For the Life of the World - Volume Ten, Number Three

LIFEWORLD

of the

For the

July 2006. Volume Ten, Number Three

Because Christ Is for All,the Church Has a Corporate Life of Mercy - p.4

Complete in One Body - p.7

Christ in the Parish - p.9

What Does This Mean? - p.11

One of the most painful experiences that human beingsfeel is “exclusion.” Especially for children and youngpeople, but in a real way for everyone, to be excluded

from an event or a group frequently brings hurt. Sacred Scripturebrings a wonderful word to each of us. Each and every one ofus is included! Not a single person is excluded!

How can this be? Quite simply we are all descendants ofAdam and Eve. Not a single human being is excluded fromGenesis 1 and 2. Indeed, Genesis is a wonderful narrative ofinclusion. Genesis, chapter 1, beautifully describes the givingcharacter of God. God gives the heavens and the earth. Godgives the sun and the moon and the seasons. God gives andgives and gives. He gives all that is needed to sustain humanlife. Then, God gives Himself.

So God created man in His own image, in the image ofGod He created him; male and female He created them.(Gen. 1:27)

Genesis 2 complements Genesis 1 in describing more fullythe intimate involvement of God in the creation of Eve. Adamand Eve are the apex and culmination of God’s creative work.The beauty and innocence of God’s creation were lost. Adamand Eve and we are now injured. Adam and Eve’s desire to belike God, to craft their own image rather than be in His giftedand Holy Image, fractured the cosmos.

Now communion with God was broken. Adam and Evewould run and hide from God. Now the relationship with cre-ation was broken. Death enters. Now the relationship betweenAdam and Eve is damaged. Adam blames Eve.

While innocence was lost, the focus of the text remainsinclusive. Genesis 3 and the entire witness of the Old Testamentand the New Testament have every man and woman in view.No one is excluded. Age, color, gender: no trait of a humanbeing removes a man or woman from this narrative. Thescriptural world is the world in which we all live. Every man,woman, and child on our globe is addressed by God throughthe prophets and the apostles.

Pluralism and postmodernism suggest that each of us caninhabit a separate world, that there are many contradictoryways of seeing reality—all with an equal claim to be true. Notso! There is but one world and one humanity—the onedescribed by the prophets and apostles.

What is this one world like? How are we—each and everyone of us—together? First, we are all children of Adam andEve. This solidarity, tragically, includes their willful violationof the one “No” that a loving, giving God had spoken. Quitesimply, we are by birth and by our own actions flawed andsinful before the One and Only and Holy God who created theheavens and the earth.

The real message of Sacred Scripture, however, is that eachand every one of us is the object of God’s grace. The creator ofthis world is a loving, merciful God. All the history, the events,the personalities, the sayings of Sacred Scripture are servants ofGod’s saving presence in Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ.Through promises in generation after generation, God spoke ofthe woman’s seed, Abram’s seed, David’s seed—a Savior whowould reverse the curse of the Fall. And, wonderful inclusion,no one is excluded from this saving action in Christ.

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many diedby the trespass of the one man, how much more didGod’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of theone man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, thegift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin:The judgment followed one sin and brought condemna-tion, but the gift followed many trespasses and broughtjustification. For if, by the trespass of the one man,death reigned through that one man, how much morewill those who receive God’s abundant provision ofgrace and of the gift of righteousness reign in lifethrough the one man, Jesus Christ. (Rom. 5:15-17)

Paul so beautifully and categorically describes how the life,death, and resurrection of Jesus bring wonderful salvation toall who will receive this gift: None are excluded fromChrist’s saving work. He died for the sins of all. This “objectivejustification” can be refused, but it is there for all.

As you read this issue with its focus on “Christ for AllPeople,” may we rejoice and give thanks for this “wonderfulinclusion.”

Faithfully yours, in Christ,

Rev. Dr. Dean O. WenthePresident, Concordia Theological Seminary

2 For the Life of the World

FROM THE

PRESIDENTDear Friends of Concordia Theological Seminary:Dear Friends of Concordia Theological Seminary:

Wonderful lnclusion

F E A T U R E S

page 11

FortheLIFE WORLDof

the

PRESIDENTRev. Dr. Dean O. Wenthe

PUBLISHERRev. Scott Klemsz

EDITORRev. John T. Pless

ASSOCIATE EDITOR COPY EDITOR ART DIRECTORJayne Sheafer Trudy Behning Steve Blakey

For the Life of theWorld is published quarterly by Concordia Theological SeminaryPress, 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825. No portion of thispublication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher of Forthe Life of the World. Copyright 2006. Printed in the United States. Postage paidat Huntington, Indiana. To be added to our mailing list please call 260-452-2150 ore-mail Rev. Scott Klemsz at [email protected]. For the Life of the World ismailed to all pastors and congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod inthe United States and Canada and to anyone interested in the work of Concordia The-ological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

CONTENTS

JULY 2006

page 7

page 30

Called to

SERVE

4 Because Christ Is for All, the ChurchHas a Corporate Life of MercyBy the Rev. Matthew C. Harrison, Executive Director ofThe Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod’s Board for HumanCare Ministries and World Relief, St. Louis, MissouriI have met the President of the United States. I’ve been allover the world and met dignitaries of all sorts. But I’ve neverbeen so humbled and honored to be doing the work of LCMSWorld Relief and Human Care in behalf of the church.7 Complete in One BodyBy Mrs. Patricia S. Nuffer, a Concordia TheologicalSeminary deaconess intern with the LCMS Board for HumanCare Ministries and World Relief, Fort Wayne, IndianaOne body, different members, it is an exciting challenge forthe church to be one body, an exciting challenge for CTSto equip pastors and deaconesses to welcome the vulnerable,to celebrate each one’s gifts in their differences, and to becomplete in one body.9 Christ in the ParishBy the Rev. Everette E. Greene, Pastor of ImmanuelLutheran Church, Cincinnati, OhioFor me, being a confessing Lutheran has nothing at all to dowith race or color but everything to do with the Gospel thatmakes us one in Christ!

11 What Does This Mean?

A Noble Task p. 12Christ for All People p. 14First Deaconesses Placed for Service p. 16Baccalaureate and Graduation MarkClose of 160th Academic Year p. 18Thank You from the Crew of theCoast Guard Cutter Maui p. 23New Workers Join CTS Family p. 25Seminary Guild Ends Yearwith Many Activities p. 29

page 9

3

I have met the President of theUnited States. I’ve been all overthe world and met dignitaries ofall sorts. But I’ve never been sohumbled and honored to be doingthe work of LCMS World Reliefand Human Care in behalf of thechurch. I asked one boy, “Whatdo you think, Eric?” He replied, “Ithank God and Jesus Christ thatsomeone has regarded us ashuman beings.”

Ithank God and Jesus Christ that someone has regarded us ashuman beings.” I had visited Eric and the AIDS orphans ayear earlier at Othoro in Western Kenya. Every congrega-

tion of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) iscaring for orphans. Othoro Lutheran had charge of a dozenboys. The small, mud, one room hut was stark even byAfricanstandards. The children packed onto the floor each night withonly an elephant grass mat to spread on the hardened mud;some had lived like this for nine years. A few worn plasticbowls were the sum total of their worldly possessions. Theboys were visibly distressed; a burden of sadness lay heavyupon them out of all proportion to their tender age. On that firstvisit we had resolved to assist the ELCK in building a smallorphanage. The orphanage was built and March 2006 broughta return visit.

For the Life of the World4

Because Christ Is for All, the

aCorporate

Lake Victoria had long faded out of sight as the highway took us intothe lush and tea-rich highlands of Kisiland. Along the way we saw cowsprovided by LCMS World Relief to Kenyan pastors. It’s amazing howsomething so simple can so profoundly affect a pastor and his family.Cows mean milk, calves, income, food, and increasing wealth. TheOthoro Rescue Center came into sight. The boys! Could they be thesame children? They came forward beaming with pride. Like my ownchildren of similar age, they had grown tremendously over a year’s time!“Show me your home,” I shouted!

They took me to the new kitchen and storeroom and showed meevery inch. They showed me their dining hall and the wonderful chairsand tables made by the ELCK’s trade school in Kisumo. By the time wegot to their dormitory we had all become overwhelmed by the moment.Twelve bunks, all made and spotless, for a total capacity of 24 childrenlined the hall. Each boy stood by his bed, all of us silent for joy, yet tearsflowing. I told them, “Your new home is a gift from our Christians andthis Othoro community. It has been done because our Christians knowJesus loves them, and they want to share that love with you.”

Over time that little orphanage will serve hundreds of children whowill go to Othoro Lutheran Church (not 100 feet away) every Sunday.They will be cared for and looked after body and soul by the pastor andthe housemother. They will learn Luther’s catechism and Bible stories.They will be loved and the effect upon their lives will be profound.“What do you want to be when you grow up?” one boy was asked. “Iwant to be a doctor and help orphans . . .” A Lutheran law student fromthe University of Nairobi–himself an AIDS orphan–spoke and showedthat dreams may become realities, even here. I was given the honor toexpress with prayer and proclamation that herethe Gospel and Luther’s catechism wouldalways reign and children always be loved.

I have met the President of the UnitedStates. I’ve been all over the world and metdignitaries of all sorts. But I’ve never beenso humbled and honored to be doing the workof LCMS World Relief and Human Care inbehalf of the church. I asked one boy, “What doyou think, Eric?” He replied, “I thank God andJesus Christ that someone has regarded us ashuman beings.”

The proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of theSacraments are the sine qua non of the church’s life. Yet they are not thelimit of the church’s task in this world. The church has a corporate lifeof mercy according to the New Testament. We all well know the great“stewardship” passages, or so we think:

“God loves a cheerful giver.”

“He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly.”

“See that you excel in all things . . . See that you excel also in this graceof giving.”

“Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you byHis poverty might become rich.”

“The gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according towhat a person does not have.”

“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gatheredlittle had no lack.”

We use these texts to inform all manner of giving in the church exceptthe very type of giving for which they were written by Paul. Every one ofthese texts is from 2 Corinthians 8-9 and was written to urge and motivatethe Corinthians to give generously for the poor Christians in Jerusalem.As much as the Book of Acts is missiological, a predominate theme inActs is most often overlooked: mercy. “They continued steadfast in theapostles teaching . . . the fellowship (koinonia), the breaking of bread,and the prayer” (Acts 2:42). Luther rightly noted that this koinonia iscreated by the Gospel and Sacraments, involves doctrinal unity, but thenbrings concern and care for the needy within the fellowship. Comment-ing on Acts 6, Luther noted that the church would be best ordered with

bishops doling out the spiritual goods and a dea-con with the bishop caring for the physicalneeds, thus “body and soul” would be cared for.While the communal sharing of possessions ofthe Acts church was limited in time, the churchcontinued an ordered diakonic existence. Men“full of the Spirit” were chosen by the multitudeand put in office by the apostles, all to care forthe physical needs of the widows being over-looked in the daily diakonia or distribution ofbread. The church’s care for the needy is alwaysspiritual or it isn’t the church’s.

In Acts 11:27-30 we see the Gentile church in Syrian Antioch swinginto action by sending funds to the suffering Jerusalem church via thehands of Paul and Barnabas. Aside from the Gospel and Sacraments, themost tangible demonstration of church unity is money for materialassistance. Paul would soon expand on this “proto-collection.” In Acts15 the great apostolic council solved the problem of fellowship with the

5JULY 2006

By the Rev. Matthew C. Harrison

Church Has

LifeofMercy

The proclamation of the Gospeland the administration of theSacraments are the sine qua nonof the church’s life. Yet they arenot the limit of the church’s taskin this world. The church has acorporate life of mercy accordingto the New Testament.


There are Lutheran churches all overthe world reaching their communi-ties in love, or poised to do so, bring-ing Christ to all people. It is thesacred task of the church’s mercyarm to assist them in this act of lovefor the sake of Christ and His Gospel.And what joy is ours to hear alongthe way, “I thank God and JesusChrist that someone has regarded usas human beings.”

