The 162nd academic year at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, began with 136 new students enrolled in programs preparing them to serve as pastors, missionaries or chaplains in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. That amounts to a 16 percent increase over the 117 new students registering last year. It is also the largest group of new students at Concordia Seminary since 1996.

The 136 new students include 127 students enrolled in the master of divinity degree program and nine students enrolled in the certificate program. The master of divinity program is a four-year program of preparation which includes a one-year internship called a vicarage. The certificate program, also called the alternate route program, is a three-year program offered for students who meet certain admission criteria. It also includes a vicarage.

"We are thankful to the Lord of the Harvest for sending such an abundance of gifted men with the desire to prepare for the pastoral ministry," commented Rev. Jeffery Moore, director of ministerial recruitment at Concordia Seminary. "They come from many different backgrounds, but they are united in their desire to serve their Lord in this special way."

At least eight additional new students are expected to begin their study at Concordia Seminary this November in the Seminary's winter quarter. "We are able to admit students at various times during the year," commented Moore, "and we look forward to these additional students joining our Seminary community later this year."

Concordia Seminary remains one of the largest Lutheran seminaries and one of the 25 largest seminaries of any denomination in the United States. Its graduates number more than 11,000 who have served as pastors, missionaries or chaplains throughout the world.

For more information, contact Rev. Glen Thomas, vice president for seminary relations, Concordia Seminary, 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63105; 314-505-7371; thomasg@csl.edu.