LCC Seminaries Announce First Calls, Vicarage, and Diaconal Placements

CLTS Sacred Convocation 2025

CANADA – Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s two seminaries—Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS – St. Catharines) and Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS – Edmonton)—held their annual convocation and call services this past weekend, celebrating significant milestones for their students and the wider church.

Three graduating students were certified for ordination and received their first calls:

• Vijay Samuel (CLTS) has been called to serve as Associate Pastor at Risen Christ and Immanuel Lutheran Churches in Mississauga and Georgetown, Ontario.
• Aaron Parkhurst (CLTS) has been called to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cavalier, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in St. Thomas, and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Langdon, all located in North Dakota.
• Martin Jagnow (CLS) has been called to Grace Lutheran Church, Drumheller, Alberta.

The seminaries also announced vicarage placements, including:

• Joseph Behl (CLTS) to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waterloo, Ontario
• Ben Rast (CLS) to Immanuel/Emmaus Lutheran Churches in Tomahawk and Drayton Valley, Alberta

This year, CLS also saw the graduation and diaconal placement for: 

• Samantha Neeb to serve as Associate Director – Family Ministries, Lutheran Church–Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba

CLS Sacred Convocation 2025

Both seminaries presented honorary awards at their services. CLTS honoured Rev. Kurt Lantz with the Delta Chi (Servant of Christ) award, the seminary’s highest honour. “As pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church in St. Catharines, Rev. Lantz was recognized as a model ‘Servant of Christ’ for his exemplary pastoral care to his congregation, Brock University students, and the seminary community,” CLTS shared in a release.

Rev. Robert Krestick and Dr. Colleen Hammermaster were honoured with the Friend of the Seminary Awards at CLTS and CLS respectively.

This year marked a historic occasion for CLTS as it hosted its first graduation ceremony since receiving degree-granting status. Previously, CLTS graduates received their degrees through Brock University. Now, the seminary is proud to confer degrees directly. Rev. Saulo Bledoff and Rev. Eduardo Farias (in absentia) both received their Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degrees from CLTS, in addition to Jane Jacob, who completed her studies in 2021. MDiv degrees were awarded to Aaron Parkhurst, Vijay Samuel, and Daniel Cunningham (in absentia). Rev. Cunningham, who completed his studies last year, was able to receive his degree at this momentous event due to the recent transition.

Additional information on graduates and vicars will be included in the next print edition of The Canadian Lutheran.

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