Gentile converts sans Mosaic Law. Paul commented in Galatians 2 thatin Jerusalem “those reported to be pillars, James, Cephas and John, gaveto me and to Barnabas the right hand of koinonias (fellowship); thus wewould go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.” The rest of theverse is often ignored, though it gives us deep insight as to just what this“fellowship” entails. “They asked only this, that we remember the poor.”For Paul, for Acts, for Luther, koinonia is unity in teaching and a unitywhich looks to the physical needs of those in the community who suffer(see Smalcald Art. II.IV.9).

“Be ye shepherds of the church of God which He purchased with Hisown blood.” This great passage from Acts 20 is very familiar, yet weoverlook the fact that the several Greeks named at the beginning of thechapter, all traveling companions of Paul, are heading to Jerusalemcarrying their respective regional church’s offerings for the poor. In fact,the collection is the basis for Paul’s entire third missionary journey. Car-ing for the poor as an act of fellowship is so vital for Paul that he evendies for the cause. Paul went to Jerusalem the final time to deliver thegifts of love from the Diaspora, and he ended up jailed and heading toRome to face death.

“Stewardship” had long lost my “interest” UNTIL I discoveredPaul’s collection for Jerusalem. It was often presented to me as a merechurchless, individualistic matter of following Old Testament regula-tions as New Testament suggestions. For Paul the matter is deeply theo-logical and deeply corporate, churchly and even sacramental. Considerthis, in 2 Corinthians 8-9 Paul uses the greatest, theologically freightedwords in the New Testament to describe the collection for the poor.He calls it a diakonia (a service or ministry); he calls it a leitourgia (aliturgy or public service); he calls it a eucharistia (a eucharist or thanks-giving); he calls it a koinonia (a fellowship, the very word he also usesfor the Lord’s Supper in 1 Cor. 10:16-17!). Finally, Paul even calls thecollection a charis, a “grace,” a gift of God.

We often hear, and rightly so, that the church needs much greater

“outward” focus–true. However, I suggest that the mission strength ofthe church of the New Testament was in some measure connected withits internal life of koinonia and love. Is it happenstance that just after thevery ordered system of care is established in Acts 6 the section ends,“And the word of God increased and the number of the disciples grewtremendously in Jerusalem . . .” (6:7)? Mind you, we should not merelyfind some diakonic work in order to “grow the church.” The church’s lifeof mercy is an expression of who we are in Christ. Mercy in word anddeed is who Christ is. His body, the church, is in this world. If we fail tohave mercy, to care for the needy among us, we render our confession aclanging cymbal (1 Cor. 13). But a zealous orthodoxy, a zealous procla-mation of the Gospel and administration of the Sacraments, togetherwith a rigorous concern for the needy reflect the New Testamentchurch, even Jesus Himself. And precisely that internal life of loveand concern for those in need spills–laden with the Gospel–into thecommunity around the congregation. “Do good to all, especially to thoseof the household of the faith” (Gal. 6:10). I see it all the time. Churchesconcerned with caring for the needy in their midst are also mostconcerned with those outside.

There are Lutheran churches all over the world reaching their com-munities in love, or poised to do so, bringing Christ to all people. It is thesacred task of the church’s mercy arm to assist them in this act of love forthe sake of Christ and His Gospel. And what joy is ours to hear along theway, “I thank God and Jesus Christ that someone has regarded us ashuman beings.” For that boy will be a vital member of Christ’s bodythere, “regarding others as human beings,” bringing both the Gospel andlove to others.

The Rev. Matthew C. Harrison serves as Executive Director ofThe Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod’s Board for and HumanCare Ministries andWorld Relief in St. Louis, Missouri.

JULY 2006 7

For just as the body is one and has many members, and allthe members of the body, though many, are one body, so it iswith Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into onebody (1 Cor. 12:12-13).

One body, different members, eachuniquely gifted to make the whole.This we hold to be true and this we

teach to future pastors and deaconesses ofthe church.

But this has not always been so.Adapting the Concordia TheologicalSeminary campus to be disability friendly began in 1988, with a taskforce meeting in the living room of Professor Richard Muller’s wife,Kay. Years later, with elevators and accessibility equipment installed,the barriers are no longer mainly architectural. Now the barriers areoften attitudinal and experiential. Many students have not beenexposed to the unique differences that come with blindness, mentalretardation, mental illness, and other disabilities. Their life experiencemay have been limited educationally or socially so as to allow oldstereotypes to persist. Yet disabilities are widespread.

It has been estimated that one in every four Americans experiencesa disability of some sort and one in ten people is affected by asignificant disability. While we know no barriers exist to God’s love,sadly there often are barriers of fear and ignorance toward peoplewith disabilities. The church often has not welcomed people withdisabilities because of such bar-riers. TheAmericanAssociationof Mental Retardation (AAMR)relates that “individuals withdevelopmental disabilities andtheir families still experiencemixed responses to theirpresence, gifts, and needs fromthe congregation and limitedsupport for religious participa-tion.” The needs are great but sois the response.

Like the thrust of the newcurriculum, integrating whatwas once separated into departments, CTS students are being exposedto a multitude of disability awareness opportunities. Guest speakers infield education and counseling classes share personal experiences and

Completein One Body

It has been estimated that one inevery four Americans experi-ences a disability of some sortand one in ten people is affectedby a significant disability. Whilewe know no barriers exist toGod’s love, sadly there often arebarriers of fear and ignorancetoward people with disabilities.

By Mrs. Patricia S. Nuffer


insights with future pastors and deaconesses with practicalways to support families impacted by disabilities. The firstsix-hour, elective module was created by LutheranDisability Outreach and taught by the Rev. Brian Pratt.Bethesda, Lutheran Blind Mission, and other RecognizedService Organizations (RSO) hold convocations for theCTS student body.

Fieldworkers and deaconesses gain valuable experiencein Friendship Bible Classes for people with cognitivechallenges; these classes are organized and taught by

Lutheran Disability Outreach inlocal churches, nursing homes, andon the CTS campus. Second-yearstudent Dave Lingard taught theFriendship Class on campus alongwith Rev. Pratt. He reflects uponhis experience as an absolute joy toteach the Gospel, the Good Newsof Jesus Christ, to people withdevelopmental disabilities. “Forme personally, it has been atremendously uplifting experience.It is a chance to put into practicewhat we are learning here at theseminary,” commented seminarianLingard.

Megan Mohr, a first-yeardeaconess student, works withBethesda Lutheran Homes andrelates that forgotten parishionerscome in many guises. She works togive people with disabilitiesaccess to God’s Word, and feedtheir faith just like everyone else.“The experience has opened myeyes to the fact that caring foreach person, with or withoutdisabilities, incorporates morethan personal hygiene and morethan Bible studies: it’s both. Intrue diaconal service, all needs aremet–both physical and spiritual,”explained Ms. Mohr.

Three internships werearranged for CTS deaconessstudents to work with people withdevelopmental disabilities.Through opportunities such asthese, students gain valuableexperience that changes stereo-types about what people withdisabilities can do and breaksdown barriers to including peoplewith disabilities in the life of

their future congregations.One man’s presence on the work force of the campus is

breaking down those barriers as well. Carl Teegarden, 59,a man with cognitive challenges, has been working for theCTS Security Department for almost seven years. Hisreliable presence and sociable personality have gone a long

way in underscoring the capability of people withdisabilities. Tony Marquart, Carl’s boss in the SecurityDepartment, relates that he has learned more from Carlthan Carl could ever learn from him or the job. “Carl hastaught me patience and acceptance. A lot of our men don’thave much experience with people with disabilities; this iswhere the theory they learn in class can be put into practiceby interacting with Carl.” Another Carl with some disabil-ities, Carl Nuffer, lived in one of the dorms for a quarterlast year and worked part time for Creative Dining Service.

For the body does not consist of one member butmany . . . if the whole body were an eye, wherewould the sense of smell be? But as it is, Godarranged the members in the body, each one ofthem as He chose. (1Cor. 12:14, 18)

These differences remind us that God has chosen tohide in the weak, the humble, and the outcast. Thesedifferences remind us that we, like all human beings, livewith limitations; that it has been God’s design to place Hisbreath of life into fragile earthly vessels; and we all livelives marked both by the good of creation and the broken-ness under the cross. These differences remind us that atthe heart of our theology it is the church that honors theweak and the vulnerable; it is the church that becomes theplace where disabilities are not viewed as problems to besolved but ways of being human that can be understood,valued, and included.

Our church has had a clear, historic stance of pro-life:that God has created all life, able-bodied, able-minded andnot, and that all life is sacred to God. Human life is not anachievement but a gift with intrinsic value at every stage, atevery level of ability. The source of that dignity is that alllife is God’s creation, and no life is excluded from those forwhom Christ died. Our church has taken an uncompromis-ing stand for human life “from womb to tomb” amidsta culture that says otherwise. This is an important aspect ofthe preparation of men for the Holy Ministry and womenfor diaconal work.

As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. Theeye cannot say to the hand,“I have no need ofyou,”nor again the head say to the feet,“I have noneed of you.”On the contrary, the parts that seemto be weaker are indispensable. (1 Cor. 12:20-22)

One body, different members, it is an exciting challengefor the church to be one body, an exciting challenge forCTS to equip pastors and deaconesses to welcome thevulnerable, to celebrate each one’s gifts in their differences,and to be complete in one body.

Mrs. Patricia S. Nuffer is a Concordia TheologicalSeminary deaconess intern with the LCMS Board forHuman Care Ministries and World Relief. She will beworking locally with LCMS churches to attain mean-ingful inclusion for people with disabilities and travelingabroad in Sudan and Kenya to establish congregationalsupport for people with disabilities.

Our church has had a clear, historic

stance of pro-life: that God has creat-

ed all life, able-bodied, able-minded

and not, and that all life is sacred to

God. Human life is not an achieve-

ment but a gift with intrinsic value at

every stage, at every level of ability.

The source of that dignity is that all

life is God’s creation, and no life is

excluded from those for whom Christ

died. Our church has taken an uncom-

promising stand for human life “from

womb to tomb” amidst a culture that

says otherwise. This is an important

aspect of the preparation of men for

the Holy Ministry and women for

diaconal work.

Most people assume that being anAfrican-American pastorin the Lutheran Church gives me a unique perspective—especially when they discover that as anAfrican-American

I am thoroughly Lutheran, heritage and all. I am quick to remindthem of two things. First, I am not so unique, of which I’mconstantly reminded as I fulfill my call in a parish made up ofmostly African-Americans. They, like me, are also Lutheran intheology and heritage and do not want any other Gospel.

Second, the Gospel is the same whether itis preached in a rural or urban setting,whether it is preached to the financiallyaffluent or to people who struggle to makeends meet. The challenge is to apply thissame Gospel to the unique setting, urban orrural, to which pastors are called by the Lordto serve. The fact is, what we all have incommon is that we all live in a fallen world;we all have our joys and sorrows; we are allsinners in need of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Of course, the unique setting in whichAfrican-American Lutheranism finds itselfdoes have its unique challenges. Most often—and this is just how the opinio legis thatplagues us all happens to get its fingernailsinto black Lutheranism—our challenge has todo with maintaining the distinctive biblicaland Lutheran teaching of salvation sola fideand sola gratia in the face of the largelysynergistic sects that have long appealed toAfrican-Americans. And the history of the

9JULY 2006

The Gospel is the same whetherit is preached in a rural or urbansetting, whether it is preached tothe financially affluent or to peo-ple who struggle to make endsmeet. The challenge is to applythis same Gospel to the uniquesetting, urban or rural, to whichpastors are called by the Lord toserve. The fact is, what we allhave in common is that we alllive in a fallen world; we all haveour joys and sorrows; we are allsinners in need of our SaviorJesus Christ.

Christin theParish

Bythe Rev. Everette E. Greene


parish I presently serve offers an optimistic assessment ofLutheranism’s prospects in this ongoing challenge.

