At Concordia Seminary’s Commencement Ceremony on May 18, 2012, four distinguished gentlemen were honored with awards.

Mr. Laurence E. Lumpe (Christus Vivit award)

Mr. Lumpe presently serves as executive director of the Concordia Historical Institute.  He served in the U.S. Army in Italy with Graves Registration Services. Upon his return, he worked in several banks in Missouri. In 1950, he was called back to serve in the army during the Korean War. Mr. Lumpe served as treasurer, vice president, and then president of the Missouri Bankers Association. He served as a development officer for the Missouri District of the LCMS and a fundraiser for Lutheran Hour Ministries. He served as executive director of Lutheran Hour Ministries from 1989-1996 and again from 2007-2009, and now serves on the Board of Trustees of the Lutheran Hour Ministries Foundation.

Rev. Dr. Paul A. Zimmerman (Distinguished Alumnus Award)

Dr. Zimmerman graduated from Concordia Seminary in 1944. He served as professor of theology and science at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minn. and as professor of theology and science at Concordia Teachers College (now University), Seward, Neb. Rev. Zimmerman served as president of three Concordia University schools: Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Neb. (1954-61); Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Mich. (1961-73); and Concordia Teachers College, Chicago, Ill. (1973-83). Rev. Paul Philp, Dr. Zimmerman’s grandson, accepted the award on his behalf.

Rev. Héctor E. Hoppe (honorary Doctor of Divinity degree)

Rev. Hoppe is a senior editor at Concordia Publishing House, serving as manager of Multilingual Resources since 1993. He was born in Argentina, ordained in the Lutheran Church of Argentina and served as faculty at Seminario Concordia, Buenos Aires. He is also an adjunct instructor in practical theology for the Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS), and the voice of Para el Camino, the Spanish version of The Lutheran Hour. Rev. Hoppe graduated from Seminario Concordia in Buenos Aires with a bachelor’s in theology and from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. with an S.T.M. Rev. Hoppe served as commencement speaker.

Rev. Rudi Zimmer (honorary Doctor of Letters degree)

Rev. Zimmer is executive director of the Bible Society of Brazil. He studied at Seminário Concórdia of Porto Alegre. Rev. Zimmer taught Hebrew as well as other subjects at Colégio Concórdia of São Leopoldo. He served as pastor of a Lutheran parish of five congregations in the North of the State of Paraná, Brazil. Then he was called to be professor of Seminário Concórdia in Porto Alegre. When the IELB opened a second seminary, together with elementary, middle school and high school, including a teacher’s school, in the city of São Paulo, he was chosen to be its first president. In the church, he was on the Colloquy Committee, the Commission of Theology and Church Relations, the Adjudication Committee, and member of the Lutheran Hour (Brazilian branch) Board of Directors. In the Bible Society fellowship, he served on the Americas Publishing Committee, the United Bible Societies’ Global Board, the Committee on Translation Policy, the Americas Area Board, and again on the UBS’ Global Board, being presently its Chairman.

From left, Mr. Laurence Lumpe, Dr. Dale Meyer, Rev. Rudi Zimmer, and Rev. Héctor Hoppe.