Dr. Carl C. Fickenscher II joined the CTS faculty as an Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions this academic year. His area of expertise is homiletics, in which he's earned a Ph.D from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. This is one of only three institutions in the United States that offers such a program.

Before coming to CTS, Dr. Fickenscher served as pastor for ten years at Peace Lutheran Church in Garland, Texas, and his call before that, where he served for five years, was to Messiah Lutheran Church in Midland, Mich. He also has the distinction of being husband to Claire and father to Rachel (10), Daniel (8) and Gabriel (6).

"Being a parish pastor really is THE thing," said Dr. Fickenscher. "Accepting the call to the seminary was bittersweet; obviously the study I did was with a view toward such a call, but leaving the parish and the people I loved so much was very difficult." As a professor at the seminary, Dr. Fickenscher feels that he will be doing important work to prepare other men to be effective shepherds of the flock.

Teaching Bible classes in the parish and serving as a supervising pastor to two vicars were formative in preparing him for teaching at the seminary. "I by no means need to give all the input in class. The participants always have much to contribute. My role then becomes one of knowing the right questions to ask, guiding the discussion in the right direction, and clarifying and summarizing what's been said."

Dr. Fickenscher taught two courses in the fall quarter: "Homiletics II" (both American and Russian students) to and "Preaching Law and Gospel." The latter course hasn't been offered at CTS since Dr. Fickenscher's first homiletics professor, Dr. Gerhard Aho taught it. He passed away in 1987.

"It's a real honor to have the opportunity to offer this elective again, and I think it's been well received by the students."

CTS is blessed with an outstanding faculty, and Dr. Fickenscher brings unique knowledge and skills to add to its luster.

From Volume 3, Issue 5, Winter 1999