Concordia TheoBLOGical Seminary

The instrumental part that Miriam played in helping Moses and the Israelites to the Promise Land, Cana, is a beautiful metaphor for what we experience today in the edification of the Church. God chose Moses to be the pastor to His chosen people, and lead them through the wilderness. Likewise, both Aaron and Miriam were chosen to serve Moses and the Isaelites. “I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam” (Micah 6:4 [show]Micah 6:4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
). As many of you know, Miriam and Aaron weren’t perfect, but God knew that their assistance was what Moses and Isreal needed. Much can be learned from this today as we, the chosen people of God, endeavor the building up of the Church with the help of women in our present Deaconess training and vocation.

Deaconesses have a tradition that extends throughout history, with biblical precedent (Rom. 16:2 [show]Romans 16:2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. (ESV)
). Further, our synod has had deaconesses since its inception 150 years ago, with formal training beginning in the 1940’s. Concordia Theological Seminary has earnestly taken up the charge of forming women with the desire and dedication to learn how best to care for God’s people in 2003. Outside of the liturgy, women are upholding the Office of the Holy Ministry, bringing the suffering and needy the comfort of the Gospel with spiritual and practical care, and responding to God’s command (Rom. 12:13 [show]Romans 12:13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (ESV)
, Gal. 2 [show]Galatians 2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in--who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery-- to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?" We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (ESV)
) with His help.

Pastors and deaconesses alike at Concordia Theological Seminary are formed to have the proper understanding and expression of the Gospel. This is taught through rigorous Scriptural and doctrinal examination, interaction with professors and seminarians, and hands on field work and internship experience in various churches and institutions. Pastors, like Moses, have been chosen to be the mouthpiece of Jesus Christ, our Savior, to lead people to the comfort of the Promised Land, heaven. Men are therefore called to preach God’s Word in its truth and purity, and dispense His gifts in the Sacraments. Like Miriam, female leadership in Word and deed is essential, too. God enables women to direct people to the Divine Service, declaring all His benefits there provided.

A servant’s heart is what our women are formed to have. Helping a pastor and congregation with visitations and outreach, instructing other women and children in the faith, and abiding with the sick and suffering, is what a deaconess is all about. Theologians of the cross mark these women as they fare forth into spiritual warfare. Women have been doing this since creation; Ruth, Deborah, Mary Magdalene, Phoebe and Anna, just to name a few. Concordia Theological Seminary opens its doors to the apt women who desire to learn and discern the work of the Kingdom. They represent the Church and Christ’s mercy to those who are struggling and needy. For those who do not yet know and believe in Him, deaconesses are as conduits to the nave and our Lord’s holy presence