Join Engaging Truth Host Pastor John Cain as he welcomes the Rev. Dr. Tom Egger, newly installed president at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Changing times demand rethinking the approach of training pastoral candidates while remaining true to God’s Word. Dr. Egger explains his philosophy on preparing the next generation of pastors for their labors in the field.

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And welcome to engaging truth. I'm your host, pastor John Kane, you know, forming and training. The next crop of pastors will be a task of equipping people with biblical tools so that they can communicate the unchanging Bible to citizens of a rapidly changing world. Perhaps leading that charge will be the newly installed president of Concordia seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, the Reverend Dr. Tom. Egar welcome to the program president Egar.

Thank you for having me, John, a pleasure to be with you as

A, uh, a, a graduate of, uh, Concordia St. Louis myself. I'm, I'm really happy to see that, um, the seminary promoted from within as it were, uh, issuing the call to you. Uh, how long have you been on the campus there at St. Louis?

You think your, between the time you spent in the parish as a, as a parish pastor and also your, your tenure as a, a professor there, how do you think that has prepared you for this, uh, very unique position that you have now?

Yeah, that's a great question. And, uh, probably a hard answer to, or a hard question to answer nicely, because obviously there are so many dimensions of the work of an institution like Concordia seminary, which, which carries out the training of pastors and deaconesses and scholars and leaders for the church, um, in numerous programs, but at its heart, the work of the summit is to further the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news of salvation, and to have been, um, a student here and to see the way that, that preparation rooted in the gospel takes place to have experienced that from the, from that side of the desk, you might say, and then having been a parish pastor and seen the, the beautiful ways that the gospel intersects with the lives of, of people who every single one of them, but in varied ways are in need of the comfort and the help that can come only through Jesus Christ.

And then, uh, to be back at the seminary for these last 16 years, teaching has given me perspective, uh, as a faculty member and, um, as someone who's planning, uh, you know, planning lessons, day after day and discussions about the shape of the curriculum, uh, serving for many years on the ministerial formation committee that dealt with, um, just all kinds of unique, special circumstances that would come up with individual students, all of those things, I think, give me a good, um, a good, well rounded sense of, of where the seminary has been you on, where the seminary, um, needs to continue to be in terms of serving the church and serving Christ lambs.

So little bird just told me that, uh, you had a birthday recently, congratulations on that. Where, where I'm going with that though, is you are the first president, I believe, um, who is a generation X, uh . And, uh, I'm, I'm curious if that might indicate, you know, a subtle change in strategy.

Well, I'm sure that, uh, I'm sure that every, every generation brings its own unique stamp to life and an approach to life, including, uh, approach to the life of the church. But I don't know that I would say that, um, I don't know. I would say that my own sense of, uh, who we are as the Luther church and the, the task of the hour for us in, in this time is necessarily shaped by the generation that I come from. I've spent, um, a lot of time with my parents and, and people, my parents at age, uh, while I was a parish pastor, and certainly appreciate, and, um, and embody in a lot of ways, their perspective on things. And, uh, my wife and I, uh, Tori, we have six children who range in age from, uh, um, 26 down to a seventh grader.

And so we are also immersed in their perspective on life. And, uh, and of course the students that come through my classroom represent an, an even younger perspective on things than my own. So I think, I think in the church, um, uh, I think the, the calling is to the, bring the gospel to all. And so we want to be attentive to, um, new dimensions of, um, how each generation approaches life and approaches, um, their faith, but also I think to serve confidently with the, with the conviction that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. And that, um, ultimately at its core in every generation, the heart of the church's task remains the same, which is to bear witness to Jesus Christ, to love and to serve others in his name and to exhibit in word indeed. Um, the saving hope of, of Christ for, for sinners and the promise of everlasting life, um, founded on the forgiveness of sins in his name.

We're having a conversation with Reverend Dr. ER, the newly installed president at Concordia St. Louis, our seminary there. Um, I opened up the fact that we're gonna be having a conversation today to our congregation yesterday. Um, and they had some questions for you, uh, Dr. ER, one asked about retaining our young people after conf. Um, and, and also would you have specific encouragements to young people, students and, and their congregations looking to reach across generational boundaries and to, uh, continually try to rejuvenate our congregations? Well,

Uh, the gospel is for all. And so it is certain for the young, and I think, um, as, as we look at the, at the progress of the church, especially in the west and in America, um, in the last generation, it can sometimes be disheartening to see younger people leaving the church and our calling as Christians, um, always the same, which is to pass on the faith to the next generation to never take that for granted. Um, we have the warnings of history, um, and the old I'm, I'm an old Testament professor. And in the old Testament, it seemed like the people of Israel, um, so quickly from generation to generation, they would oftentimes turn away from the Lord and from his strength and promises and word. And it usually came as a failure, uh, a failure to pass on the faith to the next generation that a generation would arise, which did not know the Lord and all that he had done for Israel.

