Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, cordially invites the public to its Commencement exercises for the 2005 graduating class on Friday, May 20. The day will begin with a special baccalaureate service at 10:00 a.m. in The Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus and will end with Commencement at 7:00 p.m. in the main quadrangle of the Seminary campus, weather permitting.

During the morning service, all graduates who have been certified by the Concordia Seminary faculty as eligible to receive calls to serve as pastors in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) will receive theological diplomas. In the evening, academic degrees and honors will be conferred.

Dr. Bruce M. Hartung, associate professor of practical theology and director of continuing education and parish services at Concordia Seminary, will deliver the sermon for the Theological Diploma service. Dr. Leo S. Mackay Jr., former deputy secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs, Washington, D.C., will deliver the Commencement address.

The Seminary anticipates approximately 158 academic degrees will be granted in the Commencement service. This year’s graduates join more than 11,000 previous Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, graduates who have served as pastors, missionaries and chaplains during the Seminary’s 166-year history.

For more information, contact the Communications Department, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105; (314) 505-7374; communications@csl.edu.