This monthly column includes brief reports submitted by LCMS schools, campus ministries, universities and seminaries.
Organ laureate
Dr. Steven Wente, distinguished professor emeritus of music at Concordia University Chicago (CUC), River Forest, Ill., has been granted the title of Organ Laureate at CUC. Dr. Jamie Kowalczyk, vice-president for Strategy and Innovation; Deaconess Kristin Wassilak, dean of the College of Theology, Arts & Humanities; and Wente’s colleagues in the CUC music department presented him with the honor during the Vi Messerli Memorial Lectures in Church Music, held at CUC in October.
Wente graduated from CUC with a Bachelor of Education in 1975 and a Master of Church Music in 1976. He taught in Lutheran schools until he was called back to his alma mater in 1984 to teach music and serve as organist for the chapel. He earned his Doctor of Music from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., in 1990. He was chair of the CUC music department for 21 years. Having formally retired in December 2020, Wente continues to play organ for chapel and is active with CUC’s Center for Church Music. He currently serves as cantor (music director) at First St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chicago.
International impact
The international student enrollment at Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), Mequon, Wis., contributes $26.9 million to Wisconsin’s economy, more than any other private college in the state, according to the most recently released 2024 Open Doors Report on International Education Exchange. CUW’s 2023 international enrollment was 1,064 — the third-largest international enrollment of any university in Wisconsin, behind the state’s largest two schools: University of Wisconsin, Madison, and University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. CUW is pleased to have LCMS South Wisconsin District missionary-at-large Rev. Dr. Samuel Lee working with its international population on a regular basis. Lee was officially installed to this position in November 2024. Learn more at cuw.edu/international.
Looking ahead
Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA), Ann Arbor, Mich., will continue to offer academic degrees in the 2025–2026 academic year and beyond. Continuing programs will include undergraduate degrees in diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, radiology technology and rehabilitation science. Graduate degree offerings that will be based on the Ann Arbor campus will include physical therapy, occupational therapy and physician’s assistant studies. Additionally, CUAA will continue to offer several degrees in an online format, including graduate-level degrees in education and business. Individuals are invited to apply or schedule a visit today. Learn more at cuaa.edu/future.
Christmas at Concordia
Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP), St. Paul, Minn., held its annual festival Christmas worship on Dec. 7 at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Minn. With CSP’s vocal and instrumental ensembles leading those gathered, the celebration brought together the CSP community with the broader church community in worship of Jesus Christ, the baby born in Bethlehem, to bring forgiveness, life and salvation.
Teaching honors
Alumni of Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, Neb., recently received the following teaching awards:
2024 LCMS Nebraska District Teaching Award
- Todd Voss (’92): Administrator of the Year
- Kayla Marty (’05): Elementary Educator of the Year
- Jonathan Baumgartel (’96): Middle/High School Educator of the Year
- Ann Anderson (’96): Parish Worker of the Year
2024 Stanley M. Herzog Foundation Christian Teachers of the Year
- Mari Koester (’08)
- Erin Seitz (’04)
Nebraska Association of Teachers of Mathematics Distinguished Service Award
- Dr. Michelle (Reeb) Homp (’91)
American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language Award for Excellence in World Language Instruction
- TJ Heupel (’02)
Word made flesh
Registration is open for “Sola Verbum: What Word Alone Can Do in the Gospel According to John,” set for 10 a.m.–3 p.m. on Feb. 8 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL). Led by CSL Professor of Exegetical Theology Rev. Dr. Bruce Schuchard, the workshop — part of CSL’s Lay Bible Institute — will delve into the significance of Jesus as “the Word” in the Gospel of John. The fee to register is $20 per person, not including lunch, or $35, including lunch. For all CSL students and spouses, the event is free, excluding lunch.
The Lay Bible Institute, offered three times a year by CSL faculty members, is an ongoing study of the Bible and how it relates to contemporary life. For more information, or to register, visit csl.edu/lbi or contact Continuing Education at 314-505-7286 or ce@csl.edu. The deadline to register is Jan. 24.
New prof
The Rev. Dr. M. Samuli Siikavirta was installed as assistant professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), on Dec. 2. Siikavirta, who was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (ELMDF) in 2014 and completed his Ph.D. in divinity at the University of Cambridge, U.K., in 2015, served for 10 years as a parish pastor at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Helsinki before assuming his duties at CTSFW.
During his time in the parish, Siikavirta served as the head of the ELMDF’s Young Adults’ Ministry (2019–2022) and managing editor of Pyhäkön Lamppu (ELMDF’s newspaper; 2015–2019). He continues to serve as the board chair of the international Corpus Christi Association, which, inspired by Higher Things, organizes Lutheran young adults’ conferences in Europe (2016–present).
Posted Jan. 17, 2025
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