Historical Institute presents awards for 2012

The Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) presented “Awards of Commendation” to 23 historians Nov. 7 for exemplary accomplishment in the field of American Lutheran history during 2012. CHI gives the annual awards for major publications, journal articles, congregational histories, regional histories, family histories and non-print media including videos.

The 39th awards banquet was held at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, where the institute’s offices, archives and special exhibit areas are located. CHI is the Department of Archives and History for the Synod.

The Rev. Joel R. Baseley of Dearborn, Mich., watches as a boutonniere is pinned to his lapel during the Concordia Historical Institute awards banquet Nov. 7 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Baseley received the Distinguished Service Award for his writings on C.F.W. Walther, the founding president of the LCMS. (Todd Zittlow)

The Rev. Joel R. Baseley of Dearborn, Mich., a prolific translator of C.F.W. Walther’s writings, received the Distinguished Service Award. Baseley’s Walther translations include the first three years of Der Lutheraner, sermons, prayers and convention essays. He also has translated some of the writings of Martin Luther which had yet to be translated into English. According to the institute, Baseley has made available to English speakers a great number of orthodox writings from Luther, Walther and other early Missouri Synod theologians.

In alphabetical order (by last name of first author listed for publications with multiple authors), the past year’s CHI honorees are:

John M. Brenner, Mequon, Wis., for “John Bading and the First Fifty Years of Wisconsin Synod History,” Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, Vol. 109, No. 3, Summer 2012 (Journal Articles).

John M. Brenner, Mequon, for “Walther and the Election Controversy,” Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, Vol. 109, No. 2, Spring 2012 (Journal Articles).

Maria E. Erling, Gettysburg, Pa., for “What America Wanted and Swedish American Youth,” Currents in Theology and Mission, June 2012, Vol. 39, No. 3 (Journal Articles).

Rev. Craig A. Ferkenstad, St. Peter, Minn., for “A Half-Century of Mission Involvement: ELS Foreign Mission Work Prior to 1968,” Lutheran Synod Quarterly, Vol. 52, No. 4 (Journal Articles).

Phyllis Freeman, Ashley Reinitz and Rebecca Wells, members of the 100th Anniversary History Book Sub-Committee for Joyful Servants, Steadfast Love: Celebrating 100 Years of God’s Blessings at Our Redeemer [Lutheran Church, Overland, Mo.] (Congregational Histories).

Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, St. Louis, for The Church & the Office of the Ministry, Kirche und Amt, by C.F.W. Walther, edited by Harrison, Concordia Publishing House, 2012 (Major Publications).

LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison addresses guests at the Concordia Historical Institute awards banquet. Harrison received an award in the “Major Publications” category for his editing of The Church & the Office of the Ministry, Kirche und Amt, by C.F.W. Walther by Concordia Publishing House. (Todd Zittlow)

Dr. William R. Keel, Belleville, Ill., for Living Stones, The History of Zion Lutheran Church, Belleville, 1861-2011, published by Zion Lutheran Church, 1810 McClintock Ave., Belleville, 2012 (Congregational Histories).

DeAne Lagerquist, Northfield, Minn., for “Lars W. Boe (1875-1942),” Lutheran Quarterly, Vol. XXVI, No. 4, Winter 2012 (Journal Articles).

Stan M. Landry, Phoenix, for “German ‘Worship Wars’ and the 1830 Anniversaries of the Augsburg Confession,” Lutheran Quarterly, Vol. XXVI, No. 4, Winter 2012 (Journal Articles).

Rev. John A. Maxfield, Edmonton, Canada, editor, Wilhelm Loehe and the Nineteenth-Century Revival of Lutheran Confessionalism and Mission, The Pieper Lectures, Vol. 13 (St. Louis: Concordia Historical Institute and the Luther Academy), 2012 (Major Publications).

H. Paul Moon, Arlington, Va., for “The Saxon World” (Non-print Media).

Deaconess Cheryl Naumann, Oakmont, Pa., for “Lutheran Deaconesses in North America: Assessing Loehe’s Influence,” Currents in Theology and Mission, February 2012, Vol. 39, No. 1 (Journal Articles).

Sarah K. Nytroe, DeSales University, Center Valley, Pa., for “The American Reformation Quadricentennial, 1917,” Lutheran Quarterly, Vol. XXVI, No. 1, Spring 2012 (Journal Articles).

Rev. Joel Loren Pless, Germantown, Wis., for “A Big Sister Helping Out a Little Sister: The St. Louis Years of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 1870-1878,” Wisconsin Historical Institute Journal, Vol. 30, No. 1, Spring 2012 (Journal Articles).

Rev. Robert L. Rahn, Macomb, Mich., for Jesus Never Fails: An Autobiography and History of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, Lutheran Heritage Foundation, 2012 (Organizational Histories).

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind., for Now Thank We All Our God: 175th Anniversary, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, 2012 (Congregational Histories).

Rev. William P. Yonker, Gerald and Ann Heinz, Ralph Buhrow, Dorcas Meissner, for the book Immanuel — God With Us, as well as a DVD and other items celebrating the story of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church and School of East Dundee, Ill. (Congregational Histories).