Editor's note: This story first appeared in the spring 2020 issue of the Concordian, the official magazine of Concordia University Wisconsin.
If you care at all about Lutheran pastoral education, you’ve probably already met Rev. Dr. Ron Mudge. If not, he definitely wants to meet you.
Since his arrival at CUW in 2007, Concordia’s pre-seminary director has determinedly invested himself in any and all of the university’s efforts to bolster pre-seminary enrollment for the sake of the Church. To that end, Mudge has successfully launched multiple new initiatives over the past few years, all in support of nurturing future LCMS leaders.
The fruits of these efforts are apparent. CUW celebrates the largest pre-seminary program in the Concordia University System. With 59 students, its enrollment is nearly double that of any other Concordia, but it’s still not enough to make a dent in the demand.
That’s why Mudge and a team of Concordians have taken up their latest endeavor to raise funds for The Concordia Bible Institute Saleska Scholarship Endowment, established in 2017 in honor of the late Rev. Dr. John Saleska.
The endowment supports students who are entering the pre-seminary program at CUW. In 2000, Saleska founded the Concordia Bible Institute—a servant institute of CUW—after he retired from his 23-year faculty position at Concordia Theological Seminary. Up until the day he was called to his heavenly home, Saleska, too, sought earnestly to teach “Christ in Every Word” to church workers and laity alike. He especially had a heart for seminarians.
The goal is to add at least $1 million to the endowment by mid-2022.
Visit concordiabible.org/Saleska to learn more. If you know someone who is considering the pastoral office, please contact Dr. Mudge at Ronald.Mudge@cuw.edu.
Vocation Exploration
Concordia hosts two annual events that invite youth to explore vocations, including church work careers.
“I’m so thankful for donors who have given me the opportunity to learn from exceptional professors and grow in a faith-filled environment.” —Joe Bender (’22) PRE-SEMINARY STUDENT AT CUW
- Servants of Christ Conference (for 9-12 graders) | Summer 2020
- Servants of Christ Seminar (for 6-8 graders) | Fall 2020
Visit cuw.edu/servantsofchristconference for details.
The spring 2020 Concordian hit mailboxes the end of April. View a PDF version of the magazine here. If you are not on our mailing list, but are interested in receiving a free copy, email Jennifer.Hackmann@cuaa.edu.
— This story is written by Kali Thiel, director of university communications for Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. She may be reached at kali.thiel@cuw.edu or 262-243-2149.
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