One of the things that struck me about the collect this last Sunday, for those of you doing the three years series, was the wonderful use of the word “steadfast.” (The cantor and I sometimes have contests to see how many times we can count the word “steadfast” in the Divine Service. BJS’ers like that word “steadfast.”) Also refreshing was the clear reference to the verbal inspiration of God’s word. It is unchangeably true. Thanks to the editors of the LSB for giving us collects for each of the three pericopal years. Here is the collect I am referring to from   More…

“Mercy Journeys with Pastor Harrison” is LCMS President Matthew Harrison’s personal blog. His latest post is a lengthy quote from LCMS President F.C.D. Wyneken, culled from the book “At Home in the House of My Fathers.” It talks about church unity and the role of the Lutheran Confessions in holding the church’s members together. Read it here.

Whenever a new pastor arrives at a parish, there is built-in change that just comes with the change in man.  Then there are the changes that happen because the man doesn’t know all of the traditions of the congregation that he serves.  There are also the deliberate changes that a pastor may attempt as well (hopefully after much patient instruction, although that is not always the case). The first type of change is unavoidable, the second is avoidable.  The third type of change requires some patience, teaching, and trust between pastor and congregation. Pastors in the LCMS carry two sets   More…

You saw it last year. Mark your calendar for this year! It’s back! Twenty-Four Hour Live Broadcast on Issues Etc. Begins Friday, April 8, 4:00pm Ends Saturday, April 9, 4:00pm (central time) 4pm: Dr. Ken Schurb on Acts 6pm: Dr. David Adams on Exodus 8pm: Dr. Andrew Steinmann on Daniel 10pm: Rev. Jonathan Fisk on Revelation 12am: Rev. Bryan Wulfmueller on Isaiah 2am: Dr. John Kleinig on Psalms 4am: Dr. Greg Lockwood on John 6am: Professor David Lewis on Mark 8am: Dr. Arthur Just on Hebrews 10am: Dr. John Saleska on Genesis 12pm: Rev. William Weedon on Ephesians 2pm: Dr.   More…

A few months ago we discussed the publication of a book about Seminex. Reviews of that book are in. You should read all of Martin Noland’s take, but here’s the ending: I was disappointed by this book. Burkee makes an almost convincing case that secular politics is what drove the conflict in the Missouri Synod, but those of us who lived through it know better. It will only convince the ignorant. With regard to his argument that characters on both side of the conflict were fighting for personal power and prestige—I have no doubt of that. That happens in every   More…

In the new video on the “Japan Disaster Relief” webpage, Dr. Naomichi Masaki, Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, who is a native of Japan, gives an update on current conditions of the Japan Lutheran Church, and how you can help: http://lcms.org/help/

The ACELC has posted all the papers from their recent conference here. We have reproduced the Rev. Rick Sawyer’s paper (#4 below) and welcome your comments. Please keep your comments on topic to this one paper. All papers can be reached at the following links: Introduction to the Conference – Rev. Jim Gier Ecclesiastical Supervision – Rev. Dick Bolland Communion, Unionism & Syncretism – Rev. Brent Kuhlman Divine Service & Liturgical Offices – Rev. Rick Sawyer Service of Women in the Church – Rev. Robert Wentzel Office of the Holy Ministry – Rev. John Wolrabe Unbiblical Removal of Pastors – Rev. Scott   More…

We posted the ULMA meeting on The Lutheran Calendar and here is a report after the fact: Commission members and pastors from Redeemer – St. Clair Shores, Michigan and Pilgrim – Decatur, Illinois attended the spring General Meeting of the United Lutheran Mission Association (ULMA). Our mission churches were represented by Rev. James Shaw and Mr. Jeremiah Hansen from Agnus Dei Lutheran Church in Virginia, and Rev. William C. Mack from Christ the Rock Lutheran Church in California. The two-day event was hosted at the Holiday Inn Hotel in the Cincinnati suburb of Erlanger, Kentucky. Several meeting attendees visited the   More…

