Sunday, January 28, Concordia University Chicago welcomed Rev. Rich Heinz and Ms. Rachel Schaefer to their staff as rostered church workers during the service of installation.
Rev. Rich Heinz is returning to his undergraduate alma-mater to serve as the Assistant Vice President for Mission and Ministry. Since graduating from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis with a Masters of Divinity in 1995, Rev. Heinz has served the Lord as a parish pastor at three parishes in Illinois and Indiana. The most recent eight of those years he was the senior pastor of St. John’s, Montrose in Chicago and served as chaplain and Worship Coordinator for Higher Things, a Recognized Service Organization of the LCMS with a mission to “assist parents, pastors, and congregations in cultivating a distinctly Lutheran identity among their youth and young adults.”
On a January 30 interview with Synod’s radio station, KFUO, Rev. Heinz was asked what he is most excited about as he steps into his new position at Concordia University Chicago. He responded “there’s so many different things. They all relate to coming back to these relationships.”
Rev. Heinz’s position is one which was newly created to serve the adjusting population of Concordia. Of the many roles he plays, Rev. Heinz will develop modules on basic catechesis to ensure faculty and staff have a full understanding of the basics of Lutheranism in order to support the mission of Concordia as a Lutheran institution. Further, he will work with the admissions staff to bring more students with Lutheran backgrounds to the university while also working with the various church work departments in order to encourage more network connections between students preparing to become church workers.
Overall, Rev. Heinz says, “it’s refreshing to be among these college students and find out how I can serve them and help them to connect to the church they will serve either with their own vocation in church or in the world.”
Ms. Rachel Schaefer who was also installed on January 28 would have been one of the students Rev. Heinz is serving. Schaefer graduated from Concordia University Chicago’s Lutheran Teacher Education program in May 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with endorsements in Social Sciences and Language Arts.
Schaefer was installed as a Freshman Admissions Counselor where she will serve applicants from Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin as well as eight counties in southwestern Illinois. Schaefer is excited to return to her alma-mater. When asked what differentiates CUC from other universities, she said “each person is made to feel like they belong immediately, which goes a long way in making your time in college a successful (and fun) experience!”
As Rev. Heinz and Schaefer enter into the second month of their new positions, we rejoice and pray the Lord bless their ministry.