I have been called to serve a wonderful congregation inCincinnati, Ohio. Immanuel finds herself located in a rough areathat has definitely seen better days. This year the congregation iscelebrating God’s blessings of 80 years of ministry, and it has beenin its present location for 50 of those years. The buildings around ushave fallen into disrepair or have been torn down altogether; but ourlittle church remains a pristine little A-frame beacon of light in anarea struggling to recapture some of its former dignity and stature inthe city.

This primarily African-American congregation of saints is athoroughly Lutheran congregation whose members have roots thatgo all the way back to Rosebud, Selma, and Kings Landing,Alabama. These towns are among the first places where the LCMSdedicated itself to work among former slaves. Drawing on the faithreceived in Alabama, by God’s grace, Immanuel Lutheran Churchhas remained faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Bookof Concord for decades in its challenging urban setting. Thecongregation started out in a bathhouse in 1924, moved into a churchbuilding in 1936, and then moved to her present location in 1956.

To be edified in the faith they have received, for years now,members of Immanuel have gathered together on Wednesdayevenings for Vespers and Bible study. Recently during one of thoseBible studies, as we were studying Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians,my heart was warmed when a beautiful elderly lady responded toLuther’s commentary concerning our “passive righteousness” byquoting the meaning of the third article of the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believein Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the HolySpirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with Hisgifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the sameway He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the wholeChristian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ inthe one true faith. In this Christian church He daily andrichly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On thelast day He will raise me and all the dead and give eternal lifeto me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.

A major challenge for our congregation, which is not unique inthe urban setting, is that we have seven churches of differingdenominations in our immediate neighborhood and simply beingLutheran does not draw anyone to our door. Therefore, we mustreach out to our community and meet specific needs while remain-ing who we are. This beautiful elderly lady stood out as a bloom ofthe Gospel in this arid synergistic setting and in those few wordscaptured what Immanuel Lutheran is all about. By God’s grace weremain faithful to the teaching of Scripture and the Confessionsthat our redemption is a completely gratuitous act of God, whichwe simply receive in the means of grace. Our setting makes givingthis up a pressure we cannot but constantly feel. Yet, “called by theGospel . . . and preserved in the one true faith” in Jesus Christ,black or white, urban or rural, we know no other Gospel; and here,where Christ promises that the gates of hell will not prevail, noteven an angel from heaven can turn us from Christ who has calledus in His grace (Gal. 1:6), not even for the sake of increasing ourmembership and so-called unity and fellowship.

So, like Paul among the Jewish and Gentile Galatians, I have agreat privilege and duty: to Lutherans, who are quick to be ashamedof their theological and liturgical heritage, and to people of my ownrace, for whom Lutheranism does not always strike a resoundingchord; a duty to show that there is one Gospel, for white and blackalike. I am a born and raised Missouri Synod Lutheran, and I havefully appropriated our Lutheran heritage—doctrinal and practicalalike. For me, being a confessing Lutheran has nothing at all to dowith race or color but everything to do with the Gospel that makesus one in Christ!As St. Paul says in Galatians 3:27-28, “For as manyof you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There isneither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neithermale nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” I think themembers of Immanuel in Cincinnati would wholeheartedly concur.

The Rev. Everette E. Greene serves as Pastor of ImmanuelLutheran Church, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Like Paul among the Jewish andGentile Galatians, I have a greatprivilege and duty: to Lutherans,who are quick to be ashamed oftheir theological and liturgicalheritage, and to people of myown race, for whom Lutheranismdoes not always strike aresounding chord; a duty to showthat there is one Gospel, forwhite and black alike.

11JULY 2006

One Gospel for a Fragmented World

What Does This

MEAN?I

write these lines as the days of Easter steadily movetoward Pentecost. The Book of Revelation gives us aglimpse of the heavenly celebration of that numberlessmultitude “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples

and languages standing before the throne of the Lamb”(Rev. 7:9) singing a single song of salvation. Easter marks thetriumph of God’s reconciling work in the blood of ChristJesus for all people. Pentecost marks the reversal of Babel’scurse. The chaotic chattering of confused tongues gives wayto preaching in which all hear in their own language themighty works of the cross and the resurrection. The clarity ofthe Good Shepherd’s voice rings out in Peter’s sermondispelling the clamor of those who sought to assert them-selves by erecting that fateful tower into heaven as a symbolof their strength. Babel was about the scattering of securesinners. Pentecost is the Spirit at work calling, gathering,enlightening, and sanctifying broken sinners.

Postmodernism sounds more like Babel than Pentecost.David Wells writes, “The amount anddegree of differentiation here appear tobe growing. For example, the census ofthe United States taken in 1950 offeredonly two racial categories: ‘white’ and‘nonwhite.’ With each succeedingdecade, however, the number of choicesincreased until in the 2000 census thenumber had grown to 12 in order toaccommodate the gathering importanceof racial difference. There is also thegrowing bonding of kin we see in thenew expressions of tribal-ism–nationalistic, ethnic, and genera-tional. These smaller units of meaningwithin which people belong in theirminds have led some to think that theyconstitute the building blocks for a post-m o d e r nunderstanding of the world in whichmeaning can never be the same for anytwo of these groups–or maybe even fortwo people” (Above All EarthlyPow’rs: Christ in a Postmodern Word,Eerdmans, 2005, pp. 21-22). No wonderthen that Wells goes on to make animpressive argument that multicultural-ism is more than just “pizza, bagels, fishon Fridays, enchiladas, chow mein, and

soul food.” It represents, he asserts, a “new spiritual quest”characterized by a hollow pluralism. Wells worries that thechurches have been taken captive by ideologies of multicul-turalism that threaten the very core of the New Testamentconfession that Jesus alone is the Savior of the whole world.

The New Testament proclaims one Gospel, for there isonly “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Fatherof all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:5).The singular message preached by Peter on the firstPentecost did not lead to segregated clusters or ethnic cellgroups but to the church pictured in Acts 2:42, “And theydevoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,to the breaking of bread, and the prayers.” Of that church,Luke writes “all who believed were together and had allthings in common” (Acts 2:44). Bound together by acommon confession they shared a common life that wasembodied in concrete acts of hospitality and works of mercy.Far from the shallow cries of inclusiveness at the expense of

doctrine so common today, the apostolicchurch was inclusive precisely because ofits exclusive confession of the Lordshipof Jesus.

The mission of the church of JesusChrist is nothing less than making Himmanifest to the nations in the preaching ofHis Word as all are called to repentanceand faith in Baptism. None are excludedby race, ethnicity, by economic status, orgender from this call; for every single oneof Adam’s offspring share in the bond ofsin and all have been redeemed by theblood of the Lamb. The miracle of Pente-cost continues to repeat itself at pulpit andfont as God pours out His Spirit on allflesh in the Gospel of the forgiveness ofsins. Our seminary exists to form men ofall races and nationalities for this globalministry. No one should be deprived ofthoroughly trained pastors on account oftheir background, for Christ and His giftsare for all.The Rev. JohnT.Pless is anAssistant

Professor of Pastoral Ministry andMissions at Concordia TheologicalSeminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, andEditor of For the Life of the Worldmagazine.

What Does This

MEAN?

The decision to study for the vocation of pastoralways brings with it some big life changes. Inthe case of Sam Schuldheisz it meant leaving the

west coast of our United States and relocating to theheartland, Fort Wayne, Indiana. But Sam will soonreturn to his roots as he was recently assigned hisvicarage at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, PaloAlto, California, for the 2006-2007 academic year.

Sam spent his formative years in Portland, Oregon, not far from theConcordia University campus where his father serves as Athletic Director.He attended Lutheran schools for both his elementary and high schoolyears. He continued the tradition for his university studies, but choseto relocate and attend Concordia University, Irvine, California. Uponentering the university Sam planned to study to become a history teacherand earn a political science degree in hopes of securing a job in govern-ment service. He would certainly go on to a life of service, but not in thearea of government.

At the end of his sophomore year, after much prayer, consideration, anddiscernment, he switched to a theology major and enrolled in the pre-seminary program. This change was precipitated by two people of influence

by Jayne E. Sheafer

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A Noble Task


in his life. “My roommate in college, Kevin DeHope, taughtme a lot about being Lutheran and about good theology whenwe were at school together. Kevin is still a formative influencein my life not only as a theologian, but as a dear friend andChristian brother.” explained Sam. “I also remember myGrandma saying, ‘Perhaps now that you have a roommate whois a pre-seminary student, you will study for the pastoral min-istry.’ Additionally, both of Sam’s grandfathers, the Rev. F. A.Hertwig and the Rev. Benjamin Schuldheisz, were pastors. “Itis definitely in the family to be a pastor. It goes way back,”offered Sam. While Sam never had the opportunity to talk withhis Grandfather Schuldheisz, as he passed away before Samwas born, he describes his Grandfather Hertwig as a constantsource of sound Lutheran theological wisdom.

While family history and friends often have a great influ-ence on a man’s decision to pursue the Holy Ministry, anothergreat influence is seeing pastors serve with joy and dedication.Sam was fortunate to see this in the Rev. Alphonso Espinosaand the Rev. CharlesMallie. “Pastor Espinosa and PastorMallieinfluenced me greatly during my days of school at Irvine. Ilearned a lot about pastoral care in action,” commented Sam.

When he graduated from Concordia–Irvine in 2004 with adegree in Theology, Sam made the choice to study for hisMaster of Divinity degree at CTS. “I chose CTS because theprofessors care about the students. They would visit with meas I observed classes while I was in college and were more thanwilling to talk after class, eat lunch with me, and go out of theirway to welcome me to the seminary community,” said Sam.

Now that Sam has finished two years at CTS and has cometo know the faculty and student body even better, his impres-sion is still very positive. “The students here care abouttheology and what it means to be Lutheran. But, they alsoknow something about community,” Sam explained. “This is acommunity that is gathered around Word and Sacrament; acommunity that is gathered around Holy Scripture and theLutheran Confessions; a community that is connected to oneanother through this study of theology.” He also cites his greatfieldwork experience at Faith Lutheran Church, Roanoke, Indi-ana, where he feels he has found a home-away-from-home. “Inserving this congregation I have found that I have been servedeven more and learned more than I could have ever expected.”

When discussing the challenges of seminary life, timemanagement often seems to come to the forefront. Sam andhis wife, Natasha, married during the summer between his firstand second years at the seminary. In fact, they will becelebrating their first wedding anniversary this month. Thatvery happy change caused him to reorganize his commitmentsand study time to make sure there was still time for them toenjoy their new life together.

There are also those moments of self-doubt that can slipinto the mind of even the most dedicated student. “Some of thegreatest challenges have come in battling my own will, alwayswondering if you are smart enough, etc. But the reward isknowing that Christ has promised to give us strength, not ofourselves,” said Sam. “So we may struggle with grades orgetting reading finished when we want to, but He gives us the

strength and comfort of His Word despite ourselves. Satanloves to tempt us, especially at seminary, but studying God’sWord in the classroom and praying the offices in chapel are aconstant reminder that Christ has crushed that evil foe.”

Sam has had many opportunities to speak with men who arevisiting the CTS campus, and they often ask how they willknow if the vocation of pastor is right for them. He counselsthem with these words, “Read the Scriptures–for in them is thestrength to guide you as you pray and discern in preparationfor coming to the seminary. If you desire to seek the office ofpastor, it is a noble task. God gives the strength and the growthand will provide people to encourage you along the way. Also,read as much as you can. You can never read enough and cannever stop learning. Theology and the pastoral office is a life-long pursuit that God has promised to bless.”

Plan Ahead!Are you thinking about attending CTS?Make plans to visit with us during:

Fall Prayerfully ConsiderInvitational Campus VisitSeptember 21-23, 2006

Christ Academy—CollegeFebruary 15-18, 2007

For additional information onthese events please callthe CTS Office of Admission

1-800-481-2155.

