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Carl C. Fickenscher II, Ph.D.
Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions
Dean of Pastoral Education and Certification
Supervisor of SMP Program
Carl.Fickenscher@ctsfw.edu
260.452.2131
The Rev. Dr. Carl C. Fickenscher II is dean of Pastoral Education and Certification, SMP supervisor and professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions, teaching primarily in the area of homiletics. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Southern Methodist University in May 1976 and also a Master of Business Administration there in August 1978. After working in business and politics, he earned his Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in May 1984. Dr. Fickenscher pursued his doctoral degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, receiving the Ph.D. in Homiletics from that institution in May 1996, making him the first man in the LCMS to hold a Ph.D. in this field.
Dr. Fickenscher is editor of Concordia Pulpit Resources, the Synod’s preaching journal published by Concordia Publishing House. He has published numerous articles, essays, sermons and curricular pieces, receiving an award from Concordia Historical Institute in 2012 for a series of articles on the preaching of C. F. W. Walther. He edited CPH’s Faith Alive Bible (a study Bible for youth) and was a theological consultant on the current CPH Sunday school curriculum Growing in Christ.
He is a member of the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations and earlier represented the Synod on its dialogue panel with the ELCA. He currently serves as chairman of the Society of Concordia Theological Faculties. In 2005 he traveled for LCMS World Relief to areas of India and Indonesia stricken by the tsunami and subsequent earthquakes. He was also an essayist at the 2001 synodical convention, the 2003 Pieper Lectures, district conventions in 2006, 2009 and 2012, and the North European Luther Academy in Varberg, Sweden, in 2009. He is a strong supporter of the sanctity of human life, including as a district pastoral advisor for Lutherans for Life. Dr. Fickenscher is a frequent speaker for conferences, retreats, and workshops; and is a regular guest on “Issues, Etc.,” KFUO “Studio A” and “Table Talks” radio programs, having guested also on “The Lutheran Hour” and “Point of Truth” television.
Dr. Fickenscher served Messiah Lutheran Church in Midland, Mich., from August 1984 to March 1989. He then accepted a call to Peace Lutheran Church in Garland, Texas, where he served from March 1989 until accepting a call to the seminary in July 1999. At their present congregation, St. Paul Lutheran in Fort Wayne, Dr. Fickenscher and his wife Claire together have been Sunday School superintendents and youth counselors and currently serve on the evangelism board. Even more importantly, they are the very proud parents of Rachel, Daniel and Gabriel.
Collected Writings
Scholarly Articles
| Concordia Pulpit Resources, "Law and Gospel and the Form of the Sermon," series, September 29, November 29, 1998, February 17, 1999 issues |
| "The Divine Preaching of Jesus," essay in Preaching through the Ages, Pieper Lecture essays, Luther Academy, 2004 |
| "‘Working' the Lectionary," essay in Liturgical Preaching, CPH, 2000 |
| Concordia Theological Quarterly, "The Contribution of the Reformation to Preaching," October 1994 |
| Concordia Pulpit Resources, “From the Editor,” quarterly columns, Concordia Publishing House, every issue June 15, 2003 to present |
| Concordia Pulpit Resources, “The Preaching of C. F. W. Walther,” series, CPH, November 28, 2010, March 13, 2011, June 19, 2011, September 25, 2011 issues |
| LSB: Hymnal Companion, essays on hymns 584, 590, 599, 601, 665, 695, 829, CPH, 2011 |
| Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, “A Reader’s Edition for All Readers: A Comparative Analysis of the Dau and Schaum Editions of Walther’s Law and Gospel,” 2013 |
Devotional Writings
| Teachers Interaction, “Law and Gospel,” series, CPH, Fall 2005-Summer 2007 issues |
| Teachers Interaction, “A Sunday School Profile,” CPH, Fall 2004 issue |
| Little Visits, Volume 3, devotions, CPH, 2004 |
| For the Life of the World, "The Family: A Place for Catechism," April 2004 issue |
| For the Life of the World, "Luther on the External Word of Preaching," January 2002 issue |
| For the Life of the World, "Are Today's Ears Hearing the Timeless Message?: Law and Gospel for Every Generation," July 2000 issue |
| Concordia Pulpit Resources, "The Reformation Contribution to Preaching," series, September 23, December 2, 2001, February 13, 2002 issues |
| Very Much Alive: Preserving the Sanctity of Life, youth Bible study curriculum, CPH, 1999 |
| Portals of Prayer, November 1999 issue |
| Faith Alive Bible, youth study Bible, CPH, 1995 |
| LifeLight: Isaiah I and Isaiah II, review leaflet articles, CPH, 1994 |
| Teachers Interaction, "Enlightened by the Spirit" theme article, March 1994 |
| Teachers Interaction, "Just for You" column, September 1991-June 1992 issues |
| Teachers Interaction, "Just for Adult Leaders" column, October 1989-July 1990 issues |
| Our Life in Christ, "Searching the Scriptures," CPH, 1998-1999 |
| Our Life in Christ, "Superintendents Helper" devotions, June-August 1992 |
| Our Life in Christ, junior level Sunday school curriculum, CPH, 1989, 1992 |
| Welcome to God's Family, youth/adult vacation Bible school curriculum, CPH, 1988 |
| Monumental Mountaintops, adult Bible study guide, Concordia Publishing House, 1987 |
| My Devotions, articles in November 1986, May 1987, April 1988, October 1990, November 1992, May 1993, April 1994, September 1996 issues |
Sermons
| Concordia Pulpit Resources, sermons, sermon studies, children’s sermons, illustrations, and excerpts in numerous issues |
| "The Kingdom of God is Like...," sermon in Come to the Banquet, Baker Books, 1998 |
Book Reviews
| Concordia Theological Quarterly, book reviews, various issues |
Other
| Concordia Pulpit Resources, “From the Editor,” quarterly columns, every issue June 15, 2003 to present |
| Christ Crucified: Lutheran Sermons by Chad Bird, Preface, Emmanuel Press, 2005 |
| "Church Fellowship and Telling the Good News about Jesus," LCMS convention essay, 2001 |
| "Doing" Law and Gospel Preaching, multi-media module, PALS program, LCMS, 2001 |