Return to the CTSFW Newsroom
Logo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Ahlersmeyer, (260) 452-3151, rebecca.ahlersmeyer@ctsfw.edu

CTSFW Commences Its 177th Academic Year

Four New Faculty and Staff Installed in Opening Service
FORT WAYNE, IN, September 8, 2022—By the grace of God and in His holy name, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), held its 177th Opening Service Tuesday, September 6. President Lawrence R. Rast Jr. welcomed and thanked the faculty, staff, students, families, and friends in physical and virtual attendance, noting how God continues to be generous and faithful. 

“We pray that the Lord might give us many excellent gifts, and we see that prayer realized, fulfilled . . .” said Rast. “It is such a joy to welcome you all to Concordia Theological Seminary on this great day as we begin our 177th academic year. It is astounding to see how richly God answers that prayer, and how freely He gives His gifts to His church. This class—what a delight to welcome you, to have another class begin your path towards service.”
CTSFW was blessed and honored to have LCMS Indiana District President Rev. Daniel J. Brege (CTSFW ‘82) in Kramer Chapel to perform his last official acts while in office: preaching the sermon and installing new Seminary faculty and staff. Dr. Rast thanked Brege for his service while welcoming the Rev. D. Richard “Rick” Stuckwisch Jr. (CTSFW ‘93) as his successor.
Before installing CTSFW’s newly appointed staff and faculty members, Brege delivered an inspiring sermon based on the Gospel lesson, welcoming new students to a place where the truth is spoken daily and with confidence.

“What is impossible with man is possible with God,” said Brege, who then spoke of how Christ manifests “the greatest impossibility . . . God performs the camel [through the eye of a needle] miracle, only in reverse. God, the One who is all-powerful, the One who is present everywhere, the One who knows all, the One by whom the world was created, God goes through the eye of the needle and becomes man.” Throughout each student’s experience, professors “continue to teach how God has done and continues to do the impossible”—prayerfully and hopefully inspiring a confidence in students that will help strengthen their future service to the church.

Newly Appointed Commissioned Staff

Stephen Bornheimer 
Digital Communications Specialist 

Stephen Bornheimer (BA, Concordia University, Ann Arbor; MS, Lawrence Technological University) was installed as digital communication specialist in this year’s Opening Service. He was eager to express his joy and gratitude, having settled into his role in July of this year. 
“I feel honored and blessed to have joined the CTSFW family. Faculty and staff have gone out of their way to introduce themselves and welcome me and my family to this community. CTSFW is an incredible ministry, and I am blessed to be able to work alongside others in serving future church workers and their families.” Bornheimer joins the CTSFW team from his former role as Emmanuel-St. Michael Lutheran School in Fort Wayne. 

Newly Appointed Ordained Staff

The Rev. David L. Witt
Advancement Officer

The Rev. David L. Witt (BA, Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama; MDiv, CTSFW) was installed as an officer in the Advancement Department. Witt worked as a deputy and detective with a major crimes unit in Georgia and was the general manager of a multi-location hardware and feed business before attending the Seminary and then serving a dual parish in the LCMS Southern District.

Newly Appointed Faculty

The Rev. Geoffrey Boyle
Assistant Professor of Ministry and Missions

An ‘09 alum of CTSFW, the Rev. Geoffrey Boyle (BA, University of Michigan; PhD, the University of Toronto) was installed in the Pastoral Ministry and Missions Department as an assistant professor, having served the SMP program here for the past 10 years. Boyle shared his thoughts about the transition:
 "I knew that leaving parish ministry would be difficult, but it's even harder than I thought. The rhythm of preaching and teaching, along with the daily integration into the lives of the saints in that place shapes who we are as pastors. The greatest consolation comes in the hope of forming these men to do so for generations to come. I look forward not only to the teaching, but also to the mentoring, fellowship, and gathering together in this new rhythm of praying, praising, and giving thanks to God."
The Rev. Jon S. Bruss
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology

The Rev. Jon S. Bruss (BA, St. Olaf College; MDiv, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary; MA and PhD; the University of Minnesota) was installed as associate professor of systematic theology. “It's humbling, when you consider the great breadth of experience and talent on this faculty and amongst the staff, to be considered one of them.” said Bruss.
“I only pray that, whatever the Lord has done here in calling me to this position, it will be of great benefit to students and the community. I've always lived with feet on two sides of the parish/academy fence, oftentimes more firmly planted on one side than the other. In so many ways, teaching at CTSFW provides the perfect opportunity to balance that out.” Bruss joins CTSFW from his previous role as pastor of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kansas.
“The faculty is thrilled to welcome two new colleagues who were installed in the Opening Service," said Dr. Charles Gieschen, provost. "Both Dr. Bruss and Dr. Boyle bring wonderful pastoral experience and great academic learning to the classroom and campus that will be a true blessing to our students and the church."
The CTSFW community certainly continues to be blessed with generous and gifted people dedicated to fulfilling the Seminary’s mission to form servants in Jesus Christ who teach the faithful, reach the lost, and care for all. Speaking to all those newly installed, Dr. Rast said, “We are so delighted you are here, and we look forward to working with you as you use your very significant gifts.” 

About Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne

Founded in 1846, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, forms servants of Jesus Christ in a vibrant, Christ-Centered theological community that engages and resources the church and world, domestically and internationally, with distinctively Lutheran teaching, practice, and worship. To learn more, visit ctsfw.edu.

###

Soli Deo Gloria
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube