Dear Fellow Workers:
Here is another update on things going on in our beloved synod. We urge all to pray that God blesses the work we are doing in the name of Christ our Savior, and that he would grant us true unity and harmony as we move forward. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:15-17)

ELS Bright Spots
We are pleased to hear that Pastor Jong In Kim and his congregation, Asian Mission church, are now settled into newly rented quarters. The congregation meets in the Irvine, CA, area.

Pastor Larry Wentzlaff reports that 23 are enrolled in pre-school and kindergarten at Family of God Lutheran in Fort Mohave, AZ.

Weekly worship services continue to be held in Queens Creek, AZ. Pastor David J. Webber should be contacted for information (480-585-7002). The outreach in Queens Creek is a satellite mission of Redeemer Lutheran in Scottsdale, AZ.

The newest congregation to the ELS, St. John’s in Frankenmuth, MI, held a call meeting on September 24, 2006. Rev. Bernt Tweit has received the call and is deliberating. On October 1, Pastor Joel Ehlert, who has served at St. John’s for 41 years, is retiring. We wish Pastor Ehlert and his wife Miriam the Lord’s richest blessings in retirement.

October Reformation Lectures at Bethany College
Three presentations will be given on “Biblical Exegesis in the Synodical Conference,” October 26–27, 2006: G. Stoeckhardt: The Exegetical Task, by Prof. Joel L. Pless, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI; J.P. Koehler: The Exegetical Task, by Pastor Peter M. Prange, Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Morton Grove, IL; and R.C.H. Lenski: The Exegetical Task, by Prof. Steven H. Geiger, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, WI.

Anniversary at Marinette
On September 10, 2006, First Trinity Lutheran of Marinette, WI, celebrated its 75th anniversary. Pastor E.C.F. Stubenvoll, Jr., the current pastor of the congregation, served as liturgist, while President Moldstad preached the sermon. Seminarian Robert Oberg, who is sponsored by First Trinity, and also former pastor, Rev. E. C. F. Stubenvoll, Sr., served as lectors. In 1974 the congregation joined the ELS after taking a stand against its former synod (ALC) on the doctrine of the verbal inerrancy of Holy Scripture.
 
The synod’s Board for Stewardship consists of (from left to right) Mr. Ryan Dee, Pastor David Russow (chairman), Mr. Tom Oswald, Mr. John Natvig and Pastor Mark Rogers. One of the board’s responsibilities this year is overseeing the synod-wide offering for Lutheran Schools of America (LSA). The suggested kick-off date for the offering in the congregations of our synod is Sunday, November 12.

Appeals Commission and Related Matters
At our convention this year a five member Appeals Commission was elected. On September 11, 2006, the commission issued its decision to uphold the suspension of Rev. Rolf Preus from the clergy of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

On September 20, 2006, three pastors (Rev. Robert Lawson, Jr., Rev. Leslie Lanier and Rev. Steven Brockdorf) and two congregations (Wayfarers’ Chapel of Fillmore, CA and St. Paul of Escondido, CA) declared themselves to be in a “state of confession.” In disseminating the information regarding this “state of confession,” the synod president stated: “Naturally, as the president of the synod, I am saddened to have received this protest notice from the three pastors and the two congregations. I need to inform all in the synod, however, that this state of confession indicates that they are putting the synod on notice that they are in a protest doctrinally against the ELS since doctrine and practice go hand in hand. It is to be understood from my office that this state of confession period is seen as a temporary measure that will not continue for very long without some official resolution of the matter. Until the state of confession is removed, I need to make it clear that this means these three pastors and the two congregations are not at this time in altar/pulpit fellowship with the pastors and congregations of our Evangelical Lutheran Synod.”

Prayer Requests
Please remember Mary Grubbs, wife of Czech Missionary Mark Grubbs, in your prayers. She has been diagnosed with diabetes and is being kept in the hospital in Plzen for tests.

Our sympathy is extended to the family of Rev. Larry Wentzlaff. Larry’s father died recently and the funeral was held in Henderson, MN.

Keep in your prayers our vice president, Rev. Glenn Obenberger. Glenn has been recovering from major surgery. At present, he is back in the hospital suffering with a blood clot.

Lynne Kessel is now home from her hospital stay at Rochester. She continues to make progress slowly, following her near-death experience of brain hemorrhaging. We praise God for sparing her life.

Pastor Herb Huhnerkoch had successful hip replacement surgery on September 26 and is expected to return home from the hospital soon.

Pastor Bill Mack’s daughter suffers from Myasthenia Gravis and recently has been hospitalized while pregnant. Please pray for Christy and her family and for her unborn child.
 
ELS Circuit Visitors – September 22, 2007

Address Changes
Rev. Paul Zager: Home 231-206-6450
Rev. Cory Hahnke: hahnkec(at)msn.com

President’s Activities
October 2—Board for Evangelism
October 2––Board for Publications
October 3–5—General Pastoral Conference
October 5–6––Board for Parish Education & Youth
October 8––Preach at St. John’s, Frankenmuth, MI
October 12–13—Lutheran Schools of America
October 16–17—ELS/WELS Forum at WI Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, WI
October 22—Preach at Trinity, West Bend, WI, 150th Anniversary
October 26–27—Reformation Lectures at BLC
October 29—Preach at Holton, MI
October 30—Board for Home Missions
November 2––Preach at BLC chapel
November 2–3—Board for Foreign Missions
November 11––ELS Historical Society
November 13–14—Board of Regents
November 14—Board of Trustees
November 15––Synod Review Committee
November 19—Preach in Iola, WI

In Christ’s saving grace,

John A. Moldstad