first with the Instituto Luterano

Fall Concordia Journal available Included in this volume: A rticles about how the loss of Christian predominance affects congregations and the role of justification in how we teach the Christian life D iscussion on grace from Seminary President Dr. Dale A. Meyer H omiletical Helps on several texts, including the Transfiguration

Available on campus and on the Concordia Theology website at concordiatheology.org.

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NEWS WORTH NOTING

From left, Director of Placement and Vicarage and Deaconess Internships Dr. Glenn Nielsen, seminarian Jeremiah Gensch, Seminary President Dr. Dale A. Meyer and Director of the Master of Divinity and Residential Alternate Route Programs Dr. Rick Marrs. Gensch has a placement pending. Photo: Kendra Whittle

Fall calls, assignments celebrated Eleven Concordia Seminary, St. Louis students celebrated vicarage assignments and call placements to serve congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Nov. 13, 2017.

One Master of Divinity student, Jeremiah Gensch, has a placement pending. Two Residential Alternate Route (RAR) students receiving calls were: Michael Apfel, Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Scott, Kan., LCMS Kansas District; and Joshua Wiley, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Kimberly, Idaho, LCMS Northwest District.

SPRING TOUR Laudamus, Concordia Seminary’s premier men’s choir, delights in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through music. Under the direction of Dr. James Marriott, the choir will tour the Golden State this spring, then return home for a performance at one of the most historic Lutheran churches in the country.

Thursday, March 22, 7 p.m. St. John’s Lutheran Church and School, Orange, Calif.

Five Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) students received vicarage assignments: Albert Bakat, Resurrection Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, S.D., LCMS South Dakota District; Isaac Baroi, Living Faith Lutheran Church in Cumming, Ga., LCMS Florida-Georgia District; Anthony Johnson, First Lutheran Church in Hot Springs, Ark., LCMS Mid-South District; Joseph Lewis, Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Landover Hills, Md., LCMS Southeastern District; and Andrew Petajan, Christ Lutheran Church of the Deaf in Silver Spring, Md., LCMS Southeastern District.

Friday, March 23, 7 p.m. St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bakersfield, Calif.

Two Cross-Cultural Ministry (CMC) students received vicarage assignments: Brian Barlow, Our Savior Lutheran Church in Arcadia, Calif., LCMS Pacific Southwest District; and Jose Villalobos, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Pomona, Calif., LCMS Pacific Southwest District.

Learn more: www.csl.edu/laudamus

Saturday, March 24, 7 p.m. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Fremont, Calif.

Sunday, March 25, 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m.

West Portal Lutheran Church, San Francisco, Calif.

Sunday, April 15, 3 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Louis, Mo.

One Center of Hispanic Studies (CHS) student received a vicarage assignment: Sergio Puente, Peace Lutheran Church, Columbus, Neb., LCMS Nebraska District.

CONCORDIA SEMINARY, ST. LOUIS 19

Significant news shared at fall convocation The campus master plan, the search for a new provost and revisions to financial aid policies were just three items discussed at a convocation led by Dr. Dale A. Meyer and held Oct. 25, 2017.

Meyer’s announcements reflected recent Board of Regents actions.

Meyer said the Seminary will place a priority on student recruitment and Lutheran identity in the years to come.

Visible changes to the campus, per the campus master plan, have already been made, and Meyer added that former dorms Mezger and Fritz halls would be demolished. The two buildings came down in November.

Meyer also reported on the Seminary’s implementation of the fully updated Master of Divinity (M.Div.) curriculum and the transition to semesters, and the search for a new provost, which will likely take the remainder of the academic year to complete.

A new financial aid policy, namely for M.Div. and Residential Alternate Route (RAR) students, was announced. The new policy guarantees those students financial aid at least equal to their tuition. Additionally, there is a new policy in place for students in the Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) and Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) programs. Through a three-way

Watch the convocation on YouTube.

Visit http://bit.ly/2DraBQ8.

Dr. Dale A. Meyer offered an update on the campus master plan, provost search and financial aid policy during an Oct. 25, 2017, convocation. Photo: Kendra Whittle

partnership between the LCMS district sending the student, the congregation where the student will serve and the Seminary, tuition for CHS and EIIT students will be fully funded.

