President-Elect Matt Harrison’s first Theological Challenge
August 31st, 2010
Here is Matt Harrison’s first theological challenge and it even comes from a seminary! I found this on Facebook, a posting from Prof Gard at Ft Wayne Seminary to President Matt Harrison, obviously written at 6:55am this morning central time.
Daniel Lee Gard -> Matt Harrison: In 16 hours 5 minutes, you will be President of the LCMS, at least in the eastern time zone. But you have an extra hour to wait in Missouri. Now for your first theological challenge: what is your status during that hour when you are President here but not there? Realized eschatology?
I’m not sure if this link will work for those facebook users to view the original or not.
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I recognize the humor here. However, if you want to be technical, since the LCMS is a worldwide church body with missions in the Far East (where the sun rises on a new day first due to the position of the International Date Line), President Harrison may already be the Synod president.. Then again, maybe not..,.. The point is that the snod president is more than just the President of congregations and seminaries in the Eastern time zone.
Here’s the answer: the sun rises and sets in STL.
: – )
classic “now and not Yet” scenario, no doubt:)
I like mbw’s answer. But the real question should be, If he falls in the forest will the trees hear him?
I sugggested to President-elect Harrison that, if I brush up on my guitar, the two presidents could tape a YouTube video entitled, “Dueling Confessional Banjos.”
Anyone else staying up to toast in the new era in Missouri at midnight? (Central Time, by the way, since the LCMS is a Missouri corporation.) I was at the conventions watching the tote board in 2001, 2004, and 2007, and I had begun to think this day would never come.
Lest I sound too triumphalistic . . . I remembered this morning a little incident from 2007. The evening after the election there was a BIG — but strictly by invitation only — party in a ballroom at the Hilton. I asked around and discovered it was a Jesus First victory party. As I was walking by on the way to the parking garage, to go commiserate with some other fellows, the door to this room opened. There was laughter and big smiles all around, and an enormous, professionally made banner hung across the front of the room, which said simply: “AMEN! 2010!” It astounded me that they would have had such a party, with the banner and lots of other paraphernalia, all in readiness. It really looked like a secular political rally with all the trappings.
Well, this morning I thought of that banner: “AMEN! 2010!” And then I added my own “Amen” to that sentiment!
By the way, after two disastrous conventions and several “Leadership Conferences” there, I used to dread Houston. But now I think it’s just about the most wonderful city in the world.
The real issue is, if Pastor Harrison fell in the woods, how may trees would he take out?
@Kebas #6
> Anyone else staying up to toast in the new era in Missouri at midnight? (Central Time, by the way, since the LCMS is a Missouri corporation.)
I shall intend so to do!
May God bless President Harrison and the Missouri Synod as he begins his synodical presidency, that the LCMS may be a blessing to many. May God bring true unity to our synod, and may he use us also to share the Good News with those who are in need of Christ’s redemption, that we may reach our hurting world with Jesus’ love in word and deed.
May we regularly pray for all those whom God has put in authority.
The Synod has already set up the President’s Page:
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=614
@Carol Rutz #10
Very NICE!!!
@Kebas #6
> Anyone else staying up to toast in the new era in Missouri at midnight? (Central Time, by the way, since the LCMS is a Missouri corporation.)
12:04 and all’s well.
Brethren… enough of this frivolity! Our revered constitution specifies solemn ecclesiastical procedures: this doctrinal conundrum should be submitted to the CTCR, overrulled by the CCM, sued by the CNH District, ignored by the COP, hugged by the Reconcilers, and finally dumped off on the 2nd VP by the POTS.
@Pastor Fritz Baue #13
I agree with you, but only if people get fired along the way.
Fritz,
You are a funny, funny man. Thanks for my loudest LOL and snort in quite a while.
TR
“Rev. Matthew C. Harrison is the 13th person to serve as president of the 2.4-million-member Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. ”
13th “person”??? How politically correct is that?
@jim_claybourn #16
It’s surprising that the BRTFSSG didn’t try to get that through in Houston. “Person” indeed!
@Johannes #17
It’s not a politically correct term here, but an elevation of the office. The “person and work” of the President.