New academic year begins for LCC seminaries

CANADA – Special services marked the opening of the 2022-23 academic year for Lutheran Church–Canada’s seminaries in early September.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) in Edmonton, Alberta, held its Opening Service on September 6 at the Concordia Lutheran Seminary Chapel.

CLS President Rev. Dr. Jim Gimbel shared the message surrounding the theme of the year, based on Luke 1:68 (Zechariah’s canticle). In a Facebook post, CLS shared: “‘Benedictus: Blessed’ reminds us that we live in God’s gracious favour as the Son of the Most High has visited and redeemed His people, as the voice of the prophets proclaimed and the voices of the pastors and deacons continue to declare.”

Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) in St. Catharines, Ontario, held its Opening Service on September 11 at the Martin Luther Chapel. CLTS describes the purpose of this gathering as follows: “The Opening Service is first and foremost an opportunity for hearing God’s Word and responding in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. The seminary forges pastors for the church in the crucible of regular daily worship, which frames and supports the academic work and practical formation. A good pastor is first a child of God.”

Organist and pre-seminary student, Andrew Hayes, together with MTS student, Dr. Eduardo Farias, on trumpet, supported the singing, while fourth-year seminarian Nigel Prozenko led the service of Evening Prayer. Rev. Jack Hetzel, a 1989 CLTS graduate and old friend of CLTS’ new faculty member, Dr. James Kellerman, delivered a homily on the seminary’s annual theme verse: “Benedictus: He has visited and redeemed His people” (Luke 1:68).

The service also saw the installation of Rev. Dr. James Kellerman as Associate Professor of Theology.

Each year the seminary presents its Emeritus Crucis (Veteran of the Cross) award to a parish pastor with at least 30 years of experience who can be commended to students as a model of Christ-like faithfulness and servanthood. This year, the award was presented to former East District President,. CLTS shared that, in responding to the award, “Pastor Maleske captured the congregation’s attention with tales from his early years of ministry in London, Ontario, and greatly encouraged the seminary students with his witness to God’s faithfulness.”

President Dr. Thomas Winger with Emeritus crucis recipient, Rev. Allen Maleske

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