Meyer concluded by thanking all donors and partners who support the Seminary and its students. “God has called you and me into the marvelous light of Jesus,” Meyer said.

“What else could we have but living, daring confidence in God’s grace?”

Many Peoples, One Savior Jesus: Affirming a Multiethnic Church

• Special conferences

Multiethnic Symposium May 1-2, 2018 Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Pre-symposium activities begin Saturday, April 28, 2018

• Worship and concerts • Visits to Lutheran centers such as the LCMS International Center, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Concordia Publishing House, historical sites, local churches and other St. Louis-area attractions For more information, contact Continuing Education at 314-505-7286 or ce@csl.edu.

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FACULTY FOCUS

From student to professor

BY TRAVIS SCHOLL

For Professor Peter Nafzger, joining the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 2016 was like coming home in more ways than one. Not only did Professor Nafzger complete both his ministerial training and doctoral work at the Seminary (M.Div. 2004, Ph.D. 2009), but he was born, baptized, raised, educated and confirmed in the faith — all in St. Louis.

He is proud of the fact that every day of his schooling was a gift of “the system,” as it used to be called in Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) circles: Word of Life Lutheran School; Lutheran High School South; Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward; and Concordia Seminary.

But Nafzger would be the first to point out that it was the intervening years, spent outside of St. Louis, that had a profound impact upon his life and the life of his family. After graduating with his Master of Divinity from the Seminary, Nafzger was called to be pastor of New Life Church—Lutheran in Hugo, Minn., on the outskirts of the Twin Cities, in 2007. He was pastor there for nine years, at a point when the congregation had strong lay leadership and a healthy understanding of, as Nafzger says, “who they were and why they were there.” In many ways, Nafzger and his family still miss the Hugo community.

“Accepting the call to the Sem was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he says. “We really loved our congregation. The congregation taught me how to be a pastor.”

Which also was part of the reason why Nafzger came back to Concordia Seminary. He had CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 >

Dr. Peter Nafzger offers a meditation on “Sola Scriptura” during the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation Service held Oct. 31, 2017, in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. Photo: Jill Gray CONCORDIA SEMINARY, ST. LOUIS 21

< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

the classroom at the Seminary, with the future pastors in his courses.

completed his doctorate while serving at New Life, and he was ready to help prepare the kind of pastors New Life had helped shape him to be. And even though his doctoral training is in systematic theology, his call to the Seminary is to teach homiletics in the Department of Practical Theology, which for Nafzger strikes a vital balance.

“I like to call it the ‘Practice of Good Theology Department,’” Nafzger says. “If our theology and practice doesn’t, one, honor Christ, and two, comfort troubled consciences inside and outside the church, then why are we doing it?”

He discovered while in parish ministry he had grown impatient with systematic theology when it was disconnected from congregational ministry. One of his joys was recog­ nizing the ways in which systematic theology — sometimes considered too abstract or obscure — serves everyday life in the parish. Nafzger seeks to bring that expertise into

Katie, second from left, and Dr. Peter Nafzger join Seminary students and their families on campus to pray for the children on their first day of school. Photo: Bridgette Sharp

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Plus, Nafzger has found that students in the homiletics classroom do not need much prompting. As he observes, “Nobody wants to be a bad preacher, so students are motivated to do well.”

Teaching preaching also connects well with his systematics work on the doctrine of the Word of God, exploring how the Scriptures are centered in Christ as the Word made flesh. His

FACULTY FOCUS

Dr. Peter Nafzger leads a group of students in Homiletics I in June 2017.

Photo: Kendra Whittle

interest in the topic was intensified by the year he spent in Germany as a pastoral student. He had married his wife, Katie (they met at Concordia, Nebraska), after his second year of study, and, two months later, they were on their way to Concordia’s exchange program in Oberursel. They were in Frankfurt for intensive language training when 9/11 happened.

Nafzger had always wanted to study abroad, to live in a different culture from his own. The year in Germany became an incredibly formative time for the couple. He had not only more time to reflect and study, but he was able to see how a confessional Lutheran church like the Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church (SELK), the German partner church of the LCMS, could do things differently from what he had known and still remain faithful to the common Lutheran confession of the faith.

