The Canadian Lutheran - September/October 2016

The

CANADIAN

LUTHERAN

www.canadianlutheran.ca

Volume 31 Number 5

A Living History

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Contents Features www.canadianlutheran.ca Volume 31 Number 5 September/October 2016

History is Bunk In Word and in Confession A Letter on the CCMS’ Restructuring Plan

6 11 12

Departments Table Talk

Why I am a Lutheran

5

Saints of the Reformation

Bugenhagen: The Pastor

8

In Review

Ben-Hur

37

Presidential Perspective

Praying towards “Reformation 500”

42

News Section International News

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Installation at International Lutheran Society of Wittenberg • Lutheran churches sign agreement in Ukraine

National News T h e C a n a d i a n L u t h e r a n is the national publication of Lutheran Church–Canada, published in Winnipeg six times per year: January/ February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/ October, November/December under the auspices of the Board of Directors (Committee for Communication and Technology).

ISSN #0383-4247 Member: Canadian Church Press Editor: Mathew Block Advertising: Iris Barta District News Layout: Marion Hollinger Cover Art: iStock.com/Roberto A. Sanchez Subscriptions: $20/yr E-mail: bcs@lutheranchurch.ca

All material and advertising should be in the office of The Canadian Lutheran five weeks prior to publication date. Advertising rate card available upon request.

The Canadian Lutheran 3074 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y2 Telephone: 204-895-3433 FAX: 204-832-3018 E-mail: communications@lutheranchurch.ca Materials published in The Canadian Lutheran, with the exception of Letters to the Editor, news reports, and advertising, receive doctrinal review and approval before publication. Contents of supplements are the responsibility of the organization purchasing the space. ©2016 Lutheran Church–Canada. Reproduction of a single article or column for parish use does not require the permission of The Canadian Lutheran. Such reproductions, however, should credit The Canadian Lutheran as the source.

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LCC launches Reformation Anniversary website • Recommendations for the restructuring of LCC • 2017 Nominating Committee

ABC District

19

Congregations merge • Grace Lutheran in Osoyoos closes school • New editor for ABC District news

Central District

23

Vacation Bible Schools held across district • Congregation reflects on past, present, and future • Lutherans at Queen City Ex

East District

27

Emergency Worker Recognition • Joyful community involvement • Goderick member named senior of the year

Mission Update

31

LCC missionary to Ukraine installed in Nikolaev

Education Report

32

New issue of Lutheran Theological Review now available • Seminaries welcome new students as school year begins

Book of Concord Readings

39 41

Supplement

33

Classifieds

S c r i pt u r e t a ke n f ro m t h e H O LY B I B L E , N E W INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

One Special Moment

3

relive the days of the Reformation

celebrate 500 Years!

faith

Martin Luther Statue, Dresden

On the Trail of Martin Luther 11 Days & 14 meals included

• See the famed Gutenberg Bible at the Gutenberg Museum.

• Travel to Worms where Luther was declared an “outlaw.”

• Visit Wartburg Castle, where Luther translated the New Testament into German.

• Discover St. Thomas Church where Martin Luther preached.

• Embark on a guided tour of Eisleben – site of Luther’s birth and death.

Relax and enjoy with our included sedan service and guaranteed departure dates!

To book contact your local travel agent or call 800.468.5955.

Travel Industry Council of Ontario Reg. # 3206405 BC Reg. # 23337

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

Wartburg Castle

• Delight in a musical performance played on medieval instruments.

• Join a church service in one of the Luther churches in Wittenberg.

• Enjoy a tour and prayer service in the monastery, where Luther lived and studied.

Table Talk

Why I am a Lutheran

by Mathew Block Editor, The Canadian Lutheran

W

hy am I a Lutheran? It’s about the Gospel. It’s about a God, looking with love on a broken creation—looking at sinful humanity and knowing they can’t save themselves. So He steps down, takes their weakness, their sin upon Himself and suffers in their place.

Jesus, the Great High Priest, becomes the Sacrificial Lamb. And He dies.

But He doesn’t stay dead. The One crucified on the cross is the same One who walks out of a tomb three days later. He conquers death with life, and He gives that life to all who trust in Him. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus,” writes St. Paul. “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith” (Romans 3:23-25).

The Lutheran Church has ever stood as the staunch defender of the Gospel. When much of the world was confused on this point, the Reformers were clear. “Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits or works,” Philip Melanchthon explains in The Augsburg Confession. “People are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favour and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in his sight (Romans 3 and 4).”

This Gospel—Christ dying and rising for you—is the central message of all Scripture. And it isn’t just history; it’s a living, breathing story, the story of

every Christian in every time in every place. Where it is proclaimed, God is present and active creating faith. “Let there be,” God said in the beginning, and the world was. “Let there be,” He speaks in the Gospel, and faith is born—the Holy Spirit kindling hearts with the Word of God. The Reformers understood this well, and so their writings point us ever back to Christ. In fact, all other doctrines and practices of the Church flow from the message of God’s free gift of salvation. What are the sacraments but the manifestation of God’s grace and forgiveness? He takes the water He has made and the Word He has spoken, and unites us to the death and resurrection of Christ. “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” St. Paul asks. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4).

In that new life, Jesus invites us to see His Father as our own Father.

Like children who have erred, He calls us to confess our sin, teaching us to pray: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Matthew 6:12). And He Himself offers us that blood-bought forgiveness. “Neither do I condemn you,” he says to the woman caught in sin. “Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11).

He says the same to us, both in the Scriptures and in the Church.

“Touch me,” He says elsewhere to a doubting disciple. “Put your fingers in my side. Feel the holes” (cf. John 20:27). Two thousand years later,

He turns to us too. “Touch me,” he says. “This is my body. This is my blood. Take and eat. Take and drink.

Taste and see that the Lord is good” (cf. Matthew 26:26-28, Psalm 34:8).

And we do. We feed at the feast of forgiveness, eating the Gospel itself.

No matter where we go or what we do, Lutherans know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is at the heart of every aspect of faith. It’s the thing that makes intimacy with God possible. It’s the thing that ties us to our brothers and sisters in Christ too—to those in the pew beside you, yes, but also to those throughout the long history of the Church, from the founders of your local church, to the Reformers, to the Martyrs, all the way back to the Apostles themselves.

As we move towards 2017, let’s rededicate ourselves to proclaiming the Gospel with the same zeal that typified Martin Luther and the other reformers. This issue of The Canadian Lutheran may help you on that front. Dr. Threinen reminds us that history—especially Reformation history—matters in the here and now.

Dr. Kettner gives us a prime example, bringing us the life story of Johann Bugenhagen, a lesser known Reformer.

Rev. Quast meanwhile encourages us to commit to study the Lutheran confessions this year. And President Bugbee invites us to make the 500th anniversary of the Reformation a special time of prayer.

It is my hope that this issue’s articles—and the study and prayer that go with them—will help remind you why you too are Lutheran. But if you ever need a summary, remember this: it’s about the Gospel.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

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History is Bunk

by Norman J. Threinen

“H

istory is Bunk.” So said Henry Ford in an interview recorded by the Chicago Tribune in 1916. Grade school students, who have been subjected to history as a bewildering collection of largely irrelevant dates which they were forced to memorize, may be inclined to agree with Ford’s comment. Perhaps many other people in our culture will also agree with it as they bustle and run after the “new” and the “now.” In view of the approaching 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation in 2017, is there something we can learn from Martin Luther and the Reformation about history and its value for the Christian life today?

Martin Luther was not an historian, strictly speaking; he was primarily a theologian and an interpreter of the Bible. Yet, he shared with the German humanists a great interest in history. Schools in Luther’s day focussed on grammar and syntax. Luther bemoaned the fact that he had not read more poets and historians in school. “No one taught them to me,” he wrote to the Councilmen of

Germany in 1524. While Luther did not object to studying cases and tenses as such, he was concerned that children be educated and trained “to fit them for their task,” as the Romans and Greeks did at an earlier time.

When the University of Wittenberg was founded in 1502, it did not have a history professor or a history department. Even so, history was part of the foundation of the university and part of the wider change which bore fruit in theological reform. In contrast to the prevailing tendency to use the allegorical method of interpreting the Scriptures, Luther and his colleagues used the historical method. The stories in the Bible record real events. They happened to real p e o p l e. T h e y a r e recorded to provide a theological message that man is by nature sinful but God is merciful. But the events and the people themselves are historical. In relating the stories of Abraham, Luther says, “What is Abraham except a man who hears God when He calls him, that is, a merely passive person and merely the material on which divine

The stories in the Bible record real events. They happened to real people.

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

mercy acts?... the material that the Divine Majesty seizes through the Word and forms into a new human being and into a patriarch.” The biblical characters are no different from us and the message of how God acts with us in Christ is also not different.

Over the following years, it is evident that Luther read a great deal of history, including the Lives of the Popes by the English exile, Robert Barnes. Luther saw history filled with illustrations which were useful for teaching. Varro, a prolific writer in ancient Rome, had written, “The very best way to teach is to add an example or illustration to the word, for they help one both to understand more clearly and to remember more easily.” Putting this truth into the framework of his own Christian thinking, Luther said in 1538, “Histories are nothing else than a demonstration, recollection, and sign of divine action and judgment, how He [God] upholds, rules, obstructs, prospers, punishes, and honors the world, and especially men, each according to his just deserts, evil or good.”

Written history also provided clarity on what actually happened in the past. In 1519, when he was debating with Johann Eck in Leipzig, Eck accused Luther of being a follower of Johann Huss. Luther did some historical research in the records of the Council of Constance which had condemned Huss as a heretic a century earlier. This study provided Luther with accurate information on Huss’ views and supplied him with a proper defence against Eck. In 1539, Luther penned a massive treatise On the Councils and the Church, which contained long discussions on the great Christological councils of the early church. Particularly interesting, even to the modern reader, is the blow-by-blow description of what happened as the representatives at this ecumenical council discussed the article that Christ was truly God and other nonessential matters at the Council of Nicaea. Luther includes a discussion of Emperor Constantine’s involvement, the nature of the conflict between the main protagonists, Arius and Alexander, and the dynamics which occurred between the various parties in the controversy. Twenty-first century Christians who recite the Nicene Creed regularly at worship might find a new appreciation for what they are led to confess in this creed by reading Luther’s treatise.

More and more, Luther’s interest led him to value the documents by which the ancient church clarified

its theological positions. Luther and his colleagues did not see themselves as rebels only against the errors and tyranny of the papacy’s church. They considered themselves members and staunch defenders of the universal church of Christ. Thus, the Augsburg Confession constantly identified the position of the Lutheran princes with the position taken by the ancient church. And in 1538, Luther also did so in his personal statement document on The Three Symbols or Creeds of the Christian Faith.

Luther’s appreciation for history continued throughout his lifetime. In 1544, two years before his death, Luther composed his Brief Confession Concerning the Holy Sacrament. In it, Luther affirms, “If someone does not want to believe the article of faith concerning the Lord’s Supper, how will he ever believe the article of faith concerning the humanity and divinity of Christ in one person?” Luther supports his views, not as one might expect by the use of polemics, but by appealing to history. He writes, “Let the examples of history teach us this.” Then he singles out three men whose views were deemed to be heresy by the ancient church to illustrate his point: Arius, Macedonius, and Nestorius.

W i t h t h e humanists, Luther did not see history as something which was cold and dead, a simple record of events which occurred in the past. History was a constant battle between God and Satan which flows from the past into the present. God is active everywhere in history, though he is often concealed behind a mask.

By faith, one must look beyond fate to the God whose Word in the Scriptures and in His Son reveals the true meaning of history.

It is important that we also recognize that history is dynamic and impacts our lives in a significant way.

As the spiritual sons and daughters of the Reformation we need to see the same value of history for us in the midst of our trials and temptations of life.

By faith, one must look beyond fate to the God whose Word in the Scriptures and in His Son reveals the true meaning of history.

Rev. Dr. Norman J. Threinen is Professor Emeritus of Historical Theology at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

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Saints of the Reformation

Bugenhagen The Pastor

by Edward G. Kettner

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W

hen the Reformation began in 1517, Martin Luther was not alone. A member of the faculty at the University of Wittenberg, he already had colleagues who supported him in his discovery of the Gospel. He certainly became prominent in the aftermath of the writing and publishing of the 95 Theses on indulgences, and he indeed spearheaded many changes, particularly in his debates and disputations, which put the issues of justification and the abuses of the papacy to the forefront of people’s minds. He wrote the catechisms to assure proper instruction in the faith for the parishes, and his preaching and speaking as well as the publication of his writings, along with his translation of the Bible into German, made him one of the world’s most influential men in history.

As time progressed, Luther found that he needed more and more to rely on others who also correctly understood the Gospel.

He had others with whom he worked and dialogued, and without them the Reformation would not have succeeded in the way that it did. One of Luther’s significant colleagues was Johann Bugenhagen, also known as Dr. Pomeranus, who was a pastor for many years in the city of Wittenberg. He was an author, lecturer, and theologian in his own right. He also served as father-confessor to Luther, as well as being one of Luther’s closest friends.

Bugenhagen was born in Wollin in the duchy of Pomerania on June 24, 1485.

Pomerania straddles the border of Germany and Poland, and currently is divided between the two. Modern Wolin is located in Poland. He was educated as a teacher at the University of Greifswald (1502-1504). He studied liberal arts, not theology, and began his career as a teacher. After two years as rector of the school in Treptow on the Rega (in western Pomeria, currently northwest Poland), he was ordained in 1507 as priest of St. Mary’s Church in Treptow, and later became vicar of the college of clergy there.

