Warm hearts were met with equally warm weather when mercury rose to over 35 degrees Celsius in St. Catharines on the day of the Call Service. Gathering students, their friends and family members, faculty and staff, and friends of the seminary, the service held in Grace Lutheran Church saw approximately 100 attendees joining together in praise and prayer over the Church and her future ministers. The liturgy of the vespers service was led by Rev. Esko Murto of the seminary faculty, with Rev. Alan Bauch (CLTS alumnus 2005) preaching.
In the presence of the synodical representatives Rev. Paul Zabel (East District President, LCC) and Rev. Alan Bauch (Eastern District, LCMS), the president of the seminary, Dr Thomas Winger, certified two graduating students: Milton Lam and Kurt Schultz. Mr Lam has received a call to serve Christ Lutheran Church in Timmins, Ontario. Mr Schultz will wait to be placed hopefully later in the summer. Seminarian Kirk Radford was assigned to serve as vicar at Family of God Lutheran Church, Detroit, Michigan. Dr Winger also announced that the colloquy student Jung Hun “Justin” Park (LCMS, English District, Toronto) has completed the work set by the colloquy board, and will hopefully receive a call in June.
As part of the festivities, awards of recognition were given out. The highest award issued by the Seminary, the Delta Chi award was presented to Mr Stephen Klinck, noting especially his sustained work in Lutheran Hour Ministries. With the Delta Chi Medal, Concordia Theological Seminary wants to honour individuals for the work done in the service of the whole Church.
Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary was also happy to present the Friend of the Seminary award to professor emeritus of Brock University, Dr David Goicoechea. With this award, CLTS recognizes Dr Goicoechea’s instrumental role in building connections between the seminary and the philosophy department of the university.
The Nadine and Kent Schappert Family Fund Award for Pastoral Care, given annually to a seminarian especially distinguished in practical theology and pastoral mindset was given this year to seminarian Kirk Radford.
Photos can be downloaded from the seminary’s gallery here.
Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary 