Answer your calling
The Lord asked, "Who will go for us?" and Isaiah answered, "Here am I! Send me!" Do you hope to answer the call to become a pastor? Your desire to serve is an encouragement to us. The Church needs loving and grounded shepherds to lead believers while here on earth. Though there is joy in service, you likely recognize the weight of such a vocation. Let us guide you in prayerful consideration and the awareness building it takes to pursue seminary training.
Credits126
Careers
- Pastor
- Religion Teacher
Financial Aid
The average undergraduate student award is $16,603.
Learn about financial aidProgram Overview
If you intend to pursue a Master of Divinity at seminary, this major provides you with a basic overview of the Scriptures and Lutheran doctrine. While our curriculum teaches Lutheran doctrine and our school is affiliated with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, all students who desire to prepare for the pastoral office (regardless of denominational affiliation) are welcome. Our theology faculty is made up of pastors dedicated to guiding, challenging, and encouraging you as you work toward completion of this program.
What to Expect
You will study the background and teaching of the Lutheran Church as confessed in the Book of Concord and will be grounded in the Lutheran ethos, identity, and ethic. Although not required, you are encouraged to double major in theological languages alongside the applied theology major. This program provides a solid base for further theological training; it does not train you to be a pastor.
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Undergraduate
Undergraduate Application Steps
Admit. Commit. That’s it!
For first-time freshmen and transfer students:
- Submit your online application
- Send Official High School Transcripts (College Transcripts if Applicable).
- Send your official ACT or SAT scores
For those that would like to be considered as test optional in the admissions process, please contact your admission counselor. Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 are required to submit an ACT/SAT. You will receive an email and a phone call from your dedicated Admission Counselor. Please reach out to your counselor if you have any questions regarding the application process. We review each application on an individual basis using a holistic approach.
Brian T. German
Associate Professor
Phone: (262) 243-4236
Email: brian.german@cuw.edu
Bio
Brian German is Associate Professor of Theology and Director of the Concordia Bible Institute. His main area of research is the history of biblical interpretation.
Education
- Ph D - Old Testament, Wycliffe College (Toronto School of Theology) (2014)
- M Div - Exegetical Theology, Concordia Theological Seminary (2010)
- BA - Pre-Seminary Studies, Concordia University Wisconsin (2006)
Contributions
- German, B.(2020)."Luther on the Fulfillment of the Law"84(1-2, pp. 1-2).Concordia Theological Quarterly.
- German, B.(2019).“Malachi (Book and Person), Christianity". Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception.17 Berlin: de Gruyter.
- German, B.(2018)."Sola Scriptura in Luther's Translations"82(3-4, pp. 3-4).Concordia Theological Quarterly.
- German, B.(2018).Chapel Sermon - Jer. 15:15-215(1, pp. 1). Mequon, WI: Concordia Theological Journal.
- German, B.(2017)."Encountering Christ in the Psalms". Bible Study Magazine.Sept./Oct. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Presentations
- German, B.(2017)."Dancing with the Old Testament in the Lectionary". Keynote/Plenary Address. South Wisconsin District Pastors' Conference. Wisconsin Dells.
- German, B.(2017)."Luther's 'Christ in Every Word': What Does This Mean?". Keynote/Plenary Address. South Wisconsin District Pastors' Conference. Wisconsin Dells.
- German, B.(2016)."Fine-Tuning 'Christ in Every Word': Reflections on Psalm 8". Keynote/Plenary Address. Tri-Circuit Meeting of LCMS pastors. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sheboygan, WI.
- German, B.(2016)."Law and Gospel with Implications for Parish Nurses". Lecture. (Video Lecture).
Research Interests
- Christ in the Old Testament
- Lutheran Hermeneutics
Teaching Interests
- Biblical Books
- Biblical Hebrew
Nathan JastramPhD, MDiv, BA
Professor
Office: Luther Hall 203D
Phone: (262) 243-4290
Email: nathan.jastram@cuw.edu
Bio
Nathan Jastram, professor of theology, is a member of the international team of scholars who published first editions of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Education
- Ph D - Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University (1990)
- M Div - Exegetical Theology, Concordia Theological Seminary (1984)
- BA - Classics, University of South Dakota (1980)
Research Interests
- Dead Sea Scrolls
- Image of God
Teaching Interests
- Old Testament
- Messianic Prophecies
Jason D. Lane
Associate Professor
Phone: (262) 243-2059
Email: jason.lane@cuw.edu
Bio
Dr. Lane joined the Theology Faculty of Concordia in 2013 after serving as pastor of Celebration Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, FL (2010-2013). He earned his B.A. in Psychology from Framingham State College in Massachusetts (2001) and received his M.Div. and S.T.M. degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN (2007 and 2010). He received his doctorate in Historical Theology at the University of Hamburg, Germany, under Johann Anselm Steiger in 2015. His dissertation, "Luther's Epistle of Straw: The Voice of St. James in Reformation Preaching" is available from De Gruyter Publishing (Berlin, 2018).
