On July 23, during daily chapel at The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) International Center in St. Louis, the Rev. Dr. Jamison J. Hardy was installed as president of the Concordia University System (CUS). Prior to accepting the call to serve as CUS president, Hardy served as president of the LCMS English District (2015–2024) and as associate pastor of Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartland, Mich. He also spent nearly two years as an advisory member of the CUS Board of Directors. He replaces outgoing president Rev. Dr. Dean Wenthe, who recently retired from the position.
LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison preached for Hardy’s installation on Romans 5:8–11, observing that the text presents “the most precious thing that students need today. … The world has lied to our young people, continues to lie. … Consciences are burdened. Confusion reigns. We have a message: You are worth the blood of Jesus.”
Harrison walked through a brief history of Lutheran higher education, noting the abiding connection between the church and the university and the blessings and challenges that have arisen from that partnership. Turning to Hardy, he said, “Now is a golden moment. … I’m proud of what’s going on at our universities, and [I’m] thankful. And you are, too, aren’t you, Jamison? You will be an indefatigable supporter of these universities.”
Following his installation, Hardy told Reporter, “I look forward to continuing the great work at our Concordia universities and bringing the Good News to all people. Our Concordias play a key role in preparing future church workers, but they are also places to equip and train all vocations for service to Christ and the world. As a graduate of CUW [Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wis.], I believe that there is no greater place to do evangelism than on our college campuses. We give thanks to God for that, and I look forward to working with all of our Concordia universities and the people they serve.”
Hardy was born in Bay City, Mich., and grew up attending Lutheran schools. He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from CUW and a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW). After his ordination in 2000, his first call was to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Mount Lebanon, Pa., which later merged with another congregation to form Peace Lutheran Church, McMurray, Pa. In 2003, he was elected as a board member for Concordia Lutheran Ministries (CLM) and, as part of his responsibilities, took several trips to Africa to help monitor CLM’s work there.
Hardy later pursued graduate studies and in 2012 earned a doctorate in Business Administration from Walden University. In 2014, he taught in the D.Min. program at CTSFW, focusing on parish administration and pastoral leadership. He also recorded the PALS (Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support) module for the LCMS on the same topic.
Hardy began serving as CUS president on July 15. He and his wife, Wendy, have three children: Noah, Nathaniel and Naomi.
Posted Aug. 26, 2024
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