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Carl C. Fickenscher II, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions
Dean of Certification and Pastoral Education

carl.fickenscher@ctsfw.edu
260.452.2131

The Reverend Dr. Carl C. Fickenscher II is Dean of Pastoral Education and Placement and an Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions, teaching primarily in the area of homiletics. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Southern Methodist University in May 1976 and also a Master of Business Administration there in August 1978. After working in business and politics, he earned his Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in May 1984. Dr. Fickenscher pursued his doctoral degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, receiving the PhD in Homiletics from that institution in May 1996 making him the only man in the LCMS thus far to hold a PhD in this field.

Dr. Fickenscher is Editor of Concordia Pulpit Resources, the synod’s preaching journal published by Concordia Publishing House. He has published numerous articles, essays, sermons, and curricular pieces, edited CPH’s Faith Alive Bible (a study Bible for youth), and was a theological consultant on the new CPH Sunday school curriculum Growing in Christ. Earlier he represented the LCMS as a member of its dialogue panel with the ELCA and in 2005 traveled for LCMS World Relief to areas of India and Indonesia stricken by the tsunami and subsequent earthquakes. He was also an essayist at the 2001 synodical convention; the 2003 Pieper Lectures; district conventions in 2006 and 2009; and the North European Luther Academy in Varberg, Sweden, in 2009; is a frequent speaker for conferences, retreats, and workshops; and a guest on The Lutheran Hour and Issues, Etc. radio programs and Point of Truth television.

Pastor Fickenscher served Messiah Lutheran Church in Midland, Michigan, from August 1984 to March 1989. He then accepted a call to Peace Lutheran Church in Garland, Texas, where he served from March 1989 until accepting a call to the seminary in July 1999. At their present congregation, St. Paul Lutheran in Fort Wayne, Dr. Fickenscher and his wife Claire together have been Sunday School superintendents and are currently youth counselors. Even more importantly, they are the very proud parents of Rachel, Daniel, and Gabriel.

Collected Writings

Scholarly Articles

"The Divine Preaching of Jesus," essay in Preaching through the Ages, Pieper Lecture essays, Luther Academy, 2004
"‘Working' the Lectionary," essay in Liturgical Preaching, CPH, 2000
Concordia Theological Quarterly, "The Contribution of the Reformation to Preaching," October 1994

Devotional Writings

Teachers Interaction, “Law and Gospel,” series, CPH, Fall 2005-Summer 2007 issues
Teachers Interaction, “A Sunday School Profile,” CPH, Fall 2004 issue
Little Visits, Volume 3, devotions, CPH, 2004
For the Life of the World, "The Family: A Place for Catechism," April 2004 issue
For the Life of the World, "Luther on the External Word of Preaching," January 2002 issue
For the Life of the World, "Are Today's Ears Hearing the Timeless Message?: Law and Gospel for Every Generation," July 2000 issue
Concordia Pulpit Resources, "The Reformation Contribution to Preaching," series, September 23, December 2, 2001, February 13, 2002 issues
Concordia Pulpit Resources, "Law and Gospel and the Form of the Sermon," series, September 29, November 29, 1998, February 17, 1999 issues
Very Much Alive: Preserving the Sanctity of Life, youth Bible study curriculum, CPH, 1999
Portals of Prayer, November 1999 issue
Faith Alive Bible, youth study Bible, CPH, 1995
LifeLight: Isaiah I and Isaiah II, review leaflet articles, CPH, 1994
Teachers Interaction, "Enlightened by the Spirit" theme article, March 1994
Teachers Interaction, "Just for You" column, September 1991-June 1992 issues
Teachers Interaction, "Just for Adult Leaders" column, October 1989-July 1990 issues
Our Life in Christ, "Searching the Scriptures," CPH, 1998-1999
Our Life in Christ, "Superintendents Helper" devotions, June-August 1992
Our Life in Christ, junior level Sunday school curriculum, CPH, 1989, 1992
Welcome to God's Family, youth/adult vacation Bible school curriculum, CPH, 1988
Monumental Mountaintops, adult Bible study guide, Concordia Publishing House, 1987
My Devotions, articles in November 1986, May 1987, April 1988, October 1990, November 1992, May 1993, April 1994, September 1996 issues

Sermons

Concordia Pulpit Resources, sermons, sermon studies, children’s sermons, illustrations, and excerpts in numerous issues
"The Kingdom of God is Like...," sermon in Come to the Banquet, Baker Books, 1998

Book Reviews

Concordia Theological Quarterly, book reviews, various issues

Other

Concordia Pulpit Resources, “From the Editor,” quarterly columns, every issue June 15, 2003 to present
Christ Crucified: Lutheran Sermons by Chad Bird, Preface, Emmanuel Press, 2005
"Church Fellowship and Telling the Good News about Jesus," LCMS convention essay, 2001
"Doing" Law and Gospel Preaching, multi-media module, PALS program, LCMS, 2001
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