And so it's always our calling, um, as, as the adults in the church, as the older generation, first of all, to tell the stories of what God has done, um, to bear witness to our children and to the young people in the church of the gospel and the great deeds of God, but also beyond just telling to witness with our own lives. And this will always be the most powerful thing for retaining young people in the church and for passing on the faith to the next generation, the witness of the lives of the older generation, um, tend to grow up and walk in the paths of their parents. And though they may stray for a time if parents prioritize in life and exhibit for their children, a true dependence on Jesus Christ, a thirst for his mercy and forgiveness, a joy and dedication for in the house of the Lord week after week. Um, there is no substitute for that kind of, uh, witness to prioritize the faith above other earthly concerns, other time commitments, um, that is the most important way to continue to pass on the faith to the next generation. Tom would,

What would you like to say to some one who's thinking about studying to

Become a pastor? Well, there is no more beautiful work in the world. There is no more beautiful work than to share with people, uh, in the joys and especially in the sorrows and the low times of life, the strong love of Jesus Christ and the prom of his word. And I would say to young people that if the gospel is sweet to you, if you yourself are someone who rejoices to have your pastor preaching to you about your savior and you rejoice in his forgiveness and his, his strong love for you in spite of all of your ins, then you really should think about the possibility of a vocation in church work. Um, you should at least entertain, um, the thought that God may have given you the gifts to be someone who brings that life giving word into the lives of others. When I thought about what to do with my own life as a young person, and, uh, finally, uh, it came down for me.

It came down to the question, what's the most important thing that I could spend my life doing. And as Luthers, we really affirm the value of all vocations, all God pleasing vocations in life, a Christian pleases God, and serves God in many different, uh, lines of work, uh, what many different ways of serving their neighbors, but there is nothing as beautiful. And, and I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have had and continue to have in life as an ordained pastor. Uh, so thankful for the way that God has placed me in people's lives at oftentimes really difficult moments, uh, to bring his strength and his love

To them. It is a privilege to deal with things, uh, eternal and, uh, all to, uh, something far greater than ourselves. I I've got another question here. Uh, another member asked me this question. He, he said over my 50 plus years of observing and interacting with Lutheran ministers, their preaching skills are outstanding, but pastoral, interpersonal skills are somewhat lacking. And he went on to say, I've not asked them about, uh, or he said, I have asked them about the level of psychology classes in the curriculum and was told by one, uh, that he had a three hour course in your opinion, he asked, is this enough? Yeah,

Well, that's a great question. And I would say that if the only attention that was given to, um, the person of a pastor and a person's interpersonal, uh, work and skills, if the only attention that was given to that during their time at seminary was one, three hour course that would be severely lacking. Um, and it is true that within the MIV curriculum here at Concordia seminary, in terms of, uh, he mentioned psychology in terms of required classes in pastoral counseling, we just have one, one semester class that's required of students. They can take additional electives in that area if they so choose, but there are many dimensions of our students experience and our work with them here that really gives attention to, um, to them as a per, including their interpersonal, um, uh, relationships and dynamics with others. Um, for example, uh, each of our students is assigned to a field education congregation and there they, um, can witness and, and, uh, and evaluate and learn from the pastor, the field super field education, supervising pastor, and his inner relationships with his congregation, hopefully, um, they learn some good modeling, um, from that relationship, but even even more profoundly, we have all of our students as a requirement of their path through the, through the seminar, all of them, uh, who are planning to be pastors or deaconesses spent a year long internship for pastors.

This is called Vicarage. And they actually serve alongside a supervising pastor in a congregation for a year. And the dynamics of their interaction with people in the congregation is something that has attended to talked about. And, um, and sometimes, uh, sometimes concerns do arise and weaknesses do arise that, uh, then we find creative ways to work with students to grow in and improve, because certainly, um, to have a beautiful message to convey, but to convey it in an awkward or abrasive or an unloving way. Um, doesn't do justice to that beautiful message at the gospel. So we want to be sending out pastors who are deeply rooted to, in terms of the scriptures and the teachings of the church and to our AP to teach, uh, but also who go about that task of preaching and teaching and pastoral care with love and humility and friendliness, so that they give a winsome witness to the gospel so that they adorn that gospel with an app freely, um, kind and loving

Demeanor. Am I hearing you say that it would be a combination of learned skills and aptitudes and then also, uh, spiritual gifts?

