Who Should Be Nominated For LCMS Synodical President?

[Weedon]

Cindi (my wife) and I were talking about it just last night. She said with tears in her eyes: "We always have the Church. People come through for each other." We'd heard about Pr. Steinke's home and had seen the pic - we specifically prayed for him and the other homeless. But it was such a comfort to know that the Synod, local and national, was there already. It's a comfort to be part of a family and to know how open that family's embrace is of those in need.

[George Erdner]

This LCMS thread is up to 30 posts. Is it too soon to turn it into a discussion of women's ordination yet?

[S. Wesley Mcgranor]

 I picked the present one. The minister at the Lutheran church i frequent, says he is fairly up-to-par with some concerns i share.
I'd like to mention Herman J. Otten, whom i believe would make a splendid president. I have heard that the heirarchy of the L.C.M.S. doesn't appreciate him. I know he has recently retired. I never met him, or went to his church. I figure if the bureaucracy is perturbed by him, he must be a-1. I have read some of his writings.

[Matt Staneck]

Fully realizing I'm contributing to the change of topic here I'm happy to report that power is restored to the folks in Lower Manhattan including to the folks in Chinatown at my vicarage church.  I was told there will be worship Sunday morning and there will be food.  A joint service of both english and cantonese speaking complete with a spread of food.  I have to say it was sickening watching this unfold Monday night and I am thrilled that the church, specifically my synod, got there as quickly as they could.

In addition to the "green cap," Bishop, seeing Jose and Thomas getting to work was great.

M. Staneck

[mariemeyer]

I picked the present one. The minister at the Lutheran church i frequent, says he is fairly up-to-par with some concerns i share.
I'd like to mention Herman J. Otten, whom i believe would make a splendid president. I have heard that the heirarchy of the L.C.M.S. doesn't appreciate him. I know he has recently retired. I never met him, or went to his church. I figure if the bureaucracy is perturbed by him, he must be a-1. I have read some of his writings.

Pr. Herman Otten turns 80 on March 3, 2013.

Marie Otten Meyer

[Dave Benke]

Fully realizing I'm contributing to the change of topic here I'm happy to report that power is restored to the folks in Lower Manhattan including to the folks in Chinatown at my vicarage church.  I was told there will be worship Sunday morning and there will be food.  A joint service of both english and cantonese speaking complete with a spread of food.  I have to say it was sickening watching this unfold Monday night and I am thrilled that the church, specifically my synod, got there as quickly as they could.

In addition to the "green cap," Bishop, seeing Jose and Thomas getting to work was great.

M. Staneck

Thomas and Jose and others just received 350 buckets, mops and cleaning implements in a truck that came from Arlington Texas over the last two days.  A Lutheran parish and ministry to victims of floods and hurricanes; as one of our Puerto Rican women called and said, "They are such jolly guys!"  Mercy comes in many packages from many locales - this was courtesy of a hook-up nationally that has delivered these implements to floods throughout the midwest.  Now they're in East New York!

Dave Benke

[Jeff-MN]

Why isn't Rev. Weedon on the list of choices?

[Weedon]

NEVER, Jeff. NEVER. There are those who are made of the stuff it takes for that thankless job. I'm not. But thanks be to God, President Harrison is. He's wise, clever, crazy, compassionate, and humble.  A scholar and yet jovial, passionate about the Gospel AND about meeting human need in tangible ways.  No faith without works for him.

I confess that I love that man. He's a blessing to our Synod and well beyond.

If that sounds like gushing, well, tough. It's just the truth.

[LutherMan]

Pr. Herman Otten turns 80 on March 3, 2013.

Marie Otten Meyer

So what?  When does Marie Otten Meyer turn 80?

[D. Engebretson]

President Harrison....He's wise, clever, crazy, compassionate, and humble.  A scholar and yet jovial, passionate about the Gospel AND about meeting human need in tangible ways.  No faith without works for him.

He's a blessing to our Synod and well beyond.