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Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizingthem in the name of the Father and of the Son and ofthe Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I

have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, tothe end of the age.” These words from Matthew 28:19-20 aresome of the most familiar in the Bible. It is our charge asChristians to continue to share the life-saving message of theGospel with all those we meet, in every circumstance.

Christ for All PeopleBy Jayne E. Sheafer

The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synodhas long been dedicated to fulfilling thisGreat Commission to all of God’s people, nomatter the ethnic background. One suchgroup to which the LCMS is reaching out isthe Hmong people. According to the websitewww.hmonglcms.org, “The Hmong are adistinct group of people who claimed to haveoriginated in China. According to Hmonghistory, during the eighteenth century manyHmong families had migrated to SoutheastAsia due to a war with the Chinese. Some ofthese families migrated to North Vietnam,Laos, Thailand, Mayamar (Burma), and othernearby countries.” During the Vietnam Warmany Hmong supported the U.S. effort andwere forced to flee the country once Ameri-

can troops left the region in 1975. Now manyof those refugees have relocated to theUnited States, especially to California,Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Carolina,Rhode Island, Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylva-nia, Michigan, and major cities of the North-west region of the United States.

The Rev. Kou Seying (CTS 1991) is thefirst Hmong pastor to be ordained in theLCMS. His first call was to be pastor of theHmong Lutheran Church in St. Paul,Minnesota. While serving as a facultymember, he was instrumental in founding theCenter for Hmong Studies at Concordia Uni-versity, St. Paul. He and his wife, Maykou,also established the Hmong ministry atBethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Paul.

“The lack of adequatecatechetical instructionfor the church has beenthe greatest challengeeverywhere that I haveserved. Every other chal-lenge has its cause orroot in this basic under-standing of faith. Whenlaypeople do not haveadequate understandingof the basic Christianfaith, then it affects theirleadership abilities andother critical functions ofthe church.”

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In 2004 Pastor Seying was called to serveas the Minister of Hmong OutreachMinistries at St. Paul Lutheran Church,Merced, California. Here he has the opportu-nity to focus on ministry to the Hmong whohave relocated to central California. Bringingthe Gospel to this group presents specificchallenges as the belief system of the Hmongis based upon Animism. “The Hmong peoplebelieve in many supernatural beings–gods,spirits of places, household spirits, maliciousspirits, and spirits of the dead. They alsobelieve that men and all living things havesouls which return to an afterworld whenthey die, and there await reincarnation”(Nusit Chindarsi, The Religion of theHmong Njua [Bangkok: The Siam Society,1976], p. 17). Some scholars have identifiedthis religion as an ancient form of Daoism.

Interestingly enough, when Pastor Seyingspeaks of his challenges in this outreach, theyclosely mirror those found in traditionalcongregations. “The lack of adequatecatechetical instruction for the church hasbeen the greatest challenge everywhere that Ihave served. Every other challenge has itscause or root in this basic understanding offaith. When laypeople do not have adequateunderstanding of the basic Christian faith,then it affects their leadership abilitiesand other critical functions of the church,”commented Pastor Seying. “In establishing anew ministry, I spent a great deal of time tak-ing leaders or new Christians through a year-long catechetical study. Laying a solidbiblical foundation is a challenge in today’smission work among the Hmong people inAmerica, as with many other groups, because

of their syncretistic nature coupled withmaterialism and the postmodern thinkingof ‘whatever.’”

A unique tool Pastor Seying has beenable to employ is the weekly Light of Liferadio broadcast he and his wife, Maykou,host. The program airs on two differentradio stations in the Minneapolis-St. Paularea and since December 2005, they haveexpanded this weekly program to theCentral Valley of California on KQEQ-1210AM out of Fresno. Listeners from aroundthe world are also able to listen on thesestations via the internet. “One of our greatjoys has to do with the feedbacks from thelisteners of our weekly radio program,”explained Pastor Seying. “God’s Wordbrings a peace and joy to them each week ina simple, uncomplicated, straight forwardLaw and Gospel manner. Listeners havecalled in to share that it is very refreshing tohear God’s Word in such a way.”

In addition to this “high tech outreach,”Pastor Seying and Maykou continue topractice one-to-one outreach. “Maykouspent a Saturday morning at the Merced openmarket sharing the good news of Jesus tomany. As a part of the tools for reaching outto many who are not yet Christians we handout copies of our radio program. It was sucha joy for Maykou to spend a whole morningwitnessing to many folks,” shared PastorSeying. “One of the highlights has to do witha mother sharing how her daughter haslearned so much from just listening to theLord’s Prayer. She mentioned that it was sucha good way to learn how to pray (the disciplesdid ask Jesus how to pray). From the prayer

she learned that we are to forgive others,our enemies as well. All this is coming froma teenager!”

Pastor Seying has also begun a two-yearLeadership Training Program to prepare oth-ers to reach out to the Hmong community.“Our current leadership pool stretches fromVisalia to Sacramento. Excitement trulyfilled the room at the first session. One of thebenefits of having leaders meet together isthe learning and sharing that take placeamong each other. We explored the conceptof Christian confessions—what does it meanto be a Christian? In this first session, muchattention was devoted to the whole idea thatthe entire Bible is really a confession offaith. In the sessions we will continue toexplore the chief articles of the Christianfaith,” explained Pastor Seying.

Future plans for Pastor Seying’s workinclude starting three new ministries inFresno, Stockton, and San Jose, California.Initial visits have been made to these citiesand potential leaders have been identified.The next few months will be critical in termsof preparing for the next steps in bringingthese ministry starts into realities. PastorSeying explains his hopes as he, with God’shelp, nurtures these mission starts, “Mysimple goal is to train as many leaders aspossible and pray that out of those leadersGod will call many to the Holy Ministry.”

The Rev. Kou Seying is married toMaykou Kue. They have two daughters,Grace (11), Sarah (7), one son, Seth (3),and are anticipating the birth of theirfourth child in December 2006.

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Seminary Announces Calls,Vicarages, and Deaconess Internships

One sure sign of spring at CTS is the Vicarage Assignment/Deaconess Internshipand Call services held each April. Kramer Chapel was filled to capacity withfriends and relatives as they gathered in anticipation to hear where their loved one

will go to serve. Men studying to become pastors were assigned a one-year vicarage, andwomen pursuing the vocation of deaconess were assigned an internship. The Rev. DavidC. Fleming (CTS 1986), Our Savior Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, was thepreacher for the special service. Each vicar and deaconess has been assigned to acongregation or institution where they will have the opportunity to “learn while doing”under the supervision of ordained clergy of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Thisyear CTS vicars and deaconesses will serve in areas ranging from the heartland of theUnited States to Kenya to Russia.

Men who have completed their seminary studies received their first call into thepastoral ministry. “The apex of the seminary year is the distribution of calls to our graduat-ing students. Here the Lord, through His church, calls seminarians to serve God’s people ina particular place. The years of prayer, study, and training culminate in the joyful worshipservice where candidates present themselves—often unaware of where the Lord will placethem,” commented Dr. Dean O. Wenthe, CTS President. “It is my privilege to see thesparkle in their eyes and the gratitude in their lives for the blessing that Christ bestows incalling them. May we all, with them, rejoice in the grace and goodness of our Risen Lordin so ordering His church and sending His servants to a dying world with theWord of Life.”The Rev. Ray G. Mirly, President, Missouri District, was the preacher for the call service.

The men who received their calls will relocate to every region of our country to servein parishes from Hawaii to New York. In the last several years CTS graduates have beenplaced in all 35 LCMS Districts to serve in hundreds of our Synod’s diverse congrega-tions. Please join the entire CTS community as we pray for all the workers who receivedassignments. May the Lord of the Church encourage them and bless their efforts as theystrive to fulfill our Savior’s Great Commission to spread the Gospel message and makedisciples of all nations.

May 18, 2006, marked a historical day at CTS as the firstdeaconesses from our seminary were placed for service inThe Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod during worship

in Kramer Chapel. Appropriately the text for the homily byDr. William C. Weinrich, Academic Dean, was Luke 6:27-36 whichdescribes service through acts of mercy. “You must be merciful, soothers may have hope and faith,” said Dr. Weinrich. “By yourservice you will illustrate and demonstrate the mercy of Christ.”

Receiving placement were Linda Cosgrove and AngelaLubbesmeyer. Ms. Cosgrove will serve at St. John Lutheran Church,Topeka, Kansas, and Ms. Lubbesmeyer received her placement toBethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc., Shawnee Mission,Kansas. In his comments following the placement Dr.ArthurA. Just,Jr., Director of Deaconess Studies, said he is heartened at thechurch’s positive response to the need for deaconesses in ourcongregations and institutions. He also announced there will be addi-tional placements of CTS deaconess graduates this summer and fall.

There are currently 25 women participating in Deaconess Studiesat CTS. It is a rigorous program of theological studies whichprovides the foundation for the charitable life and prepares womenfor service to the church through various vocations and tasks that

serve the needy in our midst. For additional information onDeaconess Studies please phone the CTS Office of Admission at1-800-481-2155, or e-mail [email protected].

First Deaconesses Placed for Service

Dr.Arthur Just, Ms.Angela Lubbesmeyer, Ms. Linda Cosgrove,Dr.WilliamWeinrich, and Dr. DeanWenthe

The Rev. C.William Hoesman, President,LCMSMichigan District, congratulatesCandidate Jonathan Boehne upon receivinghis first call into the Holy Ministry.

17JULY 2006

Students Receive Academic Awards

Awards for academicachievement and lead-ership were presented

to several students at the closeof the 2005-06 academic year.This year’s awards include:St. Timothy Award: This year’s recip-ient is Mark Taylor. This award wasestablished to give an annual monetarygift to a second-year student who hasestablished himself as a consummatestudent in Biblical Studies.

Zondervan Award: The recipient forthis year is Brian Crane who recentlyreceived his vicarage assignment to serveSt. John Lutheran Church, Wheaton,Illinois (Northern Illinois District). Thisis a nationwide award program ofZondervan Publishing whereby seminar-ies or colleges choose one exemplarystudent in Greek and the interpretation ofthe New Testament to receive theirchoice of resources published by Zonder-van for their continued study of the NewTestament in Greek.

The Draves-Lepper Scholarship:Marcus Nelson, who is finishing his vic-arage year at Trinity Lutheran Church,Lombard, Illinois (Northern Illinois Dis-trict), is this year’s recipient. This schol-arship was established in 1997 to begiven to an exceptionally gifted studentin the area of Systematic Theology.The recipient has shown outstandingacademic ability in Systematics, LutheranDogmatics, and a firm commitment tothe Lutheran Confessions.

Shepherd’s Staff Award: The awardwas presented to Joshua Schneider whohas been called to serve as AssociatePastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church,Kahului, Maui, Hawaii (California-Nevada-Hawaii District). This award isgiven to the outstanding fourth-yearstudent who has excelled in academic

and extra-curricular activities whiledemonstrating an excellent pastoral atti-tude and heart. The recipient of thisaward is chosen by the President andVice President of the StudentAssociationand the President and Vice President ofthe fourth-year class.

Student Writing Awards were alsopresented by the Student Associationin the areas of Exegetical, Systematics,Historical, and Pastoral Ministry andMissions studies:

Exegetical: Stuart Floyd, who willserve next year as a GraduateAssistant inthe Pastoral Ministry and MissionsDepartment. His paper is entitledSojourner: The Gentile Mission ofExodus.

Historical: Steven Parks, who willserve as a Graduate Assistant in theHistorical Department for the 2006-07academic year. The title of his paper isLuther’s Lectures on Genesis as aCorrective to Antinomianism.

Systematics: Carl Roth, for his paperentitled Zwingli and Luther on theTemporal and Eternal Bodily Effectsof the Lord’s Supper. Carl recentlyreceived his first call to serve TrinityLutheran Church, Livingston, Texas(Texas District).