Moreover, he began to see how his wife would become a vital partner in his theological and spiritual life. “In Seminary, she asked the questions I couldn’t answer,” Nafzger says.

“Katie keeps me sharp, forcing me to put theology in real, meaningful terms.”

The Nafzgers have since been blessed with four children: Olivia, Johann, August and Louisa.

Coming back to Concordia Seminary, now as a professor, also has opened his eyes to all the things faculty do that he did not see as a student. “When you’re a student, you have no idea what professors are doing beyond the campus, not only within the Missouri Synod, but even globally, in the church at large,” he said.

Nafzger has already contributed significantly to this work.

His own doctoral dissertation was published in 2013 under the title “These Are Written”: Toward a Cruciform Theology of Scripture (available on Amazon and at the Seminary’s

“ If our theology and practice doesn’t, one, honor Christ, and two, comfort troubled consciences inside and outside the church, then why are we doing it?”

— DR. PETER NAFZGER

Campus Store). He also has written this year’s Lent Sermon Series, “The Gospel in Seven Words,” published

by Concordia Seminary Press. He led the Seminary’s Pre-Lenten Workshop in January.

One of his great joys has been to take part in the collaborations that happen not only among faculty and staff on campus, but among pastors and lay­people in the field, driven, as he says, by the deep sense that “we’re in this together for the sake of the Gospel.”

Rev. Travis Scholl is managing editor of Seminary Publications at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

CONCORDIA SEMINARY, ST. LOUIS 23

Generations Campaign announces results at gala LARGEST CAMPAIGN IN SEMINARY’S HISTORY CELEBRATED; NEW FUNDRAISING GOAL ANNOUNCED Donors, alumni, faculty and students attended a gala Dec. 2, 2017, to celebrate Generations: The Campaign for Concordia Seminary. Attendees were among the first to learn that more than $195 million has been raised in the historic campaign, surpassing the five-year campaign’s $180 million goal by more than $15 million.

gala. First, the Seminary’s Board of Regents voted to continue fundraising under the theme of “Generations 20/20.” Campaign goals include raising $66 million between Jan. 1, 2018, and throughout 2020 for endowment, annual operations and areas of greatest needs.

“The only God-pleasing way for us to move forward is to have total faith, total trust and move us forward,” Seminary President Dr. Dale A. Meyer said during the gala. “All of this is testimony to the fact that the Spirit of God is present anywhere the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is told. There has never been a greater imperative for you and for me and for this Seminary to be the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Also, Seminary Advancement Senior Vice President Vicki Biggs announced preliminary gifts to a new fund — The Rev. Dr. Dale A. and Diane C. Meyer “Helpers of Joy” Endowment — totaling more than $5.5 million. The Seminary president and first lady established the fund. Gifts to this fund are permanently restricted endowment gifts in which the income will be used where needed most by the Seminary in the future. These gifts will serve as lead gifts of the Generations 20/20 effort.

Members of the Seminary choir Laudamus hold up the amount of money raised to date. Photo: Jill Gray

“We are humbled by the generosity of all donors to the Generations Campaign and at the demonstration of love these early Generations 20/20 gifts represent,” Biggs said.

“They are a testament to the leadership of Dr. and Mrs. Meyer and to the support our friends and supporters have for the mission of this institution. We couldn’t be more grateful.”

The Generations Campaign is the largest campaign in the Seminary’s 179-year history. Its focus included building endowment, increasing annual support, renovating the library and investing in learning technology initiatives. The campaign, which began in 2012, formally concluded Dec. 31, 2017.1 In all, more than 51,000 donors have contributed more than 207,000 gifts to the Generations Campaign. Sixty new endowments also have been established as a result of the campaign.

In addition to celebrating the results of the Generations Campaign, two special announcements were made at the

To make a gift, call 800-822-5287, write to advancement@csl.edu or visit www.csl.edu/support. e amount raised announced at the gala represented gifts Th received through Nov. 30, 2017.

