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Candidate Placement

Today in chapel, the Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Pulse, placement director here at CTSFW, announced the placement of candidate Roger M. Mullet. He has been called to Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Churubusco, IN (Indiana District), as associate pastor. “Providing pastors and deaconesses for our churches is what we do here at Concordia Theological Seminary,” Dr. Pulse said. “It is first and foremost every aspect of consideration of your Seminary. And so it should be.”

Dr. Gieschen concluded with the charge, facing the candidate who stood to hear him. “Hear the charge: go then, take heed unto thyself and to all the flock overwhich the Holy Ghost hath made thee an overseer. To feed the Church of God which He has purchased with His own blood.”

Congratulations to Roger and his wife Megan!

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Deaconess Placements

Congratulations to the deaconesses who received their placement announcements today after chapel!

Upper left: Juliane Kirk; Upper right: Patricia Anderson; Bottom right: Alla Shvetsova; Bottom left: Pamela Buhler

Patricia Anderson has been placed at Redeemer Lutheran Church and School in Huntington Beach, CA, Pacific Southwest District.

Pamela Buhler has been placed at Messiah Lutheran Church in Keller, TX, Texas District.

Juliane Kirk has been placed at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fairhope, AL, Southern District.

Alla Shvetsova (of Berdsk, Siberia, Russia) has been placed at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School, Rocky Mountain District.

All four ladies received their placements in absentia. However, their sisters-in-training were all in attendance, including both residential and distance-learning students. The distance-learning deaconess students are here for two-week intensives, which come to an end tomorrow. These women get to know each through their discussions online, but it is still a particular joy when they get the chance to meet face-to-face. With everyone in the same room together, we took advantage of the opportunity and took photos of these 26 women.

This year’s class of deaconess students in the residential program.
The women training to become deaconesses through our distance learning program.

 

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LCMSU Conference at CTSFW

The best part of this sign is that it largely worked. About 300 college students and their campus pastors are with us this afternoon and evening for day three of the LCMS U conference, many of whom actually sat in the first 15 rows of seats in Sihler Auditorium rather than the back 20 as we welcomed them onto campus. Most of the conference is taking place at Purdue University Fort Wayne down the road, but we had them on the 4th until 10:30 p.m., when the day concluded with Compline in Kramer Chapel.

The LCMS U Conference took place in Fort Wayne from January 2-5, though we only had them on campus for the afternoon and evening of the 4th. If you were watching the Evening Prayer service with us on Friday (or we able to join us on campus), the many young people filling in the pews were these attendees.

The following pictures will take you through a quick summary and timeline of some of the events of the afternoon. The students had three sectionals throughout Wyneken and Loehe Halls that day, with a choice between 17 professors, instructors, pastors, and deaconesses lecturing on 18 different topics.

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, Admission Director and Director of the Christ Academies, welcomed the attendees to CTSFW after lunch in the Katherine Luther Dining Hall.
As Dr. Rast was unable to be here, he recorded his greeting to the Church’s future servants, ministers, deaconesses, lay leaders, and congregation members ahead of time in anticipation of their arrival. One of the best (or at least most entertaining) lines had to be as he was describing Rev. Marcus Zill, Director of Campus Ministry & LCMS U, who came through CTSFW over 22 years ago: “Yes,” Dr. Rast assured the students, “he really is that old.” Dr. Rast and Rev. Zill, as you may or may not be able to tell, are very good friends.
Rev. Zill responded with a shake of his head and then a grin. Since his seminary days he’s wanted to work with college students. “It was always a dream of mine, to become a campus pastor,” he said. “Now I’m a bureaucrat.”
After the laughter died down he added, “Even though I’m not serving in that capacity anymore, I’m still supporting it.” The focus of this year’s LCMS U conference was “Witness,” particularly in a college context.
Over 300 students and campus ministry pastors and leaders were present in Sihler Auditorium. Despite the successful attempts to encourage the attendees to sit in the front, the usual line of Lutherans who trickle in late still managed to gather in the back.

