As we recently announced, the seminary’s annual Call Service will not take place as a public gathering in the usual way. In its place, we will hold a brief online event on Friday, 29 May 2020, at 7.00pm EDT. Note that this is a change in time from our usual Saturday afternoon service. In this way, both LCC seminaries will be able to release news of placements by Friday night.
Restrictions still in place in Ontario limit such gatherings to five or fewer people, meaning that it is impossible even to have the faculty and students together in one place. Therefore we have decided that President Winger will lead Vespers from the seminary chapel while the faculty, students, and their families connect through an online meeting. In the course of the service, the placements will be announced. The event will be live streamed so that church members–particularly those waiting to hear whom they will receive as pastor or vicar–can watch. We encourage viewers to have their LSB hymnals on hand so they can join in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. You will find the live stream event on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/concordialutherantheologicalseminarystcatharines
Here again are the details of this year’s Call Service:
We are pleased to announce the students who are ready for their placements in May. Vishal Paul, who is ready to be certified for the holy ministry, will be given his first congregational placement. David Zakel will receive his vicarage placement.
The spring Call Service is also the occasion when other students are recognised for their academic achievements, and honorary awards are given. We intend to delay presenting these awards until such a time as the recipients can be present in person, most likely at the seminary’s opening service in September. We are pleased, however, to announce and recognise these recipients now.
The faculty and Board of Regents have chosen Mr Carl Wathke (Faith Lutheran Church, Desboro) to receive the Delta Chi (Servant of Christ) award, the seminary’s highest honour. Mrs Mary Silver (Christ Lutheran Church, St. Catharines) will be given the Friend of the Seminary award. Both have a long CV of service to the church, which will be shared when the awards are given.
While we regret deeply that these placements and awards cannot be properly celebrated in the usual way, we ask you to pray for the students and to watch the live stream to learn of their placements. God be praised for His gracious gifts!
Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary 
Congratulations Carl on receiving the Delta Chi (Servant of Christ) award, the seminary’s highest honour. John would be so proud.
We anxiously wait to hear about the placement for Vishal and David. May God bless them individually and also the congregations they will be called to serve in the years to come. It is indeed a time of celebration as we see how our church prepares men for the Lord’s ministry as shepherds of the fold of the Chief Shepherd. May our good Lord continue to endow us with His grace. We will be watching the online call service from Toronto together as family: Vishal’s parents, brother and his Uncle and Aunts, as David’s brothers and sisters in the Lord together as part of the Lord’s family His church. May God continue to bless our Seminary and our Church. In our Resurrected Lord and Saviour Jesus, our life. Amen. Pastor Joseph Singh