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Seminary Guild Project: Furniture for the Dean of Student’s Office

Thanks to the Seminary Guild, Student Services and the Dean of Student’s Office recently upgraded its furniture, creating a more comfortable space for the students. The ladies of the office had been wanting to purchase furniture that lent itself to conversation and, hearing that the Seminary Guild had been looking for a project, partnered with the Guild to accomplish their goal. So far they’ve rearranged the furniture three times based on what students have said as they come in; they’re thrilled with the response.

From left to right: Helen Witte, vice president of the Seminary Guild; Joyce West, former president (the current president, Phyllis Thieme, was watching from behind me, but as this project came about under Joyce’s time, she wanted her in the picture); Trena Merryman, admin. assistant, Financial Aid; Jacqui Petersen, admin. assistant, Dean of Students.

Trena and Jacqui were responsible for connecting with the Guild, and for picking out the furniture both for this corner and for the Dean of Student’s office. Funds paid for the couch, chairs, tables (one of which is off screen), and the lamp in the waiting area. As to Dr. Zieroth’s office (he is sitting on the far right), he already owned the couch but the Guild was able to add four matching chairs (one of which is outside his office door for any student waiting his turn), the coffee table, and two end tables. Trena, a financial aid person to the core, gladly shared with me the shopping process, down to how much of this they were able to purchase on sale and on clearance.

Money for these and other projects come from Guild membership dues and additional small donations to the Guild. Each year these faithful women fund the Legacy Project (which provides a copy of the “Pastoral Care Companion” to every new diakonal and pastoral student; the book is appropriate for both male and female churchworkers as it contains prayers, readings, hymns and liturgy that guide those caring for individuals in times of both celebration and distress), and then tackle additional projects as funds become available. For more information about the Seminary Guild and their work in caring for the students of CTSFW, contact Guild President Phyllis Thieme at 260.485.0209 or fourten@frontier.com.

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COP Meeting: Seminary Recruitment

CLICK HERE to read details about the LCMS Council of Presidents meetings from April 21-26, which took place at both seminaries right around the call services.

Of particular note is their focus on seminary recruitment, as we look at a generation of pastors about to retire (or already retiring) and the many congregations that requested but did not receive a candidate, for the simple fact that there were not enough. Both seminaries have implemented scholarships and grants to meet 100% of tuition for incoming students, though our ability to do so remains dependent on the continued support of the many, many generous donors we still count on to support our students. Other programs at CTSFW like the Student Adoption Program and the Food and Clothing Co-ops then go directly to answer our students’ need for daily bread (and other such living expenses).

For more information about the specifics of the 100% tuition grant, the pastoral and diakonal programs themselves, or to schedule a visit, email Admission@ctsfw.edu or call 800.481.2155. You can also go to www.ctsfw.edu/Admission. Keep in your prayers those who are considering a future in church work, and encourage the men and women in your life who may not have yet recognized their gifts for ministry and service.

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Open House: STM & PhD-TS

About a month ago, Dr. Masaki and his wife, Yohko, hosted an open house for the STM (Master of Sacred Theology) and PhD in Theological Studies programs. The PhD in Theological Studies is a very new program as it doesn’t begin until this fall, but most of the candidates for the program are already here as they come from among this year’s graduates. The annual open house is to celebrate the students’ accomplishments of the past year and to welcome new students for the coming year.
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Many of Dr. Masaki’s colleagues were able to join, as well as Cindy Johnson of the Graduate School and Dr. Chris Barnekov of the Scandinavian House. A couple of PhD in Missiology students (Rev. Prof. Abdi Mulat and Rev. Dean Tsegaye Rebu of Mekane Yesus Seminary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) joined the group as well. Between students, faculty and families, about 38 people were able to spend the afternoon together.
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A week ago today we had to say goodbye (and congratulations) to a number of these students as they received their degree of Master of Sacred Theology. God’s blessings as the rest either continue or begin their further educational pursuits, diving ever deeper into the Scriptural theology offered here at CTSFW.

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Final Week of the 172nd Academic Year

It’s Monday in the final week of the 172nd academic year at CTSFW. Commencement is Friday, and this year’s graduating class will soon be ringing the Springfield Bell to celebrate the end of their last class at the Seminary. Today’s chapel sermon, preached by the Rev. Bill Johnson (ordained staff member at CTSFW), was definitely thinking particularly of our pastor-elects as they prepare to go into the ministry this morning. In his words:

“It may be that all of your baptisms happen young and your funerals happen at the end of a long life…it could also be that your baptisms will come at the end of a long, hard road, it may be that your funerals will come way too many years too early… If I had it in my power I would tell you and I would warn you and I would take away the pain that comes from suffering alongside God’s people, but that is not given to me or anyone here; the future lies in the hands of God.

“Finish the papers, take the exams, ring the bell. Go out from here to the very ends of the earth, and know that our thoughts and prayers go with you as you serve God’s people. God is before you, God is with you, God is working in you. You are not done, by any means. But you are ready.”

Chapel will be at the normal time this week through Thursday, which marks the end of Spring Quarter. Baccalaureate will replace chapel at 10 a.m. on Friday, followed by the Commencement Organ Recital (which will not be livestreamed) at 3 p.m. and Graduation Exercises (which will) at 6 p.m. We’ll take the following week off, then begin summer chapel on Tuesday, May 29, at 9:30 a.m. every weekday while summer classes are in session.

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2018 Academic Awards

Student Association President Amadeus Gandy introduces the awards.

Though the Seminary primarily focuses on the vocational training of pastors and deaconesses for service in the Church, CTSFW takes a moment near the end of each school year to recognize the academic accomplishments achieved by her students in the course of this preparation. Following chapel this morning, thirteen students were recognized individually, followed by the announcement of the graduate assistants and two students who will be involved in an archaeological dig in Israel. Per tradition, the Student Association sponsored the certificates and the monetary awards.

TOP (L-R): Erik Sorenson, James Pierce, Jacob Benson, Zachary Oedewaldt; MIDDLE (L-R): Jonathan Jennings, Blake Martzowka, Bill Maggard, Aaron Zimmerman; BOTTOM (L-R): Evan Scamman, Daniel Broaddus, Marshal Frisque, Dr. Gieschen

One of the most entertaining moments of the Academic Awards Convocation arose between the Scaers, during the presentation of the research and writing awards:

Dr. Peter Scaer, associate professor of Exegetical Theology: “Each year the Student Association of CTSFW honors student research and writing through four outstanding paper awards selected by each of the four theology departments. The Department of Exegetical Theology, of course, is the most important of the departments.”

Dr. David Scaer, chairman of Systematic Theology (coming up to the podium immediately after his son): “Do we have to endorse everything that was said by the last speaker?”

You can watch the Awards Convocation at the end of today’s chapel service, which is available on our Facebook page.  You can also view a slightly larger version of the list of academic awards by clicking the picture below:

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2018 Class Gift

This past Friday, during the LCEF annual banquet for fourth-year seminarians, the class of 2018 presented their class gift to President Rast, a translated copy of “The Great Works of God Parts Five and Six: The Mysteries of Christ in the Book of Exodus” by Valerius Herberger. The volume was near completion by translator Matthew Carver (standing on the far right) but needed funding before it could be finished and made available for purchase.

The class heard about the project through one of the fieldwork churches in Fort Wayne, Redeemer Lutheran Church. Pastor Frese (far left) has supervised and worked with many fieldworkers since accepting a call as associate pastor at Redeemer, and along with his wife owns and operates a small publishing company, Emmanuel Press. Wanting to choose a gift that could reach beyond the Seminary, the class discovered that the volume was a Christ-centered devotional, instructive to both church workers and laity alike. Besides underwriting the project, many of the fourth years had a hand in editing the final product, particularly checking bibliographical information, footnotes, and any missing citations.

To purchase a copy (or pre-purchase; the book is not officially available until tomorrow), CLICK HERE.

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Laborers Sent to the Harvest: Call and Assignment Services Conclude

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest’” (Matt. 9:35-38).