Dr. Arthur Just, who serves as both Director of Spanish Language Church Worker Formation here at CTSFW and part-time missionary to Spain, had a chance to speak to the attendees about mission opportunities before they were dismissed to their sectional classes.
The opportunities he spoke of in particular were for business and office roles, which need neither theological nor language training. The Church has need of all her members, serving with all the talents and the interests given to her young people.
Dr. Gary Zieroth, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions (as well as Dean of Students), taught the sectional on “Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.” It’s hard to tell from the picture, but there was a double line of chairs crammed in along the side walls, borrowed from the classroom next door as the room quickly filled to capacity.
Rev. Peter Burfeind, in the larger lecture space down the hall, was teaching a course called, “Are You on the Right Side of History?” I stayed just long enough to hear this rather striking line: “The human soul cannot tolerate a vacuum.”
Other courses throughout the afternoon tackled such subjects as the problem of evil and suffering, morality and ethics (good works), spiritual warfare, celibacy, apologetics, international witness, dating and witnessing, and courses like “Gossip Girls (and Boys): The Death of Witness,” “Male and Female in the World of Caitlyn Jenner,” and “The Small Catechism as an Evangelism Tool.”
The evening also featured the service of Evening Prayer with Christmas Lesson and Carols. Associate Kantor Matthew Machemer served as organist, directed the special music, and sang tenor, which is why the choir was standing so close to the organ for their pieces.

Not caught on camera: the attendees were released from the sectionals at 8 p.m. for pizza, after which they split their time between a bonfire, games in the Student Commons, and basketball and volleyball in the gym. Our visitors left campus at 10:30 p.m., after closing out the day in prayer.

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2018 Fieldwork Assignments

Dr. Pless begins the announcement of field education assignments. Local pastors were in attendance to meet their new fieldworkers.

Dr. John Pless and Deaconess Amy Rast announced fieldwork assignments for the first-year pastoral and diaconal students this morning following chapel. Pastors and other representatives of these local churches were in attendance to meet their new fieldworkers, who will serve at these churches for the next two years, gaining practical experience in preparation for vicarage and deaconess internships.

Phyllis Thieme, President of the Seminary Guild, passes out a copy of the PCC to a first-year seminarian.

The Seminary Guild was on hand following the assignments to pass out copies of the “Pastoral Care Companion” (PCC), a book that contains prayers, readings, hymns, liturgy, and other guidance in every situation from birth to death. Originally designed for pastors, the book is also adaptable to diaconal service and acts of mercy as these women will be faced with many situations that require the comfort and encouragement of Scripture. “It’s not just another textbook,” Dr. Pless, Director of Field Education, explained, “but a resource that will follow them through the days of Seminary and into congregations.”

To learn more about the Legacy Project (as this ongoing Seminary Guild project to provide every diaconal and pastoral student with a copy of the PCC is called), contact SemGuild@ctsfw.edu. You can also learn more about the work of the Seminary Guild at www.ctsfw.edu/SemGuild.

To view all field assignments, go to https://www.ctsfw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2018-Field-Worker-Assignments-MDiv-and-Deaconess.pdf.

The first-year class of diaconal students with their copies of the PCC, following fieldwork assignments. Deaconess Amy Rast, Associate Director of Deaconess Formation, stands on the far right.
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SMP Intensives

“The Lord’s Supper” with Dr. Masaki (SMP Class of 2015 and 2016); “Lutheran Confessions: Intro and Overview” with Dr. Mayes (Class of 2018); and “Heaven on Earth” with Dr. Grime (SMP Class of 2017).

SMP Intensives ended at noon today, which is a week-long, intense course of on-campus classes for students in the Specific Ministry Pastor program. Due to the uniqueness of the course and its long-distance nature (the SMP program is designed to train and mentor a leader within a congregation that could not otherwise call a pastor – often a vacancy that has no funds or a non-English-speaking ministry that would be damaged by the prolonged absence of the student – and is not meant for, let alone open to, most men who desire to become a pastor), we rarely get to see these men, though they are a part of our student body.
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Gemütlichkeit (and a couple of Theology Nerds, if their shirts are to be believed).

