Rev. Michael L. Kumm has accepted the call issued him by Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, to serve as its new alumni director. Kumm combines a wealth of administrative experience, maturity and 30 years of military service with the Seminary familiarity that accompanies a recent student.

Prior to accepting this call, Rev. Kumm served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, West Frankfort, Ill., since 2001 and circuit counselor for the Greater Egypt Circuit in the Southern Illinois District. Before this, he served as pastor of Blessed Redeemer Lutheran Church, Brandon, S.D.

This call was extended to fill the vacancy in the office of alumni activities which resulted after the death of Rev. John Meyer in 2003. Meyer was the Seminary's first alumni director, serving in a part-time capacity since 1996. "Enlarging this position to full-time capacity will benefit Seminary recruitment and development," commented Rev. Glen Thomas, vice president for seminary relations at Concordia Seminary. "The Seminary has more than 6,100 living alumni, and I am confident that Pastor Kumm will be utilized by God to energize the relationship we share."

Kumm, a 2000 graduate of Concordia Seminary's Certificate (alternate route) program, served 12 years with the South Dakota Department of Commerce and Regulation prior to Seminary enrollment. He also served in media relations positions in South Dakota. He is a United States Air Force (1970-77, including service in Vietnam) and South Dakota Air National Guard (1981-99) veteran. He retired from the military in 1999 with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant, the highest enlisted rank.

Rev. Kumm will begin his new responsibilities on July 1.

For more information, contact Seminary Relations, Concordia Seminary, 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105; 314.505.7370; [email protected].