In 1517 his canon appointed him to be biblical lecturer at Belbuck Abbey, located nearby, where he became part of the Humanist circle. Note that “humanism” in this context refers to the study and development of the humanities, with particular emphasis on the classical languages of Greek and Latin, with a revival of the study of Hebrew beginning to take place as well. While there, at the behest of the Duke

of Pomerania, Bugenhagen began writing a history of Pomerania in Latin.

Bugenhagen first became aware of Luther’s thought in 1520 when he read Luther’s prelude to On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church. Here Luther, holding to Scripture rather than church tradition and emphasizing Christ’s institution, reduced the number of sacraments from seven to two and rejected Rome’s understanding, which saw the sacraments as churchly rites geared to enable and empower people to earn merit before God, rather than as being vehicles by which God gives His people the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. At first, he thought Luther to be a horrible heretic. However, after more thought he concluded that the entire world was blind, and only Luther could see the truth. As a result of his acceptance of Luther’s thought, he moved to Wittenberg.

B u g e n h a g e n a r r i ve d i n Wittenberg while Luther was still at the Wartburg. (Luther was at the Wartburg from May of 1521 to March of 1522, in hiding after the Diet of Worms.)

Bugenhagen married in October 1522. He and his wife Walpurga were blessed with three children.

(One of them, Johannes the younger, became a professor at the University of Wittenberg.)

In 1523 Bugenhagen was elected pastor of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, making him Luther’s pastor and father confessor. In his Table Talks, Luther once remarked how “Pomeranus” (Bugenhagen) spoke gently and humorously to him during his bouts of melancholy, thereby bringing comfort to him and assuring him that God had not abandoned him.

He also noted that Bugenhagen was an excellent preacher.

He once stated, “Dr. Pomeranus is sufficiently full and solid in his sermons. On the other hand, I am thin and dry.When I hear Pomeranus, he gives me many commonplaces on which my thoughts may roam, and therefore he is a very good preacher.” In addition to his pastoral work, his private lectures proved so popular and successful that in 1523 he was also appointed a lecturer at the University of Wittenberg.

Bugenhagen’s scholarship led him to become one of those scholars who assisted Luther in his translation of the Bible, and in 1524 he gave a thorough response to Swiss reformer Ulrich Zwingli, defending the real presence of Christ’s body and blood in the Lord’s Supper against Zwingli’s denials. (This work has just become available in English, published by Repristination Press.)

Luther once remarked how Bugenhagen spoke gently and humorously to him during his bouts of melancholy, thereby bringing comfort to him and assuring him that God had not abandoned him.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

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The respect Bugenhagen received from others can the council did not begin until 1545, and then at Trent). be seen in the tasks to which he was appointed. In Here Bugenhagen, along with the other theologians preparation for the Diet of Augsburg in 1530, called present, signed a statement affirming the truth of the by the emperor to deal with matters ranging from Augsburg Confession and the Apology thereof, as well the encroachment of the Turks into the empire to as signing the Smalcald Articles—all three documents the “Lutheran heresy,” John the Steadfast, Elector of would come to be part of the Book of Concord.

Saxony, appointed Bugenhagen, along with Luther, It was in Smalcald that Luther became ill because Philip Melanchthon, and Justus Jonas, to prepare a set of a large kidney stone. His friends thought he was of articles outlining the abuses to which the Lutherans dying, and Bugenhagen showed both his friendship to (“Protestants”) objected. These articles came to be Luther and his pastoral care for him by hearing what called the “Torgau Articles,” and served as the basis everyone thought would be Luther’s last confession. for the latter section of the Augsburg Confession.

Luther declared that his only concern was that the One of Bugenhagen’s major tasks after the Diet of Gospel would be preserved and continue to be faithfully Augsburg was to make good use of his administrative preached. He particularly prayed for those whose task skills, and so aid in the establishment of reform in it would be to continue to preserve the Gospel.

Northern Germany, and to assist in the development of Luther lived for another nine years after the incident new church orders (liturgy and church administration) in Smalcald. After Luther’s death in February of 1546 for territorial in Eisleben, his churches. Luther body was brought for the most back to Wittenberg, part remained and there it was in Wittenberg, that Bugenhagen engaged in the preached Luther’s work of professor. funeral sermon. It Nevertheless, was in this sermon Luther found that Bugenhagen Bugenhagen so d e c l a re s L u t h e r important to him to be the “angel” that in November (messenger) of 1531 Luther asked Revelation 14:6him to return to 7, who had an Wittenberg from eternal Gospel, the North. and proclaimed, It was in the “Fear God and give 1530s that the work Him honor.” This began in earnest to passage has become prepare pastors for the First Reading for the congregations Reformation Day. subscribing to A l m o s t the tenets of the immediately after The reformers translate the Bible together into German. Left to right are Melanchthon, Reformation, and Luther, Bugenhagen, and Cruciger.

Luther’s death, the to examine, ordain, Schmalkaldic Wars and place them in broke out, which congregations. Since Rome refused to ordain pastors put great stress on the supporters of the Reformation, who held to the Gospel of free grace as taught by the especially during the time when the Emperor’s forces Reformers, it became necessary for the Lutheran held sway over Protestant territories. Bugenhagen as churches to find a means of preparing their own clergy. pastor of the Castle Church continued to preach the This meant providing fully-qualified doctoral chairs in Gospel of grace alone through faith alone in Christ theology. Therefore in 1533, Bugenhagen, along with alone, and also took care of Luther’s family after Johannes Aepinus and Kaspar Cruciger, became the Luther’s death. Bugenhagen died on 20 April 1558 first Protestant doctors of theology at the University (twelve years after Luther) in Wittenberg, a faithful of Wittenberg. preacher and teacher to the end.

In 1537, Lutheran theologians met together at the city of Smalcald (Schmalkalden), where Luther Rev. Dr. Edward G. Kettner is Professor Emeritus of Systematic presented a set of articles (now contained in the Book Theology at Concordia Lutheran Seminary (Edmonton). of Concord) which were proposed for discussion at an expected church council to be held at Mantua. (In fact,

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

In Word and in Confession

by Jacob Quast

I

n the fall of 2011, President Robert Bugbee of Lutheran Church–Canada heralded an ambitious plan for our Synod by encouraging every member of every congregation to do something radical: read the Bible. And many did. Over the course of two years, many of our congregations across Canada dedicated time and effort to read the Holy Scriptures as a group—as the body of Christ. Those who were blessed to participate in this activity know well the fruit it bears. Faith was deepened and strengthened, and new appreciation for God's Word was created as the Holy Spirit worked through the living Word to teach us about Jesus.

My own joint parish was greatly edified through the undertaking of this devotional practise. As a pastor it filled my heart with joy to see the people in my parish opening the Scriptures and talking to each other about what they had read. Questions were asked (and mostly answered by their pastor) and fruitful discussion was held. I am certain that my congregations' experience was not unique.

I hope and pray that many have continued in this discipline of daily Bible reading. It is a lifelong pursuit, to be sure. Why not build on that solid foundation with another book that can also be of great benefit to us in our Christian faith and life? I am talking about the book that makes Lutherans Lutheran: the Book of Concord.

I know what you’re thinking: “That book is for pastors and other church workers, not the average lay person!”

Not so. The confessions were themselves signed not just by theologians but also by laymen. And in the not-sodistant past, almost every Lutheran owned and read a copy of this foundational book of Lutheranism, which teaches about Christ and His Word of hope and life.

With the rapid approach of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation we have an incredible opportunity to once again take up this book and reacquaint ourselves with the foundational teachings of Lutheranism, which are themselves drawn directly from Holy Scripture. In a

world in which we are tempted to be blown to and fro by every wind of doctrine, the Book of Concord serves as an anchor to keep us in the truth of what the Bible actually says.

We are ideally situated as Lutherans to proclaim with boldness and vigour the whole counsel of God to those who are searching for answers to difficult questions. As we read through the Book of Concord, we may very well be taken aback by the timeless way in which it addresses certain issues—issues which we still struggle with today. This is because the foundation of the Lutheran Confessions in the Book of Concord is the Word of God itself—a Word which is everlasting and for all people in all places.

Beginning this Reformation Sunday, my parish will begin reading through the Book of Concord in one year. A simple schedule of readings can be found in every copy of Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions - A Reader's Edition of the Book of Concord, available from Concordia Publishing House. You can also find the same schedule of readings printed in The Canadian Lutheran throughout the next year, beginning with this issue (see page 41).

Throughout the year my parish will be meeting to discuss what we have read with one another. I encourage you to start a discussion group like that where you live too. And be sure to invite those outside your church who are hungering for the deep, Gospel-rich theology found in confessional Lutheranism.

Please take the time to approach your pastor and ask him about studying the Book of Concord for the coming year. What joy we will have as Lutherans—as Christians—reading about what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. Because that’s what the Reformation always was about and what it still is about: Jesus.

Rev. Jacob Quast is pastor of Church of the Lutheran Hour in Fort Frances, Ontario.

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Re-Forming Our Church

A Letter on the CCMS’ Restructuring Plan

by Bill Ney

N

ow that the summer of 2016 has passed, the Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure (CCMS) wishes to update the church on the progress it has made thus far toward providing a Plan for the restructuring of Lutheran Church-Canada (LCC) as mandated by the three Districts and the Board of Directors of Synod.

We are now in Stage 4 – “Church-wide Discussions” a period lasting from September 1 to December 15, 2016.

The CCMS has completed a proposed Plan for restructuring the Synod and has now requested the Circuit Counsellors to present this proposal to the church at Circuit Convocations to be scheduled during Stage 4. At the Circuit Convocations the proposed plan will be discussed in great detail and the CCMS, wherever possible, will have members present to explain details, make clarifications, and answer questions.

They will also—perhaps most importantly—listen to the laypeople and church workers present and take notes to share with the rest of the CCMS. This will help the Commission to finalize the Plan that it will present to the Convention in October of 2017.

While the main tenets of the Plan are in place, discussion and input are needed from the church as the details of the Plan are being finalized. The notes taken at the Circuit Convocations will be sent to me and our Consultant, Rev. Les Stahlke, for compilation. All the information will then be discussed at the CCMS’ November 28-29 meeting.

The following items for discussion will be on the agenda at Circuit convocations:

A. Foundational structural elements that will not change: 12

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

The CCMS proposes no changes for these elements of LCC structure.: Membership – Doctrine and Practise – Congregational Structure – Objectives and Services of the Synod – LCC as a Family of 26 separately incorporated entities in a strategic relationship with one another –Categories of strategic relationships – Composition of the LCC Board of Directors – LCC Board of Directors’ authority between Conventions – Accountability of Commissions and Committees – Three Commissions (Commission on Adjudication; Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure; Commission on Theology and Church Relations) – Election of the Synodical Bishop (formerly “President”)

B. Recommendations for Change and Invitation to Respond (Items for discussion and guidance from the laypeople and church workers of LCC): 1. One Administrative Structure – The CCMS, based upon all of the responses from the National Survey and follow-up meetings across the country with Synodical and District leaders, as well as information received from Circuit meetings, recommends that the Synod move to one administrative structure, delivering the eight services mandated by the current 2014 Handbook (Article III, Page 8) directly to the congregations without three separate District corporations. Since each of the three Districts is a legally incorporated entity in its own right, the Synod cannot simply “dissolve” the

Districts as some think. If the Synodical Convention accepts this recommendation, then the Districts would be in a position to wrap up their operations following a vote of the District in Convention to do so. For legal reasons, a District may need to remain in place “on paper”, (e.g., to administer a CEF operation in eastern Canada) but would no longer be involved in the delivery of services to congregations, pastors, and deacons in LCC. The eight services would then be delivered by the Synod through “Regional Pastors” (the number yet to be determined) who would not have corporate responsibilities as the three District Presidents currently have. The Regional Pastors would then have full-time responsibility for providing ecclesiastical supervision, building community, and caring for members under the authority of the Synodical Bishop.

Circuit Counsellors with enhanced responsibilities would assist on the local level with this work.

2. Convention Schedule – The CCMS recommends that LCC move to a 4-year Convention cycle beginning with the next Convention in 2021. This would result in considerable financial savings.

3. Delegates from Every Congregation – If the Districts are no longer in place, then the CCMS recommends that every congregation be represented at the national Synodical Convention every 4 years by two delegates. Each congregation would choose a pastoral and lay delegate (as is currently the practice for District Conventions). Thus Circuits would no longer elect national Convention delegates.

4. Pastoral Voting Delegates to Conventions – It will be the recommendation of the CCMS that Pastors not serving a congregation—but functioning as a vacancy pastor at a particular congregation—may be chosen by that congregation as its pastoral delegate to the Convention.

5. Dividing the President’s Responsibility – The CCMS plans to recommend to the Convention that the current responsibilities of the Synodical President be divided in order to create two new positions: a Synodical Bishop (elected by Convention) who will have responsibility for the delivery of ecclesiastical services, and a Synodical Administrator (hired by the Board of Directors of Synod) who will have responsibility for corporate services (i.e., financial services and LCC Infrastructure).

6. Accountability of the Synodical Bishop – The CCMS plans to recommend to the Convention that the Synodical Bishop would continue to be elected by the Convention, but once elected and between Conventions would be accountable to the LCC Board of Directors

which itself will continue to have the authority (with specific limitations) of the Convention that it already has under the 2014 Handbook. The CCMS will also recommend that the Synodical Bishop not be a voting member of the Board of Directors.

7. Titles: Synodical Bishop, Synodical Administrator, Regional Pastor, Circuit Counsellor Synodical Bishop: In the responses to the National Survey, there was a very clear divide between the opinion of the lay and of the clergy on the question of the utilization of the title: “Bishop”. The lay people by a significant majority did not favour the use of that term, indicating that they thought it conveyed a sense of hierarchical power as in the Roman Catholic tradition. The pastors, on the other hand, favoured the use of “Bishop” by a significant majority, seeing it rather as an ecclesiastical/pastoral title that more accurately reflected the work of the synodical and district presidents of “pastoral care”.

