During the Feb. 2, 2000 morning chapel service in Concordia Seminary, St. Louis' Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus, seven students received their first calls into the pastoral ministry of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, and one student received a vicarage (one-year internship) assignment. Rev. Larry Rockemann, vice president for student life and director of placement for Concordia Seminary, served as officiant at the service and conferred the calls. Dr. Glenn Nielsen, associate professor of practical theology and director of vicarage at Concordia Seminary served as preacher in the service and conferred the vicarage assignment.

The vicarage assigned is:
Shawn Boylan - All Saints Lutheran Church, Guadalajara, Mexico (LCMS Board for Mission Services)

The calls conferred are:
Keith Brown - St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Caseyville, Ill. (Southern Illinois District)
Gary Held - Lord of Life Lutheran Church, N. Vernon, Ind. (Indiana District)
Jukka Kaariainen - Atlantic District Missionary at Large, Bronxville, New York (Atlantic District)
Jeffery Leichman - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Des Plaines, Ill. (Northern Illinois District)
Ronald Prigge - Immanual & St. John Lutheran Churches, Racine/Sargeant, Minn. (Minnesota South District)
Warren Prochnow - St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Ireton, Iowa (Iowa West District)
Martin Springer - St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church (Assoc.), Chester, Ill. (Southern Illinois District)

These men join more than 11,000 graduates who have prepared for the pastoral ministry in Concordia Seminary's 160-year history. While the majority of candidates for the pastoral ministry receive their calls and vicarage assignments in the spring placement services, usually in April, a smaller number of candidates are available in the summer, fall and winter as well.

"We share in the joy these candidates feel as they can now look forward to serving our Lord in the pastoral ministry," commented Rev. Glen Thomas, Vice President for Seminary Relations at Concordia Seminary. "We also join the church in praying that the Lord of the Harvest will continue to raise-up additional workers for His harvest."

Congregations interested in the possibility of issuing a call to a seminary graduate or receiving a vicar should contact their Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod district president as the first step in the process. Prospective students interested in more information concerning seminary preparation are encouraged to contact the Seminary's admissions office at 1-800-822-9545 or by e-mail ([email protected]).