COVID-19: LCC Seminaries to Announce First Calls Online

ONLINE – As a result of government regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lutheran Church–Canada’s two seminaries have announced public services will be cancelled while first calls for pastoral candidates and vicarage placements will be announced online this year.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS – Edmonton) has announced it will offer its Sacred Convocation online this year, during which time seven graduating pastoral students will receive their first calls and one other student will receive his vicarage placement. “Plans are being shaped on how best to offer our Sacred Convocation on a dramatically smaller scale,” the seminary writes in a social media post, “involving only the primary players but live-streamed with worshipful and respectful elements marking graduation, the awarding of theological diplomas, an honourary award, and first calls and vicarage assignments.” Convocation will take place on Friday, May 29, 2020, at 7 p.m. MDT and can be viewed live online Here.

During the online Sacred Convocation, CLS will also present Frances A. Wershler with the “Faith in Life” award. Wershler served as editor of The Canadian Lutheran from April 1986 until December 1992, and helped guide Lutheran Church–Canada communications during the transition to an autonomous church body.

Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS – St. Catharines, Ontario) has announced that the public service for the 2020 Call Service will be cancelled. In its place, the seminary will hold an online event to announce the first call of one graduating pastoral student, and the vicarage placement of one other student. “We intend to present these students with their placements in an online meeting that will include appropriate proclamation of God’s Word with prayer and praise,” a news release explains. The livestream will take place on Friday, May 29, 2020 at 7 p.m. EDT and will be accessible through their YouTube channel.

CLTS has also announced the recipients of their annual awards. Carl Wathke (Faith Lutheran, Desboro, Ontario) will receive the Delta Chi (Servant of Christ) award, the seminary’s highest honour. Mary Silver (Christ Lutheran, St. Catharines, Ontario) will receive the Friend of the Seminary award. “Both have a long CV of service to the church, which will be shared when the awards are given,” notes the seminary’s news release. “We intend to delay presenting these awards until such a time as the recipients can be present in person, most likely at the seminary’s opening service in September.”

Following the online announcements, The Canadian Lutheran will report the first calls for graduating pastors and vicarage placements.

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