Community of Excellence The combined service of these faithful workers is 165 years! (l-r) Front Row: Karla Santos, n 1958, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Deb Moyer, Mayra Carias Back Row: Larry Moses, Mike Robinson, Ted Ambriole officially dedicated Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, , a peaceful and beautiful property located Ion nearly 200 acres designed by the award-winning architect Eero Saarinen. Saarinen said that from the beginning You have heard it said, “It takes the common concern for designing the campus was to create a village to raise a child.” In the a space appropriate to the intellectual and spiritual training case of Concordia Theological of young men who would go on to professional studies in Seminary (CTSFW), Fort Wayne, theology. He felt the campus must have a tranquil atmosphere it indeed takes a village to form servants in Jesus Christ, and our of at least partial self-sufficiency and that the solution was village consists of a diverse group to design a village as in the North European type with the of dedicated professionals. chapel in the center placed on the highest spot and the other buildings placed around this central and all-important symbol.

10 For the Life of the World Community of ExcellenceBy Jon D. Scicluna

The original purpose of the senior forming undershepherds of Jesus Christ None of this could have been done college was to be the place where men who are prepared to go into this ever- without the outstanding commitment of who were preparing to enter into the changing world to proclaim the never- our internationally-recognized, world- Holy Ministry of the LCMS would changing message of Christ crucified class faculty and leadership team who, complete their third and fourth years of for the forgiveness of sins. under our president, Dr. Lawrence R. the undergraduate program which would In 1976, as part of a plan to continue Rast Jr., continue to execute our mission prepare them for an additional four years her mission of providing pastors to her which states “Concordia Theological of residential, post-graduate seminary Church, the LCMS moved exists to form servants in Jesus study. The opening service, which was Theological Seminary from its outdated Christ who teach the faithful, reach the held in September of 1957, must have and outgrown facilities in Springfield, lost, and care for all.” been an exciting day for our Church as Illinois, to the campus of the senior You have heard it said, “It takes the beauty of this campus surrounding college in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The a village to raise a child.” In the case its centerpiece of Kramer Chapel was campus today has become the crown of Concordia Theological Seminary unveiled to the community. jewel of Lutheran seminaries, both (CTSFW), Fort Wayne, it indeed takes a A lot changed over the next couple nationally and internationally, and village to form servants in Jesus Christ, of decades, but one thing that has never to date thousands of servants have been and our village consists of a diverse group changed is our Synod’s commitment to sent into the harvest from this seminary. of dedicated professionals. Day by day

Summer 2017 11 When I ask any of this group what motivates them day in and day out, the collective answer is “ownership, pride and dedication.” It is clear that when you watch all of them performing their daily tasks, they understand the role they play individually supporting the work of Christ’s Church. Twenty-two committed servants of Jesus Christ who simply come to work day in and day out and make this village shine, make this village beautiful. Truly, they make this village work!

they work inconspicuously behind the as that is, when I looked deeper into the daily tasks, they understand the role they scenes to ensure that it remains the most makeup of the Maintenance, Grounds play individually supporting the work of beautiful and efficient place where future and Housekeeping Departments, I Christ’s Church. The 22 full- and part- servants of Jesus Christ continue to be discovered something just as amazing. time members of these three departments formed into the finest pastors, deaconesses Maintenance supervisor Mike Robinson are indeed the spokes of the wheel and church workers our church body has has been serving the seminary for 31 that are for the most part anonymous. ever received. years and Deb Moyer, housekeeping Twenty-two committed servants of Jesus These professionals include those in supervisor, has been serving for 30 years. Christ, who simply come to work day in the Business Office, Admission, Student Also in Housekeeping, Mayra Carias, 25 and day out and make this village shine, Services, Advancement Office, Seminary years; Ted Ambriole, 21 years; and Karla make this village beautiful. Truly, they and Community Relations, Public Safety, Santos for 18 years. It is true that these make this village work! print and postal services, bookstore, dedicated, cherished members of our So, the next time you think about Food & Clothing Co-op, gymnasium, seminary family have dedicated most of, your pastor or your deaconess, think library and Information Technology. if not their entire, adult lives to serving also about the entire village that works I think of these dedicated God’s kingdom in their chosen vocations, faithfully behind the scenes in the professionals as the spokes that make keeping the beautiful village that the formation of the servants in Jesus Christ the wheels roll. And three of those shiny world knows as CTSFW the crown that have been sent from this crown spokes are our Maintenance, Grounds jewel of our Church for over a collective jewel into the vineyard to proclaim the and Housekeeping Departments, each of century and a half. No easy feat as our Easter message of Christ’s crucifixion for which are overseen by our maintenance campus sits on nearly 200 pristine acres the forgiveness of sins and His glorious superintendent, Larry Moses, who this of land which are home to 51 buildings, resurrection—proof positive of His year will have dedicated 40 years of his equaling 290,000 square feet of space, victory over the grave. life to service of our beloved seminary. all pointing to Kramer Chapel and the “Forty years–unbelievable!” I thought purpose for which CTSFW exists. The Rev. Jon D. Scicluna when we recognized Larry recently at When I ask any of this group what ([email protected]), an annual gathering of our support staff. motivates them day in and day out, the CTSFW 2007, serves as chief Forty years! In this world of fast food and collective answer is “ownership, pride operation officer at Concordia recyclable everything, nobody stays in and dedication.” It is clear that when Theological Seminary, Fort one job for 40 years. And, as surprising you watch all of them performing their Wayne, Indiana.

12 For the Life of the World