Pastoral Ministry and Missions:Gary Schultz, for his adult Bible studyseries entitled Singing the Catechism:The Catechism Hymns of Dr.Martin Luther. Gary will vicar atLuther Memorial Chapel, Shorewood,Wisconsin, (South Wisconsin District);and Carl Roth for his research paper, TheSuffering of the Christian in theContext of the Theologia Crucis andthe Vita Passiva: A Study in MartinLuther’s Thought Based on HisLectures on Genesis.

Please join the faculty, staff, andstudent body as we congratulate thesemen for their accomplishments in theirchosen areas of study and continuing thefine academic traditions of ConcordiaTheological Seminary.

(L-R): Mark Taylor, Brian Crane, Carl Roth, Stuart Floyd, Gary Schultz, andJoshua Schneider (Not pictured: Marcus Nelson and Steven Parks).

The Rev. JamesA. Haugen, Sr., pastorof Zion Lutheran Church, Columbia City,Indiana, was the preacher for the bac-calaureate service. His text was Joshua1:8-9 which encourages us to be strongand courageous. “Be courageous enoughto be like Jesus and you will be strongbecauseHe is strong,” said theRev.Haugenas he addressed the graduating class.Rev. Haugen’s son, Joshua, was amemberof the class of 2006.

As part of the evening’s graduationceremony the President of the fourth-yearclass, Carl Roth, announced that thisyear’s graduating class has commis-sioned a portrait of Professor Kurt E.Marquart as their gift to the seminary. Asthe ceremony continued, those in atten-dance were honored to be addressed byBishop Walter Obare Omwanza of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya.Bishop Obare is well known internation-ally as a brave and articulate spokesmanin defense of confessional Lutheranism.In his remarks Bishop Obare encouragedall people to pray for the spread of thetrue Gospel throughout the world andencouraged all those who will be servingin the church to share their faith with con-viction both near and far. His remarksmay be heard by going to www.ctsfw.edu/obare/commencement-address.ram.

Degrees conferred upon the studentbody include Master of Arts, Master ofDivinity, Master of Sacred Theology,Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor ofPhilosophy in Missiology. The Doctor ofDivinity, honoris causa, was awarded tothree members of the clergy:

The Rev. Bengt Birgersson,Secretary of the Swedish MissionProvince, Göteborg, Sweden: TheRev. Birgersson was honored for hiscourageous service toward the restorationof confessional Lutheranism in theChurch of Sweden.

The Rev. Dr. Charles L. Manske,Past President of Christ College,Irvine, California: Dr. Manske washonored for his service and dedication toThe Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.He played a substantial role in formingChrist College (now Concordia Universi-ty), Irvine, California, and served as itsfounding president.

The Rev. Walter Obare Omwanza,Bishop of the Evangelical LutheranChurch in Kenya (ELCK): BishopObare was honored for his service anddedication to the ELCK where he is com-mitted to improving the theological edu-cation of the clergy, lay-evangelists, anddeaconesses.

Baccalaureate and Graduation M

The faculty, staff, and student body of CTS markedthe close of the 160th academic year on May 19 with abaccalaureate service during morning worship and

graduation ceremonies in the evening in Kramer Chapel.Members of the graduating classes of 1956 and 1966 alsojoined in the festivities as they gathered on campus for theirclass reunions.


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The Rev. Bengt Birgersson,Dr. DeanWenthe,The Rev.Walter Obare Omwanza, andThe Rev. Dr. Charles L.Manske

The Miles Christi (Soldier of Christ) Award was presentedto three laypeople. This award was created by the CTSfaculty in order to recognize and honor Lutheran laity

who have glorified God through a real contribution in somefield of human endeavor and have displayed the characteris-tics of good soldiers of Jesus Christ.Mrs. Lenore M. Diek, Fort Wayne,Indiana: Mrs. Diek is especially noted asa diligent worker for this seminary andfor the Indiana District. She has been aregular participant for many years in theConcordia Theological Seminary Guildand in the President’s Advisory Council.She has also served as a consultant for theseminary’s Christ’s Child Learning Corner.

Mr. Carl B. Fickenscher, Spicewood,Texas: Over the years he was been amember of several Lutheran congrega-tions in both California and Texas, serv-ing these congregations as congregationalchairman, Board of Elders chairman,Board of Stewardship chairman, andworking on building committees. He hasbeen a faithful and diligent supporter ofthis seminary and serves as a member ofthe President’s Advisory Council. He isthe father of Dr. Carl C. Fickenscher, CTSProfessor and Dean of Pastoral Educationand Placement.

Mrs. Erna I. Weinrich, Ponca City,Oklahoma: Mrs. Weinrich has lived alife testified to by all who know her asone of Christian humility and boundlesscharity. She has shown strong supportof those who wish to enter the work ofthe church. Mrs. Weinrich set up aspecial endowment for the sole purposeof supporting persons from her congrega-tion who wanted to study to be a pastoror a teacher in the church. She is themother of Dr. William C. Weinrich, CTSAcademic Dean.

While these events marked the end ofanother exciting and successful year atCTS, Dr. Weinrich and the entire CTScommunity are already preparing for thecoming year, “We look forward toseeing our returning vicars and those whoare completing their first year of study.We look forward to a new incoming classthat from the present perspective appearsto be very strong. May Christ richly blessthose who learn and those who teachhere at Concordia Theological Seminarythat they might be a blessing to theLord’s people.”

JULY 2006 19

ark Close of 160th Academic Year

Mrs. Lenore Diek

Mr. Carl Fickenscher

Mrs. ErnaWeinrich

Concordia Theological Seminary,Fort Wayne, is pleased to announceits Spring 2006 calls to the pastoralministry,vicarage assignments,deaconess internships, anddeaconess placements.

CALLSApril 26, 2006

JONATHON J. BAKKERZion Lutheran Church (Assistant Pastor)Mount Pleasant, MI

JONATHAN P. BOEHNEMount Calvary Lutheran Church(Assistant Pastor)Huron, SD

EARL G. BROWN (AR)St. John’s Lutheran Church (Assistant Pastor)Effingham, IL

CHRISTOPHER A. BURGERHoly Trinity Lutheran ChurchColumbia, SC

STUART V. BURTTrinity & Zion Lutheran ChurchesHebron & Shickley, NE

JESSE K. CEARLOCKOur Redeemer Lutheran Church(Assistant Pastor)Dubuque, IA

JOHN C. DEANGNebraska District (Missionary-at-Largeamong African Immigrants)Lincoln, NE

TERRY L. DeGIOVANNISt. Paul’s Lutheran ChurchDuluth, KS

DAVID D. DOELLINGERImmanuel Lutheran ChurchTerril, IA

DAVID R. EMMONSZion & Immanuel Lutheran ChurchesTurtle Lake & Clayton, WI

DOUGLAS A. EVENSONSt. John Lutheran ChurchBeardstown, IL

CHRISTOPHER M. FINCHERChrist & Faith Lutheran ChurchesElkhart & Hugoton, KS

STEVEN D. GIRARDSalem Lutheran ChurchMadelia, MN

JOHNNY V. GREVE (AR)St. Peter’s Lutheran ChurchPingree Grove, IL

JUSTIN A. HERMANRedeemer Lutheran Church (Associate Pastor)Huntington Beach, CA

KARL R. HESSSt. Peter Lutheran Church (Associate Pastor)Joliet, IL

CURT R. HOOVERFaith Lutheran Church (Associate Pastor)Spring Hill, TN

BRAD D. HOPFENSPERGERSummit of Peace Lutheran Church(Associate Pastor)Thornton, CO

DENIS E. HUELLEPeace Lutheran Church (Associate Pastor)Bremerton, WA

ERIK J. IVERSONHoly Cross & Faith Lutheran ChurchesSeeley Lake & Condon, MT

ROSS E. JOHNSONRedeemer Lutheran Church (Associate Pastor)Fairhope, AL

STEPHEN W. KIESER (AR)Zion Lutheran ChurchStorm Lake, IA

EDWARD J. KILLIANFaith Lutheran ChurchWaterloo, IA

BENJAMIN A. KJENDALTrinity Lutheran ChurchBrooklyn, NY

DONALD M. KLATTTrinity & Immanuel Lutheran ChurchesHolloway, MN

GREGORY A. KOEPSELLGrace Lutheran Church (Mission Developerin Monticello, MN)Becker, MN

JONATHON T. KRENZEpiphany Lutheran ChurchDorr, MI

MARK E. LANGHOFFZion & St. John Lutheran ChurchesPower & Fairfield, MT

BRIAN C. LICHTSt. Paul Lutheran Church (Associate Pastor)Carroll, IA

RAY W. LONG IIISt. Philip Lutheran ChurchCleveland, OH

CURTIS A. MAYPeace Lutheran ChurchChardon, OH

JAMES E. MAY, JR.LCMSMissionaryTogo, West AfricaBoard for Mission Services

WADE A. MILLERSonrise Lutheran ChurchPottersville, NY

AARON M. MOLDENHAUERZion Lutheran Church (Associate Pastor)Beecher, IL

DAVID E. NABINGERGrace Lutheran ChurchArcadia, FL

JON C. OLSONOur Saviour’s Lutheran ChurchPipestone, MN

DAVID JAMES PANNING (AR)Holy Lamb Lutheran ChurchMyrtle Beach, SC

JASON P. PETERSONSt. John’s Lutheran ChurchBurt, IA

CHRISTEN E. PRUMMSt. John Lutheran ChurchBritton, SD

DANIEL T. REDHAGEFirst English & Zion Lutheran ChurchesCenterville & Hurley, SD

JASON A. REEDSt. John’s Lutheran ChurchMattoon, WI

DAVID KEITH REEDEROur Redeemer Lutheran ChurchEmmett, ID

ROBERT A. REINERT IIEmmanuel Lutheran ChurchGreen River, WY

MARTIN M. RICHCalvary Lutheran ChurchWaupaca, WI

CARL D. ROTHTrinity Lutheran ChurchLivingston, TX

BENJAMIN K. RUCKERBethel Lutheran ChurchRound Lake, MN

RANDALL S. RUSSELLPeace & Our Redeemer Lutheran ChurchesOelwein & Independence, IA

STEVEN D. SCHAVEMount Calvary Lutheran Church(Mission Developer)Warner Robins, GA

KURT A. SCHILLING (AR)Redeemer Lutheran ChurchDenver, CO

JOSHUA V. SCHNEIDEREmmanuel Lutheran Church(Associate Pastor)Kahului, Maui, Hawaii

JOHN A. SCHUETZOur Redeemer Lutheran ChurchJackson, MN

ARTHUR SCHWENK, JR.Trinity Lutheran High School(Chaplain & Teacher)Seymour, IN

RANDALL J. SMITHSt. Peter Lutheran ChurchHampton, NE

RAYMOND A. SMITHTrinity Lutheran ChurchOrtonville, MN

FLOYD P. SMITHEY, JRImmanuel Lutheran ChurchHazel Green, AL

JEFFREY D. SPRINGERTrinity Lutheran ChurchWhittier, CA

HOWARD S. TRAVIS (AR)St. John Lutheran ChurchWest Branch, MI

STEVEN M. VOELKER (AR)Holy Trinity & Hope Lutheran ChurchesLakeview & Stanton, MI

DENNIS A. WENHOLZMount Calvary Lutheran ChurchColstrip, MT

MICAH J. WILDAUERBethlehem & Hope Lutheran ChurchesMilwaukee, WI

MARK K. WITTEGrace Lutheran Church (Associate Pastor)Monroe, MI

NATHAN P. WOOLERYPrince of Peace Lutheran ChurchCameron, MO

EDWARD W. WRIGHT, JR.Our Redeemer & Trinity Lutheran ChurchesRamsay & Bergland, MI

KYLE J. WRIGHT IISt. Matthew Lutheran ChurchHamlet, IN

VICARAGESApril 25, 2006

CHRISTOPHER D. BARTELLBeautiful Savior Lutheran ChurchMilton, WA

WARRENS E. BERGER (DEL)Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran ChurchSnohomish, WA

