# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S76
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

76

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

remembering the 40th anniversary of the move from downtown
Milwaukee to the Mequon campus. Finally, we are commemorating
the 60th anniversary of the Ann Arbor campus. We praise God for
His goodness and faithfulness as we reflect on these special events.

I. New President
Finally, 2023 has brought a new president to CUWAA. Dr. Ankerberg began this role in January of this year, and he is currently
undertaking a university-wide presidential transition process, in
which he is conducting a series of almost 30 listening sessions with
various university constituents.

records that not only chronicle the history of the Synod (its congregations, institutions, leaders, and events) but document the history
of a 175-year-old church body that, under the mercy and grace of
Christ and His Word, has not only survived crises but grown and
flourished even through difficult and unsettling times.
CHI actively manages the following:
•

Over 15,500 linear feet (3 miles) of archival material in temperature- and humidity-controlled rooms

•

An increasingly large archival collection of historical photographs, motion-picture film, audio and video tapes, artifacts
from the mission field, and fine art connected with the Reformation and the Lutheran Church in North America

•

Professional archival and research services that organize,
catalog, and provide access to the millions of archived items
in the CHI collection

•

Two high-quality museums (a permanent exhibit on the Reformation and history of the Synod at the LCMS headquarters
in Kirkwood, Missouri, and a museum with changing exhibits at CHI, located on the campus of Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis)

•

The newly updated and expanded Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly (the longest-running journal of Lutheran
history in North America, now in its 96th year of publication)

•

A recently redesigned smartphone-friendly
concordiahistoricalinstitute.org

•

An annual awards program, now in its 48th year, that recognizes excellence in published books and articles on the
history of Lutheranism in North America

•

An annual Walther Roundtable, now in its 34th year, featuring presentations on current research into the history of the
LCMS during the life of C.F.W. Walther

•

Hill of Peace Lutheran Memorial in Friedenberg, Missouri, a
historic site spotlighting the life and faith of the first Lutheran settlers in Perry County, Missouri, where church services
are conducted three times a year

J. Conclusion
While CUWAA faces the same challenges as any other university in the nation, the university is financially healthy, strong in
its missional commitments, and, most importantly, faithful to the
truths of Holy Scripture. What will never change is that we, as a
Lutheran university community, prioritize the Christian tradition,
foster a culture of innovation, and nurture our students in thought,
in word, and in action to make them—and the world—whole.
Erik P. Ankerberg, President
R15

Concordia Historical Institute
The Department of Archives and History
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
concordiahistoricalinstitute.org
Our crucified, resurrected, and ascended Lord has been gracious
to Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) over these past four years.
Striving to make CHI the premier provider of Lutheran historical
resources in North America, the CHI staff, volunteers, and board
are thankful for the prayers, encouraging words, and generous financial support of LCMS districts, congregations, and individuals as we continue to serve the advancement of the history of the
LCMS.

1. CHI has been charged with actively
managing historical and archival materials
and services
The beginnings of CHI go back 175 years to the founding of the
LCMS, when the Secretary of Synod was charged with chronicling
the denomination’s history and collecting and preserving documents and artifacts of historic value. Officially incorporated as a
nonprofit institution in 1927, CHI continues to retrieve, catalog,
preserve, and share with church and community the historical treasures entrusted to its care while serving as a resource for observing
major anniversaries of Synod leaders, entities, congregations, and
events.
As the Synod’s department of archives, CHI is charged with
managing what has become the largest Lutheran archival collection
in North America—a collection that includes a rich variety of documents, publications, rare books, photographs, audio/visual media,
artifacts, and fine art. Our immediate scope is all that directly
touches on the history of the LCMS. Our secondary scope is historical material that frames and informs the history of the LCMS.
As the official department of archives and history of the LCMS
(Bylaw 3.6.2), CHI continues to search out and organize historical
2023 Convention Workbook

website:

2. CHI has developed resources to commemorate the following Synod-related anniversaries
Despite the restraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic,
over the last three years, CHI has doubled its efforts to “move Lutheran history forward.” We have developed and published resources that commemorate major anniversaries related to the LCMS.
For example, Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly has published special issues on the following events:
•

175th anniversary of the LCMS

•

175th anniversary of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort
Wayne

•

150th anniversary of Concordia Publishing House

•

150th anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical
Conference of North America

•

125th anniversary of LCMS mission work in Southern India

•

125th anniversary of LCMS Deaf Ministry

•

125th anniversary of Concordia University, Nebraska