Wow!
Of late (the past 20 or so years), it seems that whenever I’ve hoped for a specific change in leadership, I’ve voted on the losing side of the ballot.
I am not a delegate to the 2010 convention of my church, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, but today it happened; a leadership change I had strongly hoped for came to fruition. Rev. Matthew Harrison was elected the new Synod President decisively (with 643 votes) on the first ballot. Around our congregation there’s been very little talk about the convention proceedings. Of the few I spoke with directly, literally none were familiar with Rev. Harrison, and all assumed that the incumbent would be reelected. I’d read a few of his articles, and had done enough Googling of him and the other candidates to have formed a pretty strong opinion that he would be the best president for our church body.
Rev. Harrison’s address to the convention upon being elected was very telling of the kind of leadership I expect from this man; he focused not on himself, but instead on those whom he is to lead, and the importance of the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He spoke to our predicament as a church, as sinners, and as people who are living in difficult times.
I expect a change in methods, and perceptible change in intentions and attitude. Rev. Harrison pledged not to coerce anyone, but simply to lead based solely on the basis of the Word of God. His was a simple, biblical, and humble address to those assembled.
You can watch Rev. Harrison’s address to the convention via the convention video archive. Navigate to http://www.lcms.org/pages/convention_internal.asp?NavID=17241, and look for the link titled “Response from newly elected President.” As of this writing the direct link is http://www.lcms.org/ca/convention/vids/tuesday/5.html.
Te Deum laudamus! Or, if you prefer, Wow!!!
Te Deum Laudamus! Rev. Matt Harrison Elected LCMS President
Wow!
Of late (the past 20 or so years), it seems that whenever I’ve hoped for a specific change in leadership, I’ve voted on the losing side of the ballot.
I am not a delegate to the 2010 convention of my church, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, but today it happened; a leadership change I had strongly hoped for came to fruition. Rev. Matthew Harrison was elected the new Synod President decisively (with 643 votes) on the first ballot. Around our congregation there’s been very little talk about the convention proceedings. Of the few I spoke with directly, literally none were familiar with Rev. Harrison, and all assumed that the incumbent would be reelected. I’d read a few of his articles, and had done enough Googling of him and the other candidates to have formed a pretty strong opinion that he would be the best president for our church body.
Rev. Harrison’s address to the convention upon being elected was very telling of the kind of leadership I expect from this man; he focused not on himself, but instead on those whom he is to lead, and the importance of the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He spoke to our predicament as a church, as sinners, and as people who are living in difficult times.
I expect a change in methods, and perceptible change in intentions and attitude. Rev. Harrison pledged not to coerce anyone, but simply to lead based solely on the basis of the Word of God. His was a simple, biblical, and humble address to those assembled.
You can watch Rev. Harrison’s address to the convention via the convention video archive. Navigate to http://www.lcms.org/pages/convention_internal.asp?NavID=17241, and look for the link titled “Response from newly elected President.” As of this writing the direct link is http://www.lcms.org/ca/convention/vids/tuesday/5.html.
Te Deum laudamus! Or, if you prefer, Wow!!!