DEAN S. BERTSCH (DEL)Lutheran Homes, Inc.Fort Wayne, IN

KENNETH J. BOMBERGERImmanuel Lutheran ChurchSaginaw, MI

KURTIS A. BUELTMANNTrinity Lutheran ChurchWautoma, WI

BRIAN T. CRANE (DEL)St. John Lutheran ChurchWheaton, IL

KEVIN G. DEHOPERisen Savior Lutheran ChurchBuffalo, IL

MATTHEW T. DENTTrinity Lutheran ChurchHampton, IA

Seminary Announces Calls,Vicarages, DeaconC

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For the Life of the Church20

RUSSELL L. DEWELL (DEL)Trinity Lutheran Church and LutheranHospital of Indiana (CPE)Fort Wayne, IN

JON M. DICKMANDERPeace With Christ Lutheran ChurchFort Collins, CO

CHRIS F. DURLACHERTrinity Lutheran ChurchCasper, WY

MARK I. FAKIHZion Lutheran ChurchClark, NJ

MICHAEL O. FEUER (DEL)St. John Lutheran ChurchLawton, OK

HANS W. FIENEImmanuel Lutheran ChurchTerre Haute, IN

JEFFREY D. FRECHETTE, SR.St. Paul Lutheran ChurchAlbion, MI

BRANDON J. FROILANDCalvary Lutheran ChurchElgin, IL

WESLEY A. GEER (DEL)Grace Lutheran ChurchWinchester, KY

JOSHUA C. GERARDOTRedeemer Lutheran ChurchBartlesville, OK

EUGENE W. HAUG (DEL)Zion Lutheran ChurchCorunna, IN

ALAN R. HILTON (AR)Our Savior, First Lutheran, &St. Luke Lutheran ChurchesChester, Greenville, & Portola, CA

SAMUEL J. JANSSENMemorial Lutheran ChurchHouston, TX

MICHAEL F. JOYNT (DEL)Calvary Lutheran ChurchYuma, AZ

TRAVIS R. KLEINSCHMIDTRedeemer Lutheran ChurchGresham, OR

DAVID H. KLINGETrinity Lutheran ChurchVinton, IA

KEITH E. KNEASt. John Nottingham Lutheran ChurchCleveland, OH

CHRISTOPHER J. LABOUBE (DEL)Serowe Cattleposts Translation Station,Serowe and Thamaga, Botswana, AfricaLutheran Bible Translators

TIMOTHY J. LAIWest Portal Lutheran ChurchSan Francisco, CA

RYAN L. LOESLIEImmanuel Lutheran ChurchPensacola, FL

DENNIS M. MEEKER (DEL)Assignment PendingEvangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya

MICHAEL W. MEYERUniversity Lutheran Chapel& Rocky Mountain DistrictBoulder & Aurora, CO

RICHARD A. MITTELSTADT (AR)Trinity Lutheran ChurchEden, TX

RODNEY L. MORRISON, JR.Christ Lutheran ChurchStevensville, MI

NATHANW. MUEHLBERGGrace Lutheran Church& Trinity Lutheran ChurchesNeligh & Elgin, NE

PAUL F. NUSMount Olive Lutheran ChurchBillings, MT

CONRAD W. OEHLERTImmanuel Lutheran ChurchDecatur, IN

DAVID A. OESTERSt. Mark Lutheran ChurchSteubenville, OH

JOSHUA A. PAGANFamily of Christ Lutheran ChurchAlpine Township, MI

LAWRENCE W. PAUL (DEL)Saving Grace Lutheran ChurchChino Valley, AZ

KENT A. PECKWheat Ridge Lutheran ChurchWheat Ridge, CO

DANIEL W. PEZZICAMartini Lutheran ChurchBaltimore, MD

PEETER PIRN (DEL)Unity Lutheran ChurchCleveland, OH

MARTY L. PORTER (DEL)Zion Lutheran ChurchSauk Centre, MN

ROBERT M. PORTIER (DEL)St. Paul Lutheran ChurchSevierville, TN

MARK A. PREUSTrinity Lutheran ChurchNorman, OK

BRYAN A. REEVES (DEL)St. John Lutheran ChurchGary, IN

CHANTRY E. RICETrinity Lutheran ChurchLombard, IL

AARON M. RICHERTGrace Lutheran ChurchAlbuquerque, NM

PHILIP J. RIGDONLord of Life Lutheran ChurchNorth Vernon, IN

NATHANW. SCHEELE (DEL)LCMS MissionaryKenya, AfricaBoard for Mission Services

SAMUEL P. SCHULDHEISZTrinity Lutheran ChurchPalo Alto, CA

GARY W. SCHULTZLuther Memorial ChapelShorewood, WI

RODERICK D. SCHULTZHope Lutheran ChurchDeWitt, MI

JON D. SCICLUNA (AR)Grace Lutheran ChurchRedford, MI

VINCENT X. SHAWFaith Lutheran ChurchCapistrano Beach, CA

BRADFORD C. STADSVOLDConcordia Lutheran ChurchLouisville, KY

MICHAEL R. STANDFESTSt. John Lutheran ChurchChester, IL

BRIAN T. STARK (DEL)Calvary Lutheran ChurchPlymouth, IN

MICHAEL J. STEFFENSRedeemer Lutheran ChurchHighland, IN

RONALD A. STEPHENSSt. John Lutheran ChurchEast Moline, IL

JOHN S. TURNER (DEL)Faith Lutheran ChurchCraig, CO

KURT A. ULMERSt. Paul’s Lutheran ChurchLockport, IL

BRADLEY A. VOGT (DEL)St. Paul & Trinity Lutheran ChurchesWaco & Fairfield, TX

GERRY L. WEAVER (AR)Zion Lutheran ChurchSpringfield, MN

WEINKAUF, ROBERT C. (DEL)Grace Lutheran ChurchLeMars, IA

JOHN S. WESTHeavenly Host & Shepherd of the HillsLutheran ChurchesCookeville & McMinnville, TN

STEVEN D. WICHTENDAHL (DEL)Grace Lutheran ChurchMany, LA

GLENN H. WORCESTERImmanuel Lutheran ChurchLethbridge, Alberta, Canada

RANDALL P. WURSCHMIDTSt. John’s Lutheran ChurchTopeka, KS

DAVID J. ZILLMERImmanuel & Christ Lutheran ChurchesSpencer & Lynch, NE

DEACONESSINTERNSHIPSApril 25, 2006

JUDITH ANDERSONBethesda Lutheran HomesFort Wayne, IN

LORNA MEEKEREvangelical Lutheran Church in KenyaOgongo Deaconess CollegeLake Diocese, Kenya

PATRICIA NUFFERZion Lutheran ChurchLCMS Board forWorld Relief and Human CareFort Wayne, IN

JULIE ANN SHAPLEYBethesda Lutheran HomesFort Wayne, IN

ALLA SHVETSOVASt. Andrew Lutheran ChurchNovosibirsk, Siberia, RussiaSiberian Evangelical Lutheran Church

DEACONESSPLACEMENTSMay 18, 2006

LINDA COSGROVESt. John’s Lutheran ChurchTopeka, KS

ANGELA LUBBESMEYERBethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc.Shawness Mission, KS

AR: Alternate RouteDEL: Delayed Vicarage

ess Internships, and Deaconess Placements

JULY 2006 21


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In the Image of God: The Christian Vision for

Love&MarriageSeptember 18-20, 2006 • Fort Wayne, Indiana

Monday, September 188:30-10:00 a.m. Registration10:00-10:30 a.m. Opening Worship–Kramer Chapel10:45-11:00 a.m. Welcome

11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. “Allowing Sex to Be Ordinary”– Lauren Winner12:15-1:30 p.m. Lunch1:30-2:30 p.m. Workshop Session 12:30-2:45 p.m. Break2:45-4:00 p.m. “Marriage as a Form of Life”– Dr. Gilbert Meilaender4:00-4:15 p.m. Break4:15-5:15 p.m. Workshop Session 25:45-6:45 p.m. Wine and Cheese Reception

Book Signing6:45-7:30 p.m. Dinner

Tuesday, September 197:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast8:30-9:45 a.m. “Theology of the Body: A Refreshing Biblical

Approach to Sexual Morality”– Christopher West9:45-10:00 a.m. Break10:00-10:30 a.m. Worship in Kramer Chapel

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Workshop Session 312:00-1:00 p.m. Lunch1:00-2:15 p.m. “We’ve Come Undone: Human Division and

Sexual Disintegration”– Daniel Weiss2:15-2:30 p.m. Break2:30-3:30 p.m. Workshop Session 43:30-3:45 p.m. Break3:45-4:45 p.m. Workshop Session 5

5:45 p.m. Banquet – Dr. Louis Brighton, Professor Emeritus,Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri

Wednesday, September 207:00-8:00 a.m. Breakfast8:00-9:15 a.m. “When God’s Good Gifts Are Defiled: The Sinner

and the Sinned Against”– Dr. Beverly Yahnke9:15-9:30 a.m. Break9:30-10:45 a.m. Workshop Session 6

10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. “Man and Woman: Spiritual Dimensions of aFleshly Distinction”– Dr. William Weinrich

12:00-12:10 p.m. Closing Remarks from Dr. Wenthe and Dr. Veith12:15 p.m. Itinerarium–Kramer Chapel

The

Adorin

gHusband,LucasCranach

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The divorce rate among Christians is virtual-ly identical with that of non-Christians. Themajority of Christian as well as non-Christ-

ian singles indulge in sex outside of marriage.Many Christians, including pastors, are addictedto pornography. “Living together” and homosex-uality are now socially acceptable. Sexual moral-ity, not only in the culture but in the church, is ina state of collapse.

How can the Christian sexual ethic be recov-ered? How can we apply, in practical terms, theWord of God to build strong, fulfilling marriages,according to God’s design? How can the churchmove beyond denouncing sin to bring to bear theGospel of Christ on these issues?

Despite the urgency of these questions,American Christianity, on the whole, has notfaced up to these issues. But now the CranachInstitute, Concordia Theological Seminary, andthe LCMS Board for Human Care Ministriesand World Relief and have brought togetherexperts from a wide variety of traditions andspecialties to give pastors, counselors, andlaypeople help for both ministry and for theeveryday callings of husbands, wives, and singles.

For information concerning workshops, speakers, and registration,please go to www.Cranach.org.

The History and Practice of

LUTHERANSERVICE BOOK

The Good Shepherd InstituteSeventh Annual Conference � November 5-7, 2006

THE GOOD SHEPHERDI N S T I T U T E

Pastoral Theology andSacred Music for the Church

Co-Directors: Arthur A. Just Jr. and Richard C. Resch

For brochures and more information contact Yohko Masakiat 260-452-2224 or online at www.ctsfw.edu., or write to:

The Good Shepherd Institute, Concordia Theological Seminary,6600 North Clinton, Fort Wayne, IN 46825.

Presenters PLENARIESJon D. Vieker The History of

LUTHERAN SERVICE BOOKPaul J. Grime The Practice of

LUTHERAN SERVICE BOOK

Presenters SECTIONALSArthur A. Just Lectionary Committee

Stephen P. Starke Hymnody CommitteeTimothy C. J. Quill & Liturgy Committee

Naomichi MasakiJohn T. Pless & Agenda CommitteeKent J. BurresonGene E. Veith Translations Committee

Richard C. Resch Playing and TeachingNew LSB Hymns

Janet J. Muth Playing and Teaching LSB LiturgyJon D. Vieker A Full Musical Use of the

LSB PsalmsArthur A. Just Jr. Planning Services from

LSB ResourcesPaul J. Grime What Is New and What Is Old?

