Capping years of preparation and a day filled with excitement, 113 Concordia Seminary, St. Louis students took part in Call Day Tuesday, learning their placement of first calls to pastoral and diaconal ministry or assignments as vicars and deaconess interns. The calls and assignments stretched coast to coast, from Washington to Florida and from California to New Hampshire.

The two Call Day services were held in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus on campus and also were livestreamed. It was an especially joyous celebration as the date also marked the 175^th anniversary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). In addition, it was the first Call Day in two years that was in-person with no restrictions because of COVID-19.

Fifty students received their first calls to serve as pastors, deaconesses, chaplains and missionaries for the LCMS at a 7 p.m. worship service in which Dr. R. Lee Hagan, president of the LCMS Missouri District, preached.

“People from Missouri and Michigan, people from Oregon to Ohio are watching these services and they are praying. In a few moments, they will want to catch a glimpse of you. They will want to see you, but more than seeing you, they wish to see Jesus,” he said, addressing the students. “They have prayed that the Lord of the harvest would send out laborers into His harvest; that God would send them those who would show them Jesus. That’s what they have prayed for … one who will show them Jesus, who will preach Jesus, who will give them Jesus.”

Fifty-eight students who will serve as vicars and four deaconess interns received their assignments at a 3 p.m. worship service. One vicar has an assignment pending. Dr. Lucas Woodford, president of the LCMS Minnesota South District, preached. During the sermon, Woodford directly addressed the vicars and interns.

“Now, you vicars and deaconess interns – you know the pressures of a culture filled with ungodly passions of the world. But now you’re leaving the comparative safety of the Seminary community to go out and serve those who daily live it on the front lines of the battle,” Woodford said. “Your task is to nourish them with the Word of God. And as you do, be sure to walk alongside them. Walk alongside them in their troubles, in their grief, in their sicknesses. … But along the way, you need to be strengthened by the Word. That means make sure you’re in the Word even as you are nourishing others to be in the Word.”

All calls and assignments will be served in LCMS congregations, organizations and districts. A complete list of assignments and placements, including an interactive map and photos, can be found at csl.edu/callday or at the links below:

• Assignment of calls in alphabetical order
• Assignment of calls by district
• Vicarage and deaconess internship assignments in alphabetical order
• Vicarage and deaconess internship assignments by district

Calls and assignments were shared on Twitter in real time during both services, and many people shared their celebratory comments and photos with the hashtags #CallDay2022, #LCMSCallDay and #CallDayWatchParty on social media.

Those who would like to refer a prospective student are encouraged to visit csl.edu/visit or contact Enrollment at 800-822-9545 or [email protected].

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.