LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 101

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OTHER PRESENTATIONS
1. President’s Acceptance Speech
If one member suffers, all suffer together . If one rejoices,
all rejoice together . Right now there are many rejoicing and
there are many suffering . Luther says when you’re walking
along and you strike your little toe on a chair or a table, a table
leg, what happens is the whole body bends over, the face grimaces, and grabs that little toe . And there’s no use saying
“that’s just a little toe,” because the whole body suffers .
This I realize is a tumultuous change in the life of our
Synod . I wish to thank President Kieschnick for his heart for
evangelism and his deep desire to move this Synod forward .
Many are suffering, and it will be very challenging times to
work together .
I wish to inform you that you have kept your perfect record
of electing sinners as presidents of the Missouri Synod . I
guarantee you I will sin and fail . I will fall short . I will sin
against you . I wish also to say that right now I forgive all who
have in any way sinned against me or anybody else and plead
your forgiveness for anything that I said or did that offended
you . I beg of you your prayers; I beg of you your daily prayers
and intercession . These are challenging times . I promise you
that I will be as straight with you as I possibly can, to the best
of my ability, guided by the Spirit of God . I pledge to you that
I will not coerce you . I will do my best by the Word of Christ
to lead with the generous Gospel of Jesus Christ, which forgives us all of our sins and motivates us to love and care for
our neighbor in mercy and compassion . And I will work as
hard as I possibly can for unity around the clear and compelling Word of God and nothing else .
I wish to just introduce my dear wife to you, Kathy . Please,
Kathy, would you stand .
I’m so impressed by you at this convention, how you have
borne with one another, been patient, asked for forgiveness .
This is the greatest privilege and honor of one’s life to stand
before this body in this fashion . I could never imagine it . And
I pray the Lord will bless you in the days to come to work
for unity and love and compassion, that the Gospel of Christ
may go forth from all of us, in every single place, everywhere
around the world, that many may know, many many more
may know, the Gospel of Jesus for eternal life . The Lord be
with you .
Rev . Matthew C . Harrison, President-Elect

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2010 Convention Proceedings