Seven people have joined the staffs of the Synod’s two seminaries this fall, and five others have been named as seminary deans.
At Concordia Seminary, St. Louis:
- Rev. Eloy S. Gonzalez will serve as associate director of the seminary’s Center for Hispanic Studies. Gonzalez formerly served as pastor of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Texas; adjunct instructor at Concordia University-Austin; and part-time staff at Concordia Seminary’s Hispanic Institute of Theology. He holds degrees from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and the University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, and was ordained by the seminary in 2001.
- Deaconess Rose E. Gilbert also will serve the Center for Hispanic Studies, as instructor for Hispanic women. Gilbert graduated from the seminary’s deaconess program in May, and has served at Lutheran Senior Services, Kirkwood, Mo., and Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, St. Louis. Gilbert spent her internship as a volunteer missionary in Caracas, Venezuela.
- Rev. John Loum will serve as director of the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology. The Gambia, West Africa-born Loum previously served as pastor of St. Augustine Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind., and missionary at-large to African immigrants in the Synod’s Indiana District. Loum received seminary training in West Africa; a degree in Islamic studies (1982) from Birmingham University, England; and a bachelor of arts degree (1995) from Hartford Seminary, Hartford, Conn. He graduated from the St. Louis seminary’s pastoral colloquy program in 1999, and is currently working on his dissertation in the doctor of missiology program at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.
- Rev. Jonathan P. Stein will serve as the seminary’s first campus chaplain. With 45 years of full-time pastoral ministry experience, Stein had been serving as a part-time member of the pastoral ministry staff at Zion Lutheran Church, Belleville, Ill. In his new post, Stein will be available to all members of the seminary community, especially students and their families. He received the M.Div. degree from the St. Louis seminary in 1960, and holds a master’s degree (1967) from Michigan State University, East Lansing.
The St. Louis seminary also appointed five faculty members to new positions as deans. They join three vice presidents and seminary President Dale A. Meyer to form the institution’s new governance team.
The new deans, who were selected to oversee particular areas because of their expertise and experience, will “play a significant role in the future direction of the seminary,” according to Meyer.
“I am confident that their leadership will result in many exciting and innovative changes as we serve church and world even more effectively in the future,” he said.
New deans are:
- Drs. Bruce Hartung and Paul Robinson, deans of ministerial formation. While working as a team, Robinson will focus more on the academic
and classroom aspects of formation, and Hartung will give attention to the spiritual and attitudinal aspects of a student’s preparation for ministry.
- Dr. Bruce Schuchard, dean of the graduate school and advanced studies. Schuchard will oversee the programs leading to advanced degrees in theological study, including the master of arts, master of sacred theology, doctor of philosophy in theology, and doctor of ministry.
- Dr. James Voelz, dean of the faculty. He will provide oversight in areas including professional development, teaching assignments, sabbaticals, and the calling of new faculty members.
- Dr. William Schumacher, dean of theological research and publication. In his new role, Schumacher will lead the seminary faculty’s efforts to address theological issues and provide theological resources for the church in print and electronic media.
and classroom aspects of formation, and Hartung will give attention to the spiritual and attitudinal aspects of a student’s preparation for ministry.
At Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne:
- Rev. James G. Bushur will serve as an assistant professor of historical theology and pastoral ministry and missions. Bushur formerly served as pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Decatur, Ind. A 1993 graduate of the Fort Wayne seminary, Bushur also holds a master of sacred theology degree (1998) from the seminary.
- Dr. John G. Nordling will serve as associate professor of exegetical theology. Nordling formerly served as an assistant professor in the Classics Department at Baylor University, Waco, Texas. He is a 1985 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and holds a Ph.D. (1991) from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
- Rev. Scott E. Stiegemeyer is the new director of admission. Stiegemeyer, a 1996 graduate of the seminary, served most recently as pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh.
orical theology and pastoral ministry and missions. Bushur formerly served as pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Decatur, Ind. A 1993 graduate of the Fort Wayne seminary, Bushur also holds a master of sacred theology degree (1998) from the seminary.
emeyer, a 1996 graduate of the seminary, served most recently as pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh.Seminary President Dean O. Wenthe said the seminary community is grateful for the new faculty members.
“Their experience and expertise, but especially their dedicated and mature stature as pastors of the church, will enrich our entire community and enhance our formation of seminarians who are truly Scripturally qualified to shepherd the faithful, to reach the lost, and to care for all.”
Posted Sept. 21, 2006
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