The CCMS struggled with this for a long time and sought the guidance of the two Seminary faculties.

Both faculties affirmed the use of the term “Bishop” if the CCMS so chose, describing it as a legitimate biblical term to use. But they suggested that if used, there would need to be a clear definition of what it meant so as to prevent its misuse, and some process of education throughout the church to bring comfort to the laypeople who feared its misuse.

Therefore, the CCMS has taken a blended position.

We are recommending the use of the term “Bishop” in place of the current Synodical President designation, but are recommending the term “Regional Pastors” (not Bishops) for those leaders who would work on the regional level with the Circuit Counsellors, congregations, and church workers residing in their geographical area of responsibility.

Regional Pastor: The CCMS believes that this term would more accurately reflect their leadership role in providing the services of Ecclesiastical Supervision, Community Building, and Caring for Members as required by the Objectives of Synod as laid out in the LCC Handbook. The nomenclature, “Regional Pastor”, clearly identifies the primary purpose of the individuals holding that position, namely, to be a pastor to the congregations, circuit counsellors, pastors and deacons living and serving in the geographical area of their responsibility.

Circuit Counsellor: The Circuit Counsellors would continue to use the same title, but would become even more significant within each region as spiritual leaders that deliver the first three services to the congregations, pastors, and deacons in each of the current 31 circuits.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

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C. Invitation for Input – For Recommendations Yet to be Made 1. Role of the Regional Pastor – While in the ecclesiastical sense, the Regional Pastor’s role would be very similar to that of the current District President, it is intended to be a support role to the members of LCC, not a hierarchical or authoritarian one. At the Circuit Convocations we will seek additional input on the role of the Regional Pastor who will work very closely and under the authority of the Synodical Bishop. One of the primary differences between the role of the Regional Pastor and the role of the current District President is the absence of administrative duties related to being the chief executive officer of a District corporation.

The Regional Pastor would be accountable, not to a District Board of Directors, but to the Synodical Bishop.

2. Number and Boundaries of Regions – With the transition to one administrative structure, LCC would move from the designation of districts to regions. Where the former Districts were governing administrative structures of a separate legally incorporated entity, the new Regions will be a natural extension for delivering the eight services within the infrastructure of LCC under the leadership of the Synodical Bishop and Synodical Administrator. The CCMS is of the opinion that the recommendation about the number and boundaries of the Regions should flow from the experience, insights, and advice of the members who reside in those regions.

3. Role of the Circuit Counsellor – The CCMS views the role of the Circuit Counsellor as fundamental to the mission and ministry of LCC. Although not suggesting a name change, the CCMS would like to see the role of Circuit Counsellor become more prominent in providing the first three of the eight services, Ecclesiastical Supervision, Building Community, and Caring for Members. The CCMS envisions a more structured role for the Circuit Counsellors with specific responsibilities for working with the individual congregations, fellow pastors and with deacons. In the revised structure, Circuit Counsellors will be chosen more deliberately, perhaps in a new way. We are asking the Synod to consider reimbursing the congregations where the Circuit Counsellors serve for the specific number of days in which they are engaged in non-congregational pastoral work in the Circuit.

4. Number and Boundaries of Circuits – The CCMS is requesting input from across the country on what the laypeople and church workers would see as a workable, reasonable, number of Regions (and thus, the number of Regional Pastors also) that would enable the eight services to be delivered in the most personal, effective and efficient manner. We are asking for input on the size and boundaries of both the Regions and Circuits.

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

5. Revised Handbook Contents – The CCMS expects to significantly revise the current LCC Handbook. It will contain the Act of the Parliament of Canada incorporating LCC in June of 1959 and the Statutory Bylaws. The current contents of the Constitution and Synodical Bylaws would be distributed among the new (Statutory) Bylaws, new Memoranda of Understanding with our partners in mission in the Synodical family, and a new Governance Manual for the Board of Directors of Synod. It is important to note that the current “Article II – Confession” of the Constitution will be retained in its entirety exactly as it currently reads in the 2014 Handbook. There will be, as previously stated, no change to the doctrine and practise of Lutheran Church-Canada.

6. Ministry and Administrative Costs – All organizations incur administration costs related to their infrastructure.

LCC is no different. This aspect of restructuring the Synod is being worked on currently but the CCMS is concurrently asking for concerns, ideas and thoughts as regards possible administrative cost savings from our members. In 28 years of LCC history there has never been a combined study of what the cost of administration is for the three Districts and the Synod combined.

Therefore, we are not only working on such a study of costs but also are seeking the input of the members of LCC as to what you think should be included in “administrative costs” and what the costs have been (in your view) during the period of the so-called “federation of districts” with four separate boards of directors and four separate staffs, and what percentage of the total budget is acceptable going forward for one administrative structure. We will be laying out in the meetings what the CCMS considers costs that need to be included in the cost of Mission and Ministry and also the potential cost of administration as we see it. But, we are very open to the thoughts, ideas, and suggestions of all laypeople and professional church workers in the area of administration.

In Conclusion It is the hope of the Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure that large numbers of our laypeople, pastors and deacons will provide feedback and input through the upcoming 31 Circuit Convocations so that we may finalize our work on the Restructuring Plan and have a revised Handbook prepared well in advance for presentation to the 2017 Synodical Convention. Thank you in advance for your assistance!

Rev. William Ney is Chairman of Lutheran Church–Canada’s Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure (CCMS). You can contact him at bill@lampministery.org.

International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Installation at International Lutheran Society of Wittenberg

Present and former directors of the Wittenberg Project: Rev. David Mahsman, Kristin Lange, and Rev. Dr. Wilhelm Torgerson.

GERMANY - Representatives of Lutheran Church-Canada (LCC) were active participants in a special service hosted by the “Old Latin School” in Wittenberg on Sunday, August 14.

The International Lutheran Study and Visitors’ Center, housed in the school building (which dates to 1567), marked the retirement of its former Managing Director, Rev. David Mahsman, as well as the induction of incoming Director Kristin Lange, appointed to her post

by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). The LCMS along with the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK) in Germany have served as sponsoring church bodies for the study center.

Although not one of the sponsoring bodies, LCC is affiliated with the International Lutheran Council (ILC), which is seeking to deepen its ties with the Old Latin School. Rev. Dr. Wilhelm Torgerson, an LCC pastor serving part-time in retirement at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (St. Catharines, Ontario) was the original director of the Wittenberg project from 2007-2009. He was succeeded by Rev. Mahsman, who now returns to St. Louis to live in retirement. Kristin Lange, an active LCMS lay person, formerly studied at the Humboldt University in Berlin, and is fully bilingual as she takes up her work of shaping the Old Latin School into an

active center for study and for meeting people from ILC partner churches around the world.

LCC President Robert Bugbee served as preacher for the installation service, held in the old Town Church of St. Mary, just a few steps from the main entrance of the Old Latin School. Preaching in German on Isaiah 42:3, President Bugbee reminded the assembly that the center’s mission is not primarily to celebrate Luther the man, nor to boast of ourselves, but instead to introduce people to Christ the Saviour, who forgives and bears with afflicted and needy people. Though the town of Wittenberg has been gloriously restored from its drab appearance in the days of communist East Germany, people there—as in Canada and across the world—still have a great spiritual need of God’s gracious Servant Jesus.

“The Old Latin School has a prime location in the center of the city,” President Bugbee noted, “and it will be vital to bring a clear Gospel witness to the thousands of people coming to Wittenberg in 2017 to mark the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation.” The building is fully equipped with meeting rooms, hoteltype accommodations, a bookstore, and a chapel. LCC people who visit the city where Luther preached and

President Bugbee preaches in Wittenberg’s old Town Church.

taught are encouraged to make a point of stopping in.

Those wanting to know more about the International Lutheran Study and Visitor’s Centre and its activities can visit www.thewittenbergproject.org.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

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International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Lutheran churches sign agreement in Ukraine

Signatories of the Ukraine agreement: Dr. Albert Collver (LCMS), Bishop Serge Maschewski (DELKU), President Robert Bugbee (LCC), Vice-President Oleg Schewtschenko (SELCU).

UKRAINE - Representatives of four Lutheran church bodies signed an agreement in Odessa, Ukraine on August 12, pledging closer collaboration with one another and setting the stage for possible deeper cooperation in the future.

The German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine (DELKU) was represented by Bishop Serge Maschewski. Representing the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches of Ukraine (SELCU) were Bishop Emeritus Viktor Graefenstein and Rev. Oleg Schewtschenko, SELCU Vice-President for Church Relations.

Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver represented The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), while President Robert Bugbee attended on behalf of Lutheran Church-Canada (LCC). The protocol

signing followed two days of meetings at SELCU’s Concordia Seminary in Usatovo, an Odessa suburb.

LCC has worked in Ukraine for more than 20 years, providing theological education for the SELCU since 1998. SELCU is a church body which began after a separation from the DELKU in the mid-1990s. Though the two Ukrainian churches have had occasional contacts since that time, the stage for stronger relations was set more recently when DELKU began expressing a desire to firm up its commitment to the Scriptures and the Lutheran confessions.

DELKU Bishop Maschewski had been an early student in the “Russian Project” of Concordia Theological Seminary at Fort Wayne, Indiana (CTSFW), as the LCMS began working

with developing Lutheran churches after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

“It is such a joy to see these long term relationships grow and blossom,” noted CTSFW President Lawrence Rast. “It shows us how the gospel is ‘in the whole world’ and ‘is bearing fruit and increasing’ (Colossians 1:6), just as the Scriptures promise.” The Fort Wayne Seminary provided several continuing education seminars for DELKU pastors in the past year.

Since LCMS and LCC have a long-standing practice of cooperation in world mission areas, the recent discussions sought to foster cooperation and avoid misunderstandings in Ukraine, which has historically been an LCC mission field. President Bugbee observed, “When these talks began, the participants did not expect that we would end up signing an agreement to keep each other thoroughly informed of the work we’re doing, and to consider stronger joint efforts in the future. The discussions were marked by a great brotherly spirit. I thank God for that!”

DELKU includes congregations with history reaching back to the Lutheran Church in the Russian empire, which was extensive and well developed until the communist revolution of 1917 ushered in decades of repression. After dissolution of the USSR and Ukrainian independence, DELKU worked extensively with the Lutheran (State) Church of Bavaria in Germany, but recently began cultivating ties with the LCMS.

GARY R. SCHMIDT President

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

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National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

LCC launches Reformation anniversary website

LCC’s new Reformation anniversary website.

ONLINE - Lutheran Church– Canada (LCC) has launched a new website sharing information and resources related to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, which will be celebrated in 2017.

You can visit the website at www. reformation2017.ca.

“As we head towards 2017, there is renewed public interest in understanding the movement led

by Martin Luther and the other reformers,” noted Mathew Block, Communications Manager for LCC. “This website will help curious

Canadians understand more about the Reformation and connect its importance to their lives today.”

October 31, 2017 will mark the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. Tradition states that on that day in 1517 Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.

The new Reformation-themed website features a number of resources, including an introduction to the Reformation, biographies of major (and less major) figures of

2017 Nominating Committee

Movie Night!

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he Committee on Nominations for the 2017 Synodical Convention is as follows. Representing the ABC District are Rev. Vincent Moore and Milton Joneson.

Representing the Central District are Rev. Rudy Pastucha and Rod Johnson. Finally, representing the East District are Rev. Bill Stanfel and Reg Tiegs.

Take your family’s movie nights to the next level. The Canadian Lutheran publishes regular movie reviews by Rev. Ted Giese online— more than you see in the print magazine. Visit www. canadianlutheran.ca for the latest film.

the Reformation, an interactive timeline, and information on Reformation beliefs. It includes resources for personal spiritual formation and education, like a Bible reading plan and Reformationthemed reading list, and also includes an ever-growing listing of Reformation 2017 events and news stories.

As time goes on, the website will release additional updates, including feature essays on the Reformation and the arts, historical sketches of the events of the Reformation, congregational resources, posters, and more.

Readers who find the website resonates with their own beliefs are encouraged to check out the “Worship With Us” page, where they will find information on how to connect with Canadian churches committed to the ideals of the Reformation. Those in Canada are directed to member congregations of LCC and Canadian congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Those outside Canada are directed to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in the United States, and the churches of the International Lutheran Council elsewhere in the world.

LCC is thankful for the support of Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada, who have sponsored in part the creation of the website.

LCC’s Mission Work

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or information on LCC’s missions, visit LutheranChurch.ca. You can support LCC’s missions through online giving, or by sending donations by mail: Lutheran Church–Canada 3074 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y2 Canada

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

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National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Concrete recommendations for the restructuring of LCC CANADA - Lutheran Church– Canada’s (LCC) Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure (CCMS) has announced the completion of the third stage in the restructuring process of LCC—the development of concrete recommendations for the restructuring of Synod. The results are detailed at length in a newly released “Discussion Guide for the Restructuring of Lutheran Church– Canada” (www.canadianlutheran.ca/ wp-content/uploads/2016/08/LCCRestructuring-Discussion-Guide.pdf).

“I am pleased on behalf of the CCMS to be presenting this proposed new structure for Lutheran Church– Canada,” writes Rev. Bill Ney, Chairman of the CCMS. “Having asked for and received your input through a National Survey, having visited with many of you both prior to and following the Survey, and having received vast amounts of input and ideas from you, the CCMS has carefully considered all of the input received and we believe has produced a document that we hope encapsulates most of what we heard.” Among the changes recommended are: 1. Adopting one administrative structure for the entire church body, with Regional Pastors ensuring the delivery of mission and ministry services to congregations and church workers in their respective regions; 2. Transitioning to holding conventions every four years (beginning with the 2021 convention); 3. Ensuring each congregation can send two delegates (one pastor and one layperson) to every convention; 4. Allowing pastors not serving a congregation but functioning as a vacancy pastor to serve as that congregation’s pastoral delegate; 5. Dividing the Synodical President’s responsibilities into two new positions: a Synodical Administrator who would be responsible for all corporate services and a Synodical Bishop who would be responsible for the delivery of ecclesiastical services; 6. Ensuring the Synodical Bishop would continue to be elected by the

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Convention and would be accountable to LCC’s elected Board of Directors between conventions, with the further recommendation that the Synodical Bishop not be a voting member of the Board of Directors; 7. Adopting the following titles for leadership positions in the new LCC structure: “Synodical Bishop” for the position of national spiritual leader; “Synodical Administrator” for the position of national administrator; “Regional Pastor” for the positions of regional spiritual leaders (somewhat similar to District President). These Regional Pastors will be a part of a senior ministry team accountable to the Synodical Bishop; and Circuit Counsellor for the positions of current circuit counsellors.

The publication of the CCMS’ recommendations sets the stage for the next phase in the restructuring process: a church-wide discussion of these recommendations taking place September 1 – December 15, 2016.

All members of LCC are urged to participate in the coming discussions, with meetings to be held in every circuit in LCC across the nation. “We really do need—and yearn for—the participation of all local churches, pastors, and deacons,” LCC President Robert Bugbee explains. “I also stress that we want pastors and deacons to encourage the attendance of lay people from congregations as much as possible.” “ T h e s e p ro p o s a l s , t h o u g h concrete and specific, are not final recommendations,” President Bugbee notes. “The CCMS cannot make any final recommendations until it hears—as it did in the survey—from a widespread representation of the church. It is important that these gatherings involve talking, listening, agreeing with some things, perhaps disagreeing with others, or even modifying some proposals if a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ won’t be sufficient.”

The CCMS report notes that they are also seeking input for additional recommendations yet to be made.

Requests for input include:

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

1. Helping to clarify the role of Regional Pastors, noting that it is envisioned as a support role for LCC members, not a hierarchical or authoritarian role; 2. Helping to identify the number of regions needed, and the boundaries thereof; 3. Helping to expand and clarify the role of Circuit Counsellors; 4. Helping to identify the number of circuits needed, and the boundaries thereof; 5. Identifying necessary changes to LCC’s governing Handbook (with no changes to be made to the Handbook’s articulation of doctrine); 6. Questions and concerns regarding the definition of ministry and administrative costs for the new structure.

“For the sake of our Church and its ongoing mission on behalf of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are bold to ask you for more input, ideas, and reaction to our emerging structural proposals,” CCMS Chairman Ney writes. “Please take the time to help us finalize the restructuring of our beloved Synod in a way that is faithful to the Scriptures and our Lutheran Confessions to the end that we may continue to bring God’s Law and Gospel, His love and forgiveness to people whoever and where they may be—without the hindrance of a weak and ineffective structure.”

The CCMS has also released background information documents from LCC’s two seminaries that helped to guide aspects of the recommended structure. The two seminaries were invited to provide theological expertise in relation to two subjects under discussion. The first focuses on the subject of church worker votes at convention. The second addresses theological considerations in choosing a title for the spiritual leader of Synod.

The seminary responses are available at: www.canadianlutheran. ca/concrete-recommendationsreleased-for-the-restructuring-oflutheran-church-canada/.

ABC District News

Alberta Alberta and and British British Columbia Columbia Laura Laura Goerz, Goerz, editor editor

Congregations merge to form King of Kings Lutheran CRAIG and DICKSON, Alta. – The members of Christ Lutheran in Craig and Bethany Lutheran in Dickson have agreed to merge their two churches into a new congregation entitled King of Kings Lutheran Church.

The two congregations voted in March to merge as a two-point parish with the ultimate goal of combined congregational worship in one location. The vote came following two years of research into the best way to preserve and grow Lutheran witness to the Gospel in the region.

The inaugural voters meeting for King of Kings Lutheran was held June 5 in Dickson Hall. Former and current members of Christ Lutheran and Bethany Lutheran were invited to attend to join the roster of the new church. Since June, the new congregation has alternated monthly worship between the church buildings in Craig and Dickson.

Additional information on King of Kings Lutheran is available from its website: http://kingofkingslutheran. ca/ The congregation members of Christ Lutheran and Bethany Lutheran vote to merge.

St. Paul’s patriarch celebrates 102 years CHILLIWACK, B.C. – St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Chilliwack recently celebrated the 102 nd birthday of long-term member Hermann Bloch.

Bloch recently shared his lifestory with the congregation’s “Young @ Heart” group, explaining his personal history, family lifelife with eleven siblings, and the opportunities God had given him to create employment for others. Bloch was born in Beausejour, Manitoba on September 9, 1914 to Julius and Amelia Bloch. His family attended Thalberg Lutheran Church where he was baptized and confirmed. He and his wife Minnie were blessed with three children: Diana, Gordon, and Joanne.

B l o c h ’ s employment during his life has included in the bush in Manitoba, constructing houses in Chilliwack, and running a famous hamburger business. After retirement, he busied himself with chocolate Long-time St. Paul’s member Hermann Bloch. and winethankful for Bloch’s participation making as well as making beautiful in church life, writing, “We are so inlaid wooden bowls, many of which blessed to have him as a mentor and were donated for church fundraisers. a faithful servant in attendance.”

The members of St. Paul’s are The Lutheran September/October 2016 1 THECanadian CANADIAN L UTHERAN September/October 2016 19

ABC District News

Alberta Alberta and and British British Columbia Columbia Laura Laura Goerz, Goerz, editor editor

From the President

God’s Word at Work he genius of Martin Luther was his recognition that there was only one way the Spirit of the Lord would reform, renew, and revive a lifeless, stagnant church and that was to get Jesus’ followers to read, study, inwardly digest, and proclaim God’s Word! Luther was not interested in dismantling and reconstructing the Roman Catholic’s corporate and ecclesiastical structure—except where it deviated from God’s Word. His priority was not to develop a Christian nation state, although he trusted that the Word of God would reshape, renew, and revive people’s beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors in accord with God’s Word. Instead, Luther was determined to reform the church using Scripture alone.

Martin Luther trusted in the creative power of God’s Word: the ability of God to use His Word to accomplish what He wants done. Luther writes, “When God speaks a word the thing expressed by the word immediately leaps into existence. God says to my mother: ‘Conceive!’ and she conceives. He says to me: ‘Be born!’ and I am born.”

Martin Luther’s trust in the power and efficacy of the Word meant that his energies as a reformer were directed at studying and making God’s Word accessible to people through preaching, teaching, and translation. Luther puts it this way: “In short, I will preach it, teach it, write it, but I will constrain no man by force, for faith must come freely without compulsion. Take myself as an example. I opposed indulgences and all the papists, but never with force.

I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it. I did nothing; the Word did everything.”

God’s powerful Word has a profound effect upon Jesus’ disciples. The Spirit of the Lord, through God’s Word, creates a living faith in the triune God in the hearts of people who were once dead in their sin.

God’s creative Word also revives and renews Christians so that they share generously the Word of Lord with others, especially people who do not yet believe in

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2 The Canadian Lutheran September/October 2016 20 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

Jesus as their Saviour. Consider Luther’s words once more: “Once a Christian begins to know Christ as his Lord and Saviour, through whom he is redeemed from death and brought into His dominion and inheritance, God completely permeates his heart. Now he is eager to help everyone acquire the same benefits. For his greatest delight is in this treasure, the knowledge of Christ. Therefore he steps forth boldly, teaches and admonishes others, praises and confesses his treasure before everybody, prays and yearns that they too, may obtain such mercy. There is a spirit of restlessness amid the greatest calm, that is, in God’s grace and peace. A Christian cannot be still or idle. He constantly strives and struggles with all his might, as one who has no other object in life than to disseminate God’s honor and glory among the people, that others may also receive such a spirit of grace….”

I think you would agree that many Christians and Christian congregations are lifeless and stagnant.

There is need for reform, renewal, and revival. We would do well to imitate Luther’s genius and immerse ourselves in the study and proclamation of God’s Word. Will you please commit with me to read or listen to the Bible daily? Will you start attending a Bible study (if you aren’t currently attending one)?

Will you commit to attending Sunday worship every week? Will you share God’s Word with people who do not believe in the triune God? I can’t think of a better way of honoring the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation than by being students and proclaimers of God’s Word!

Please pray with me: Almighty God, grant to Your Church [to me and all believers in Christ] Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down from above that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached [spoken, read, studied, translated and prayed] to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people [beginning with me! and my family, and every follower of Jesus Christ] that in steadfast [and with a lively] faith we may serve You [and our neighbor] and, in the confession of Your name, abide to the end; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Glenn E. Schaeffer

ABC District News News ABC District

Alberta and and British British Columbia Columbia Laura Laura Goerz, Goerz, editor editor Alberta

Grace Lutheran in Osoyoos closes school

Principal Angela Westcott reminisces and says her farewells

Golden Spike welcomes new pastor GOLDEN SPIKE, Alta. – The congregation of Zion Lutheran Church welcomed Rev. Keith

Hoveland as its new pastor on July 26, 2016 at a service celebrating both his ordination and installation.

Participating in the service were: Back row, left to right: Rev. John Hellwege, Rev. Rod Buck, Rev. Reinhard Dittmer, Rev. Jan Pastucha, Rev. Larry MacKay, Rev. David Kihn, Rev. Mark Schultz, Rev. Harold Witte, Rev. Sye van Maanen, Rev. Roland Kubke, and Rev. Wayne Jensen. Front row, left to right: Rev. Don Schiemann, Rev. Jonathan Kraemer, Rev. Vern Raaflaub, Rev. Keith Hoveland, Rev. Lee Loveridge, Rev. Lowell Eckert, and Rev. Ken Rodemann. (Missing: Rev. James Fritche.)

On hand to celebrate with Rev. Hoveland’s wife, Carole, were a number of other pastors’ wives. Front left to right: Tamara Schultz, Ellen Raaflaub, Marilyn Witte, Carole Hoveland, Karen Kubke, Nancy Fritsche, Elaine Jensen, Jennifer Maxfield, Denise Hellwege, and Rosalie Dittmer. (Missing: Elsie Rodeman, Rhonda Buck, Beth Schiemann).

OSOYOOS, B.C. – On August 28, Grace Lutheran Church brought its twenty-six year ministry with Good Shepherd Christian School to an end, as Rev. Darren Siegle, at the request of the chairman, closed the school in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The ministry of the school, which served kindergarten to grade seven, had become unsustainable due to decreasing enrollment—a difficulty which was compounded by an inability to access savings in the Church Extension Fund. There had also been hopes to expand the school to serve high school grades, as there appeared to be a desire for such an option last spring. In the end, however, viable options ran out, and the decision was made by voters on July 5, 2016 to close the school.

After the closing service, Ruth Knippelberg—a teacher with the school from 1990 to 2003—hosted a barbeque reunion at her home.

More than 130 people, mostly former students, families, and staff, attended to reminisce, give thanks, and shed a few tears.

“Our objective was to provide a basic education through instructional methods that emphasized Christian practices, teaching, and attitudes,” noted Knippelberg in a special history composed for the occasion.

“Our purpose was to provide the opportunity for students to find i d e n t i t y, p u r p o s e, a n d p owe r for their life in Christ by living in grace and the knowledge of Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, to develop their God-given gifts and abilities, and to take positive action in society as people of God.” K n i p p e l b e rg ’ s h i s t o r y c a n b e d o w n l o a d e d a t : w w w. canadianlutheran.ca/wp-content/ u p l o a d s / 2 01 6 / 0 9 / C h r i s t i a n School-Osoyoos.pdf.

The Lutheran September/October2016 201621 3 THECanadian CANADIAN L UTHERAN September/October

ABC ABC District News

Alberta and and British British Columbia Columbia Laura Laura Goerz, Goerz, editor editor Alberta

New pastor for All Saints Lutheran in 1994 and they have three children, EDMONTON - On August 7 in an Benjamin, Anna, and Zachary. In afternoon service, Rev. Jonathan 1998 he graduated from Concordia Kraemer was installed as the pastor Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, and of All Saints Lutheran Church. was called to serve Peace/Trinity Rev. Dr. Glenn Schaeffer, ABC Lutheran Church, Trail/Fruitvale. In district president, presided over the 2003, he was accepted into graduate installation, Rev. James Fritsche, studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Pastor Emeritus, served as liturgist, and Rev. Vince Moore preached the sermon on the text John 10:1116. The All Saints choir made beautiful contributions to the service as well. After the service, many of the 150 people who attended were treated to a BBQ luncheon hosted by the Fellowship committee.

Rev. Kraemer was born in Cookeville, T e n n e s s e e , immigrating to Edmonton when he was seven. He and Pastors in attendance for Rev. Kraemer’s (second from right, Janice were married front) installation.

Goerz appointed ABC District News Editor The Alberta-British Columbia District has appointed a new editor for the ABC District News section of The Canadian Lutheran.

Laura Goerz has accepted the position, beginning with the November-December Laura Goerz issue of the magazine.

Goerz is a regular c o n t r i b u t o r t o Tapestry, t h e national magazine of Lutheran Women’s Missionary-League-Canada (LWMLC), having written with them since the magazine’s inception in 1994. She has also written numerous articles, devotions, Bible studies, and some workshops, mostly for LWMLC, including the theme devotional “Sparks of the Spirit” for the last national LWMLC convention.

“ I t i s a j oy t o welcome Laura to LCC’s news team,” said Mathew Block, editor of The Canadian Lutheran.

“She has a reputation for thoughtful writing, and will be a blessing to the church in her n ew ro l e a s A B C District News editor.”