1

Generations Campaign Gifts (2012-17)

Generations 20/20 Gift Goal (2018-20)

Projected Comprehensive Campaign Total

Endowment Funds & Estate Gifts

Endowment Funds & Estate Gifts

Endowment Funds & Estate Gifts

Annual Support & Scholarships

Annual Support & Scholarships

Annual Support & Scholarships

Library & Learning Technology

Capital Projects

Capital Projects

$117 million $79 million $8 million TOTAL

$204 million 24

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$27 million

$39 million TBD* TOTAL

$66 million

$144 million $118 million $8 million+ TOTAL

$270 million+

SUPPORT YOUR SEM

‘Total makeover’ of library “What was once dark is now light and bright.” That’s how Rev. Ben Haupt summarizes the exciting transformation of the Concordia Seminary library now under way, from a circa 1962 “institutional” setting into a state-of-the-art learning center. The library renovation is one part of the Generations Campaign.

“Our focus is helping the Seminary in its mission to create church leaders,” says Haupt, director of library services.

Those leaders include students and researchers who will have dramatically enhanced study space, as well as church workers and laypeople around the globe who will benefit from improved online access to more of the Seminary’s vast theological resources.

Most striking among the facility enhancements is the renovated skylight that literally allows more “Light from Above,” the Seminary’s motto. Another change is from cramped, fenced areas to professional, office-style spaces for individual study. An ultramodern collaborative learning center and a new south-facing entrance (pictured below) will add to a more open and welcoming atmosphere.

Through the Generations Campaign, the Seminary also has expanded its digital capability. “We will certainly keep our collection of great books from the 16th century, but we also An artist’s rendering of how the Seminary’s renovated library with its new south-facing entrance will look when it is completed later this year.

Rev. Ben Haupt, left, explains details about the library renovation to members of the Alumni Council April 19, 2017.

Photo: Kendra Whittle

plan to digitize as many of our resources as possible so everyone can use them,” says Haupt, who can track which library resources are downloaded and where — throughout North America and worldwide.

The grand opening for the newly renovated Kristine Kay Hasse Memorial Library is planned for the start of the 2018-19 academic year. Beyond facility and digital enhancements, what Haupt appreciates most about the generosity of Generation Campaign supporters is this: As more people and pastors get and share Seminary resources, more people know Jesus.

“God has promised to work through His Word,” he says.

“Our faculty and our materials proclaim the powerful Word of God. Through the use of our resources, more people will know Jesus as Savior.”

CONCORDIA SEMINARY, ST. LOUIS 25

Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Weise discusses “Transgenderism and the Christian Witness” at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Orange, Calif., one of 2017’s Summer Workshops offered by Concordia Seminary. Congregations across the country host the workshops led by Seminary professors for pastors, ministry leaders and laypeople to explore contemporary topics that influence the practice of ministry.

Photo: Courtesy St. John’s Lutheran Church

Summer Workshops: opportunities to hone theological edges

BY KIM PLUMMER KRULL

While Dr. Ralph Blomenberg appreciates that Concordia Seminary gave him an excellent theological education to begin his pastoral ministry, he also appreciates that he graduated in 1981.

As the changing world continually presents new ministry challenges, the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seymour, Ind., pastor recognizes the need to continually “hone the edges” of his theological training. It is one reason he welcomes the opportunity for his congregation to serve as a host to Concordia Seminary’s annual Summer Workshops.

“Our Lutheran doctrine doesn’t change, but our applications in today’s world can change significantly,” said Blomenberg, whose church drew both pastors and laypeople for the “Theology for Pastoral Ministry in a Scientific Age” workshop presented last July by Dr. Joel Okamoto, the Seminary’s Waldemar and Mary Griesbach Professor of Systematic Theology and interim Chief Academic Officer.

During a time when the church is often viewed as anti-culture and anti-science, Okamoto discussed topics including God and creation, addressing “how we deal with discoveries of science while holding true to our theology,” Blomenberg said.

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“Everyone is busy, but when we set aside time to hone the edges of our theological training, we’re better equipped to handle the changes and issues that are bound to arise,” said the pastor, whose congregation frequently hosts one of the many workshops offered across the country, June through August, led by Seminary faculty.

