First calls for 2021’s graduating pastors, vicarage assignments

ONLINE - Lutheran Church–Canada’s two seminaries live-streamed their Call Services again this year on May 28 and 29 respectively.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS - Edmonton) held its Sacred Convocation online on May 28, 2021, during which time three colloquy candidates from last summer were presented. The colloquy candidates included: Rev. Timothy Graff, who accepted a call and is serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church (Didsbury, Alberta); Rev. Dr. Sam Thompson, who accepted a call and is waiting departure from India and entry to Canada to serve at CLS; and Rev. Samuel Kim, who is eligible for a call and awaiting one from a congregation.

CLS President James Gimbel confers the Master of Divinity degree on this year’s graduating student.

In addition, CLS had one graduate this year: Rev. Darcy Duane Albers, a candidate with the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) who has been called to serve in that church body.

As a result of the pandemic, CLS did not present any honorary awards this year, deciding to defer such awards until next year, assuming that restrictions to gatherings will then be lifted.

CLTS President Thomas Winger examines this year’s graduating pastoral candidates.

Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS - St. Catharines, Ontario) held its First Calls Service online to announce the first call of two graduating pastoral students and the vicarage placement of three other students on May 28, 2021. Receiving first calls during CLTS’ service were Markus Peschel (commended to the Free Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa - FELSISA) and David Zakel (called to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burlington, Ontario).

CLTS students receiving vicarage placements were Jason Gillard (Redeemer Lutheran – Waterloo, Ontario), Chad Miller (Grace Lutheran – St. Catharines, Ontario), and G. Nigel Prozenko (Trinity Evangelical Lutheran – Winkler, Manitoba).

Rev. Dr. Ralph Mayan, LCC President Emeritus and recipient of CLTS’ 2021 Delta Chi (Servant of Christ) Award.

In addition, CLTS announced the recipient of this year’s Delta Chi (Servant of Christ) Award is Rev. Dr. Ralph Mayan, President Emeritus of Lutheran Church–Canada. While Dr. Mayan was unable to be present for the service due to pandemic restrictions, the medal has already been delivered to him. President Mayan was chosen as this year’s recipient in recognition of his twelveyears as president of synod and service as chairmanship of the International Lutheran Council, in addition to extensive work as a theological educator and pastoral mentor in Nicaragua. In recent years he has continued to serve faithfully in the local parish, visiting the housebound and the sick, and serving as a vacancy pastor.