Updated with final enrollment numbers Sept. 3, 2025.

The 187^th academic year for Concordia Seminary, St. Louis began Friday, Aug. 22 with the Opening Service in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus.

The Seminary has an enrollment of 147 new students across its Ministerial Formation and Advanced Studies programs. The Opening Service concluded orientation for new students last week, and fall semester classes will begin today.

Seminary President Dr. Thomas J. Egger preached on the 2025–26 academic theme, “Christ the Living Stone … Building Us Together,” based on 1 Peter 2:4–5.

During the service, three new staff members were installed: Campus Chaplain Rev. Mark Barz, Senior Gift Officer Rev. James Paul Hoemann and Director of Placement Rev. Timothy Scharr.

In addition, two current professors and one current staff member were installed into new positions: Professor of Historical Theology Dr. Gerhard Bode as the Eugene E. and Nell S. Fincke Graduate Professor of Theology, Interim Director of Recruitment Rev. Jesse Kueker as director of Enrollment and Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology Dr. David Lewis as the Dr. Jack Dean Kingsbury Professor of New Testament Theology.

In all, 19 new staff who joined the Seminary over the past year were recognized, and five faculty and staff were recognized for new positions.

Also during the service, 52 distance students who received their vicarage and internship assignments were recognized.

The following Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) students were assigned as vicars:

• Tracy Bovee, Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Weston, Fla., LCMS Florida–Georgia District
• Brandon Chornobroff, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Howell, N.J., LCMS New Jersey District
• Dillon Corbin, Faith Lutheran Church, Pocatello, Idaho, LCMS Northwest District
• Kenneth Dugan, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Portsmouth, Va., LCMS Southeastern District
• Roy Farias, Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Ill., LCMS Northern Illinois District
• Jonathan Frohn, Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Ill., LCMS Northern Illinois District
• Seth Gehrke, Saint John Lutheran Church, Cypress, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Brian Gentry, Living Faith Lutheran Church, Clive, Iowa, LCMS Iowa District West
• Ranjan George, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Somerset, N.J., LCMS New Jersey District
• Jason Hancock, Peace Lutheran Church, Conway, Ark., LCMS Mid-South District
• John Imeson, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Munising, Mich., LCMS North Wisconsin District
• Chaim Jenkins, Hope Lutheran Church, Maryville, Mo., LCMS Missouri District
• Matthew Kunze, The Dwelling Lutheran Church, Porter, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• David Meier, Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Dundee, Ill., LCMS Northern Illinois District
• Clifford Powers, Zion Lutheran Church, Maywood, N.J., LCMS New Jersey District
• Tyler Rohlfsen, King of Kings Lutheran Church, Omaha, Neb., LCMS Nebraska District
• Michael Ross, Community of Hope Lutheran Church, Broadview Heights, Ohio, LCMS Ohio District
• Daniel Stec, King of Glory Lutheran Church, Williamsburg, Va., LCMS Southeastern District
• Lester Tacha, Saint John’s Lutheran Church, Meade, Kan., LCMS Kansas District
• Andrew Wyss, Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Rhinelander, Wis., LCMS Northern Wisconsin District

The following Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) students were assigned as vicars:

• Daniel Legabu, Living Word Lutheran Church, Lansing, Mich., LCMS Michigan District
• Cherinet Liben, Faith Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, S.D., LCMS South Dakota District
• Solomon Paye, Saint Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Providence, R.I., LCMS New England District
• Silas Perez, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Hayward, Calif., LCMS California–Nevada–Hawaii District
• Tarnis Silk, New Vision Lutheran Church, Spokane, Wash., LCMS Northwest District

The following Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) students were assigned as deaconess interns:

• Josefa Deogrades, Lutheran Haven, Oviedo, Fla., LCMS SELC District
• Marilou Dispo, Lutheran Haven, Oviedo, Fla., LCMS SELC District
• Melissa Kearney, Central Illinois Lutheran Deaf Outreach and Christ Lutheran Church for the Deaf, Sherman, Ill., LCMS Central Illinois District
• Mary Puok, Saint John’s Lutheran Church and Sudanese Evangelical Lutheran Mission of Southeastern Minnes, Austin, Minn., LCMS Minnesota South District

The following Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) students were assigned as vicars:

• Michael Cruz, Saint Paul Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Roberto Espitia Gómez, Grace Lutheran Church, Arlington, Texas, LCMS Texas District

The following Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) students were assigned as deaconess interns:

• Lucia Jaimez Cortez, Grace Lutheran Church, Arlington, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Yrida Gómez, Pelican Lutheran Church, Naples, Fla., LCMS Florida–Georgia District
• Marilyn Hernández, Pelican Lutheran Church, Naples, Fla., LCMS Florida–Georgia District
• Ruth Latzke, Saint John’s Lutheran Church, Algonquin, Ill., LCMS Northern Illinois District
• Angélica Cepeda Martínez, Iglesia Luterana Confesional Conexión, Naples, Fla., LCMS Florida–Georgia District
• Sofia Miranda, Manantiales de Vida Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Betsy Ramírez, Iglesia Luterana Confesional Conexión, Naples, Fla., LCMS Florida–Georgia District
• Rosy Portillo Rubio, Faith Lutheran Church, Grand Prairie, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Gloria Velásquez, Iglesia Luterana Confesional Conexión, Naples, Fla., LCMS Florida–Georgia District
• Gilma Zepeda, Iglesia Luterana Confesional Conexión, Naples, Fla., LCMS Florida–Georgia District

The following Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC) students were assigned as vicars:

• Peter Berg, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Fremont, Calif., LCMS California–Nevada–Hawaii District
• Paul Casem, Messiah Lutheran Church, Citrus Heights, Calif., LCMS California–Nevada–Hawaii District
• Solomon Dasary, Saint Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Tracy, Calif., LCMS California–Nevada–Hawaii District
• Miles Johnson, Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, Irvine, Calif., LCMS Pacific Southwest District
• Daniel Mekibib, Concordia Lutheran Church, Triangle, Va., LCMS Southeastern District

The following Online Deaconess Studies (ODS) Program students were assigned as deaconess interns:

• Lori Bennett, King of Kings Lutheran Church, Round Rock, Texas, LCMS Texas District
• Melissa Derenches, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Delmar, N.Y., LCMS Atlantic District
• Sarah Gulseth, LCMS International Center/KFUO Radio, St. Louis, Mo., LCMS Missouri District
• Brittany Johnson, Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Hawthorn Woods, Ill., LCMS Northern Illinois District
• Lisa Kalscheur, Zion Lutheran Church of Wayside, Greenleaf, Wis., LCMS North Wisconsin District
• Tammy Wiese, Alive in Christ Lutheran Church, Columbia, Mo., LCMS Missouri District

While the Seminary recognizes and celebrates calls throughout the year, its primary annual Call Day celebration is set for April 28, 2026.

After the installations and blessing of new students, Egger officially opened the 187^th academic year.

“May God uphold and preserve us in the coming year, and deal mercifully with us for the sake of His Son,” Egger said. “May God establish us solidly on Jesus Christ, the Living Stone, and build us together as living stones to serve Him together.”

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.