Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) presented “Awards of Commendation” to 16 historians Dec. 1 for exemplary accomplishment in the field of American Lutheran history during 2010. The awards were in the categories of “Journal Articles,” “Major Publications,” “Organizational Histories,” “Congregational Histories” and “Family Histories.”
The Rev. Dr. John Wohlrabe Jr., second vice-president of the Synod, was speaker for the 2011 CHI Annual Awards banquet at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, where the institute’s offices, archives and special-exhibit areas are located.
In his presentation, Wohlrabe honored this year’s awardees and focused on the accomplishments of the Rev. Dr. C.F.W. Walther, whose 200th birth anniversary was celebrated in 2011.
Some 60 people attended the Awards Banquet.
CHI is the Department of Archives and History for the Synod.
In alphabetical order, the past year’s CHI honorees are:
- the Rev. Michael J. Albrecht of St. Paul, Minn., in the “Journal Articles” category for “John Philipp Koehler (1859-1951) and the Wauwatosa Theology,” from Lutheran Quarterly, Volume XXIV, Number 4, Winter 2010 — about the Wauwatosa Theology that is still influential in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) today.
- the Rev. John M. Brenner, Mequon, Wis., (Journal Articles) for “The Michigan Synod Separation Reunion,” WELS Historical Institute, Volume 28, Number 2, Fall 2010 — a history of the Michigan Synod and its amalgamation with the synods of Minnesota and Wisconsin to form what today is known as the Wisconsin Synod.
- the Rev. Dr. Mark A. Granquist, St. Paul, Minn., (Journal Articles) for “The Augustana Synod and the Missouri Synod,” Lutheran Quarterly, Volume XXIV, Number 1, Spring 2010 — demonstrating how the difficult relationship between the Augustana and Missouri Synods influenced the course of merger negotiations in American Lutheranism during the 20th century.
- Dr. John P. Hellwege, Chesterfield, Mo., (Journal Articles) for “William Loehe: American Lutheranism’s Distant Father,” Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, Volume 83, Number 1, Spring 2010 — a summary of the time period and Loehe’s influence on American Lutheranism, especially his concept and training of Nothelfer, or “emergency helpers” to send to America through a process of “practical” rather than “classical” training of pastors.
- the Rev. John E. Helmke, Forest Park, Ill., (Journal Articles) for “Unassuming Witness: The Life and Ministry of Henry Adam Klein,” Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, Volume 82, Number 4, Winter 2010 , a sketch of a pastor, leader, teacher, seminary president and family man.
- the Rev. Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr., Fort Wayne, Ind., (Journal Article) for “J.A.O. Preus: Theologian, Churchman, or Both?,” Concordia Theological Quarterly, Volume 74, Number 1-2, January/April 2010 — a study that presents the dual benefits of being a churchman and theologian, and in that successful enterprise allows readers to see the role of a church leader in a distinctive light.
- Thomas Savlik, Mequon, Wis., (Journal Article), for “1839 Old Lutheran Migration Funds and Expenses,” WELS Historical Institute, Volume 28, Number 1, Spring 2010 — providing recent research overseas along with descriptive forms of analysis that brings depth to the financial aspect of travel from Germany to America in the 1800s.
- Mary Beth Mueller Dillon, Indianapolis, (Major Publications) for Altenburg Missouri and the Surrounding Parishes Plus Old Appleton — a collection of photographs, together with their descriptions and historical relevance, of the seven parishes founded by the Saxon Lutheran immigrants in 1839.
- the Rev. Dr. Wolf Dietrich Knappe, Wauwatosa, Wis., (Major Publications) for the translation of The Life, Work and Influence of Wilhelm Loehe (1808-1872).
- Dr. Philip H. Pfatteicher, Pittsburgh, (Major Publications) for Last on Grant: The History of the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church in the City of Pittsburgh.
- the Rev. Dr. David J. Zersen, Austin, Texas, (Major Publications) for The Poetry and Music of Jan Kilian, Concordia University Press.
- the Rev. Kent Bohls, Bastrop, Texas, (Family Histoties) for Pfluger Family History.
- Norma Strube Rue, Granville, Ill., (Family Histories) for The Family Strube.
- St. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pontiac, Michigan, (Congregational Histories) for Great is Thy Faithfulness: A History of St. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 125th Anniversary 1885.
- the Rev. Dr. Lowell G. Almen, Elgin, Ill., (Major Publications) for More to the Story: The Legacy and Promise of Lutheran Pension and Benefit Plans — an account of efforts by Lutherans over two centuries to care for pastors, church workers and their families.
- Susanne M. McKenzie, Hayward, Wis., (Organizational Histories) for Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ: The First Ten Years — a recounting of the first decade of that church body.
The institute is accepting nominations for historical work completed in 2011, for recognition at next year’s awards ceremony. To download an awards nomination form, visit CHI’s website at http://lutheranhistory.org. Nominations are due by March 1.
Posted Dec. 28, 2011