Education
- M Div - Systematic Theology, Concordia Theological Seminary (2007)
- BA - Cognitive Psychology, Framingham State College (2001)
- STM - Systematic Theology, Concordia Theological Seminary (2010)
- The History of Church and Dogma, Universität Hamburg (2015)
Contributions
- Lane, J.(2018).Luther's Epistle of Straw: The Voice of St. James in Reformation Preaching. Historia Hermeneutica Series Studia.16 Berlin: De Gruyter.https://www.degru...
- Lane, J.(2017)."The Restoration of the Image of God and the Christological Education of our Children"X(Fall 2017, pp. Fall 2017). Richmond, VA: The Journal of Society for Classical Learning.
- Lane, J.(2017).Luther as Bible Teacher: The Biblical Prefaces and His View of the Canon. Defending the Reformation: The Ongoing Significance of the Reformation at the 500th Anniversary of the Ninety-five Theses. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.
Research Interests
- The history of biblical interpretation, especially from the Reformation to Modern Age.
- Doctrine and piety in the early modern age
Teaching Interests
- Dogmatic Theology
- Church History
Ronald MudgePh.D.. M.Div., B.A.
Director - Preseminary program CUW, Professor
Office: Luther Hall 203L
Phone: (262) 243-4301
Email: ronald.mudge@cuw.edu
Bio
Dr. Ron Mudge came to Concordia after serving as a missionary in French speaking Africa. He teaches Bible, Greek, and Hebrew, and serves as the Pre-Seminary Director.
Education
- Ph D - Biblical Studies, Concordia Seminary (2012)
- M Div - Concordia St. Louis Seminary (1996)
- BA - English/Music, The University of Michigan-Flint (1992)
Contributions
- Mudge, R.(2015).Yahweh's Counter-Cultural View of Honor and Shame2014: XXXIV University Heights, OH: EGLBS & MWSBL.http://www.eglbs....
- Mudge, R.(2014).Good Shame2(1, pp. 1). Mequon, WI: CTJ.
Research Interests
- Old Testament Prophetic Books
- Shame in the Bible
Teaching Interests
- Biblical Greek
- Biblical Hebrew
Jonathan W. MummeDr. theol.
Assistant Professor
Office: Luther Hall 203J
Phone: (262) 243-4348
Email: jonathan.mumme@cuw.edu
Bio
A Minnesota native whose education took him to Chicago, St. Louis, and finally Germany, Mumme joined CUW in 2014 after first teaching in the U.K.
Education
- ThD - Systematic Theology, University of Tuebingen (2013)
- BA - Theological Languages, Concordia University Chicago (2000)
- Concordia Seminary (2006)
Contributions
- Mumme, J.(2020)."Lutheran Ecclesiology". T & T Clark Companion to Ecclesiology. London/New York: Bloomsbury T & T Clark.https://www.bloom...
- Mumme, J."Lutheran Repristination and Confessionalism". The Oxfored History of Modern German Theology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Mumme, J."The Presence of Jesus Christ in the Office of the Ministry: Rethinking Luther from His Pulpit Out" Pro Ecclesia.
- Mumme, J.(2019)."It Takes a Church to Baptize: What the Bible Says about Infant Baptism" (Scot McKnight)27(4, pp. 4).Logia.
- Mumme, J.(2019)."Luther's Later Ecclesiology". Luther at Leipzig: Martin Luther, the Leipzig Debate, and the Sixteenth Century Reformations. Leiden: Brill.https://brill.com...
Presentations
- Mumme, J.(2019).Beyond Believers: Authority and Obedience in Luther’s Hierarchical Ecclesia. Paper. Sixteenth Century Studies Conference. St. Louis.
- Mumme, J.(2019).The Symphony of Verity: Pluralism and Salvation in the Theology of Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI. Paper. NALC Younger Theologians Colloquium. Indianapolis .
- Mumme, J.(2018).Realizing the Potential of a Confessional Lutheran Ecclesiology: Ernst Kinder on the Church. Paper. Theological Symposium. St. Louis.