Most of the hours in each day are packed with classes, though time for worship in Kramer Chapel was built into their schedules, which is why the pews looked more full than usual this week during daily chapel services. On Thursday evening, the students of the SMP program also took the time to host gemütlichkeit for the whole Seminary community. Gemütlichkeit is a German word that is in some ways untranslatable – it describes a feeling rather than a specific term, one of warmth, friendliness, contentedness, and good cheer – but here at CTSFW it means the weekly Friday evening get-together for faculty, students, and their families to gather at the Student Commons to drink beer and talk.
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It can be hard to convey how much of the formation process of Seminary occurs between classes. There’s a lot of laughter at these get-togethers, but if you eavesdrop on the conversations, 90% of it is about theology. They argue, agree, run their questions and opinions past the professors (one of the things we are quietly proud of here is the fact that CTSFW has no faculty lounge; the professors eat lunch and drink coffee – and beer – with their students), and through it all learn. In the words of Proverbs 27:17: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” And so it is a joy to have these men here with us. God’s blessings to our SMP students as they travel home to their families and their ministries!

Top: Gemütlichkeit inside. Director of Admission, Rev. Matt Wietfeldt sits on the far right with students. Bottom: Gemütlichkeit spreads out into the portico while the weather remains good.
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173rd Academic Year at CTSFW Begins

Opening Service of the 173rd academic year in Kramer Chapel.

Shortly after 10 a.m. on September 4, 2018, the Rev. Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr. declared the beginning of the 173rd academic year of Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW), Fort Wayne, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. President Rast preached for the Opening Service, speaking on the demands of Seminary in context of Jesus’ declaration that His yoke is easy, His burden light. “Some of you take up that yoke for the first time today as a student,” he said. “Others have been doing so for some time. But those of us who have been around for a bit know that the Seminary isn’t easy; and it’s not supposed to be. We are a graduate school of theology. We are academically demanding. The courses are not light. If the classes don’t get you to this point, fieldwork and family needs will contribute to that as well. And so this text, which our Lord intends to be comforting, can cause us distress.

“But when you feel this way, remember,” he continued. “You are so dear to our Lord Christ that He yoked Himself to the burden of the law, fulfilling it. He yoked Himself to death in your place that you might have life. And now you are yoked to Him through baptism into His death, so that just as He was raised from the dead, you and I too will have newness of life eternally.”

After the sermon, the following men were installed as newly appointed faculty and ordained staff:

Left to right: Dr. Don Wiley, Rev. Paul Hopkins, Rev. Sergio Fritzler

The Rev. Dr. Don C. Wiley was installed for the second year in a row, this time as assistant professor of Pastoral Ministry and Mission. Last year he served the Seminary as guest professor.

Sergio A. Fritzler, dean and professor at Centro de Misericordia y Seminario Concordia “El Reformador” in the Dominican Republic, was installed at CTSFW as director of SMP Español/English.

Paul G. Hopkins was installed as an advancement officer. A 2005 graduate of CTSFW (whose son graduated from the Seminary only ten years later in 2015), he knows and understands the needs of her students.

“And so redeemed by Christ, baptized into His death and resurrection, knowing the Father because Jesus has chosen you to receive His revelation: be at peace,” President Rast concluded in his sermon, speaking to the Seminary community, drawn together by their roles as faculty, staff, students and family. “For Christ is your peace, your Sabbath; rest and remain in Him today and always.”

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Deaconess Placements

From Thursday’s Chapel, here is the prayer for and a closeup of the two deaconesses who received their placement announcements at the end of the service:

Carol BrownThe Evangelical Church of St. John
Sycamore, Illinois

Carole Terkula
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Columbia City, Indiana

Gracious God, through your Son Jesus Christ you have shown mercy to our fallen world. Continue to bless the women of the Concordia Deaconess Conference that as they serve your people they may model the love of Christ to all who are in need. Grant your blessings especially to our candidates who now take up their own service in the church, giving them joy and faithfulness in all that they do. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Hear ye, hear ye! Spelling Change

Going forward, our spelling for the term “diakonal” will change to the more popular “diaconal” (as used by Synod and many of our fellow Lutheran organizations). Originally I hadn’t planned to make any sort of announcement about this spelling change, but when I asked about the historical use of the “k” spelling here at the Fort Wayne Seminary, I received this answer from our academic dean:

“I think the reason you see a K (diakonal) instead of a C (diaconal) among those at CTSFW is largely due to Dr. Just transliterating the Greek noun for “service” with a K (diakonia) rather than a c (diaconia). A Greek kappa looks and sounds like a K. I think either transliteration can be used in English…The advantage of the C transliteration is then there is consistency between ‘deaconess,’ ‘diaconal’ and ‘diaconia.'”

