LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 338

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338

Directors has helped me to learn the quali-
ties our leaders should have.

2. I find great joy as I perceive our Synod to
move to a position of deeper loyalty to the
Holy Scriptures. I am disappointed in the
lack of action by some of our officials to the
directives mandated by convention resolu-
tions.

3. I believe that the Great Commission binds
us to acommitment to the entire Scriptures
and requires us to make our Lord’s com-
mands known to “all nations.” With zeal to
follow through on these commands with all
the strength and ability that God gives us,
the Spirit will surely bless our efforts and
many more souls, throughout the world,
will be brought into His kingdom.

Ralph M. Fickenscher *

1. This committee requires one who has know-
ledge of many people, not only from my
District, but from others as well, and I feel
that I have that qualification. Secondly, I
feel that previous experience on this com-
mittee helps, and I have that also. Again,
there should be representation from various
areas of the country on this committee, and
I feel that I could well represent the West
Coast.

2. My greatest joy in direction of Synod is that
it is once again moving on the track of our
forefathers, preaching, teaching, and tell-
ing the Word and witnessing to God’s love
for the sinner, because where that is done,
our Lord has promised that the Holy Spirit
will work faith in the hearer, and there will
be fruit.

3. It is our Savior’s desire that all men be
saved. To that end it is our duty, individu-
ally and corporately, to witness and tell,
praying that the Holy Spirit will work faith
in men. In some cases of externals we may
cooperate with other Christians to achieve
that end; but wherever the means of grace
and public doctrine and practice are con-
cerned, we must make our own arrange-
ments, using what I like to call our “sancti-
fied common sense.”

John L. Harms

1. Iam vitally concerned that our Synod stays
true to God’s Word and not deviate from the
sound, historic doctrines derived from that
Word. I would work diligently on this
committee to select nominees for synodical
office that share this feeling.

2. My greatest joy was to see God’s power and
concern for our Synod when He caused all
the liberal professors at Concordia, St.
Louis, to leave us en masse. I am dis-
appointed that our President and admin-
istration are doing so little to rid us of the
remnant of liberal officials.

3. We must have faith in God that He will
guide us in all our steps to carry out His
Great Commission as long as we remain
faithful to His Word. To do this we should:
(1) Permit no pastor or official to remain in
office if he deviates, without repentance,
from God’s Word. (2) Have pulpit fellowship
based only on unity of doctrine. (3) Have
Synod take over the major cost of running
both seminaries. (4) Put much more
emphasis on the stewardship of our people.

Thomas N. Olsen *

1. I have been involved in the educational
field my entire adult life. I have taught the
entire spectrum from preschool to graduate
level students. I have been an elementary
school principal for 25 years. I have been a
public school board member and a member
and president of our local library board.

2. I feel our Synod must continue to “keep
check” on the theological position that has
been its heritage. I am thrilled that we are
able to move forward in our mission pro-
gram through our “Open Doors” program. I
am overjoyed with the increase in the

NOMINATIONS

number of candidates that have enrolled in
our two fine seminaries.

3. To continue the efforts to make our schools
educationally excellent and theologically
sound so that in the period of nationally
declining enrollments, our synodical young
people will find our schools too attractive to
pass by. To give greater emphasis tochurch
vocations. To expand our mission program
both at homeand abroad. To develop synod-
wide programs for personal growth, under-
standing, and involvement for our current
membership in faith, mission, and
stewardship.

Margaret K. Rusch

1. Particularly qualified? Hardly, but having
been married to a man active in the church
for 43 years and who has previously served
on nomination committees, I have a good
grasp of the work of Synod generally, and
the committee in particular and am
acquainted with many people in Synod.

2. My greatest joy would be Synod’s adherence
to a Bible-based theology. My greatest dis-
appointment is the gradual erosion of the
synodical school system.

3. Synod’s response to the Great Commission
must be one of supplying qualified man-
power. A greater effort must be made in
recruiting and training full-time church
workers. The shortage is already great and
the present supply of upcoming workers
will not fill the vacancies—let alone allow
for growth. To reach others with the Word it
is imperative that enough qualified workers
be ready and available to carry the church’s
work forward.

Henry Sundermann

1. I have been a lay member of the Steward-
ship Task Force of our South Dakota
District. I have been on the Board of Elders
of our congregation for many years and
usually in charge of stewardship. I believe
in tithing and highly recommend it.

2. Iam pleased that we again have the Word of
God taught in our seminaries without
doubt, but I do believe that we should be
more strict wth some of our Districts.

