The 2017 cohort was recognized for their SMP calls during the Jan. 10 service in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. Back row, pictured left to right: Provost and Chief Academic Officer and Professor of Practical Theology Dr. Douglas L. Rutt, Tyler Cronkright, Jeffrey Sutherlin, Joseph Glombicki, Steven Holtman and Wynn Derong. Middle row, left to right: Steven Headley, Micah Steiner, William Pierce, Jeffrey Coble, Peter LeBorious and Justin Wixon. Front row, left to right: Professor of Exegetical Theology and Dean of Ministerial Formation Dr. Timothy Saleska, Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Placement Dr. Glenn Nielsen, James Pevy, William Murphy, Adam Schoepflin and Director of Specific Ministry Pastor Program and Associate Professor of Practical Theology Dr. Mart Thompson.

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis celebrated two groups of Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Program students for program completion and call recognition Friday, Jan. 10, in the Chapel of St. Timothy and Titus.

The SMP Program is a four-year state of the art distance education program that prepares men for specific pastoral ministries in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). SMP students receive academic training in the setting where they will continue to serve following ordination.

The following spring 2016 cohort students were recognized for completing the SMP Program:

Kenton Abbott, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Ellinwood, Kan., LCMS Kansas District
Corey Brooks, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Norlina, N.C., LCMS Southeastern District
John Elliott, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Oviedo, Fla., LCMS SELC District
Henry “Frank” Hart, Oikos Church/New Church, Houston, Texas, LCMS Texas District
Lawton Thompson, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Oviedo, Fla., LCMS SELC District
Mark Wiegert, Saint Paul/Trinity/Our Savior Lutheran Churches, Lewistown/Stanford/Denton, LCMS Montana District

The following fall 2017 cohort students were recognized for receiving calls:

Jeffrey Coble, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Rock Hill, S.C., LCMS Southeastern District
Tyler Cronkright, Family of God Lutheran Church, Detroit, Mich., LCMS Michigan District
Wynn Derong,  pending, Oikos Church, Houston, Texas, LCMS Texas District
Joseph Glombicki, pending, Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Dundee, Ill., LCMS Northern Illinois District
Steven Headley, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Cedar Park, Texas, LCMS Texas District
Steven Holtman, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Kettering, Ohio, LCMS Ohio District
Peter LeBorious, Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Warner Robins, Ga., LCMS Florida-Georgia District
William Murphy, Hope Lutheran Church, Bonita Springs, Fla., LCMS Florida-Georgia District
James Pevy, Faith Lutheran Church, Fair Oaks, Calif., LCMS California-Nevada-Hawaii District
William Pierce, pending, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church/St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Honolulu/Kauai, Hawaii, LCMS California-Nevada-Hawaii District
Adam Schoepflin, pending, The Life Lutheran Church, Old Westbury, N.Y., LCMS Atlantic District
Micah Steiner, Our Father Lutheran Church, Centennial, Colo., LCMS Rocky Mountain District
Jeffrey Sutherlin, pending, Christ’s Greenfield Lutheran Church, Gilbert, Ariz., LCMS Pacific Southwest District
Juston Wixon, Alive In Christ Church – Lutheran, Tucson, Ariz., LCMS Pacific Southwest District

“We rejoice with these candidates, their families and the specific ministries in which they serve the Lord in pastoral ministry across the country!” said Dr. W. Mart Thompson, director of the Seminary’s SMP Program and associate professor of Practical Theology. “We celebrate their participation in Concordia Seminary’s training program for Specific Ministry Pastors (SMPs) as we recognize their calls to be ordained into the Holy Ministry.”

The Seminary recognizes and celebrates calls throughout the year for students enrolled in programs such as the SMP Program, the Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS), Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) and others. The Seminary’s primary Call Day is held in the spring when students receive their first calls to ministry as well as assignments for vicarage and deaconess internships. Call Day is set for April 28.

About Concordia Seminary

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). To learn more, visit csl.edu.