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Had to laugh at this article this morning. Now it's full stop for the Gottesdienst bunch. Capitulation from earlier in the week when they were ready to nail the CTCR to the stake and give them the Jan Hus treatment...

https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/2023/2/2/musing-on-the-large-catechism-controversy
https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2023/2/1/tgc-258-anatomy-of-a-confusion-large-catechism-edition

Now this...nothing to see here, all good...

https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/2023/2/2/the-president-has-spoken


Someone put their finger in the air, found where the political winds were blowing and didn't appreciate the aroma. I"ll just go back to doing what God has called me to do through St. John's and pray for our leaders and the sad state of the LCMS.

What's the deal blowing up at the printing of the new Annotated Large Catechism? Is there's legit reasons to be so concerned? I haven't a clue, but would sure welcome some ALPB insight. Happy Monday!

In receiving a myriad of asks for dollars from the surviving Concordias, every LCMS RSO in my area and beyond, and from so many consultant type groups. It dawned on me that there could be a reordering in the LCMS and maybe other church bodies. What if the districts and the synod did less programming and invested resources in congregations? Seems to be every nickel that goes outside of a congregational ministry, very seldom returns, whereas districts and denominations would be much stronger if the sum of their parts, congregations, were well funded and robust. Fund and support congregations and let the chips fall where they may. Seems to me history bears out that healthy and robust congregations would be force for positive and on ground ministry. What do you think?

The joy of being my age with no children in sports or to watch over, is that I am the one guy who can go to the LCMS Convention. Used to be guys competed to go, now the short straw goes. I have the short straw. Any thoughts encouragements or hopes?  Help

Glad to see tradition of the United List lives on. Looks a bit younger on the "down ticket" races. People with my perspective, as casually disinterested,  is that the United List will run the table again and LCMS will pick up more downward momentum nationally and local congregations will be shining lights in political season.

Here's link

https://theunitedlist.org/

Calm? The presentations at district conventions that I have heard or read of have said, "The Synod is calm." I think its calm politically because every pastor has their head down working away in a very difficult season. Could also be apathy. Thoughts?

Home on quarantine and reflecting on my own mortality in light of the District Conferences word that 30% of pastors will retire in next 10 years. That includes me:)

So I wonder what the deal is? Do we have a looming pastoral crisis? Will congregations bid for services and resourced churches have pastors? Will pastoral vacancies cause congregations to compete for pastors? Do we rather than having not enough pastors have too many congregations?

There seems to be no strategy coming from LCMS Inc. IMHO writing papers and doing studies is over. And congregations and districts seem to be on their own. We can all do nothing and hope for the best. We can start talking succession planning and see what happens. I'm curious about your thoughts and observations.

If the LCMS were to look into the big wide world and say, "We are going to do one thing well and be the best in North American Christianity." What would that be? Orthodox have us on liturgy. Elementary Education and Early Childhood come to mind. What do you think? Could clarify and unite as well as use our resources in collaboration.

For those of us who attended Concordia St. Paul, we will Dr. Stohlmann and his guidance and leadership of our Pre Sem Program. He was a great professor, fantastic and direct advisor and a man dedicated to Christian Education from the Font to the grave. 

He changed the trajectory of my life and many. Blessings to his family and all who grieve.

https://files.lcms.org/wl/?id=vewI68foSb5riKWHrb3G4SnAejgK9NTy