Ask a simple question, get the translator’s cliff notes. It makes for a short but interesting piece of Seminary history: Dr. Just (who is now our chairman of Exegetical Theology and director of Spanish Language Church Worker Formation) served as our first director of Deaconess Formation, which is why his spelling is the one that made it into our internal lexicon.

But really, folks: it’s all Greek to me.

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Summer Greek Begins

Our Summer Greek students started their first class as seminarians this morning at 7:30 a.m. with Dr. Nordling. Yesterday, however, was the official “Meet the Greeks” Ice Cream Social, an annual event held to welcome the new Summer Greek students and their families.

Dr. Nordling (pictured above) addressed the entire crowd, though he had to throw in a reminder for the Greek students to remember to come to class at 7:30 the next day. Dr. Nordling joined the CTSFW faculty in 2006 but since he’s taught in Universities since 1994, this year is his 24th year teaching Greek.

Yesterday’s rain forced us inside, where we had ice cream, face painting for the kids, and you could overhear current students (and their wives) sharing stories with the newcomers.  We had leopards, butterflies, and at least one snake running around the Student Commons by the end of the social.

The Seminary Women’s Assembly (more commonly referred to as SWA; so much more commonly, in fact, that I just had a long discussion with one of the officers because neither of us could remember if the “A” stood for “Association” or “Assembly”) hosted the event, who recruited a handful of MDiv students to scoop the ice cream. The W. Paul Wolf Family sponsored the social.

On the left (l-r): SWA Secretary Mary Durham and President Karlie Heimer, whose husbands are both 2nd years. On the right are three of the 2nd-year MDiv students, recruited for the cause: (L-R) Jess Heimer, Cory Kroonblawd, and Adam Sternquist.

You may recognize the W. Paul Wolf Family name from the 172nd Annual Commencement folder, as they also sponsored the CTSFW Community Reception that took place just before Graduation Exercises last month. This is one of the ways this family likes to serve the Seminary community, by donating funds for the food-and-fellowship events that strengthen the bonds between the students, faculty, staff, and all our families. Thank you! And God’s richest blessings to our Summer Greek students as they recover from their first day of class. Only four more years to go.

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Baccalaureate 2018

The procession into Baccalaureate begins with the crucifix, carried by seminarian Simeon Cornwell.

Graduation Exercises begin an hour from now, at 6 p.m. (EDT). The service begins on page 14 of the Graduation Booklet, which can be found by CLICKING HERE.
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And our thanks to everyone as we reach the end of the 172nd academic school year here at CTSFW. We are reminded of the great love you have for our men and women, and of the need that we still see in the Church, even as we celebrate with our students. In the words of President Rast during Baccalaureate this morning:‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍

President Rast addresses the graduates during Baccalaureate.

“I realized earlier this year that I had passed over a significant threshold in my life. I entered that demographic of the Missouri Synod: over 55, which includes over half, now, of our clergy. So over half the clergy of the Missouri Synod is over the age of 55. The need for pastors remains. The need is great. We thank our future pastors here and we encourage all of you to encourage in your own arena those who are qualified to serve the Lord in His Church.
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“We also thank the families. Without your help, these students would not be here. So thank you so much for the support you’ve shown them over the years, the way you continue to support them, even if they may be far away on Christmases from here forth.”
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That mention of Christmas at the end is in reference to the Baccalaureate sermon preached only a few minutes before:‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍

Rev. Arlo Pullmann, pastor at Saint John Lutheran Church in Laurel, Montana.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled,” Rev. Arlo Pullmann (father of graduating seminarian Gideon Pullmann) said. “Yes, your son or your daughter may soon be living far away and will no longer be able to be with you over Christmas. And yes, enrollment is down, and you may think you have less certainty about your future than you used to. And yes, the burden of many souls entrusted to your care is daunting. The task of regularly and rightly divining the Word of truth is difficult. Making plans to establish a home among people you do not know may be frightening.
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“Let not your hearts be troubled. Neither let them be afraid. An orphan may have cause for a troubled heart… But you are not an orphan and you are not alone in the world. You have a Father who loves you. The Spirit of truth dwells with you.”