President's Newsletter: October 2005
Dear Fellow Workers:
The Reformation season presents a special teaching opportunity to highlight why Dr. Martin Luther took a stand against the established church of his day. At the heart and center, of course, was the doctrine justification. In 1536 shortly before he drafted the Smalcald Articles, Luther is reported to have said: “Let us therefore attack the papacy with the article of justification: I believe in Jesus Christ; the just shall live through his faith. With this thunderbolt the whole papacy would be shattered–namely, private masses, justifying works, purgatory, monastic life, invocation of saints, pilgrimages. If we took our stand on this article, all other articles we might concede would have no effect” (LW 54: 215). Whether or not Luther was so accurately quoted as we find the comment in his “Table Talk,” we too know the centrality of justification and how it drives the entire doctrinal wheel of God’s holy Word. May we steer the wheel wisely as we instruct souls under our care.
Installations and Commissioning
South Lake Lutheran Church of Clermont, FL, has organized and has extended the permanent call to Greg Sahlstrom to continue to serve them as pastor. We rejoice in this milestone in this new congregation's history, and we pray that the Lord would continue to bless Greg, his diligent work, and the work of the members of the new congregation in Clermont. A special service of installation of Pastor Sahlstrom was held September 25 at 4:00 p.m.
The Reverend John Petersen was installed at Mt. Olive Lutheran, Mankato, Minnesota on September 11, 2005. Professor Michael Smith preached the sermon; the Reverend Daniel Basel served as liturgist and the Reverend Craig Ferkenstad performed the rite of installation.
Mr. Andrew Burmeister was installed as vicar of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Kallangur, Queensland, Australia, on September 11, 2005. The Reverend David Meyer performed the rite of installation and preached the sermon on Acts 20:28-32 with the theme “Be a Faithful Shepherd of the Flock.”
AZ Installation Planned
The Rev. David Jay Webber will be installed at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Scottsdale, Arizona, on October 16.
Twenty-fifth Anniversary
Pastor William Mack will celebrate 25 years in the ministry on Reformation Sunday October 30. A special service of thanksgiving is planned at 4 p.m. with a potluck dinner to follow. Faith Lutheran Church of Oregon, WI, would like to extend an invitation to all clergy and parishioners to attend Pastor Mack's 25th Anniversary.
Latvia/Czech Republic Trip
On September 8-13 Rev. Steven Petersen, our Missions Counselor who meets regularly with Thoughts of Faith (TOF); Mr. Kermit Traska, the Executive Director of TOF; and your synod president traveled to Riga, Latvia. Rev. Gundars Bakulis, a graduate of our own Bethany Seminary, serves as the bishop for the Confessional Lutheran Church in Latvia (CLCL), a church body sponsored by TOF and also a member of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC). The CLCL has eleven congregations and twelve pastors. Pastor Petersen made a presentation to the Latvian pastors, explaining how home mission churches in the USA go about organizing. The subject generated much discussion among the pastors of the CLCL as they described the way Gospel outreach is carried on in their country. On Sunday, September 11, your president preached at the congregation in downtown Riga; the church is served both by Pastor Bakulis and Pastor Ugis Sildegs. We rejoice in our fellowship with the CLCL and we urge our membership to keep these brothers and sisters in Christ in our prayers.
On September 13-15, 2005, we flew from Riga to Prague, Czech Republic, in order to meet with the members of our mission church and school in Plzen. Again, Rev. Petersen gave his presentation, this time to two seminary students, Martin Vrsecky and Petr Krakora. We also had a chance to see the small remodeled chapel in Tlucna where services are also being held. At the Martin Luther School in Plzen, Don and Noelle Weston, WELS volunteers, are assisting our missionaries and teachers for the year. Enrolled in the school are 198 children, many of whom are not yet members of our mission. The average attendance at our Czech Mission services is 80. Please pray for the work at our school in Plzen. Pastor Matthew and his wife Nancy, Pastor Mark Grubs and his wife Mary, as well as Paul and Jen Kelm are the full-time American workers in our TOF-sponsored Czech Mission.
More pictures of President Moldstad's trip to Latvia and the Czech Republic can be viewed on the website at: http://www.evangelicallutheransynod.org/President/news/photos/latvia/.
