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Harrison addresses joys, challenges for Synod

Comments (6)
  1. Dr. Albert Jabs says:

    Scripture tells us that our Lord laughs at the pretensions of both persons and nations, for everything has been, is, and will be in HIs Almighty, ultimate hands…and as Pastor Harrison stated…we are the interim people with penultimate issues…which finally must be let go in HIs Almighty Utlimate hands…we forget that undue attachment to “stuff” of this world can sti

  2. Jakob Heckert says:

    We thank our Triune God for your work, for the Holy Spirit is at work in your life and the life of his people. May our Lord bless and keep you. Jakob Heckert

  3. Robert Meyer says:

    I would like to ask a question, not asked by the reporter or included in MH’s answers. If 66% voted for your presidency, that means 34% voted against. How do you intend to be the president of that 34%? In what way will they be included in the movement toward the decisions you indicate are needed?

    1. TRWenndt says:

      Robert, with all due respect, I have a better question for you – what are you doing on behalf of those who have been elected your leaders, whether you voted for them or not? As God places governments in the civil realm, so also does he for do the same for His Church.

      The atmosphere created by President Harrison so far is the finest I have seen in all my years in the LC-MS in terms of trying to transcend the partisan pettiness and bickering that has accompanied too much of our history. But it can only go as far as what the people of our synod, regardless of how they may have (at least previously) aligned themselves politically, are willing to come together and attain our initiatives as one church.

      I tired long ago of the we vs. they mentality that is found in way too many corners of our church body through the years – everywhere from differences of opinion in worship styles to different emphases of the perception of the vision and direction of our church.

      The enemy is Satan – not those who have a different church political philosophy. The enemy is being strengthened by emptying pews, a generation that cares less and less about church, regardless of who is in charge, and a society that is becoming downright antithetical to the Christian philosophy and roots of our great and free nation.

      So I ask again – what are you doing on behalf of those who have been elected as your leaders, whether you voted for them or not? Are you praying for them every day? Are you giving them the respect that comes with the Office of the Presidency of our Church Body? Are you genuinely trying to work in your own little corner at furthering the initiatives of the church, realizing that they are for the ENTIRE church?

      In my years, I have gotten to know, to respect, and to seek out the opinions and counsel of Presidents Barry, Kieschnick and Harrison. I am grateful for the service each of them (along with former Presidents Bohlmann and Kuhn, who I did not get to know) have provided to our church.

      Questions like yours, which may or may not reflect your own personal view towards our current president, build in a false assumption that things need to be done a certain way or the game of, “He isn’t MY president” will be allowed to commence. Nothing is more harmful to the church, especially as we enter the twenty-teens, as that attitude.

      We are all best served both in prayer, finding ways to work together, and leaving behind questions that would seek to divide us.

  4. John Marquardt says:

    I also enjoyed the convention and the positive attitude from almost everyone I spoke with and heard talk.

    However, I do wish that video from the worship services were posted on the LCMS website. I wanted to relive that part of the convention and share with others who don’t have Internet access.

    I’m still humming “Baptised for This Moment’ and replaying in my mind the chanting of the Te Deum Laudamus from the Monday’s Matin service.

    Praise God for the amazing things He is doing in Africa!

  5. MKeller says:

    Robert, my thoughts as a layperson in the church with regards to your question are this: I have observed that the people and leadership of the LCMS church span the spectrum from more liberal progressivists to ultra-conservative Lutherans who think that most of the LCMS churches are being influenced too much by the non-denominational evangelical movement within Christianity. This is probably what caused the split in votes. I am hoping that Pastor Harrison can work to bring together all of these good Lutheran people so that we can accept that we might not agree on some of the details but that we are in agreement on the core non-negotiable principles.