I just had the opportunity to hear Pres. Harrison again at the recent Rural and Small Town Mission Conference this week in Iowa.  I'm always impressed.  He's well grounded in the Word (and Confessions/Luther), yet also very much in touch with real parish needs and genuine pastoral realities.  In talking about Witness, Mercy, Life Together as it relates to rural and small town needs he quickly became passionate about a desire to see a renewal in preaching.  He has also reminded our pastors and lay people about the great need to return to regular visitation.  Back to the basics, the essentials.  I appreciate that.  No gimmicks.  He knows what is ultimately important: our proclamation of the Gospel and the community of believers.  And as Chap. Weedon notes, he is very passionate about meeting human needs.  He has a solid history of doing this, going back to his days at Zion in Ft. Wayne when they worked for renewal of the inner city, and then stretching through the 9 or so years at the LCMS World Relief and Human Care.  He is a rare combination of impeccable and solid scholarship and genuine pastoral compassion.

[Dave Benke]

President Harrison....He's wise, clever, crazy, compassionate, and humble.  A scholar and yet jovial, passionate about the Gospel AND about meeting human need in tangible ways.  No faith without works for him.

He's a blessing to our Synod and well beyond.

I just had the opportunity to hear Pres. Harrison again at the recent Rural and Small Town Mission Conference this week in Iowa.  I'm always impressed.  He's well grounded in the Word (and Confessions/Luther), yet also very much in touch with real parish needs and genuine pastoral realities.  In talking about Witness, Mercy, Life Together as it relates to rural and small town needs he quickly became passionate about a desire to see a renewal in preaching.  He has also reminded our pastors and lay people about the great need to return to regular visitation.  Back to the basics, the essentials.  I appreciate that.  No gimmicks.  He knows what is ultimately important: our proclamation of the Gospel and the community of believers.  And as Chap. Weedon notes, he is very passionate about meeting human needs.  He has a solid history of doing this, going back to his days at Zion in Ft. Wayne when they worked for renewal of the inner city, and then stretching through the 9 or so years at the LCMS World Relief and Human Care.  He is a rare combination of impeccable and solid scholarship and genuine pastoral compassion.

Bart Day was supposed to be with you, Don, but he was with me.  In fact we were eating at the Parkside Restaurant in Corona Queens and he left to speak via phone to the assembled conference on Friday nite.  And off we went the next day to Staten Island.  So we were happy in NYC that he was with us, even though he was supposed to be with you. 

Dave Benke

[Dave Likeness]

The one thing I admire about Pastor Herman Otten
is his physical fitness.  As he prepares to blow out
80 candles on his birthday cake next year, he is
a living example of how pastors need to take care
of their physical health and body.  His marathon
runs, swimming, and biking provided an excellent
role model for all pastors.

I played sports at Concordia College, Milwaukee
and Fort Wayne, and Concordia Seminary, St.Louis.,
and the first ten years in the parish.  After that it
is tough to have the self-discipline to stay in shape.
So I commend Pastor Otten for his physical prowess.
He is probably a slam dunk to reach 90 candles on
his birthday cake in ten years.

[Tim Schenks]

I'd like to mention Herman J. Otten, whom i believe would make a splendid president.

He's never been on the LCMS clergy roster so he couldn't be nominated for the position.

[Tim Schenks]

NEVER, Jeff. NEVER. There are those who are made of the stuff it takes for that thankless job. I'm not.

Since you're in our district now I was going to give you a couple of more years before nominating you to be MO District President. 

[Kurt Weinelt]

NEVER, Jeff. NEVER. There are those who are made of the stuff it takes for that thankless job. I'm not.

Since you're in our district now I was going to give you a couple of more years before nominating you to be MO District President.

My late father (who was an ELCA pastor applying for ordination in the LCMS via colloquy when he died in 1999) always said any pastor who WANTS to be bishop/president should be automatically disqualified from the office. As I advance deeper into middle age, that idea seems to ring true. Which means, of course, that Pr. Weedon may be among the most qualified candidates out there.
Kurt