The opening service for the 165th academic year of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, included the installation of two staff members, Rev. Kyle Castens and Deaconess Theresa Jo List. Castens was installed as admission counselor, and List was installed as assistant to the dean of the Graduate School, for diaconal studies.

Castens will assist the Seminary in process of identify, informing and encouraging appropriate candidates for the pastoral ministry. Castens received his master of divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 2000. Since that time, he has been serving as associate pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Everett, Wash., and Chapel on the Hill Lutheran Church in Granite Falls, Wash. He and his wife, Jennifer, have one son, Daniel. His installation brings the Seminary's admissions staff back to full-strength after a seven-month vacancy.

List will assist the director of the Seminary's Graduate School, Prof. Bruce Schuchard, in the administration of the Seminary's Deaconess program, now in its second year. She received a bachelor of arts degree and deaconess diploma from Concordia University, River Forest, Ill., in 1994. She received a master of arts degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1995. From 1995 to 1997, she served as Latino mission developer and mission planter in the Minnesota South District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. She currently is enrolled in Concordia Seminary's doctor of philosophy degree program, and has teaching experience at Concordia University Wisconsin and Concordia University, River Forest. She is married to Rev. Peter List.

For more information, contact Communications, Concordia Seminary, 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105, 314.505.7374; communications@csl.edu.