SA国际传媒

For the first time,聽SA国际传媒鈥檚聽Commencement聽exercises for the 2020 graduating class will be held online only, and elements from the traditional Theological Diploma Service 鈥� usually held as a separate event on campus 鈥� will be included. The online-only Commencement exercises will be available at 4 p.m. (CDT) May 15 at聽csl.edu/commencement聽and on the Seminary鈥檚聽 补苍诲听.

Students, families and friends are invited to participate remotely while practicing physical distancing.聽A service folder will be available at聽csl.edu/commencement聽for those who wish to follow along. Virtual participants are encouraged to join in the celebration by sharing comments and photos, and using the hashtags #CSLGrad2020 and #LivesOfSignificance on social media.

The service will begin with the recognition of theological diplomas for graduates who have been certified by the Seminary faculty as eligible to receive calls to serve as pastors or deaconesses in The Lutheran Church鈥擬issouri Synod (LCMS), followed by the conferring of certificates, academic degrees and honors.

Dr. Glenn Nielsen, professor of Practical Theology and director of Placement, will give a devotion. Rev. Mark Kiessling, director of LCMS Youth Ministry and a Commencement honoree, will deliver the Commencement address.聽Dr. Dale A. Meyer, Seminary president and professor of Practical Theology who will retire in June, will share a 鈥淟itany for the World鈥� and offer a farewell address to the graduates.

笔谤辞惫辞蝉迟听Dr. Douglas L. Rutt聽will confer the academic degrees and Dean of Faculty聽Dr. David Peter聽will announce the recipients of six special honors:

• Christus Vivit聽Award: Dr. LeRoy Wilke of Woodbury, Minn.
• Distinguished Alumnus Award: Dr. Thomas Zelt of Fremont, Calif.
• Honorary Doctor of Divinity: Rev. Pornprom (Ted) Na Thalang of St. Charles, Mo.
• Honorary Doctor of Divinity: Rev. Laokouxang (Kou) Seying of St. Louis, Mo.,聽in memoriam
• Honorary Doctor of Laws: Gunya Na Thalang of St. Charles, Mo.
• Honorary Doctor of Letters: Rev. Mark Kiessling of St. Louis, Mo.

In addition, the service will include special music, video tributes to graduating students and recognition of retiring professors.

鈥淲e intend to do all we can to honor concluding students and their families for the sacrifices they have made and the hard work they have put into achieving this important milestone in their lives and future ministries,鈥� Meyer said. 鈥淭hank God nothing can take away the education our students are blessed to receive.鈥�

Graduates will be mailed their diplomas following Commencement and also will be invited to participate in Commencement exercises in 2021. This year鈥檚 graduates will join more than 9,000 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 181-year history.

鈥淲e are as proud of our graduates this year as ever,鈥� Rutt said. 鈥淎lthough our 2020 graduates are not able to participate in what has become a SA国际传媒 tradition with all the pomp and circumstance, knowing that these dedicated servants have been prepared and are being sent to where they are needed most 鈥� the Lord鈥檚 harvest field 鈥� is our greatest satisfaction.鈥�

An archived recording of the Commencement event will be available afterward at聽聽and at聽.

SA国际传媒 SA国际传媒

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聽. To learn more, visit聽csl.edu.