One of the four pillars of the Brothers of John the Steadfast is upholding the traditional liturgy. To that end I offer these personal thoughts on the old sinful self’s tendency to sleep walk through the Divine Service. The one part that really grabs me and keeps my attention is the Sanctus. I suppose Confession and Absolution is right up there as far as an attention keeper. There is no greater hypocrisy than to say the words “I a poor miserable sinner…” without giving them undivided attention. So I will consider that a given, even though Satan has certainly distracted me   More…

A new article on seminaries, their role in the church, and alternative routes to ordination has recently been published. “Is It Time to Write the Eulogy? The Future of Seminary Education” is authored by an Episcopalian, The Reverend Dr. Frederick W. Schmidt, Jr., Director of Spiritual Formation and Associate Professor of Christian Spirituality at Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas. What do you think? (Thanks to ALPB Forum Online and Dr. Daniel L. Gard for directing our attention to this provocative article)

The ACELC has posted all the papers from their recent conference here. We have reproduced the Rev. Brent Kuhlman’s paper (#3 below) and welcome your comments. Please keep your comment on topic to this one paper. All papers can be reached at the following links: Introduction to the Conference – Rev. Jim Gier Ecclesiastical Supervision – Rev. Dick Bolland Communion, Unionism & Syncretism – Rev. Brent Kuhlman Divine Service & Liturgical Offices – Rev. Rick Sawyer Service of Women in the Church – Rev. Robert Wentzel Office of the Holy Ministry – Rev. John Wolrabe Unbiblical Removal of Pastors – Rev. Scott   More…

  A friend of mine in the ELS let me know a few weeks ago about a conference which deserves attention.  It is called the Emmaus Conference.  On May 5-6th this year in Tacoma, Washington the Presidents of the three major confessional Lutheran Synods (LCMS, WELS, and ELS) will be either lecturing (WELS) or reacting (LCMS, ELS). You can view their website here. It has been a number of years since these kind of things have been able to happen, but it is good to see the heads of these church bodies at least in the same room.  One of   More…

From the LCMS Reporter: Synod Secretary Dr. Raymond L. Hartwig announced March 17 that two amendments to the church body’s Constitution that were adopted by 2010 LCMS convention delegates have been ratified by the required two-thirds majority of Synod congregations that participated in the ratification balloting. Hartwig told Reporter that the ratification-vote outcome means that those amendments “become effective immediately.” On the ballot, the measures were referenced as “Amendment A” and “Amendment B.” A total of 2,081 LCMS congregations’ ballots for ratification of the two amendments were returned to the Secretary’s Office. Amendment A received 1,592 votes in favor of   More…

The ACELC has posted all the papers from their recent conference here. We have reproduced the Rev. Dick Bolland’s paper (#2 below) and welcome your comments. All papers can be reached at the following links: Introduction to the Conference – Rev. Jim Gier Ecclesiastical Supervision – Rev. Dick Bolland Communion, Unionism & Syncretism – Rev. Brent Kuhlman Divine Service & Liturgical Offices – Rev. Rick Sawyer Service of Women in the Church – Rev. Robert Wentzel Office of the Holy Ministry – Rev. John Wolrabe Unbiblical Removal of Pastors – Rev. Scott Porath The Church’s Mission & Evangelistic Task – Rev. Clint   More…

On March 1-3, 2011, the Association of Confessing Evangelical Lutheran Congregations met at Trinity Lutheran Church, Kearney, Missouri, for its Convening Conference. The 130 pastors and laymen in attendance heard an array of excellent speakers discussing the issues and errors which have sadly divided our church body, The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Rev. Dr. John Wohlrabe, Concordia, Geneseo, IL (Second Vice President of the Synod), traced the problem of unresolved error in the Synod to issues occurring following the First World War. Rev. Richard Bolland, Holy Cross, Kansas City, took the conference attendees through the history of our Synod’s   More…