FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: CTSFW Communications, (260) 452-3153; communications@ctsfw.edu |
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CTSFW Acknowledges Honorary Doctorate Conferred to the Rev. Dr. Andrew K. Pfeiffer |
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Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, awarded during the 2020 pandemic |
FORT WAYNE, IN, January 12, 2023—Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), honored the Rev. Dr. Andrew K. Pfeiffer in Kramer Chapel January 11, acknowledging the 2020 conferral of a Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, to Pfeiffer by the Seminary. The ceremony provided fitting recognition of the degree conferral, which passed by without usual notice due to the pandemic.
“One of the challenges that COVID-19 brought to our campus [in 2020] was a virtual commencement in May, without guests from the United States, much less from Australia, present,” said CTSFW Provost Dr. Charles Gieschen in his opening remarks. “We are therefore very grateful for this opportunity to have Dr. Pfeiffer present, in the flesh, so that we can personally acknowledge the degree conferred over two years ago and offer personal congratulations that are long overdue.”
Pfeiffer, a CTSFW graduate (STM, 1991; PhD in Missiology, 2002), has served as a pastor, professor at Luther Seminary and Australian Lutheran College in North Adelaide, South Australia, and assistant bishop of the Lutheran Church of Australia (2015-2021). A widely respected lecturer and writer, Pfeiffer has authored several scholarly theological articles known for combining substantive biblical and confessional Lutheran theology with a passion for mission outreach.
Dr. John Kleinig, whose words Gieschen shared at the ceremony, described Pfeiffer as “a much-loved parish pastor, a devout teacher of pastoral theology with a passion for the care of souls, a wise bishop with a concern for the implementation of sound confessional theology, an effective contributor to the Lutheran Catholic dialogue in Australia, and an influential contributor to many different Lutheran churches around the world. And all that with much modesty and winsome grace!”
The CTSFW faculty, with the concurrence of the Board of Regents, recommended that Pfeiffer receive the Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, for “his long-time service in forming faithful shepherds for the Lutheran Church of Australia, his unswerving commitment to Lutheran theology as a pastor, an assistant bishop, an educator of the Lutheran Church of Australia, and his vision of the church reaching out to the lost,” which Gieschen noted in his concluding remarks. CTSFW President Dr. Lawrence Rast Jr. then acknowledged the degree conferred May 22, 2020, noting his joy at being able to vest Pfeiffer with a doctoral hood and offer “heartfelt and long overdue congratulations, face to face.”
“Dr. Pfeiffer has been a great colleague and more importantly to me, very frankly, a friend for decades now,” said Rast. “His remarkable service, in both joyful and challenging circumstances, always holding up and pointing to Christ has been absolutely inspiring to me personally, and formative in my own life as a Lutheran theologian.”
Pfeiffer, accompanied at the ceremony by his wife, Sue, and son, Joshua, thanked the faculty and the Board of Regents for the honor, saying that it was great to be back at the Seminary in person. “This place here was very formative for me in bringing together a concern for confession, mission, and liturgy,” said Pfeiffer. “Just to be here yesterday in chapel and again today is like a little oasis, to be able to come back and be refreshed.”
During his visit, Pfeiffer also met with faculty and presented “Formation for Cross-Shaped Service” during the Convocation Hour after chapel. |
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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 www.ctsfw.edu |
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