3. I believe we have failed to carry out the
Great Commission of the Lord as we could,
considering the wealth and intellect that
we have. We have done considerable
mission work but very little compared to
our potential. I think we should concentrate
more effort on teaching the joy of giving to
the children in catechism and Sunday
school. ‘Forward in Remembrance” is a
step in the right direction.

Archie Unterseher

1. I feel that my background as an elder, Bible
class leader, and general church activities
should have helped prepare me for more
responsibility. With God's help perhaps I
can make some kind of contribution.

2. Inthese times when it seems almost fashion-
able to compromise or rationalize almost
anything or any situation, I feel joy and
comfort in the feeling that Synod is unwill-
ing to let this permeate the Word.

3. I feel Synod has the responsibility to
respond to the Great Commission with
haste, with great urgency, with God’s
speed. I feel we must remember we are His
tools and must allow Him to use us to
accomplish His tasks.

Paul H. Wegele *

1. Being a lifelong member of the LCMS,
having been active in my church since the
age of Walther League membership, having
held numerous elective offices in my con-
gregation for over 30 years, having been a
District convention delegate many times, a
synodical delegate to Milwaukee, having
been active in the LLL for 25 years.

2. The greatest joy is knowing that Christ is
Lord, and is Lord of our Church. This has
been demonstrated many, many times,
particularly in the recent period of adversi-
ties in the Synod. Now I sense a greater
determination among our people to respond
with love and forgiveness, to strengthen
the faith.

3. To praise and thank God for endless gifts
He has bestowed on us and pray that all of
us be better stewards of His gifts; that we
put forth greater effort in encouraging and
motivating our people to studying God’s
Word, to deepen our faith, then share this
faith more readily with the people around
us. Greater involvement in evangelism and
missionsis the key. Too, our youth program
could move forward more rapidly.

BOARD OF CONTROL
ANN ARBOR

1 pastor, 2 laypersons to be elected.

PASTORS

William A. Gatz, 45, Jackson, MI:
Redeemer (MC); pastor. D. Cir. Cslr. 8; Evang.
Dept. 6; Yth. Pastoral Adv. 5. C. Pastor 20.

Herbert J. Krieger, 52, Akron, OH: Hope
(OH); pastor. D. PR Chm. 5; PTR Chairman 1.
C. Pastor 28.

LAYPERSONS

Charles E. Bosma, 58, Beech Grove, IN:
Emmaus, Indianapolis (IN); Pres. Bosma
Dairy, Inc. S. Stewp. Bd. 12; Conv. Dele. 2;
Adv. Dele. 10; Ebenezer Dir. 2. D. Stewp. Bd. 4;
125th Anniv. Cir. Dir. 1. C. Chm. 3; Vice-Chm.
6; Chm. Stewp. Bd. 8. O. Luth. Child Welf.
Assoc. 14; Fed. of Luth. Churches of Indian-
apolis 12. B.S. degree.

Vincent C. Braun, 53, Warren, OH:
Trinity (OH); Engineering Mgr. D. Conv. Dele.
1. C. Chm. 6; Elder 6; SS teacher 22. B.S.
degrees.

Karl W. Mueller, 42, Rochester, MI: St.
John (MC); General Agent, Lutheran Brother-
hood. D. Task Force 1. C. Bd. Elders 3; Bd.
Educ. 3; Bd. Stewp. 3. O. Officer of Lutheran
Brotherhood 3. B.A. degree.

J. Gerald Wallace, 48, Warsaw, IN:
Redeemer (IN); life insurance underwriter. S.
Conv. Dele. 1; Conv. Floor Com. 1. D. BPE 4,
Chm. BPE 2; Bd. Dir. 3. C. Elder 7; Bible class
teacher 15; Choir, 6; Bldg. Com. 1; Educ. Com.
1. O. Community Hospital Bd. 2; Pres. Life
Underwriters 1; PTA Pres. 1; Optimist Club
Sec. 2.

William A. Gatz

1. There are probably two reasons. Number
one, God has called me to serve wherever
He wants me to serve, and secondly, I
believe that it would be a real challenge to
help guide such a valuable college as Ann
Arbor.

2. I’m really happy the way Synod is moving
because I believe that with the great
emphasis on evangelism and the training
of lay people to do the work which the Lord
has called us to is what our Synod is all
about and why it exists.

3. With the great Evangelism Convocation
coming up this fall with the chance for lay
people from the congregations to meet and
share what is going on and what is not
going on that our Synod is on the verge of
great things happening. For too long we
have been on the defensive. This should put
us on the offensive so we can get on with the
Lord’s commission.

”

Herbert J. Krieger

1. I don’t know if I am particularly qualified,
but after working with boards, committees,
and congregations for 26 years, that I
would know something about human
nature, decision making, administration,