The Graduate School of Concordia Seminary celebrated the completion of 27 graduate degrees at Commencement on May 17, 2013. Among these were a few of particular note: two students received the Master of Arts degree (M.A.) that was conducted entirely in the Spanish language, a first for Concordia Seminary. In addition, three international graduate students completed degrees.

Miguel Sanabria, M.A. (Spanish)

Rev. Miguel Sanabria came to the United States from Colombia. He has a previous degree in Scripture and Theology from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. He has served as a religious leader in several communities in his country of origin, Colombia. He also served as regional director for the country’s national educational program and as professor in a national graduate program for directors and teachers in areas of educational administration. After immigrating to the United States, he studied at the Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) at Concordia Seminary and became rostered as an LCMS pastor. Together with his wife, Flor Marina, and their three adult children, they are planting missions and ministries in the area of Tampa Bay, Fla., where he also coordinates a program site for CHS.

Ligia Morales, M.A. (Spanish)

Deaconess Ligia Morales is originally from Guatemala. She studied at the Seminario Teológico Centroamericano where she received a bachelor’s degree in Bible and Theology as well as a master’s degree. Ligia and her husband, Pastor Adolfo Borges, served in Costa Rica as well as Guatemala. Ligia studied at the Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) at Concordia Seminary and was certified as a deaconess in the LCMS. Ligia and her husband serve Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and Iglesia Luterana Príncipe de Paz in Orlando, Fla. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the fourth National Hispanic Lutheran Convention and has written devotionals for “Portals of Prayer” in Spanish.

Gordon Alex, M.A.

Rev. Gordon Alex is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya. He began his studies at Concordia Seminary in the fall of 2011. Gordon’s master’s thesis is entitled “Church Conflict and Reconciliation.” His hope is to help Kenyans understand and practice biblical principles of reconciliation. His studies have enabled him to encourage conflict resolution and mutual understanding between ethnic tribes in Kenya, especially between family members. Gordon is married and has four children.

Jonathan Kraemer, S.T.M.

Rev. Jonathan Kraemer is currently assistant professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He also serves as the dean of student life and the director of financial aid. Jonathan was encouraged to pursue an advanced degree by the president of Concordia Lutheran Seminary when he was serving as a parish pastor in Trail, British Columbia. Kraemer decided on Concordia Seminary because of its excellent exegetical faculty and because of its high regard for Holy Scripture.

Michael Lockwood, S.T.M.

Rev. Michael Lockwood is an ordained as a pastor of the Lutheran Church of Australia. He has served in parish ministry at Oakey in rural Queensland and at Box Hill in suburban Melbourne. He and his wife spent three years in St. Louis while he worked full time on his Ph.D. During this time they were blessed with the birth of two boys. They have since returned to Australia, where Michael serves as pastor to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kadina, a seaside town in rural South Australia. In addition to his parish responsibilities he serves on the Australian Anglican-Lutheran Dialogue Team, and has recently been appointed to the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations for the Lutheran Church of Australia.

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