- Mumme, J.(2018).Luther and Wright on Justification and Salvation. Lecture. Circuit #10 of the Northern Illinois District of the LCMS. Wheaton, IL.
- Mumme, J.(2017).Luther's Later Ecclesiology and the Leipzig Debate. Paper. Sixteenth Century Studies Conference. Milwaukee.
Research Interests
- Ecclesiology
- Ecumenism
Teaching Interests
- Systematic Theology
- History of Dogma
Daniel PaavolaPh.D.
Department Chair - Theology, Professor
Office: Luther Hall Luther 203C
Phone: 4446
Email: daniel.paavola@cuw.edu
Bio
Daniel Paavola teaches in theology, especially in the New Testament. He also teaches in the areas of preaching and congregational teaching. He grew up on a Minnesota farm and enjoys motorcycles, antique cars and running.
Education
- Ph D - New Testament Exegesis, Concordia Seminary (2004)
- M Div - New Testament Exegesis, Concordia Theological Seminary (1983)
- BA - English, Moorhead State University (1979)
- New Testament Exegesis, Princeton Theological Seminary (1984)
Research Interests
- The Lord's Prayer
- Biblical Themes
Teaching Interests
- New Testament Gospels, especially Mark and Luke
- The Letters of the Apostle Paul
Harald G. TomeschPh. D.
Professor
Office: Luther Hall LU 203E
Phone: (262) 243-2711
Email: harald.tomesch@cuw.edu
Bio
Dr. Harald Tomesch is a veteran professor in the CUS system since 1988. In 2014 Dr. Tomesch was advanced to Full Professor at Concordia University Wisconsin. In his career Dr. Tomesch taught biblical Greek and in a world renown scholar for the Book of Hebrews. In 2005-2008 Dr. Tomesch was President of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. In his ministry he began three mission congregations and 2 Lutheran elementary schools. He is also part of the business community.
Education
- ThD - New Testament Studies, Concordia Seminary (1994)
- BA - Biblical Languages, Concordia University Wisconsin (1979)
- Exegetical Theology, Brock University (1981)
- Old Testament Studies, University of Toronto (1987)
Research Interests
- Dating of the Gospels
- Structure of the Book of Hebrews
Teaching Interests
- Book of Hebrews
- New Testament
Eligibility
Selected Pre-Seminary students will receive $20,000 of total financial aid from CUW.*
Candidates must be admitted to CUW as new freshmen and have a major or minor in Theological Languages. They will have a GPA of at least 3.0 and a minimum ACT of 22. Candidates will demonstrate that they are members in good standing of an LCMS congregation, have been active in their churches and communities, and have the support of their pastors. They will also affirm that they intend to become LCMS pastors.
Application Deadlines
Each candidate will submit the online application and will have his pastor complete and submit the Pastoral Recommendation Form (PDF | DOC) to the Pre-Seminary Director by mail, fax, or email.
Preferred deadline: 11:59 PM on December 15. Secondary deadline: 11:59 PM on February 1. The Pre-Seminary Director will then schedule an interview with qualified applicants. For more information contact the Pre-Seminary Director (Dr. Ronald Mudge, Concordia University Wisconsin, 12800 North Lake Shore Dr., Mequon, WI 53097; email: Ronald.Mudge@cuw.edu; phone: 262-243-4301; fax: 262-243-2901).
Criteria
The Luther Scholar Guarantee is renewed annually for up to four years based on full-time undergraduate enrollment (12-18 credits per semester), and living on campus. CUW aid is subject to change if the student’s cumulative CUW grade point average is below a 2.5. Additionally the student will maintain good standing in the Pre-Seminary Program and will take part in at least four activities of the Pre-Seminary Student Association and at least one recruitment event per year. Lastly, the student will re-affirm his commitment annually to become an LCMS pastor.
Selection
The Pre-Seminary Director will review all submitted application materials and make recommendations to the selection committee which will make the final selection of recipients. Students will normally be told whether or not they have been chosen to receive the Luther Scholar Guarantee by April 1.
In order to be eligible for all funding listed above, the candidate must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) www.fafsa.gov. Early filing is encouraged, and we ask that candidates have applications completed by February 1st.
*IMPORTANT: Due to the nature of this esteemed award, it encompasses all institutional awards (merit, church work, early filing grants, athletic awards, extra-curricular awards, etc.) and students are not eligible for any other institutional aid. However, students may still apply for outside scholarships without impacting the Luther Scholar Guarantee.