EVENTSJeffrey Blersch Organ Recital

Seminary Schola Cantorum All Saints’ Choral Vespers (Sunday)The Seminary Children’s Choir Choral Vespers (Monday)

Kevin J. Hildebrand Hymn Festival

JULY 2006 23

Thank You from the Crew ofthe Coast Guard Cutter Maui

Dear Friends,We, the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Maui (WPB1304), thank you

from the bottom of our hearts for all the wonderful items that you havesent to us. Your abundant generosity was shared with other units servingwith us here in the Middle East. Our Father has gifted each of you witha compassionate heart. Some of the men and women never see any mailfrom the States, so this gift had deep-felt meaning when it arrived. Knowthat each of us keeps you in our heart and in our prayers. A battle isfought on many a line, and the front line will never endure if it were notfor the strong support given from behind it. God bless and keep thefaith that we never forget it is God’s will and not our own that wefollow and fulfill.

For the crew of Maui,CWO James D. SimmonsUSCGC Maui (WPB1304)

Concordia TheologicalSeminary Military ProjectMarches Forward!

The military project at the seminary continues to be successful due tomany generous contributors donating items to send overseas everythree months and also providing money to be used for postage. The

Ladies Aid group from Christ Lutheran Church, Oak Park, Illinois,recently contacted the seminary and sent a special gift of money whichcovered postage for the entire May shipment. Many thanks to them!

There are now four soldiers in Iraq and an officer in the Coast Guardwho are on the list of recipients. A Chaplain stationed with the MarineCorps and a Captain in the Army (both in Iraq) have also requestedspecial items from the seminary community that will be given to thechildren of Iraq as part of peace-keeping efforts there.

The donated items of snacks, toiletries, and reading materials aregreatly appreciated by those who receive them as you can see from thelatest thank-you that was received at the seminary from the crew of theCoast Guard Cutter Maui.

If you would like to submit the name of a family member or friend onactive duty or would like to start your own group to accomplish somethingsimilar to this project, please contact Rene Schmeltz at 260-493-2499 ore-mail [email protected].

18 For the Life of the World18

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24

The most recent release by the seminary Kantorei is Infant Holy with 23 Christmasselections. The new CD may be purchased through the seminary bookstore by phoning260-452-3108, or by going online to www.ctsfw.edu and then selecting Bookstore at the

top of the page. CD’s are $14.95 each and cassette tapes may be purchased for $9.95 each.Those wishing to order CD’s in quantities of ten or more may order them at a cost of $12.00each from the CTS Music Department; to do so please contact Yohko Masaki at 260-452-2224, or e-mail [email protected].

Christmas Release by Seminary Kantorei

CTSProfessor John T. Plesshas authored the firstbook in Concordia

Publishing House’s new LutheranSpirituality Series entitled Word: GodSpeaks to Us. In this book ProfessorPless shows how the Lutheran doctrineof the Word shapes our hearing andreading of the Scriptures for the life offaith. Written in a format that invitesboth individual reflection and use incorporate settings, the book is designedto deepen laity in their knowledge anduse of Lutheran doctrine in daily life.Word: God Speaks to Us is availablefrom the CTS bookstore by phoning260-452-3108. Additional volumes inthe Lutheran Spirituality Series will beforthcoming, including volumes writtenby CTS faculty members Dr. NaomichiMasaki and Dr. K. Detlev Schulz.

Pless AuthorsNew CPH BibleStudy Series

LCMS Human Care Sponsors“Medicine Cabinet” for CTS Families

The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod’s Board for Human Care Ministriesand World Relief has awarded a grant to the seminary in the amount of$10,000. This money is designated for the CTS Food Co-op, specifically

for medicinal items needed by the children of seminary students. Such itemswould include first-aid items, fever-reducers, Pedialyte, and other over-the-counter medications. “These items are essential to seminary parents and quiteoften they are the more expensive items in a family budget. This will be a real‘shot in the arm’ to student families on a tight budget,” said the Rev. Timothy R.Puls, Dean of Students.

Seminary wife Mrs. Patty Mazikas is coordinating the selection and purchaseof items for the Medicine Cabinet. Patty is a trained Physician’s Assistant andmother of three children. She is assisted by Mrs. Nicole Needham, also a semi-nary wife and mother of two. All items are provided free of charge to seminaryfamilies and are available six days a week.

Currently over 500 children from some 200 seminary families are servedby the Food Co-op, which is supported by the donations of individuals andgroups within the LCMS. Donations can include canned food, baby items,toiletries, cleaning supplies, and financial gifts. Individuals and organizationswho are interested in donating to the Food Co-op may phone 260-452-2174 for

additional information.The loving financial

and prayerful support ofthe LCMS membersfrom across the UnitedStates is greatly appreci-ated by all the studentsand their families. If youwould like to learn moreabout how you cansupport the seminaryand her students, pleasecontact the CTS Officeof Advancement at1-877-287-4338, ext.2212.

Mrs. Karen Fuelling,Assistant Director of theCTS Clothing Co-op, inventories items in thenew “Student Families Medicine Cabinet.”

JULY 2006 25JULY 2006

New WorkersJoinCTS FamilyIt was with great joy that the faculty and staff of CTS welcomed three new

workers to the seminary community. The Rev. David A. Mommens, SecondVice President of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod–Indiana District,

installed Mrs. Mireya P. Johnson, Mr. Jason L. Iwen, and the Rev. Grant A.Knepper after worship service in Kramer Chapel May 12.

Mrs. Johnson was commissioned and installed as a deaconess serving inCTS Community Services. She earned a Master of Arts (Religion) from CTSin 2002. She went on to complete her deaconess colloquy requirements fromConcordia University, River Forest, Illinois, in 2005. She has served inGuatemala and Venezuela.

Mr. Iwen will serve as Network Manager in the Information TechnologyDepartment. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Concordia University,Seward, Nebraska (2002). He taught at Lutheran High School of Denver, Colorado,for two years where he was also the Technology Coordinator.

The Rev. Knepper will serve the seminary as Director of CongregationalSupport in the Advancement Office. He is a 1998 graduate of CTS. He servedcongregations in Tucson, Arizona, and Seattle, Washington, before returningto the seminary.

We welcome these workers into the CTS family as we recall these words fromRomans 12:4-5: “For as in one body we have many members, and all the membersdo not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, andindividually members one of another.”

(L-R) The Rev. David Mommens, Second Vice President, LCMS IndianaDistrict; Mr. Jason Iwen, Network Manager; Deaconess Mireya Johnson,Community Services; the Rev. Grant Knepper, Director of CongregationalSupport; and the Rev. Dr. DeanWenthe, CTS President.

Mark YourCalendars Now for the

2007SymposiaSeries

22nd Annual Symposiumon Exegetical Theology

January 16-17

Christian Identityin a PaganWorld:Lessons from

Ancient Israel andEarly Christianity

30th AnnualSymposium on the

Lutheran ConfessionsJanuary 17-19

Confessional Lutheranismin the Ecumenical World

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Certainly it is the obligation of Christians to “render untoCaesar the things that are Caesar’s” as we are recipients of allthe blessings of our great land and, consequently, need tosupport it. But that being the case, we are not expected to paythe maximum amount of taxes possible. Rather, our govern-ment has made many opportunities available to its citizens tolower the amount of taxes owed through many differentmeans. Not least among them is the giving of gifts to charita-ble institutions such as Concordia Theological Seminary.

What are some of the methods of giving which save taxdollars for individuals?

The Direct Gift. For people who itemize deductions, giftsto the seminary may be deducted from their income taxes.Thus, if they are in the 25% tax bracket, a $1,000 gift will costthem a net $750. If they live in a state that has itemizeddeductions on state income tax, let’s say in a 5% state taxbracket that would save an additional $50 in taxes. Residentsof Indiana can take advantage of a state income tax credit thatwill save a couple $200 in state income taxes on the first $400they give to the seminary.

Giving of Appreciated Securities. If people have high-ly appreciated stock that they want to sell, they would have topay capital gains taxes on it. For example, stock whichinitially cost them $100 and is now worth $1,000 would have$900 of capital gain, which, if they are in the 25% taxbracket and thus in the 15% capital gains bracket, wouldrequire payment of $135 in capital gains taxes; and if they arein a 5% state income tax bracket, would cost $45 in statetaxes. If they would give that $1,000 of stock to the seminary,they would not have to pay the $180 in federal and state taxes,plus they could still deduct the entire $1,000 on their federaland state tax returns as noted above. Thus their $1,000 giftcould save them $180 in capital gains taxes (federal andstate), and an additional $300 from itemized deductions onfederal and state tax returns.

Life Income Plans. For people who want to leave anestate gift to the seminary, gifts such as Charitable Remain-der Trusts and Gift Annuities offer tax advantages that they

will not receive through a simple bequest in a will. Espe-cially for those who can give appreciated gifts such as stock,farmland, or rental property which they are thinking ofselling and reinvesting, such gifts offer great advantages. Tobegin with, Charitable Remainder Trusts and Gift Annuitieswill provide an itemized deduction. Second, such giftsprovide lifetime income for the donors. If they fund suchgifts with appreciated property, the entire amount of theproperty will be invested to provide income for them for therest of their lives instead of what they would have left if theyfirst had to sell the property and pay capital gains taxes.Third, some of the income they receive will be taxed at themore favorable capital gains rates instead of ordinary rates.Fourth, in some cases, some of the income they receive maybe tax free.

Gifts of Qualified Pension Plans. End-of-life gifts areof many different types. People may make gifts throughbequests in their will or living trust, by beneficiary designa-tion on annuities or life insurance policies, by Pay on Death(POD) on bank accounts or CD’s, etc. But if they are givinggifts both to family members and charities, the best gifts togive to charities are their qualified pension plans such asIRA’s, TSA’s, Keough’s, etc. The reason for this is that if theyleave such assets to family members, income tax will need tobe paid on them. However, the seminary being a charitableinstitution, does not need to pay income taxes. Thus, if aperson has $100,000 in cash and $100,000 in an IRA andwants to benefit both charity and family equally, it is best toleave the IRA to charity and the cash to family rather thanvice versa. If they leave the $100,000 cash to the seminaryand $100,000 IRA to the family, the family could only end upwith $60,000 after taxes are paid, whereas the other wayaround, both would end up with $100,000.

Taxes are complicated. But knowing how to navigate themaze of tax laws concerning charitable gifts can save anindividual a considerable amount of taxes. If you would liketo talk to one of our Advancement team members concerningsuch issues, please call 260-452-2268, and we’ll be glad toassist in any way we can.

A Taxing SituationBy the Rev. Ralph G. Schmidt,Vice President for Institutional Advancement

It has been observed, “There’s nothing certain except death and taxes.” While there islittle that can be done to avoid death altogether, there is much that the government hasdone in the area of charitable giving that can lower the amount of taxes one must pay.

27JULY 2006

Advancement Staff Adds New Team Member

Timothy Ehlerding joined the CTSAdvancement staff in June, havingserved previously as a Financial

Consultant and Regional ManagementAssociate for Thrivent Financial forLutherans. He also workedwith SkillPathSeminars, located in Mission, Kansas,presenting leadership and managementworkshops throughout the United States.

Mr. Ehlerding serves the seminaryas an Advancement Officer on theAdvancement team. His primaryresponsibility is to call on active andprospective donors, building relation-ships, and developing continued finan-cial support for the seminary. He alsocalls on congregations of the LCMS toencourage direct support.

Mr. Ehlerding’s background withThrivent brings an added dimension offinancial understanding to the Advance-ment team. He will assist the seminaryas it works with many wonderful donorsthroughout the country who seek to bepart of the exciting work of preparingfuture pastors of the church who willbring the blessed news of salvation toGod’s people, as well as preparing

missionaries and deaconesses to servein specialized ministries.

The Rev. Ralph Schmidt, Vice Pres-ident for Institutional Advancement,comments, “We are most pleased tofind a man of Tim’s professionalism.His achievements while working forThrivent speak well for his ability torelate to people in helping themachieve the objectives they wish toaccomplish. We look forward to a veryfruitful time in working together onbehalf of this wonderful seminary.”

Mr. Ehlerding received his Bachelorof Science degree from Purdue Univer-sity, West Lafayette, Indiana, in Con-struction Engineering Technology andanAssociate ofApplied Science degreein Civil Engineering Technology.