Goerz is a deacon and elementary school teacher, currently on candidate status. She further serves LWMLC as Data Manager, and as Co-Chair of the National LWMLC taskforce on virtual societies. You can read her blog www.lauragoerz.com.

New submissions for the ABC District news can be directed to Goerz at editor@lccabc.ca.

4 The Canadian Lutheran September/October 2016 22 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

Louis, Missouri, and received his Masters of Sacred Theology. While studying in St. Louis he also served as a vacancy preacher for Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer. In 2006 he was called to be Assistant Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, serving there until he accepted the call to serve All Saints.

New shoes for school

DRUMHELLER, Alta. – The Evangelism Committee at Grace Lutheran Church recently reached out to the community by helping out low-income families with backto-school costs.

The church offered families with a new pair of running shoes (no strings attached). Anyone who had children needing new shoes for school just had to call the church, leave their first name and phone number, along with the gender of their child and shoe size. The committee then arranged to provide a new pair of shoes for that child.

The response was great, and Grace Lutheran provided 24 pairs of shoes for children in need.

Rosalie Nimmo, Administrative Assistant, Grace Lutheran

Visit the ABC District website at www.lccabc.ca Send news, photos, articles and announcements six weeks prior to publication month.

Laura Goerz, District Editor editor@lccabc.ca

Next deadline: December 16, 2016

Central District News News

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Manitoba, NW NW Ontario Ontario Elaine Elaine Stanfel, Stanfel, editor editor

Vacation Bible schools held across the district ESTEVAN, Sask. - St. Peter’s Lutheran Church held its annual Vacation Bible School, July 1821. Some 87 children, 23 youth volunteers and 20 adult volunteers participated at Barnyard Roundup where Jesus gathered everyone together. The children enjoyed music, story telling, Bible challenges, crafts, games, and of course snacks.

OXBOW and FROBISHER

Denise Dougherty

OXBOW & FROBISHER, Sask. - The Barnyard Roundup at St. Peter & St. John Lutheran Parish featured real animals and hand-built backdrops.

WINNIPEG - A great week at Cave Quest (at Peace Lutheran) shared God’s love through lots of smiling faces and dedicated volunteers.

MELVILLE & NEUDORF, Sask. Vacation Bible School this summer at Trinity Lutheran Church in Neudorf and Zion Lutheran Church in Melville sought to teach and develop children rather than merely entertain. The Bible lessons all pointed to Jesus and His victory over sin, death, and the grave, as

WINNIPEG

well as how we personally receive the benefits of His victory through the Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. The children learned good Lutheran hymnody. In Melville participants even had the treat of a violin and brass instruments accompanying the singing.

Opening and closing devotions included a Scripture memory verse

of the day, hymns, Psalms, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Apostles’ Creed. The children thus joined the saints of all time in their prayers and worship.

“The church cannot replace parents teaching at home and setting the exa m p l e o f re g u l a r l y receiving the gifts of God in the Divine Service, but the church does supplement such teaching as well as support the parents i n t h e i r ro l e, ” n o t e d organizers. “Learning to sit and listen in church cannot be taught by any way except…sitting and listening in church. We had our openings and closings in the nave for this very purpose, and taught and encouraged the younger children in using the hymnals and following along.”

In addition to learning, the children also made crafts, played games, and participated in activities which were an integral part of the enjoyment of VBS. “Ninja Warrior” appeared to be the favourite activity in Neudorf and various water activities were great for cooling down during continued next page

ESTEVAN

The 201623 1 THECanadian CANADIANLutheran LUTHERAN September/October September/October 2016

Central District News News

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Manitoba, NW NW Ontario Ontario Elaine Elaine Stanfel, Stanfel, editor editor

Vacation Bible Schools, continued the hot summer days. The sprinkler system in Melville may have been turned on at just the right time during an outdoor activity to provide a surprise cool down!

MELVILLE and NEUDORF

WARMAN

WARMAN, Sask. - Members of St .John’s Lutheran Church promoted their VBS at the Rodeo Day parade.

Ponderings from the president The sin of pride n his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis devotes a section to Christian behaviour. One chapter of this section is entitled “The Great Sin.” He writes: “There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which everyone in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else.... I have heard people admit that they are bad-tempered... or even that they are cowards. I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice.... There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.”

What is “the great sin” Lewis is describing here?

Hatred? Lust? Envy? Greed? Revenge? If you guessed pride, you’re right.

We are not talking here about pride in the sense of “self-esteem.” It is healthy to feel good about yourself for a job well done. But too much pride can put one on a slippery slope where your ego expands to unhealthy proportions—leaving God out of the picture altogether.

That kind of pride is a sin from which none of us is exempt.

Holy Scripture tells us that “pride goes before the fall.” There is an old fable about two ducks and a frog who lived in a farmer’s pond. The ducks and the frog were the best of friends; they played together all day long. But when the hot summer days came and the pond began to dry up, the ducks realized that they would have to move. They could easily fly away to another place, but what about their friend, the frog? So, the three friends

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2 The 2016 24 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN September/October September/October 2016

decided that the ducks would put a stick between them holding each end in their bills, while the frog hung on to the stick by his mouth. With this arrangement the three friends set out for another pond. As they were flying, the farmer saw them and said, “How clever is that! Now there’s something you don’t see every day! I wonder who thought of that?” To which the frog cried out, “I did!”

And that was the end of the frog. Here, pride literally went before the fall!

It is to such sinfully proud people like you and me that our Saviour Jesus lovingly reaches down, strips away our sinful pride, and washes us clean of all our sin. He faced the punishment for all our arrogance and pride when He willingly suffered and died on the cross. Jesus showed the very opposite of pride when “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). As a result of His innocent suffering and atoning death, we are cleansed of our sin. By His resurrection from the dead He guarantees to all who believe in Him an invitation to God’s eternal banquet in the kingdom of heaven. We do not deserve such an honoured position. We cannot earn it. But we are invited purely on the basis of the righteousness of Jesus our Saviour. Our King has made us worthy to join Him in the banquet halls of heaven by means of His death and resurrection.

As we begin another day of service to Christ and His Church, we do so with all humility and say with the hymn writer: “Nothing in my hand I bring; Simply to Thy cross I cling” (LSB 761, v.3).

Rev. Thomas Prachar

Central District District News Central News

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Manitoba, NW NW Ontario Ontario Elaine Elaine Stanfel, Stanfel, editor editor

Congregation reflects on the past, present and future NEUDORF, Sask. - T r i n i t y Lutheran Church celebrated its 120th anniversary on August 21. Guest preacher, Lutheran Church–Canada President Robert Bugbee, preached a sermon entitled “Mind Your Own Business,” based on the Gospel reading for the day (from Luke 13).

Instead of worrying about how many or few people will be saved and how fair or unfair we think this might be, he encouraged, Jesus instructs us to “strive to enter through the narrow door.” Mind your own business, not God’s business. This is not a mere matter of a connection to a congregation, eating and drinking in Jesus’ presence, or hearing His teaching, Rev. Bugbee said. It is a matter of trust in Jesus for salvation.

This trust is the gift Divine Service whether of God to you because there are many or few Christ has opened the to celebrate with the door of eternal life for angels, archangels, you through His death and all the company on the cross. Baptized of heaven. The true into Christ, His death is body and blood of Jesus your death, so His life is are distributed for the your life. forgiveness of sins even After the service, if there are few mouths President Bugbee told to receive. God calls, those gathered how gathers, enlightens, and the Holy Spirit is sanctifies; we don’t need calling, gathering, and to mind God’s business. enlightening people Instead, we are called to at a congregation in mind our own business Germany in surprising T h e 1 2 0 - y e a r - o l d and strive to enter a n d u n p re d i c t a b l e candleholders used for the through the narrow anniversar y service were ways: by calling great acquired by a trade for a bag d o o r b y e n s u r i n g numbers of Muslims of onions back in 1896. that we ourselves are to faith in receiving these gifts Christ through His Word. of God and being strengthened in What is important for all faith, whether there are many or of us to remember is that few others. even if our numbers do “An anniversary is a time of not increase, even if our reflection on the past, present, and Sunday school remains future of a congregation,” noted small and humble (or Rev. John Nieminen. “It is easy non-existent), even if to be dismayed at the present and fearful of the future when we reflect grey hairs outnumber on a supposed ‘golden age’ back in other colours, God is the day when the Sunday schools still at work through His were full, confirmation classes were means of grace. Heaven Little ones enjoying their grilled food outside. booming, and the pews were packed comes to earth in the on Sunday mornings. We know that it is God who calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Dinner fêtes retiring pastor Christian Church on earth (SC II.3).

It is His work, not ours, and He does this when and where it pleases Him R E G I N A - M o u n t O l i ve (AC V).”

Lutheran Church members and friends gathered August 28 for a dinner in honour of Rev. Terry Defoe’s retirement.

After obtaining his Master of Divinity degree in 1982, Rev. Defoe served various congregations in British Columbia and Alberta. He has served Mount Olive since the fall of 2003.

Rev. John Nieminen

How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say than to you He has said Who unto the Saviour for refuge has fled?

LSB #728

Rev. Terry Defoe

The 201625 3 THECanadian CANADIANLutheran LUTHERAN September/October September/October 2016

Central District District News Central News

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Manitoba, NW NW Ontario Ontario Elaine Elaine Stanfel, Stanfel, editor editor

Lutherans at the Queen City Ex REGINA - For the third year in a row the children’s booklet titled “The Bully” was the most sought after item at the Lutheran Hour Ministries booth at the Queen City Exhibition, August 3-7. Those who picked up this booklet included parents, grandparents, children, and a school teacher who requested a booklet for each of her 33 students.

The two other children’s booklets on display “Learning to Pray” and “Do you Know Who Jesus Is?” were also popular.

Don and Sylvia Jesse, volunteers from Good Shepherd in Regina, reviewing materials in the fair booth.

Installation at St. Walburg ST. WALBURG, Sask. - Rev. Quentin Adams was installed September 11 at Trinity Lutheran Church as the congregation’s officially called (parttime) pastor. He has been serving as their interim pastor since 2012 and looks forward to continuing to serve the people of Trinity and their

community with the Gospel of Christ.

The installation service was well attended and a good Lutheran potluck was served following the service. Rev. Adams expressed thanks to all those who attended, especially those who travelled some distance to be there.

This year it appeared as if more people working with youth groups and in health care were interested in the various booklets and materials.

The most sought after booklets were on the topics dealing with angels, depression, anger, forgiveness, grief, and death.

Complete Bibles and New Testaments were also distributed.

A Muslim family with four children took a Bible and New Testament as they wanted to learn about other religions. People were amazed that all the materials were free.

Many people thanked and congratulated Lutheran Hour Ministries for being a witness at the fair. One visitor to the booth stated “Where are we without our Lord?” and thanked us for being at the fair.

Those involved in the fair booth ministry continue to pray for the families with hurts who stopped by: the recipients of the booklets, the Muslim family, the woman with five children who lost her husband in a car accident three months earlier, the lady with three children who hasn’t been to church in six years, plus the numerous other visitors.

Thanks go to all volunteers and supporters of this ministry to make this outreach in our community possible.

Ed Tiefenbach

Visit the Central District website at www.lcccentral.ca

Send news, photos, articles and announcements six weeks prior to publication month.

Elaine Stanfel, district editor, 509 Airport Road, Pembroke, ON K8A6W7 613-687-6620 elaine.stanfel@gmail.com (back, l-r) Revs. Tom Prachar, Wayne Olson, Greg Palmer; (front) Revs. Quentin Adams and Randy Heide.

4 The 2016 26 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN September/October September/October 2016

Next deadline December 16, 2016

East District News News East District

Ontario, Ontario, Quebec, Quebec, New New Brunswick, Brunswick, Nova Nova Scotia Scotia Ilene Ilene Fortin, Fortin, editor editor

Emergency Worker Recognition Day DASHWOOD, Ont. - For at least the last six years, if not longer, Zion Lutheran Church has hosted a Country of Huron Appreciation & Recognition Day for Emergency Workers with local service personnel.

The community celebrates again this year with joy and gratitude local men and women who have been called by God to volunteer their services for the protection of others.

“Their dedication is a blessing and an honour,” members note. “As they work among us, with us, and on our behalf, we recognize their special gifts and sacrifices and we thank God for the grace and strength that allows them to continually face the challenges, offering their best to God, and all God’s people.”

Doris Osgood

(front, l-r): Captain John Becker, Dwayne McNab, Captain Matt Miller, Dispatcher Mary Becker, Vern Sorensen. (back) Rev. John Trembulak , District Chief Jeremy Becker, Jamie Hodge, Sam Datars, Brian Martene, Jake Cooke, Jamie Becker, Assistant District Chief Peter Datars, Ken Rader, Jim Hoffman. Photo taken after the September 11 morning service.

Kingsville hosts first seniors’ gathering KINGSVILLE, Ont. - On August 20, First Evangelical Lutheran hosted the first of what is hoped to be many Senior’s Gatherings. The gathering was intended to be an opportunity for various congregations to share what their seniors groups do and for seniors to take on a

Rev. Robert Krestick speaks to the group about Physician Assisted Death

Barrie gathers for Barnyard Roundup BA R R I E , O n t . Barnyard Roundup was the theme for this year’s Vacation Bible School held July 11-15 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.

T w e n t y - t w o enthusiastic volunteers gathered around the Gospel to share the love of Christ with 57 children from Open Children and volunteers joyfully gathered for this year’s Arms Early Childhood vacation Bible school. shepherd gathers his sheep, providing Centre, our congregation, and our abundantly for their needs, leading community. Through music, Bible them, and finding them when they lessons and verses, crafts, games, wander. and snacks, the children learned Rev. Dr. Stephen Omoregie how God gathers His people as a

more active role in the church. Also it was an opportunity to receive some information on important issues to Christians, to enjoy some fellowship and partake of some good barbecue.