Thanks be to God for His great goodness and mercy; on April 24 and April 25, students at Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW), Fort Wayne, learned where they would serve in their near futures, as vicars, deaconess interns and pastors. The Assignment and Call Services culminated in the announcement of each student’s placement, in cities and churches across the United States. To see where the Lord of the harvest is sending His laborers, go to callday.ctsfw.edu/map.

“Placement is a process where we see the entire Church come together,” said the Rev. Dr. Jeffrey H. Pulse, director of Certification and Placement, addressing the candidates during last night’s Call Service. “Placement directors and seminaries, congregations and call committees, circuit visitors and pastors, district presidents and their staff, the Synod and the Council of Presidents—they all come together as Church to accomplish this very important task for the kingdom of God. Because of the work of the Holy Spirit and our desire to preserve the sanctity of the call, the outcome truly is for the benefit of God’s Church.”

For students headed out on vicarage or diakonal internship, this assignment marks another year of learning, bringing them ever closer to their future vocation. For those about to become pastors, these congregations are where they will be installed and ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry. To watch either service, print off the lists of assignments and placements, or see who’s coming to your district, go to callday.ctsfw.edu.

Remember, as well, the many congregations that still cry out for a shepherd, whose calls go unfilled this year. Though together CTSFW and her sister seminary, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, are placing 98 men (79 through the Master of Divinity Program and the rest through other routes), the laborers are ever few; that number is still 29 short of the 127 applications for candidates sent in by congregations this year. Pray earnestly for the men and women considering a future in church work, and encourage those who may not have yet recognized their own gifts for ministry and service. For more information about the path towards becoming a pastor or deaconess, go to www.ctsfw.edu/Admission or call 800.481.2155.

And finally, following on the heels of the Assignment and Call Services this week, the faculty of CTSFW and the Council of Presidents (COP) held a joint meeting this morning in Luther Hall. Made up of the President, vice-presidents and district presidents of the Synod, the 42-member COP meets four times a year to discuss doctrine, the administration of the Synod, and to edify and support one another. It is always encouraging to see the Body of Christ come together as her members, in their different roles, work to support one another in their particular tasks.

This meeting covered such topics as recruitment, parish administration and leadership, and the knowledge, skills and attitudes that a competent candidate develops in the classroom and through fieldwork, and that he then carries to his calling congregation. Here members of the council and faculty share the insights they have gained through their different perspectives.

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Candidate Call Service 2018

Four hours until Candidate Call Service! We have thirty men receiving calls this evening at 7:00 p.m. Kramer Chapel will likely fill quickly, but per usual you can watch the service either on our Facebook page or over at callday.ctsfw.edu/Home/Calls.

Afterwards, you can head back to callday.ctsfw.edu to check out our interactive map (showing where each candidate, vicar, and intern is headed), see who’s coming to your district, and to access printable lists of calls, vicarages, and internships. In fact, the site is constantly updated, so you can already view the vicarage and internship information. Call information will be added both during and immediately following the Candidate Call Service.

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Assignment Service 2018

The Vicarage and Deaconess Internship Assignment Service begins in three and a half hours. The service will be held here on campus in Kramer Chapel, and will also be livestreamed at http://callday.ctsfw.edu/Home/Vicars. This page also includes a link to the service bulletin.

You can also view our list of Vicars-Elect and Deaconess Intern Candidates, where they’re from, and, as soon as they’re announced, where they’re going. After the service is over, head back to http://callday.ctsfw.edu to view the full list.

Praise and thanks be to God! Keep these men and women in your prayers as they anxiously count down these last few hours. God’s richest blessings to our 42 vicars-elect and 3 deaconess intern candidates, about to discover where they’re headed for this next year of service and learning.

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Spring in Fort Wayne

Here’s proof that it really is spring in Indiana. Dr. Mayes (the man behind the camera) got a group of students and staff together to go bicycling last Friday, taking full advantage of the improving weather. Naturally, being Fort Wayne, it’s snowed since then, but it’s 59 degrees right now and this weekend is already shaping up to be a similarly promising one.

Homiletics with Dr. Fickenscher also moved outside this afternoon, proving once more that, for the moment, it’s truly spring in Fort Wayne. They’re sitting next to the lake, in the lower plaza.