Some 93 students and four honorees were celebrated and recognized at [1] Friday, May 18, as part of the school鈥檚 2018 [2] exercises.
Of the 93 students recognized, 54 earned the Master of Divinity degree, one earned the Master of Arts degree with deaconess certification, 10 earned the Master of Arts degree and seven students earned a Master of Sacred Theology degree. In addition, 18 students completed doctoral degrees: 10 earned the Doctor of Ministry degree and eight earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Three students earning their Residential Alternate Route certificates also were recognized. Find the list of students and their degrees and certificates in the Commencement program here [3].
鈥淵ou know that God鈥檚 hand of blessing is upon you,鈥� Seminary President Dr. Dale A. Meyer told the graduates. 鈥淢ay His love for you go with you all the years that are ahead. Congratulations to the graduates. Thank you for sharing your lives with us because all of us, faculty and staff, have been blessed by getting to know you and learning from you.鈥�
Commencement activities began Friday morning with the Theological Diploma Service in the Seminary鈥檚 Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. During the service, theological diplomas were presented to all graduating students eligible to receive a call as a pastor or deaconess in [4]. Dr. David Peter [5], associate professor of Practical Theology and placement counselor, delivered the sermon, 鈥淲e are Debtors.鈥�
鈥淲e are debtors to God,鈥� Peter told the students. 鈥淲e are dependent on His Spirit for life and ministry.鈥�
Commencement exercises wrapped up the day鈥檚 events Friday evening in the chapel, which had been moved from the Seminary鈥檚 Main Quadrangle because of rain.
Academic degrees and honors were presented during this ceremony, and Rev. Ray Wilke, president of Orphan Grain Train and pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Norfolk, Neb., delivered the Commencement address. Wilke told the congregation and graduates that he was moved by the day鈥檚 events and 鈥渢hrilled about the church.鈥�
鈥淏e prepared,鈥� Wilke told the graduates. 鈥淧lease be prepared to willingly move out of your comfort zone, maybe into dark places, unknown places. Each of you as you go to your calling are going to be moving into unknown places. Allow it to happen. If 鈥� the Lord is obviously calling you to do something, do it. Do it even if it鈥檚 not comfortable.鈥�
The Seminary鈥檚 faculty presented the Christus Vivit Award to Craig and in absentia Jane Olson of Orange, Calif., in recognition of their exemplary service to the church. The Olsons chaired the Seminary鈥檚 National Campaign Council, which oversaw the milestone Generations Campaign, which reached its successful conclusion in December 2017, raising more than $200 million. The faculty also presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award in absentia to Dr. Timothy Maschke (鈥�74) of Grafton, Wis., a retired professor from Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon; and an honorary Doctor of Divinity to Wilke. Learn more about each of the honorees [6].
Meyer also recognized retiring Professor of Exegetical Theology Paul Raabe [7], an Old Testament scholar, and presented him with an Emeritus Medallion for his service to the Seminary. 鈥淵ou Paul, will be sorely missed,鈥� Meyer said as the congregation gave Raabe a standing ovation.
This year鈥檚 graduates join more than 7,000 called leaders of the LCMS around the world and more than 12,500 individuals who have received degrees from SA国际传媒, St. Louis in the school鈥檚 history.
鈥淭he Lord of the church is raising your generation up for this Gospel ministry to hurting people,鈥� Meyer told the graduates in his concluding remarks. 鈥淎nd the Lord of the church knows what He is doing. We are proud of you. You are alumni. And you are loved by us at the Seminary.鈥�
Afterward, Meyer officially closed the Seminary鈥檚 179th academic year with the theme, 鈥淔aith 鈥� Living, Daring Confidence in God鈥檚 Grace.鈥� The congregation prayed the Lord鈥檚 Prayer and filed out of the chapel to the hymn, 鈥淭hy Strong Word.鈥�
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SA国际传媒, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of [4]. To learn more, visit [1].