Edmonton Seminary Presents Honorary Awards

EDMONTON – During its Sacred Convocation on May 22, Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) presented an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree as well as two “Friend of the Seminary” awards.

Receiving the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree was Rev. Mark Lobitz. Rev. Lobitz has spent more than five decades serving the church, beginning his ministry in 1970. Over that period, he has served as a Lutheran teacher, a Director of Christian Education, and a pastor, serving locations in California, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Rev. Lobitz has committed a significant portion of his service to the formation of church workers. He has supervised eight vicars and five fourth-year seminarians, and is currently supervising a pastor undergoing the colloquy process in Lutheran Church–Canada. His academic involvement with Concordia Lutheran Seminary dates back to 1991, where he has served as a guest professor in New Testament Greek, Church History, and Christian Care and Counselling. He has also assisted with mentorship work in Nicaragua and Ukraine.

At the district and national levels, Rev. Lobitz has served as a Circuit Counsellor (Calgary); Pastoral Advisor for the LWMLC (Alberta-British Columbia), and as a member of the Board of Control for Concordia College (Edmonton). Since 2020, he has served as president of Concordia Lutheran Mission Society. His scholarly and editorial contributions including editing the 2022 book Missouri North: The History of Lutheran Church–Canada.

A certified psycho-spiritual therapist, Rev. Lobitz has provided counselling services to the church and community since 1991. This work has included twelve years as the Director of Pastoral Care for Lutheran Hospital Ministries in Southern Alberta. In the wider community, he has served as a Royal Canadian Legion Chaplain and remains a dedicated volunteer with the Water Valley Community Association and the Arts and Wellness Society.

The convocation also saw Gordon and Edith Schoepp awarded the “Friend of the Seminary” award. The two have been involved with welcoming seminary students into the congregation of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Stony Plain. Since 2019, the Schoepps have been regular participants in the seminary’s annual meetings and special occasions, for which they regularly prepare meals.

An additional “Friend of the Seminary” award was presented posthumously in recognition of Patrick “Pat” Moore. An active member of Christ Lutheran Church in Fort Saskatchewan, his dedication to the seminary began while supporting his wife of 19 years, Linda, by coordinating Seminary Guild activities during her battle with cancer. Following her passing in 2013, Pat continued as chair, honoring her memory with his own passion for the guild’s mission. Moore attended chapel on campus and facilitated guild meetings and activities. At one point, when the guild’s funds ran low, he addressed the need with significant donations to the guild’s endowment. He continued to serve the guild until this past year, when his health declined.

Print this article