The workshops are typically held over a three-day period and explore contemporary topics that influence the practice of ministry, from the teachings of Martin Luther to pastoral tools, such as preaching, responding to conflict and teaching confirmation.

‘SEMINARIES IN THE COMMUNITY’ Last summer’s “Discipleship in the 21st Century” workshop at St. John’s Lutheran Church in West Bend, Wis., was “extremely well received,” said Rev. Jeff Dorth, St. John’s senior pastor. Church and lay leaders participated in the presentation by former Seminary Professor Dr. Anthony Cook on ways to better connect with people beyond the church family.

ALUMNI AND FRIENDS Since serving as a missionary-at-large in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) California-NevadaHawaii District in 1991, Dorth has considered congregations as “seminaries in the various communities where the Lord places them.”

“I saw then — and continue to see — how important the opportunities are for ongoing theological conversations that help people explore the Scriptures and God’s will for their lives,” Dorth said.

The Seminary is “blessed with great minds,” he adds, and he’s grateful that “men who serve as theologians on a full-time basis are available and willing to bring their training and ongoing research to the parishes, our seminaries in the community.”

WORLD-CLASS FACULTY, TIMELY TOPICS “We don’t have to travel to them; they travel to us!”

Blomenberg said of the Seminary professors who serve as leaders of the Summer Workshops. In addition to discourse with members of “a world-class faculty,” he cites an unexpected benefit: the relationships that develop.

“We may see each other only once a year at the workshops, but we look forward to them,” Blomenberg said, noting the collegiality that develops among attendees who come from throughout Indiana as well as Ohio, Michigan and other states.

Mutual learning is among the reasons St. John’s Lutheran Church in Orange, Calif., serves as a workshop host.

“We like hosting these workshops because mutual learning can take place between the Seminary and local congregations,” said Dr. Michael Hayes, whose congregation provided an opportunity to explore a timely topic, “Transgenderism and the Christian Witness,” in July 2017. Seminary Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Weise discussed questions such as how Christians should respond and witness in the public square

in light of what it means to be human according to the Bible and the Confessions.

“Pastors get to learn from our leading Seminary professors, and the Seminary professors get a broader sense of what ministry and mission is like in an ever-changing culture,” said Hayes. “Over the years our participants have grown together as colleagues and are refreshed by their time together.”

RAISING AWARENESS OF MINISTRY PARTNERS Camp Okoboji’s Lori Gamble in Iowa was all smiles last summer when a workshop drew the most participants since the Iowa outdoor ministry first hosted the workshops nearly a decade ago. The topic, exploring a “restructured, expanded, holistic and intergenerational approach to confirmation,” drew people from four LCMS districts.

Along with partnering with the Seminary, Gamble appreciates the opportunity to raise awareness of the longtime Lutheran ministry, located near Milford on 29 beautiful acres.

“For some people, that was the first time they had ever set foot on our campus,” the camp’s program director said of attendees at the workshop led by Seminary Assistant Professor of Practical Theology Dr. Peter Nafzger. The topic: young people “dropping out” of the church and one congregation’s efforts to address that disturbing trend.

This summer will be the 10th year for Camp Okoboji to host a workshop. Gamble expects another good turnout to explore an important theological topic and, she hopes, the camp’s resort-like setting.

“It’s cool to be able to come here for a class and also get to enjoy the beauty, and maybe even some fishing,” Gamble said.

Kim Plummer Krull is a St. Louis-based freelance writer.

“ I saw then — and continue to see — how important the opportunities are for ongoing theological conversations that help people explore the Scriptures and God’s will for their lives.”

— REV. JEFF DORTH CONCORDIA SEMINARY, ST. LOUIS 27

801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105

CAN’T BE AT CALL DAY? WATCH IT ONLINE! Join us live for Concordia Seminary’s biggest news of the year:

WHERE ARE THEY GOING? #CALLDAY2018 TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018 3 p.m. CDT – Vicarages & Internships 7 p.m. CDT – Calls Watch free live streaming of Call Day services at callday.csl.edu.

Calls, assignments and placements will be shared on Twitter in real time.

Join in the celebration by using hastags #CallDay2018 and #CallDayWatchParty.

PLAN TO JOIN IN THIS YEAR

callday.csl.edu