Commencement exercises for the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis 2025 graduating class will take place Friday, May 16.

The day’s events begin at 10 a.m. (CDT) with the Theological Diploma Service in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus on the Seminary’s campus. Theological diplomas will be presented at this service to all graduating students eligible to receive a call as a pastor or deaconess in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Dr. James W. Voelz, graduate professor of Exegetical Theology and the Dr. Jack Dean Kingsbury Professor of New Testament Theology, will deliver the sermon.

Commencement will take place at 7 p.m. (CDT) outdoors in the Seminary’s Main Quadrangle. Academic degrees and honors will be presented during this ceremony. Rev. Matthew Anker, president of Lutheran Mission – Australia, will give the Commencement address.

Three special honors also will be awarded:

• Distinguished Alumnus Award: Dr. Gregory Seltz
• Honorary Doctor of Letters: Dr. Christopher Mitchell
• Honorary Doctor of Divinity: Rev. Matthew Anker

This year’s graduates will be joining more than 7,000 called leaders of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod around the world and more than 13,000 individuals who have received degrees from Concordia Seminary in the school’s 186-year history.

The livestream for the Theological Diploma Service will begin at 9:30 a.m. (CDT) and for the Commencement ceremony at 6:30 p.m. (CDT) at csl.edu/live.

Everyone is encouraged to share celebratory comments and photos with the hashtags #CSLGrad2025 and #LetUsFixOurEyesOnJesus on social media.

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.