He is a lifelong member of St. PaulLutheran Church, Decatur, Indiana,where he serves as a small group Biblestudy leader and youth director. He hasbeen married to Susan (Loshe) fornearly 18 years, and they have threewonderful children: Emily, Stephanie,and Robby, all of whom attendWyneken Memorial Lutheran School

in Decatur, Indiana.Please join us in welcoming this

newest member to our team and keephim in your prayers as he begins hiswork at the seminary.

Use my gift for preparing men to serve as pastors.Please accept my gift of:�� $100 �� $250 �� $500 �� Other $ ____________In support of:�� Where most needed.�� General Operations.�� Student Aid.�� Other _____________________In support of:�� Check is enclosed. �� Charge my credit card.�� MC �� Visa Card #: ______________________________

Expiration date: ___________________________________Signature: ________________________________________

Name: ___________________________________________Address: __________________________________________City: ________________________ State: ___ Zip:________E-mail address: ____________________________________You may also donate online at www.ctsfw.edu.�� I am a Thrivent member (form enclosed).

Please send me information on:�� Endowments.�� Estate planning.�� Including CTS in my will.�� Please have an Advancement Officer contact me.Name: ___________________________________________Address: __________________________________________City: ________________________ State: ___ Zip:________Telephone #: ______________________________________

Please send to:Advancement Office

6600 N. Clinton St. � Fort Wayne, IN 46825877-287-4338 �Advancement Office, Ext. 2212

� Worship with the seminary community at chapel services held four times a day.

� Visit seminary classes to experience firsthand the dynamic learning environment.

� Learn more about financial aid foryour specific situation by meetingwith our Director of Financial Aid.

� Explore the affordable Fort Waynehousing market by meeting one onone with our Relocation Coordinator,reviewing the homes available forsale from other seminary families,and visiting local neighborhoods and apartment complexes.

� Locate Lutheran and public schoolswith resources provided by our Relocation Coordinator and by visiting the schools themselves.

� Identify potential employers, schools,real estate agents, insurance agents,health care services, and campusresources at the Display Fair.

� Acclimate yourself to the campus and learn about its architecture with a tour of the chapel, the classroombuildings, the Food and Clothing Co-ops, the Christ’s Child LearningCorner, and the gymnasium.

� Enjoy multiple opportunities for fellowship with our President, ourfaculty, our staff, and our students.

September 21-23, 2006For more information, contact the

Office of Admission at the following address and phone number:

6600 N. Clinton St.Fort Wayne, IN 46825

[email protected](800) 481-2155

CTS Online: www.ctsfw.edu

PrayerfullyConsiderFall Invitational Campus Visit


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�� Please contact me with more information.

�� We have enclosed our yearly $25.00 check for our group to be an Affiliate Guild.

�� I have enclosed my yearly $10.00 check to be an individual affiliate member.

�� I have enclosed a check to support the renovation of the Commons area.

�� Donation Day gift.

A f f i l i a t e G u i l d R e g i s t r a t i o n

�� Yes, we are interested in becoming an Affiliate Guild. Please send more information to:Name: __________________________________________________________________Organization: ____________________________________________________________Address: _______________________________________________________________City: ________________________________ State: ________ Zip: _________________

�� We are enclosing a donation payable to Concordia Theological Seminary Guild, Box 8, 6600 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, IN 46825-4996.

The Seminary Guild had an exciting spring thisyear. In March we honored our congregation-al representatives with a luncheon followed by

a presentation by Dr. Lawrence R. Rast, AssociateProfessor of Historical Theology, concerning thehistory of the seminary from its founding in FortWayne, through its moves to St. Louis, Missouri;Springfield, Illinois; and its return to Fort Wayne inthe 1970s. Two facts were apparent: there hasalways been need, and the Lord has always provid-ed abundantly. We were very excited to see manynew faces at this meeting and look forward to having more willing hands.

The April meeting broughtthe annual “April Shower” toreplenish supplies for theChrist’s Child Learning Corner which is located on theseminary campus. The childrensang songs for the ladies andthen tore into the gifts. The newBarbie clothes were a hit!

We also elected new offi-cers and Board members for theupcoming year. The ExecutiveBoard members for the 2006-

2007 year are: President, Lynn Brege; Vice Presi-dent, Pam Knepper; Treasurer, Delores Scheumann;Recording Secretary, Janet Grotrian; and Corre-sponding Secretary, Marilyn Winners. They will beassisted by Board Members: Lenore Diek, CharlotteDippel, Claire Fickenscher, Rita Lichtsinn, NancyMull, and Helen Witte.

April was our last meeting, but we continued toserve following the Call Service in April and Grad-uation in May. We also were invited to the StudentWives Association Farewell Tea. We presented theout-going wives and deaconesses with a crystal sun-catcher featuring the seminary logo and gave them

honorary membership in theGuild for the coming year. Wepray they will continue tospread the news of our missionto their new parishes. Thissummer the Board will contin-ue to meet to plan next year’sprograms and activities. Watchour page on the seminary’swebsite for updates regardingthe fall Lutherfest, DonationDay, and other important dates.

Seminary Guild Ends Year with Many Activities

29

Dates to Remember:

LutherFestOctober 6, 2006

Donation DayOctober 17, 2006

Concordia Theological Seminary Alumni Association Membership

I am enclosing my membership dues of at least $20.00. Contributions in higher amounts are welcome, as they will benefit the seminary and the students attending it. Lifetime Membership now available—$250.00

Name: ____________________________________________________ Title:___________________________________Class of:______________ �� Springfield �� Fort Wayne �� Other ________________________________________Street:_____________________________________________________________________________________________City:___________________________________________ State:_______________ Zip:__________________________Telephone: __________________________ E-mail:________________________________________________________�� Yes, I also want to make a donation to the special Alumni Fund. Amount: ____________________________________Please make your checks payable to Concordia Theological Seminary. This form must accompany your check. Please mail this formand your check to: Alumni Relations Office, Concordia Theological Seminary, 6600 N. Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46825-4996.

��New Membership�� Renewal Membership��Associate Membership

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30For the Life of the World

Name: _____________________________________________________ Class: __________________________________Spouse’s Name (if applicable): __________________________________ Telephone: _____________________________Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________City ___________________________________________ State_______________ Zip__________________________E-mail:_____________________________________________________________________________________________�� I/We plan to attend the reunion on August 1-3.

�� Registration cost ________ ($45.00/person)�� Golf Outing ________ ($30.00/person, includes 18 holes and a cart)

Total enclosed: ________ (make checks payable to Concordia Theological Seminary)Return to: Concordia Theological Seminary, Attn: Rev. Thomas Zimmerman, 6600 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, IN 46825

Concordia Theological SeminaryReunion Registration

What a time was had by the class of 1956and 1966! Pastors and their wives fromall over North America came and had a

marvelous time remembering their years atSpringfield. The stories told of campus condi-tions, dormitory arrangements, and food serviceought to be published for our incoming class!Maybe we can get some of the class to recordthem for posterity sake.

Reunions will continue this summer. It wasagreed that it would be good to invite the brotherswho are celebrating their 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th,30th, 35th, 45th, 55th and 60th to come and gatherat CTS this summer. Reunion events are plannedfor August 1-3. Details for the event are availableon our website. A limited number of rooms areavailable on campus. Please contact Mrs. MargeWingfield (260-452-2247) to arrange for a room.

31JULY 2006

EventsOpening Service161st Academic YearSeptember 104:00 p.m.Kramer Chapel

Sunday BrunchKatherine Luther Dining Hall11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.September 10October 1

In the Image of God: The ChristianVision for Love and MarriageSeptember 18-201-877-287-4338, ext. 2241

Prayerfully ConsiderInvitational Campus VisitSeptember 21-231-800-481-2155

LutherFestOctober 61-877-287-4338, ext. 2204

Seminary Donation DayOctober 171-877-287-4338, ext. 2204

Good Shepherd InstituteNovember 5-71-877-287-4338, ext. 2204

MusicAll Saints’ Choral VespersNovember 57:30 p.m.Kramer Chapel

RetreatsFor more information concerningCTS Retreats, visit our webpage atwww.ctsfw.edu, select Events, andthen select Seminary Retreat, or call1-877-287-4338, ext. 2204.

Lay Leadership Retreat:Equipped to ServeSeptember 29-October 1

Enter the Biblical WorldRetreat: God’s Saving PresenceThroughout the ScripturesOctober 6-7

Lutherhostel Retreat: What Is a Lutheran? Reading the Book of Concord with the Seminary FacultyOctober 9-13

Confirmation Retreats:Holy Baptism and the Christian LifeOctober 20-22

God, What Do We Make of Him?–A Study of the Holy TrinityNovember 10-12

For your free subscription, please send yourname, address, city, state, and zip code to: For the Life of the World, 6600 N. Clinton

St., Fort Wayne, IN 46825. Pastors may subscribetheir entire congregation, at no charge, by submit-ting a membership list (including members’ name,address, city, state, and zip code). Lists submitted tothe Public Relations Office will not be used for other solicitations.For those congregations that do not wish to

provide a membership list, bulk subscriptions areavailable for $5.00 per subscription/per year with a50 order minimum.

You can support this magazine through a $20.00yearly donation to the following address: For the Life of the WorldPublic Relations Concordia Theological Seminary 6600 N. Clinton St. Fort Wayne, IN 46825

Please make checks payable to CTS.If you would like to see For the Life of the

World on the World Wide Web, go to web site:www.LifeOfTheWorld.com. The current issue, as well as previous issues, can be found at this interactive portal.

CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Calendar of Events

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE AND FIND . . .

For theLife of theWorld

Lay Leadership Retreat: Equipped to Serve September 29-October 1This annual retreat for congregational officers, elders, and other lay leaders is led by Dr. HaroldL. Senkbeil, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions at CTS.Retreat Fee: $135 (includes on-campus housing and meals) Registrations are dueone month before the retreat begins.

Enter the Biblical World Retreat: God’s Saving Presence Throughout the Scriptures October 6-7This retreat will examine the saving presence of God as it is described in both the Old and NewTestaments. The presentations will be led by members of the CTS faculty.Retreat Fee: $40 (includes Friday dinner and Saturday lunch) Registrations are duetwo weeks before the retreat begins. Campus housing is available for $25 a day on a first-come,first-served basis. Call 260-452-2247 to reserve a room.

Lutherhostel Retreat: What Is a Lutheran? Reading the Book of Concord with the Seminary Faculty October 9-13This retreat will look at the Lutheran Confessions with a view toward making them more under-standable to those who may not be familiar with their contents. The theological faculty of Con-cordia Theological Seminary will lead the presentations at this week-long retreat. Participantshave the option of registering only for those days that they will be able to attend.Retreat Fees: Registration-$150 (five days); On-campus meals-$140 (five days,includes Wed. Banquet and Reception); Registration for one day-$37 (includeslunch); Wed. Banquet and Reception-$15; On-campus housing-$25/dayRegistrations are due two weeks before the retreat begins.

For more informationconcerning CTS Retreats,go online towww.ctsfw.edu,select Events,and selectSeminaryRetreat, orphone 1-877-287-4338, ext. 2204.

6600 North Clinton Street �Fort W

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2006 CTS Retreat Registration Form

Retreat Name and Date: ________________________________Name(s): ____________________________________________Address:_____________________________________________City/State/Zip: ________________________________________Phone: ______________________________________________Occupancy: �� Single �� DoubleCampus Tour: �� Yes �� No�� A $20 non-refundable deposit is enclosed with this reservation.(Note: Dorms are air conditioned.)

Mail reservations at least one month* in advance of retreat to thefollowing address: Retreat Coordinator, Concordia TheologicalSeminary, 6600 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, IN 46825.

*Reservations received less than one week before retreat will be charged a late fee:$10 for weekend or $20 for Lutherhostel.

For the Life of the World - Volume Ten, Number Three

Documents

Transcript of For the Life of the World - Volume Ten, Number Three