Yeah, absolutely. And, uh, and we shouldn't overlook also, um, the role simply of the students studies also as being formative. Um, like you say, this is not just a, a natural aptitude, but it's, uh, these are the gifts of God and the working of God in the hearts of his people to shape them and form them in the pattern of Christ. And so, um, to be learning from the scriptures to be learning the teachings of the faith, um, um, it's not that theology is one thing. And our shape as a person is another as Lutherans. We believe that God's word our theology, um, ultimately Christ and his word and his ways are what shape us most importantly and most deeply. And that's true for all Christians, but especially, uh, for pastors

Second Corinthians, uh, chapter four, verse seven, the apostle Paul talks us about having these treasures in, um, broken earth and vessels. And, you know, when I think back, you know, into my class and you know, what a, a collection of people with widely different personalities coming together, um, to, to be formed by, uh, the, the seminary and, um, you know, I, I, I also noted that we were trained to be generalists and I, I think each one of us brought something different to the, um, to the mix. Um, what we would you say about placement also working with people to identify their, their spiritual gifts or, or their

Niche? Yeah. Well, you're putting your finger on something that's, that's, um, really marvelous and beautiful. Um, Paul talks about it in terms of the body of Christ, having many different kinds of members. And that's true, um, not just for congregations, but also across the ministerium of the church, across the pastors and other church workers in the church, that there's just lots of different kinds of people that God calls, uh, for this work and praise be to God for the way that he and his wisdom makes such good use of, uh, such a variety of, of gifts. And I guess one encouragement I would, I would give you can hear my, uh, clock here in my office, chiming 12 noon in the background. One, uh, one encouragement I would give is, uh, to simply trust that the Lord can make good use of a great variety of people.

No one should be discouraged that they don't feel like they fit the mold of what in their mind is a pastor or a Deaconess or a missionary. Um, God can make use of a great variety of kinds of persons. And he does. And I think every one of us who has studied for the ministry can relate to two, two different kinds of experiences or thought process on the one hand saying to saying to oneself, I don't know if I'm the kind of person who can do this very well. I, I am not the kind of person that is gonna be a perfect pastor. And also saying to oneself as one sits in a classroom and lives life here at the seminary with his classmates who are a, all these other guys in what in the world are they doing at the seminary? , uh, I think we could all, or at least with a, with a, a good handful of them, right. And then, and then you watch, uh, the way that the years unfold, right? The way that God makes use of, of, uh, brothers and sisters that you had studied with in the past, and you see their, their path in life and their fruitfulness. And you say what a wonderful thing it is, uh, that God in his wisdom and omnipotence can use, even, like you said, broken pots, like us for his glory, uh, because it ultimately comes down to his word and his, his power, his saving power at work in the church,

President agar. I know you're just starting out, uh, in this new position. I, I pray that you have a long and happy and healthy and productive, uh, career there as, as president at this early time. Uh, have you begun to think about what you'd like to accomplish over for over your tenure there? Um, what are your hopes and dreams for the seminary?

Yeah, well, that's a great question and I, I have to say that, uh, I am so new in this, that I am still, um, just getting started and will be getting started along with the board of Regents. And along with the faculty leadership, um, thinking through what, what strategically are our directions for the future. Um, you know, some, some of the important priorities are obvious, already recruitment, um, recruitment of future, uh, church workers is going to be key, um, looking ahead to a time of clergy shortage in the church. Um, so that's going to have to be an important priority. Um, we also have, uh, really an, an amazing array of different programs of ministerial formation and church worker formation here at the seminary. Um, and so we're still in the process of figuring out how to balance and juggle all of those best and make use of all of those in service to the church and, and fulfilling the needs of the church in efficient and responsible and sound ways.

Um, so that'll be a big priority is, um, con continuously developing and streamlining and, uh, and improving all of our programs. Um, but ultimately, uh, ultimately the question always moving forward is what are the needs of the hour to be open eye to the world around us and the church's historical moment, historical and cultural moment, but then also, um, remaining tenaciously committed to, to building on the foundation of Christ and his word. Um, we've seen so many church bodies around us. Uh, you can look across the landscape of seminaries in this country of other denominations or liberal arts colleges that were founded by different denominations and see how easily, uh, or, or seemingly easily and quickly they can drift from their foundations and drift from their moorings. And even as we seek to address the needs of the day, um, it will always be our priority. Um, as a seminary of the Lutheran church, Missouri Senate, um, founded here by CFW Walter and the boys, uh, to continue to, uh, continue to trumpet a clear message and a message that's full of Jesus Christ, uh, that the Theo of the church is always to be rooted in the scriptures Infor conformity with our Lutheran confessions. So that Christ receives full glory in salvation. And we can bring full comfort to troubled

Sinner. Well, president Negar, our frequent prayer for the future that will be offering for you is that you will be successful in advancing Christ kingdom here on, and for eternity, always with our Lord's presence and help. How may our listeners contact you or the seminary?

Well, uh, they're, they're welcome to, uh, they're welcome to email me directly, uh, if they have comments or, or suggestions, and I'm happy to funnel their concerns towards others or their, um, or, or their offers of help towards others. Uh, my email is agar key csl.edu, and I'd love to hear from people.

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