https://www.unitedlutheranseminary.edu/about/president-erwin
On one hand, it will be good to have scholar in that position, and President-elect Erwin is a good one. He's also actually Lutheran, which is a good thing for "United Lutheran Seminary." And several times on this forum I've spoken of the personal connections he and I have that began when he became Interim Pastor at my home congregation, serving as my mother's pastor. And by all accounts, he was a good pastor for them.
On the other hand, as a man married to another man who believes and teaches that this is nothing to repent of, he is by definition a wicked priest. Furthermore, the circumstances of his ordination, particularly given the Conference of Bishops' consistent practice regarding first calls (his first "call" was from the Synod to his already long-held professorship at Cal Lutheran, one for which before 2010 the COB would have brushed off his ordination without a thought), deeply, deeply offends me -- one who has long supported non-stipendiary, part-time, and non-congregational calls.
In the end, his election as President of what remains of what was once the premier Lutheran seminary in this hemisphere is yet one more instance in which ELCA leadership demonstrates that "trust" is a word void of any meaning whatsoever in this church.
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Steven+