Invitations for the event went to all the LCC and English District congregations in the Windsor a n d L o n d o n a re a s . E i g h t e e n congregations were represented including Burlington, Hamilton and St. Catharines, for a grand total of 106 participants.

The gathering featured presentations by Elizabeth Krestick (Age-Friendly Congregational Life), Rev. Robert Krestick (Physician Assisted Death), and East District president Rev. Paul Zabel (Cremation and the Christian). There was also an open discussion about senior activities.

Participants certainly felt that seniors could and should be much more involved in congregational activities.

Feedback from those in attendance indicated that the gathering was very useful and if at all possible should be continued with the various congregations taking turns to host future events.

Eileen Wonnick

CANADIAN LUTHERANSeptember/October September/October 2016 TheTHE Canadian Lutheran 2016 27 1

East East District News

Ontario, Ontario, Quebec, Quebec, New New Brunswick, Brunswick, Nova Nova Scotia Scotia Ilene Ilene Fortin, Fortin, editor editor

Hats and Mats to continue in the Fall GODERICH, Ont. - On June 13 the Berea Lutheran Mats & Hats Group of community participants c e l e b ra t e d t h e i r f i n a l evening of the season together. This amazing group—sixteen of the 32 members are pictured h e re — h ave m e t s i n c e September 2015, and have worked beautifully together on Monday evenings.

The group has great success and doubled or more

The Goderich Hats and Mats Group show just some of the work of the season before they recessed for the summer months.

their contributions when compared to the previous year: in total, the group made and distributed 107 sleeping mats, 681 adult knit hats, 240 pair of mittens, and 155 pair of adult socks to the homeless of London and Toronto, including some to homeless veterans.

The group took a break for the summer with plans to resume work on September 12.

Heather Ball

From the president Richer at the end of each and every day!

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that has it: but the correction of fools is their folly.

The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. (Proverbs 16: 22-23) ow that we are again in the season of Fall, thousands upon thousands of students have headed back to class in our elementary schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. Warning notices are constantly being announced and displayed “to drive carefully” as children walk, ride their bikes, or board buses to be taken to the schools every morning and brought back home every afternoon.

Once the students arrive at their schools, the teachers are there not only to greet them, but also to inspire and direct them as they learn. They still teach using traditional means—blackboards and examinations, for example—but also with modern technology, using computers and iPads which in some cases are even provided to the students by the schools they are attending. Education is truly a wonderful thing that provides our boys and girls—and men and women—the opportunity to learn the things that will help them to not only provide a living for themselves and their loved ones, but also to be able to contribute to society in any number of meaningful ways.

But truly great educators agree that real education must begin at the centre. We must teach those who are attending our schools not only how to make a living, but also how to live. It is strange to discover that many adults with years of schooling and experience behind them still have not learned the real secret of living. They

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2 The September/October 2016 28 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN September/October 2016

may be successful businessmen and tradesmen, capable secretaries and housewives, or whatever their chosen vocations might be, but with so many there is an absence of the things which are worthwhile and living and lasting.

Do you remember that old adage, “We learn something new every day?” It is still an appropriate thing to aspire to. It is well for us to set as one of our goals “to be richer at the end of each day”—richer not only in terms of facts and figures, but more importantly richer in the treasure that really counts. Each day we should spend time to learn more of the wisdom of God. There must be times set aside from our busy schedules to talk to God so that we may be reassured

by His promises and directed by His commandments.

Each one of us can make attempts to make our lives more successful but only the Master can make our lives worthy of eternity. It is He who, when sin separated us from Him, gave His very own Son to die on the cross that we might be brought back to Him—and not only receive the assurance that we have been forgiven, but also the joyful knowledge that we have the richest treasure there is: belonging to Him. Every day we find ourselves in the classroom of life.

May we ever let the Master be our teacher. He will lead us in the pathway of faith and along roads of loving service to Him, to those members of our families and our friends whom He has placed into our lives, and to those with whom God has given us the opportunity to witness our faith to in our everyday lives. May you and I find ourselves “richer” at the end of each and every day.

Rev. Paul Zabel

East District News News East District

Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Ilene Fortin, editor Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Ilene Fortin, editor

Joyful and eager community involvement DASHWOOD, Ont. - Zion Lutheran Church hosted a very exciting Vacation Bible School July 25-29, with the closing program on Friday night showcasing songs and crafts by the students. The total number of volunteers for the week was 36 and total registered students, 91.

This year’s theme was a Barnyard Roundup based on Psalm 23: the Lord as our Shepherd is present with us, provides for us, and protects us now and forever. A field trip to the local Becker farm was the highlight activity for all.

The weekly offering was dedicated to aid in Nicaragua ($459.15) and Community Living South Huron ($129.60). The Tuesday snack of cupcakes was graciously donated by Community Living South Huron, who also created and painted the barn door backdrop decorations for the week.

Two of their clients also volunteered at the Vacation Bible School.

Children and volunteers gathered for the Friday night closing program sporting this year’s colourful VBS T-shirts.

The congregation offers very special thanks to the leaders (again this year): Marg Nicholson, Amy Hern and Julia Burton; and to Doug

Deichert of FaithLife Insurance for a donation of backpacks for each of the children.

Doris Osgood

Mountain-moving prayer DASHWOOD, Ont. - On Saturday May 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Rev. William Gatz of Jackson, Michigan led a workshop packed on the power of a mountain-moving prayer life. An invitation went out to the Stratford circuit, leading to attendance by members from these congregations also. Rev. Gatz is a former pastor of Zion from 1961-1966; he and his wife Trudy have a special place in the hearts of Zion’s members.

On Sunday, Rev. Gatz was guest preacher, delivering a sermon on 2 Chronicles 20.

The choir sang a special hymn of prayer.

Above: former pastor of Zion Lutheran, Rev. William Gatz, led a workshop to help understand a mountain moving prayer life. Below: (l-r) Rev. John Trembulak III, Elizabeth Trembulak, Trudy Gatz and Rev. William Gatz

Doris Osgood

CANADIAN LUTHERANSeptember/October September/October 2016 TheTHE Canadian Lutheran 2016 29 3

East East District News

Ontario, Ontario, Quebec, Quebec, New New Brunswick, Brunswick, Nova Nova Scotia Scotia Ilene Ilene Fortin, Fortin, editor editor

Goderich member named Senior of the Year GODERICH, Ont. - Donna Murray helps people during some of the worst times in their life. She is a volunteer at the Emergency Department of the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital. For that dedication, Murray was named Goderich’s Senior of the Year and accepted the award from Goderich mayor Kevin Morrison on August 8.

Jennifer Black nominated Murray for the award after witnessing the positive impact Murray has on those who come through the doors of the Emergency Department, as well as volunteering in many other capacities.

“I hope you don’t have to go to the Emergency Department at the hospital, but if you do, Donna is

Timmins ordains and installs new pastor TIMMINS, Ont. - Church Council President Robert Schuehlein, recently welcomed new pastor Rev. Milton Lam to Christ Lutheran Church. On August 14, the Service of Ordination of Milton Lam into the Office of the Holy Ministry and his installation as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church was performed and celebrated.

The congregation also welcomed Rev. Lam to Timmins. He was born in Hong Kong, China, arriving in Canada when he was just four years old and he grew up in Joliette, Quebec. He is fluent in Cantonese, French, and English.

Laura Broadley, Goderich Signal Star (used with permission)

Monika Schuehlein

Participating in the service (l-r) Revs. David Smilek, Kurt Lantz, Dr. Roger Winger, East District President Paul Zabel; Rev. Milton Lam is in front.

Sudanese outreach sees 2016 growth HAMILTON, Ont. - The East District’s Mission Executive, Rev. Ron Mohr, visited Pilgrim Lutheran Church on August 14 where he preached in both the English morning service and Sudanese afternoon service bringing a wonderful Law/Gospel message.

there to help you. And she’s there all hours of the week,” Black said. “I felt she deserved some recognition.”

Morrison said he experienced Murray’s personal warmth when he had to visit the Emergency Department.

“You greet people with a smile all the time, you really do. And you comfort people when they come through those doors,” Morrison said.

“We really appreciate what you do, and what you’ve done. And thank you so much for your contribution to our community as well.”

“The progress of the mission is God’s growth and we give thanks to God for His blessing that He pours out on us here,” noted Missionary-at-Large Peter Gatluak. “We continue to bring our Sunday school children to the Christian education hour Sunday mornings and the youth to Bible study class. We remember with thanksgiving what God has accomplished here with this mission.”

Sudanese gather at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Hamilton.

4 The September/October 2016 30 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN September/October 2016

Submitted by Rev. Peter Gatluak, Missionary-atLarge, LCC, East District

Donna Murray accepted the Senior of the Year award from Goderich mayor Kevin Morrison at the August 8 council meeting.

Murray was nominated for her dedication to volunteering at the Emergency Room at AMGH. (l-r) Jennifer Black, Donna Murray, Mayor Kevin Morrison. (Photo credit to Laura Broadley/Goderich Signal Star)

Visit the East District website at www.lcceastdistrict.ca Send news, photos, articles and announcements six weeks prior to publication month.

Ilene Fortin, district editor East District Office 275 Lawrence Avenue, Kitchener, Ontario N2M 1Y3 E-mail: ilene@lcceast.ca Fax: 519-578-3369

Next deadline: December 16, 2016

Mission Update LCC Missionary to Ukraine installed in Nikolaev marginalized, who need His hand of grace and mercy extended to them, to bring and receive them into the fold of Jesus Christ. This is the reason He has established you as His family of faith in this place.”

Rev. Navrotskyy is now transitioning back into regular service in Ukraine. He and his family spent the past two years in Canada, as he pursued a Master of Divinity degree through Concordia Lutheran The congregation in Nikolaev, Ukraine gathers to welcome Rev. Navrotskyy (far right in clerical collar).

Seminary in Edmonton.

Prior to that, he had served as LCC’s missionary in faith with perseverance, humility, UKRAINE - Approximately 60 Dnepropetrovski for several years, and joy, knowing that the Lord of people gathered for the installation after studying for the pastoral the Church has called you by His of Lutheran Church–Canada’s ministry through LCC’s Concordia name through your holy Baptism,” (LCC) missionary to Ukraine, Rev. Seminary in Odessa, Ukraine. wrote Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel, Oleksiy Navrotskyy, as pastor in It is hoped that Rev. Navrotskyy’s LCC’s Executive for Missions Nikolaev on August 21. seminary studies in Canada will and Social Ministry in a letter “I am excited to minister to be of assistance to the Ukrainian to the church.

“The Lord Jesus this congregation, and to serve the church both to the churches in has many people in Nikolaev and surrounding community with the Nikolaev as well as at the nearby region that are still in darkness Gospel,” Rev. Navrotskyy writes seminary in Odessa. and sin, lonely people, dispersed, of his new call. “I pray the Lord will help us to build up a church zealous to share the Gospel within our church’s community.”

Bishop Alexander Urchenko of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) led the service, preaching on Exodus 3:4-17. Bishop Urchenko stressed the importance of understanding God’s vocation in our life—both in vocation of pastoral ministry, as well as in the vocations of elders and laypeople.

He called the congregation to gather around their new pastor, to support him, and to enter into their shared vocation of the Church within the world—to proclaim the Gospel to the surrounding community of Nikolaev.

The service ended with greetings Third-annual Lutheran Epiphany Tour Space from SELCU Bishop Emeritus Viktor Visit major Biblical and historical sites ! d Limite Graefenstein, other SELCU pastors, e r February 5-13, 2017 fo e b Book 1 r and Lutheran Church–Canada. e b www.VisitTheHolyLand.ca m e Nov “ B ro t h e r s a n d s i s t e r s , we Call Indus Travels 1-866-978-2997 Ext 806 Tour organized by Dr. Ian Adnams and Indus Travels • www.indus.travel encourage you to run the race of

IMAGINE You. Here. February 2017

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

31

Education Report 2016 issue of Lutheran Theological Review now available ONLINE - The 2016 issue of Lutheran Theological Review (LTR) has just been released and is available for download online.

Volume 28 is guest edited by Rev. Dr. John Stephenson, and among other work features sermons and essays from the September 2015 conference “Pastoral Perspectives on Paul.” The conference recognized the release of Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger’s Concordia Commentary on Ephesians.

Sermon: “You, then, my son” (I Cor. 1:18-24) - Roger E. Winger Toward a Pauline Shaping of Pastoral Formation - Warren G. Hamp Pastors and People Pelted by the Prince of the Power of the Air - Esko T. Murto To Hear and Learn Jesus: Growing a Seminary from New

Testament Seeds - Thomas M. Winger Sermon: “Jars of Clay” (II Cor. 4:1-2) - Kurt E. Reinhardt The journal also includes reviews of Dr. Winger’s recent commentary, with perspectives f ro m L u t h e ra n ( J o n a t h a n F. Grothe), Roman Catholic (John H u nw i c ke ) , a n d E va n g e l i c a l (Stephen Westerholm) scholars.

In addition, Volume 28 of LTR includes essays by Mathew Block, Lutheran Church–Canada’s communications manager, and Rev. Dr. James R. Gimbel, President of Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) in Edmonton. A sermon series by Rev. David P. Saar is the final feature of the issue.

Authority in the Church: Lutheran Reflections on Vatican II - Mathew Block

A Theological Christian Perspective on PhysicianAssisted Death - James R. Gimbel E a s t District C h u r c h Wo r k e r s ’ Conference Devotions - David P. Saar Lutheran Theological Review is a joint publication of LCC’s two seminaries. Copies are sent free of charge to every pastor in LCC, and paid subscriptions are also available, in addition to being made available online. Download Volume 28 of Lutheran Theological Review here: www.brocku.ca/concordiaseminary/ LTR/LTR_28.pdf.

