For Immediate Release
Contact: Vicki Biggs, 314-996-1236, 314-556-3829 (cell), @theLCMS
ST. LOUIS, September 14, 2013—About 500 guests, including representatives from international Lutheran churches, attended today’s Service of Installation for the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), the church’s six vice-presidents, secretary, and members of the LCMS Board of Directors and nine other boards and commissions.
The Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee, president of Lutheran Church—Canada, an LCMS partner church, preached at the two-hour service held at the Chapel of Saint Timothy and Saint Titus at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
“It is a a blessing that the installation service was on Holy Cross Day since Christ crucified is the heart of our life and our work, even though preaching about Jesus rubs an awful lot of people the wrong way in today’s society,” said Bugbee. “Never let up on preaching Christ crucified to long-time believers, unbelievers and to ourselves, so that we might be believable servant-leaders whose work has real significance and the help of God’s Holy Spirit.”
Harrison, the 13th man to serve as president of the LCMS since its founding in 1847, was elected earlier this summer to a second three-year term as Synod president. He was first elected in July 2010.
“The greatest joy of serving as president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has been seeing the undeserved blessings Christ continues to bestow upon this worldwide fellowship,” Harrison said upon learning that he had been re-elected. “Amidst the deepest struggles, our own many sins and failings, and in the face of a world gone mad, the Lord unfailingly answers our prayers for mercy and abundantly so. ‘Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered’ (Ps. 32:1).”
The six-vice presidents, secretary, LCMS Board of Directors members and other board and commission members installed today were elected at the LCMS convention, which met July 20-25 in St. Louis.
Following the service, guests mingled and enjoyed a barbecue lunch in the seminary’s Quadrangle.
To see photos and videos from the installation service and reception, visit www.lcms.org/installation.
About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a biblical, confessional, witness-oriented Christian denomination with 2.3 million members – 600,000 households – in 6,200 congregations. Through acts of witness and mercy, the church carries out its mission worldwide to make known the love of Jesus Christ. Learn more at www.lcms.org.
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