On April 27, calls to serve as pastors in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) were issued to 111 students at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. In addition, 88 students received assignments to serve as vicars, three of which are in the Alternate Route program. Vicarage is a one-year internship that M.Div. and Alternate Route students preparing to serve in the pastoral ministry must complete.

Of the 111 Concordia Seminary students called to serve as pastors in the LCMS, 11 are from the Seminary’s Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS), 13 are from the Distance Education Leading To Ordination (DELTO) program, and three are from the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT).

Eighty-eight students received vicarage assignments and one student received a deaconess internship.

In addition to the 199 calls and vicarage assignments, four M.Div. students, three CCMC (Cross-Cultural Ministry Center) students, 1 CHS student, and 1 DELTO student are awaiting calls. In each of these cases, the details of calls to specific sites are being finalized and should be completed soon. Great care is exercised in both the candidate call and the vicarage assignment processes to ensure that the best possible match is realized between the seminarian and the ministry site.

Concordia Seminary also celebrated the presentation of one deaconess student who was assigned an internship, and four deaconess candidates who were assigned calls. Three deaconess students, one DIT (Deaf Institute of Theology) deaconess, and one CHS deaconess are awaiting their calls.

The Missouri District received the most vicars from Concordia Seminary, with 15 vicars assigned, followed by the Michigan District with six. The Texas District issued the most calls with 10, followed by the Nebraska District with nine.

The Office of Vespers and Assignment of Vicarages took place at 3:00 p.m. in the Seminary’s Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. Dr. David Bueltmann, president of the Central Illinois District of the LCMS, served as preacher. Officiants for the service included Dr. Dale A. Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary; Dr. Glenn A. Nielsen, director of the Seminary’s vicarage and deaconess internship programs; and Dr. William G. Utech, director of the Seminary’s resident field education program.

The Service of Praise and Assignment of Calls, also held in The Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus, took place at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Glen D. Thomas, executive director of the Board for Pastoral Education for the LCMS, served as preacher. Officiants for the services included Dr. Dale A. Meyer and Rev. Robert P. Hoehner, the Seminary’s director of placement. LCMS President Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick greeted the candidates immediately after they received their calls. The calls were presented to the students by Dr. Larry A. Stoterau, chairman of the Council of Presidents of the LCMS and president of the Pacific Southwest District.

A complete listing of the calls and vicarages issued, as well as video playback of the services and interactive maps, can be accessed here.