Norway
On September 25 the Rev. George Orvick preached at the Lutheran Congregation at Avaldsnes and brought greetings on behalf of Pres. Moldstad and the ELS. He and his wife Ruth also met Rev. Tor Jakob Welde and family and saw the apartment house hall where Tor’s congregation in Bergen meets. Nineteen were in attendance. Rev. Egil Edvardsen and his family at Stavanger also were visited by the Orvicks.
Peru News
Pastor Terry Schultz has written another “Jungle Journal” account where he tells of interesting struggles for the faith facing our new brothers and sisters in Christ along the Amazon. We ask God to be with the leaders and the members in these Peruvian villages as his Word is proclaimed in its truth and purity.
Rev. Karl Kuenzel and his wife Karen are in the process of returning from Peru. Karl and Karen will be residing in Texas for now. We thank the Kuenzels for years of service in our mission fields of both Chile and Peru. If you wish to contact them, you may do so at the following email address: karl_kuenzel(at)hotmail.com
Essayist for 2006 Synod Convention
Rev. Ed Bryant graciously has consented to serve as our essayist for the 2006 Synod Convention. The theme this year will be “For You and Your Children,” focusing our thoughts on Acts 2:38,39. At the convention we will kick-off the special synod-wide offering for Lutheran Schools of America (LSA).
Hurricane Relief
If members in our synod wish to contribute financially to the relief efforts, they may direct their gifts to: ELS Hurricane Relief, 6 Browns Court, Mankato, MN 56001. We will then transmit the funds collectively to the WELS Committee on Relief. Recently our Board for Christian Service sent a check to the WELC committee on Relief totaling $22,638 of this amount $16,900 is eligible to be matched by Thrivent. Previously another check had been sent in the amount of $18,568 for the Tsunami relief efforts. We thank God for moving the hearts of our people to assist the needs of many hurting souls
Wilson Colloquy
The Rev. James D. Wilson, formerly of the LCMS, who now serves Resurrection Lutheran (independent) in Coos Bay, OR, has applied for colloquy in order to be certified as an ELS pastor. The colloquy date has been set for Friday, October 14, 2005. Any correspondence regarding this application may be directed to my office.
Seminary Opening
Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary began its new school year with an opening service on August 29 in Good Shepherd Chapel. Rev. Richard Wiechmann based his message on Jeremiah 17:5-8 with the theme: In The Ministry, There Is No Do-It-Yourself Kit.
The seminary enrollment this year numbers nineteen. There are one vicar, four seniors, three middlers, seven juniors, and four special students. The vicar is Andrew Burmeister at Our Redeemer Lutheran, Kallangur, Queensland, Australia.
ELS Bright Spots
On October 2, 2005, King of Grace Lutheran in Waukon, Iowa, dedicated a newly purchased worship facility. On that day four people were also taken into membership at KOG.
Also on October 2, 2005, Rev. David Russow was commissioned as a home missionary for our new exploratory mission in Rogers/Otsego, MN. Land already has been acquired by our synod in this rapidly growing area NW of Minneapolis.
Pastor David Russow, his wife Kay and family
India Mission
If your church or school would like additional copies of the "Mission: India" poster, please contact the synod office (507-344-7354).
From our Treasurer
The congregational offering vouchers which your treasurer sends with synod offerings are now available on the website at
Prayer Requests
Opal Browning, a member of King of Grace in Golden Valley, MN, died on Thursday, September 29. Opal is the mother of Mr. Dan Browning, who serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Thoughts of Faith and is chairman of the subcommittee on Ukraine. We ask for God’s comfort for the family.
Pastor Henry Gieschen of Cape Girardeau, MO, is in need of our prayers as he continues to adjust to his recent liver transplant.
Address Changes
Rev. Jerome Gernander
1107 N 18th Street
Princeton MN 55371
Home 763-631-0860
Office 763-389-3070
revjerome(at)nsatel.net
Rev. John Petersen: john.petersen(at)blc.edu
Rev. Harvey Abrahamson: revabe(at)wels.net
President’s Activities
October 4-6—General Pastoral Conference
October 9—Our Savior’s, Elderon, Wisconsin (Mission Festival)
October 12-14—Board for Education and Youth
October 14––Colloquy for Rev. James Wilson
October 23—Bethany, Port Orchard, Washington (Anniversary Service)
October 24-25––Board of Regents
October 27-28—Reformation Lectures at BLC
November 8—Board of Trustees
November 13—Lakeland, Florida (Twentieth Anniversary)
May God’s grace through the merits of Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son, be with you.
John A. Moldstad
