Concordia Seminary, St. Louis will hold the Opening Service for its 186th academic year at 10:30 a.m. CDT Friday, Aug. 23, in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. Seminary President Dr. Thomas J. Egger will preach on the new academic year theme, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,” based on Heb. 12:2 and Ps. 141:8.

The service will conclude a week of orientation for the Seminary’s new students, which includes residential and distance students in both the Ministerial Formation and Advanced Studies departments.

Also during the service, new students will be welcomed and distance students enrolled in the Specific Ministry Pastor Program, Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology, Center for Hispanic Studies, Cross-cultural Ministry Center and Online Deaconess Studies Program will be recognized for their vicarage and internship assignments.

“The Lord’s mercies are new to us every morning — and each new academic year,” said Egger. “What a joyful mission we have at Concordia Seminary! We look forward to the opening of another school year, as we grow in Christ, His mercy, and His Word, preparing servants of Christ to bear His Gospel near and far. I pray that it will be a fruitful year, a year of fixing our eyes on Jesus.”

Four new faculty and one new staff member will be installed during the service: Assistant Professor of Practical Theology Dr. Sam Eatherton, who also serves as kantor and director of music arts; Assistant Professor of Exegetical Theology Dr. James Fickenscher; Associate Professor of Historical Theology and the Director of Research, Assessment and Academic Programming Dr. Jason Lane; Assistant Professor of Practical Theology Dr. Ryan Tinetti; and Interim Campus Chaplain Rev. Dan Gilbert.

In addition, three current professors and one current staff member will be installed into new positions: Professor of Exegetical Theology Rev. Joel Fritsche as the Buehner-Duesenberg Professor of Lutheran Missions; Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology Dr. Kevin Golden as director of Resident Field Education; Associate Professor of Practical Theology Dr. Ely Prieto as director of the Center for Hispanic Studies; and Admissions Officer Rev. Jesse Kueker as interim director of recruitment.

The public is invited to attend and celebrate the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year with new and returning students and their families, as well as faculty and staff. The service also will be livestreamed at csl.edu/live.

Everyone is encouraged to help share in the celebration of the new academic year by using #letusfixoureyesonjesus on social media.

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.