Special Degrees Awarded at CTSFW

FORT WAYNE, IN, April 12, 2024—The Rev. Aubrey Watson Jr. and the Rev. Dr. James Wiggins Sr. received special honors immediately following the daily chapel service at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), Wednesday, April 10. Provost Dr. Charles Gieschen and President Dr. Lawrence Rast Jr. presented Watson with a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS), then awarded a Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, to Wiggins, whose award was accepted by his son, the Rev. Stephen Wiggins Sr. Both Watson and Wiggins were on campus for the spring conference of the Black Clergy Caucus of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, which provided an ideal opportunity to present the honors.

Shown are Provost Dr. Charles Gieschen, Faculty Marshal Dr. Cameron MacKenzie, the Rev. Steven Wiggins Sr., the Rev. Aubrey Watson, and Dr. Lawrence Rast Jr.

“Our seminary community has the joy of witnessing the awarding of two degrees to two individuals this morning, degrees that would ordinarily be awarded during Commencement on May 17,” said Gieschen to the group gathered in Kramer Chapel. “These degrees are being awarded today because both individuals receiving degrees are well-known and close friends of the many guests on this campus this week for the LCMS Black Clergy Caucus. We are very thankful to have all of you with us to honor these two pastors.”

Watson, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, completed extensive pastoral ministry coursework through CTSFW’s Distance Education Leading to Ordination (DELTO) program from 1996–2002. At the time, the Seminary’s accrediting body did not allow degrees to be awarded for the distance education program. That eventually changed. CTSFW awarded Watson the MAPS degree in recognition of his prior bachelor’s degree and six years of DELTO coursework.

“I’m honored to receive the degree,” said Watson. “I thank God, and I thank Dr. Rast, Dr. Gieschen, the faculty, and the Board of Regents. God’s blessings abound! I pray that God will lead more black men and men of color to become pastors at CTSFW.”

Faculty Marshal Dr. Cameron MacKenzie places an academic stole around the shoulders of Rev. Aubrey Watson upon his being awarded a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies degree.

Wiggins, a native of Camden, Alabama, was formed and shaped by Lutheran schools throughout his education, attending the Lutheran Schools of Wilcox County in his elementary years; Alabama Lutheran Academy and College in Selma, Alabama; Immanuel Lutheran College in Greensboro, North Carolina; and Immanuel Lutheran Seminary in Greensboro. He also took extension courses from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois.

The Rev. James Wiggins Sr. was awarded a Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa. Shown accepting the award on behalf of his father is the Rev. Steven Wiggins Sr., center. At left is Provost Dr. Charles Gieschen, and at right is President Dr. Lawrence Rast Jr.

Wiggins spent his entire ministry faithfully serving congregations in Alabama at Buena Vista, Hybert, Sedan, Vredenburgh, Oak Hill, Bessemer, and Montgomery. He provided leadership in the LCMS Southern District as a circuit counselor, Mission Committee member, circuit youth pastoral advisor, member of the Commission on Adjudication, treasurer of the district’s Black Churchmen Conference, and chairman of the Rosebud Memorial Project.

He and his wife, Katie Ghaskin Wiggins (now with the Lord), were blessed with four children—the late Rev. James Wiggins Jr., the Rev. Stephen Wiggins Sr., Felicia Thornton, and Karen Wiggins—as well as nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Over the course of his ministry, Wiggins influenced numerous men and women to pursue service to the Lord as Lutheran pastors and teachers, including some of those present in Kramer Chapel—much like Dr. Rosa J. Young, who identified Wiggins as a future pastor at school in Selma when he was in her class in eighth grade.

Shown are the late Katie Ghaskin Wiggins and the Rev. Dr. James Wiggins Sr., who received a Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, from CTSFW April 10, 2024. The photo is a scene from a recorded interview—part of an oral history video project—that was shown at CTSFW on the evening of April 10.

“Like Dr. Rosa Young, who was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by Concordia Theological Seminary in 1961, it is only fitting that the Rev. James Wiggins Sr. also be honored by this seminary through the awarding of a doctoral degree,” said Gieschen.

After the awards presentation, Wiggins’ son Stephen noted, “When my dad first received the news, he said, ‘Man, I retired in 1995. It’s been a while, and I don’t quite know what to do with the honor now.’ But as time has passed, he’s now saying, ‘God is good, even in this season.’ He’s 91 now, still working, still being faithful in the church. He says, ‘God is still gracious, even at 91.'”

To view the presentation of honors, view the April 10 chapel recording on YouTube.