Seminaries welcome new students as school year begins CANADA - The new school year is well underway at Lutheran Church–Canada’s two seminaries, with both schools welcoming a number of new students.

Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) in St. Catharines, Ontario held its first full day of classes on September 6, while Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) in Edmonton held its first full day of the Fall Semester on September 19.

CLTS welcomes eight new students this year: five pastoral, two pastoral colloquy, and one student in the Master of Theological Studies (MTS) program. In total this year, CLTS has fifteen students on campus and four distance education, breaking down as follows: four pre-seminary students, four seminary year one students, one year two student, three year four students, two colloquy, and five MTS students.

CLS welcomes six new full-time

32

Faculty, students, and family at CLTS’ opening barbecue.

First and second years at Concordia Lutheran Seminary.

pastoral students this year, joining the existing five returning second year students. Four vicars are in the field, meaning CLS counts a total of fifteen pastoral students this year.

An additional six students are in Open Studies, while another fulltime student is expected to begin in January.

Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary held a student/faculty retreat September 1-2 at Mt. Carmel Spiritual Retreat Centre in Niagara Falls. A barbecue followed on Saturday, with the opening service

of the seminary held September 11 in CLTS’ Martin Luther Chapel.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary held an orientation for new students, along with two short term classes, on September 6-16.

CLS’ Board of Regents met for their first meeting of the new school year on September 6-7, while CLTS’ Board of Regents met September 12-13.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

One Special Moment

T

The

LAMPlighter

by Dennis Ouellette, pastor/pilot

VOLUME 48 NO. 1 SEPTEMBER 2016

Chief. This teen’s death was the fourth death in four weeks in the community!

The community barely had time to recover from one death when another took place—cancer, old age, cirrhosis, and suicide. I was able to spend time BEEN asked to describe “one special with this teen’s family moment” above all the others that impacted It was profound that, at and pray with them. It was profound that, at the me. Considering the moment of prayer, moment of prayer, the the number of the entire house full of entire house full of people communities (16), team people stopped to pray stopped to pray with me. volunteers (92), and the Sometimes I never know ministry that took place with me. how the Lord will use me it should be a piece of until that moment arrives. cake, right? One would And that prayer time in that house was assume there would be one profound one such moment. moment on which to focus. However, I

he summer VBS season is winding down for me for the second year. I HAVE

can’t come up with just one. A myriad of special moments occurred over this season of ministry. I could probably relate one special moment for each community and team I visited with.

So I’ll pick, from the many moments, a few to share with you.

Sadly, shortly after arriving in Red Lake, Ontario, in June, I received word that there had been a death of a 15-year-old girl in Cat Lake, Ontario.

I called Edith Cook (who has been a great help in making arrangements for their VBS) to find out more information. The next day I flew to Cat Lake to briefly meet with Edith and her sister Ellen, who is Deputy

Another special moment is when I flew to Shamattawa, one of two communities I visited last spring. When the children gathered for VBS, a number of them recognized me from that trip (“It’s Mr. Clean!”) followed by so many hugs I lost count. Little Mylee saw me and almost tackled me. This is the little girl who walked me back to our accommodations in the spring. She was

continued next page

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

33

www.lampministry.org Special moment, continued

so excited to show me the cross she decorated.

A further special moment was spending time talking with the pastor of one of the churches in Norway House, Manitoba, where LAMP holds a VBS. Rev. Lawrence Moore shared some of the struggles the church and he were facing.

To listen and then pray with him was humbling because it’s a reminder that pastors need a pastor, too. The Lord put me there for such a moment.

Then there was the special moment of returning to Cross

Lake, Manitoba. This was the community that unfortunately gained notoriety due to the suicide epidemic last winter.

On Palm Sunday, nine people from the Billings, Montana, VBS team and I traveled to minister to the children and community focusing particularly on the schools. I was able to talk with a handful of team members, one-on-one, about challenging issues facing the children with whom they have developed relationships and recommend ways to address those issues. I was also able to meet and spend time with the elementary school principal, Connie McIvor, who has had multiple challenges and spiritual battles to fight. It is so important to support her, then and now, in the work she does with the children and in her faith in Jesus Christ.

I could go on and on with one special moment after another. However, the key to all of these one special moments is that the Lord is using LAMP volunteers and

It is only by your continued financial and prayer support that these special moments continue in communities all over northern Canada, reaching and touching the lives of people with the Good News of Jesus.

The passage from 1 Peter 4:10-11 expresses the heart and purpose of these special moments in ministry. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.

Amen.”

Enclosed is my gift of $___________ to help share the gift of Jesus with people in the North.

OR donate online at www.lampministry.org Please send me information on:

o I want to help support a LAMP

o o o o

missionary pilot

Mail us at: LAMP

4966-92 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB T6B 2V4 Phone: (780) 466-8507 or 1-800-307-4036 Fax (780) 466-6733

The Prayer Partner Program The Volunteer Program Fueling the Mission for Children I am interested in knowing how to impact the next generation through Legacy Giving

Name Address E-mail

34

staff to touch the lives of First Nations communities with the compassionate care and love that only Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit and Word can provide.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

The

LAMPlighter

Summer of 2016 – reflections of volunteer missionaries Accomplishing His purpose, through the hands and feet of our volunteers and prayer and financial support of our donors.

Together, WE made a difference.

THIS PHOTO IS OF OUR team member, Derek Dravis, and Heather. She was born with a similar heart defect that Derek had when he was born.

Derek had not seen her for about five years because she was usually in the hospital when he came to visit. Heather just was released from the hospital; she is nine and the doctors have said that they cannot do the third surgery that would help her continue to live due to medical complications. Not only did God let these two meet again, Derek got to pray for Heather and Heather then asked to pray for our team. Precious little girl.

Pelican Narrows, SK Team Member

LEONARD IS WEARING a name tag that he saved from his previous VBS leader, Jen. She gave it to him on the last day of VBS last year.

He saved it and wore it to the first day of VBS this year. Jen had a baby and did not go this year, so Leonard gave us the name tag and a note to give to her back in Montana. These friendships we make are strong!

Keep loving and sharing!

Cross Lake, MB Team Member

ON MONDAY WE HAD two women and two men stop by the church (unknown community members to us). They thanked us for telling their children about the Bible because they didn’t really understand it.

I asked if they would come to a program service on Wednesday evening if we put one on. They said, “Yes,” and that they would encourage others to come. Praise the Lord we had 51 attend—34 students and 17 adults and in those numbers, 11 families. Many of the adults came in with long faces and not wanting to even look at us, let alone talk to us. Teresa did the object lesson of the three bottles (Jesus, us, and sin) and everyone was amazed how it worked. The children sang their hearts out, and we provided snacks and water. After our fellowship time with them, they all left with smiles on their faces and laughing. On Thursday, we had five new students because their family member was there Wednesday night. God is awesome. We had several adults tell us how the children look forward to us coming and sharing hope to them. We were invited to a fish supper one evening and the husband did all the cooking. We were given a tour of the school from the principal of the school and shared what programs they are offering. We had been given books on teen suicide, and she welcomed having them to use as a teaching tool in a suicide unit for the next school year. Every year I feel we are making more of an impact on people of the community, NOT just the children.

South Indian Lake, MB Team Member

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

35

Summer of 2016 – reflections of volunteer missionaries

THIS SUMMER OUR VBS changed locations. The church we had used in Leaf Rapids, Manitoba, had closed, but another community church kindly let us use their building. However, we wondered: “We’re now on the very edge of town…will the children know we’re here? Will they come a longer way for VBS? Of course, there was no need for concern. Kids began to show up almost two hours early for our first day of VBS. I was already exhausted from playing “Bear” (a form of tag), before we said our opening prayer.

What a blessing to see those glowing, happy faces!

They knew we loved them, and they were excited to hear more about God’s every greater love.

Leaf Rapids, MB Team Member

ONCE PEOPLE GO they will realize that they can’t NOT go back. You have to go back because you leave a part of yourself there when you go home.

Southend, SK Team Member

ON THE LAST VBS DAY, the team held their program earlier in the day in order to have the school cleaned up by the time their flight left at approx. 4 PM. They gave any extra food stuff away to community members, said their goodbyes with lots of hugs and a few tears, and packed up their belongings to make the trek to the airport to wait...and wait… and wait. Unbeknownst to the team, their flight out had been cancelled due to poor weather. Now what? One team member was particularly anxious because her daughter was getting married the following Saturday, and she had so much yet to do!! A prayer request for favorable flying conditions went out to the LAMP prayer partners, and even some of the member’s churches. In the meantime, the team bought a few supplies at the store. Thankfully, a couple of the mothers in Wollaston provided delicious suppers for their group. Praise God, prayers were answered. When the time came to leave Wollaston on Sunday, even those that hadn’t been at VBS went to the airport to say goodbye to the LAMP team. What a sendoff! At the airport the team discovered that a number of the Wollaston kids had been praying that the weather would be bad so that the plane wouldn’t come, and the LAMP team would be stuck in their community. Although the LAMP team ended up staying a few more days than planned and didn’t arrive back home until about 3:30 AM (after driving long hours at night), they recognized that God was in control and had answered BOTH sets of prayers!

Wollaston, SK (as told by a team member to LAMP staff)

LAMP Mission Statement

LAMP is a cross-cultural ministry sharing Jesus Christ with God’s people in remote areas of Canada.

4966-92 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6B 2V4 Box 480167, New Haven, MI 48048 tel 800-307-4036 x fax 780-466-6733

Donations can be made at our website

www.lampministry.org

L.A.M.P. - Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots Inc. is a member of

Individual gifts are acknowledged with an official receipt for income tax purposes, and are tax deductible as allowed by law. Each gift designated toward a board-approved program will be used as designated, with the understanding that when any given need has been met, designated gifts will be used where needed most.

36

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

In Review

BEN-HUR

by Ted Giese

A

s expected, Timur Bekmambetov’s 2016 adaptation of Ben-Hur differs from the 1959 William Wyler film starring Charlton Heston. And that begs the question: Is that good or bad?

Bekmambetov’s film is about an hour shorter and that alone makes for a different kind of film: characters and storylines have to be dropped. Anyone going to see Bekmambetov’s Ben-Hur and expecting an update of the 1959 classic will be disappointed. If you are going to see a fresh yet faithful take on the 1880 book by Lew Wallace, you will also be disappointed. Low expectations and/or unfamiliarity with the subject will be an advantage for most viewers.

The 2016 version of Ben-Hur tells the fictional story of two men: Judah Ben-Hur—a wealthy Jewish prince living in Jerusalem in the years leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion— and Ben-Hur’s adopted Roman brother Messala Severus, who seeks to make a name for himself in the Roman army.

As Messala rises in authority and power his loyalty shifts from the family who adopted him to Rome and its army in which he serves.

Following a zealot’s assassination attempt on Pontius Pilate, Ben-Hur’s family is falsely accused of treason. This results in the destruction of their household and Ben-Hur’s imprisonment as a Roman galley slave rowing an oar for the glory of Rome. During a battle he escapes the destruction of the fleet and, motivated by hate, returns to Jerusalem under the patronage of an African merchant Ilderim.

Ben-Hur’s mission is to not only find out what happened to his mother, sister Tirzah, and his wife Esther, but

also to exact revenge on Messala for the misfortune he had brought upon the family. His plans for revenge are ultimately thwarted by the life and death of Jesus which is threaded through the film—a life that values love over hate and becomes a force for change in a land oppressed by the Romans. That change ultimately turns into a wellspring of forgiveness between bitter rivals.

Comparison between the new adaptation and the 1959 classic is hard to avoid. One major change in the plot is who adopts whom. In the 1959 film (and 1880 book), Judah BenHur is adopted into the Roman family of Quintus Arrius. In the new film, the Ben-Hur family adopts the Roman Messala.

Quintus Arrius, the commander of the Roman fleet in which Ben-Hur is chained in slavery, is unceremoniously killed in the sea battle so he can’t take Ben-Hur under his wing and the Roman isn’t saved from death by the Jew. Since the adoption theme is switched, Ben-Hur doesn’t meet Pontius Pilate in polite Roman society before returning to Jerusalem.

In addition, Ben-Hur doesn’t return home as a man with Roman status, privilege, and wealth equal to and/or better than that of his rival Messala.

Another change is Ben-Hur’s early marriage to Simonides’ daughter Esther. In Bekmambetov’s film, Simonides dies as the Hur family is falsely arrested while Esther, Ben-Hur’s wife, escapes the carnage and ends up with Jesus and His disciples. This eventually pits Ben-Hur’s love of his wife, who values mercy and love of neighbour, against his personal desire to seek vengeance against Messala. This should be fertile ground for drama but in the end gets lost in the shuffle. In the earlier film, and in the book, when THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

37

In Review (cont.)

Ben-Hur returns to Jerusalem Simonides is shown to be a faithful steward of the family’s affairs, and the love between Ben-Hur and Esther develops slowly over time. Also in the 1959 film, Esther is not a direct follower of Jesus in the line of Mary Magdalene as she is in this new film.

When it comes to Jesus there are two major changes in the 2016 film: first, the “Wiseman” Balthazar is absent, as is the arrival of the three wisemen at the birth of Christ, which in Christmas-card fashion was piously displayed in the 1959 film. In the new film Jesus is simply a man preaching and living peace in the face of hate and corruption, fitting the stereotype of the good and moral teacher. This downgrades a clear proclamation of Jesus’ divinity. Filmgoers are left filling in the blanks as to who this Jesus is—which might be a fine approach if the film had provided a definitive answer to the question by the final scene. All we see is Jesus performing acts of mercy, like giving Ben-Hur water as he is dragged off to a life of slavery on a Roman galley.

