Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is pleased to announce that 18 students in the Specific Ministry Pastor Program (SMP) received their vicarage assignments in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). The assignments were celebrated during the Seminary’s morning chapel service on Feb. 12.

Specific Ministry Pastor Program (SMP) Vicarage Assignments

• Doug Bielefeldt, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran, San Antonio, Texas, Texas District
• David Brezina, Messiah Lutheran, Lynnfield, Mass., New England District
• Jerome Bunkowske, Memorial Lutheran, Sioux Falls, S. D., South Dakota District
• Owen Davis, Faith Lutheran, Graham, Texas, Texas District
• Johnny Greer, St. Peter Lutheran, Spanish Lake, Mo., Missouri District
• Johnathan Lewis, St. Peter Lutheran, Spanish Lake, Mo., Missouri District
• Craig Meissler, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran, San Antonio, Texas, Texas District
• Jeffrey Morey, Trinity Lutheran, Stockton, Calif., California-Nevada-Hawaii District
• Michael Peters, Christ Memorial Lutheran, Fitchburg, Wis., South Wisconsin District
• Philip Petersen, Trinity Lutheran, Carlos, Minn., Minnesota North District
• Dennis Roedemeier, Concordia Lutheran, Bourbon, Mo., Missouri District
• Aaron Simms, Living Faith Lutheran, Cumming, Ga., Florida-Georgia District
• Gary Smith, Crown of Life Lutheran, Sun City West, Ariz., Pacific Southwest District
• William Stevenson, Trinity Lutheran, Dyersburg, Tenn., Mid-South District
• Albert Sutton, Divine Shepherd Lutheran, Black Hawk, S. D., South Dakota District
• Aaron Tilt, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran, San Antonio, Texas, Texas District
• Ellis Wayand, Jr., Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran, Hartselle, Ala., Southern District
• Andy Yount, New Beginnings Lutheran, Pacific, Mo., Missouri District

The Specific Ministry Pastor Program (SMP) is a new category of pastoral ministry established by the LCMS in 2007 designed to meet the need of pastors for mission and ministry in the Church where a pastor with a seminary degree might not be available. These men are identified by the ministry and mission opportunity (a congregation, mission plant, etc.) where they will serve in consultation with their district president.

After they have completed the prerequisite preparation for the program determined by their district, they will apply through their district office. The district president must nominate the men for this program. Once admitted they serve as “vicars” in the location where they will eventually serve as a Specific Ministry Pastor. They will take no less than two years of classes prior to ordination and then a minimum of another two years following ordination. They are supervised by local pastors and coursework is completed via the Internet.

For more information, contact Distance Education, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105; 314-505-7764; smp@csl.edu.