Forty-one students representing the Specific Ministry Program (SMP) and the new online Deaconess Studies Program (ODS) at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis were recognized Friday in the Chapel of St. Timothy and Titus for receiving vicarages, internships, program completions and calls.

Deaconess internship assignments

Seven students became deaconess interns through the Seminary’s new ODS Program, an online program for women that leads to certification as deaconesses.

“It’s an honor to recognize this inaugural group of women who will serve as deaconess interns as they continue their deaconess studies through our new ODS Program,” said Dr. Gillian Bond, director of Deaconess Studies. “Upon successful completion of the program, these students will be eligible to receive deaconess certification and placement as a deaconess in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS).”

The following women received deaconess internships:

• Ellyn Hanson, The City to Come Lutheran Church, New York, N.Y., LCMS Atlantic District
• Alene Kidd, Peace Lutheran Church, Plainfield, Ill., LCMS Northern Illinois District
• Grace Macduff, Bethlehem Lutheran Church and School, Kennewick, Wash., LCMS Northwest District
• Robin Moyer, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lafe, Ark., LCMS Mid-South District
• Leslie Sramek, LCMS Southern Illinois District, Belleville, Ill.
• Jessica Vieane, Christ Greenfield Lutheran Church, Gilbert, Ariz., LCMS Pacific Southwest District
• Judith Weichenthal Mader, Ascension Lutheran Church, Madison, Tenn., LCMS Mid-South District

SMP vicarages, calls, program completion

Thirty-four students were recognized for achieving three distinct milestones of the SMP Program – vicarages, calls and program completions.

SMP vicarage assignments

“We rejoice in God’s gifts with our new vicars and their mentors as well as the ministries they serve,” said Dr. W. Mart Thompson, director of the SMP Program. “The SMP course work they are beginning is enriched by this two-year vicarage practicum making ministerial formation an effective ‘hands-on’ educational process.”

The following men received vicarage assignments:

• Jeremiah Bauer, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Carrollton, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Andrew Greer, Messiah Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Neb., LCMS Nebraska District
• Joshua Hoffman, St. John Lutheran Church, Norwood Young America, Minn., LCMS Minnesota South District
• William Jewell, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, North Fort Myers, Fla., LCMS Florida-Georgia District
• Kenneth Knippa, Concordia Lutheran Church, Garland, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Frederick Limmel, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Excelsior, Minn., LCMS Minnesota South District
• Tony Martin, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Winston-Salem, N.C., LCMS Southeastern District
• Ryan Pennington, Fortress Lutheran Church, Harker Heights, Texas, LCMS Texas District

SMP pastoral calls

“The Holy Spirit calls men to be pastors in Christ’s church,” Thompson said. “We rejoice with these men and the specific ministries in which they have been called to serve. Having been certified for ordination, they now serve as our newest pastors in the church while continuing to receive ongoing formation toward the completion of the SMP Program.”

The following men were recognized for pastoral calls:

• Brian Bocian, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Cabot, Penn., LCMS Eastern District
• Kyle Borcherding, Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, Avon, Ind., LCMS Indiana District
• Jason Christ, First Trinity Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, N.Y., LCMS Eastern District
• Martin Cornes, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Columbia Heights, Minn., LCMS Minnesota South District
• Dean Dunavan, Woodbury Lutheran Church, Woodbury, Minn., LCMS Minnesota South District
• Matthew Fitzpatrick, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Lake Mary, Fla., LCMS SELC District
• Shawn Hecksel, Cornerstone Lutheran Church, Carmel, Ind., LCMS Indiana District
• Danlias Howe, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Lake Mary, Fla., LCMS SELC District
• Erik Johnson, True Light Lutheran Church, New York, N.Y., LCMS Atlantic District
• Peter Johnson, Faith Lutheran Church, Rochester, N.Y., LCMS Eastern District
• Colton LaMay, Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Fla., LCMS Florida-Georgia District
• Daniel Longden, First Lutheran Church, Charlotte, Mich., LCMS Michigan District
• Scott Magneson, Light of Christ Lutheran Church, Marysville, Mich., LCMS Michigan District
• Mark Payne, Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Flower Mound, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Samuel Troemel, Calvary Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, Ind., LCMS Indiana District
• Craig Van Pay, St. John Lutheran Church, Luxemburg, Wis., LCMS North Wisconsin District
• Jason Wallingsford, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas, LCMS Texas District

Completion of SMP Program

“Successful completion during the challenges of a pandemic is no small achievement,” Thompson said. “We join in celebration with their families and the specific ministries in which they serve across the country in giving the glory to God!”

Nine students were recognized for completion of the SMP Program:

• Jacob Baumann, theCross Lutheran Church, Mount Dora, Fla., LCMS SELC District
• Matthew Cario, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Tacoma, Wash., LCMS Northwest District
• Mark Crossman, theCross Lutheran Church, Mount Dora, Fla., LCMS SELC District
• Wynn Derong, Oikos Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Joel Dietrich, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Peachtree City, Ga., LCMS Florida-Georgia District
• Craig McCourt, Peace Lutheran Church, Arlington, Minn., LCMS Minnesota South District
• Jason Schleicher, Salem Lutheran Church, Tomball, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Corey Stallings, The Exchange Communities, Jackson, Mo., LCMS Missouri District
• Laird Van Gorder, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Macon, Ga., LCMS Florida-Georgia District

The Seminary recognizes and celebrates calls throughout the year although the campus’ primary Call Day celebration typically is held in April. During call celebrations, students receive their first calls to ministry as well as assignments for vicarages and deaconess internships. The Seminary’s primary Call Day is set for April 28, 2021.

Download pictorial directories of those celebrating calls and internships today:

• Deaconess Studies Program (ODS) Spring 2021
• Download Specific Ministry Pastor Program Calls Spring 2021
• Download Specific Ministry Pastor Program Completions Spring 2021
• Download Specific Ministry Pastor Program Vicars Spring 2021

About Concordia Seminary

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). To learn more, visit csl.edu.