Also different between the two films is that Jesus is very talkative this time around. When first meeting Ben-Hur Jesus says, “love your enemies” (Luke 6:27) and “God is love” (1 John 4:16) and “He has a path for you.” When giving Ben-Hur a drink of water, Jesus replies to his word of thanks with “You do the same,” or possibly “You’d do the same.” In the third act of Bekmambetov’s film when their paths cross again, as was the case in the 1959 film, BenHur indeed returns the favour by giving Jesus a drink of water as He is led to crucifixion.

What do we make of Jesus’ words to Ben-Hur (“You do the same,” or “You’d do the same”)? This sounds like the end of the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) when Jesus asks the question, “Which of these three (priest, Levite, Samaritan), do you think, proved to be a neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?” The lawyer who’d asked the initial question “who is my neighbour?” responds, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

The 1880 book and the 1959 film both borrow from this parable, adding to it a clear consideration of the providential hand of God in the life of faithful believers. And while the new film attempts to take a stab at this same theme, it fails to make the providence of God either poignant or plain.

Not that it doesn’t try. During the chariot race there are flashbacks to Ben-Hur’s time as a slave in the Roman galley indicating that his time there was beneficial to his winning the race. But is that chance or the hand of God? The book and the 1959 film make it clear it was the hand of God. In earlier versions of the story, Ben-Hur is depicted as moving from being a faithful Jew to a believer in Jesus as the Christ; not so in Bekmambetov’s film. Here he is an agnostic with a low opinion of religious influence and divinity. When his wife Esther says to him, “If God is righteous, we should

do righteous things,” Ben-Hur responds, “If there is a God, why does He not do right by the world?” Such a statement makes him an agnostic at best; and while he moves toward “faith” it is not clear what that faith entails. Neither is it made clear that “in Christ [Jesus’ crucifixion] God was reconciling the world to Himself”(2 Corinthians 5:19).

When it comes to the faith of the film’s main characters, viewers are left with a conclusion substantially more ambiguous than that of the fictional Roman Tribune Clavius at the end of the recent sword and sandal film Risen, which was also a fictional tale about a man who had interactions with Jesus.

Bekmambetov’s film has a happy ending, something the narrator even calls a miracle. But what exactly is miraculous is left unclear. In the 1959 film, Ben-Hur’s Job-like reversal of fortune was the result of the shed blood of Christ. The new film includes a brief shot of Jesus’ blood trickling down, with Ben-Hur at the foot of the cross, but it isn’t clear that it’s Jesus’ blood that brings about Ben-Hur’s earthly and spiritual salvation. And since the person of Jesus is diminished to merely a good and moral teacher, it isn’t clear why His death would play a part in Ben-Hur’s reversal of fortune or the forgiveness he finds with his adopted brother Messala.

With less time to tell the story the film requires a tighter hold on the reins so that the “chariot” of the plotline doesn’t wander all over the place losing the race! These changes have consequences on the unfolding story. Overall Bekmambetov’s Ben-Hur is smaller in scale and scope and, even though it’s kind towards the Christian faith, it misses the mark when it comes to a clear presentation of the divinity of Jesus. Assuming the audience already knows this fact is lazy film making. On the other hand, if the film’s focus was solely on loving the neighbour and ultimately loving and forgiving the enemy, then it accomplishes its goal.

Even though Judah Ben-Hur never lived as a real person and Ben-Hur is not a true story, Jesus is real and His story is true. So when the project lacks lustre, polish, and excellence in production, the whole endeavour comes across as a missed opportunity in respect to Jesus. Failure to compellingly present the character and story of Judah Ben-Hur isn’t as important as it is to rightly present Jesus.

On the positive side, in an industry which regularly churns out films hostile to the Christian life and Christianity in general, it is refreshing that the new BenHur is not antagonistic towards the Christian faith. Would that it were less of a mess and bolder in its proclamation of Jesus as the Christ.

Would that it were less of a mess and bolder in its proclamation of Jesus as the Christ.

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

Rev. Ted Giese is associate pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church (Regina, Saskatchewan). He is a contributor to Reformation Rush Hour on KFUO AM Radio, The Canadian Lutheran, and the LCMS Reporter, as well as movie reviewer for the “Issues, Etc.” radio program.

Announcements

Classified

Concordia Lutheran Seminary seeks to call a full-time faculty member specializing in Old Testament Theology but able to teach in other theological disciplines as well. Candidates meriting serious consideration will be ordained pastors of Lutheran Church-Canada or one of its partner-churches possessing significant parish experience, an earned terminal degree (Th.D or Ph.D), strong teaching and administrative capabilities, a positive and pastoral personality, and a commitment to excellence in pastoral formation and service to the Church.

A call will be issued in May 2017 for service at CLS beginning in August 2017. Nominations are sought by 31 Dec 2016. Interested candidates are invited to contact Dr. Jim Gimbel, President (jgimbel@concordiasem.ab.ca).

Inspiring Winter Get- Away Experience the Holy Land with fellow Lutheran pilgrims February 5-13, 2017.

The third-annual Epiphany Tour hosted

by Dr. Ian Adnams visits major biblical and historical sites including the Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jezreel and Jordan Valleys, and Jerusalem. See all the details at www.VisitTheHolyLand.ca or call Keren @ Indus Travels: 1-866-9782997 Ext. 806. Registration deadline is November 1.

Rev. Jakob Valsson of Abbotsford, B.C. has successfully completed the requirements of the Pastoral Colloquy Program of Lutheran Church–Canada, and is therefore eligible for a call in LCC.

Transitions

Transitions Rev. Quentin Adams, Candidate, to Trinity Lutheran Church (St. Walburg, Saskatchewan). Installation: September 11, 2016.

Rev. Gilvan de Azevedo from First Lutheran Church (Windsor, Ontario) to Emeritus (Windsor, Ontario).

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” - Hebrews 11:1

Rev. Steven Bartlett from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church/Zion Lutheran Church (Hudson Bay/Mistatim, Saskatchewan) to Epiphany Lutheran Church (Thunder Bay, Ontario).

Installation: October 30, 2016.

Rev. Ken Eichenlaub from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church/Hope Lutheran Church (Inglis/Grandview, Manitoba) to Emeritus (Toronto, Ontario).

R e v. R o b e r t G r o u t f r o m S t .

John Lutheran Church (Humboldt, Saskatchewan) to Lutheran Church of Unity/Trinity Lutheran Church (Unity/ Wilkie, Saskatchewan). Installation: TBA. Rev. Walter Hambrock from Bethel Lutheran Church (Kitchener, Ontario) to Emeritus (St. Albert, Alberta).

Rev. Louis Natzke from Christ Risen Lutheran Church (Kanata, Ontario) to Emeritus (Kanata, Ontario).

Rev. Bill Ney from Zion/Golden Spike Lutheran Church (Stony Plain, Alberta to Emeritus (Mitchell, Ontario).

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ADVERTISE HERE! The Canadian Lutheran sells advertising space to help offset the cost of printing and shipping the magazine to congregations and subscribers.

Classified space is sold at $0.45 per word, minimum 50 words ($22.50).

To purchase classified space, or to receive a rate card for other advertising opportunities with The Canadian Lutheran, please email pres_sec@ lutheranchurch.ca or call 1-800-588-4226.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

39

THE FAITHLIFE FINANCIAL DIFFERENCE

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The REAL St. Nick – Leader, Legend or Lie?

We share the same Christian values.

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CORE VALUES FROM ROMANS 12:7-8

Serving • Teaching • Encouraging Giving • Leading • Showing Kindness

This one session videobased Bible study examines a man who, next to Jesus Christ, may be the most visible figure during the holidays – St. Nicholas – or Santa Claus as we know him in Western culture. Take a look at the real St. Nick who took his faith in Christ to the streets – and made a difference. Available for free use online at www.lhm.org/studies or purchase it in DVD format (64E32).

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Christmas is not always the bright and cheery affair found in songs and movies. Can it be for those struggling with unemployment, alienation or terminal illness? It can be a complicated and difficult time of year. Where do you find yourself this Christmas?

Wherever that place might be – God’s gift of love in Jesus Christ can heal your wounds and repair relationships.

(6BE133). Also in French (6BF133).

LHM booklets may be available from your congregation’s tract rack – if not, contact us for a free copy.

During Advent – free daily devotions are available online at www.lhm.org/advent Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada 270 Lawrence Avenue Kitchener, ON, N2M 1Y4 www.LLL.ca 1-800-555-6236 or e-mail info@LLL.ca LutheranHourMinistriesCanada

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

Book of Concord Readings

Creeds and Catechisms

A

s we move towards 2017 and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, now is the perfect time to read the Book of Concord if you haven’t before. The Book of Concord is a collection of confessions written in the sixteenth century. They define what it means to be a Lutheran to this day. Grounded in the Scriptures and faithful to the ancient creeds of the Church, this book is a treasure for all Christians.

This issue’s readings focus on the catechisms of Martin Luther. You probably studied the Small Catechism in confirmation class. But the teachings in the catechism are something we never truly graduate from.

“People should never assume that they have finished learning the parts of the catechism or know it well enough in all points.... For even if they know and understand the catechism perfectly (which, however, is impossible in this life), there are still many benefits and fruits to be gained, if it is daily read and practiced in thought and speech.”

- Large Catechism, Longer Preface

WEEK 1 The Ecumenical Creeds  Mon Apostles, Nicene, and

Athanasian Creeds Luther’s Small Catechism  Tues Preface  Wed I–III  Thurs IV–VI  Fri Prayers–Table of

Duties

WEEK 4 Luther’s Large Catechism  Mon 103–16  Tues 117–33  Wed 134–48  Thurs 149–65  Fri 166–82

WEEK 7 Luther’s Large Catechism  Mon 9–24  Tues 25–37  Wed 38–54  Thurs 55–70  Fri Part III: Lord’s

Prayer 1–16

WEEK 2 Luther’s Large Catechism  Mon Longer Preface 1–10  Tues 11-Shorter Preface 6  Wed Summary I 1–III 28  Thurs Part I: Ten

Commandments 1–15  Fri 16–29

WEEK 5 Luther’s Large Catechism  Mon 183–98  Tues 199–216  Wed 217–31  Thurs 232–47  Fri 248–64

WEEK 8 Luther’s Large Catechism  Mon 17–34  Tues 35–52  Wed 53–67  Thurs 68–81  Fri 82–98

WEEK 3 Luther’s Large Catechism  Mon 30–48  Tues 49–60  Wed 61–74  Thurs 75–87  Fri 88–102

WEEK 6 Luther’s Large Catechism  Mon 265–78  Tues 279–96  Wed 297–310  Thurs 311–23  Fri 324–Part II: Creed 8

WEEK 9 Luther’s Large Catechism  Mon 99–124  Tues Part IV: Baptism 1–18  Wed 19–34  Thurs 32–51  Fri 52–70

Readings for the above plan are from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions - A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord © 2005, 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used with permission. All rights reserved. To purchase this resource or other Lutheran resources, please visit CPH at www.cph.org.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

41

Presidential Perspective

Praying towards “Reformation 500” President Robert Bugbee

S

oon it will be Reformation Day, 2016. That marks 499 years since the moment when a little-known German monk, Martin Luther, posted his 95 Theses on the door of Wittenberg’s Castle Church. They were a public appeal to discuss and debate. Those theses touched off a series of events that turned the church and the world upside down.

After this Reformation Day, we enter the 500 th Anniversary Year of Luther’s Reformation, which will culminate in large-scale commemorations in October, 2017.

Christians in many places will mark the event with services, exhibitions, lectures, concerts, books and articles. Our own Lutheran ChurchCanada recently launched a special website—www.reformation2017. ca—described elsewhere in this magazine (see page 17).

I appeal to you individual believers and your church families not merely to gear up toward “Reformation 500” with plans and events. I’m asking you, above all, to pray your way toward this milestone. In this column I want to leave you with a few prayer thoughts you may use together with me. (Feel free to go ahead and tear this page out. Fold it into the back of your Bible or somewhere else you’ll see it repeatedly. I hope it will nudge all of us toward marking this anniversary year with prayer.) *

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Christ Alone: Thank God that He sent His Son to be your Rescuer out

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of sheer undeserved mercy. Praise Him for giving you faith to cling to Christ. Ask Him to keep you from taking the blessing of Christ’s saving Good News for granted.

to stand by congregations who are without a pastor, or who are seeking a faithful one right now.

Scripture Alone: Bless the Lord for the Reformation gift of a Bible in your own language. Ask Him to move believers and your local church to teach and preach with faithfulness to Scripture. Implore the Lord to bless your congregation with hunger for the Word, and to provide strong Bible class teaching.

Pray that God would give you the heart to read and ponder Scripture every day at home, and to overcome neglects in this area.

Mission: Since God gave us His Christ and the Word of His cross to save us, beg the Lord to help your church see its surrounding community as He does, as people He yearns to reach. Pray that He may give your church family clear preaching and a beating heart to attract others who currently do not know Jesus. Ask Him also to send workers and leaders for our missions in Central America, southeast Asia and Ukraine, and to move our churches across Canada to support them with sacrificial gifts.

Repentance: Pray that the Holy Spirit would kindle in you true sorrow over your sins and failings, and give you the heart to confess them without excuse-making. Ask Him to move you beyond mere regret that you got “caught” or that certain things didn’t turn out well, and to give you honest repentance for having grieved the Lord and hurt other people at times.

Courage for Our Time: Because there are strong voices resisting Christian people and our faith these days, implore the Father to give us wisdom and courage to stand with Christ even when it’s not easy. Name especially the youth and young adults from your family and church, that God enables them to be dedicated witnesses in our time, even when it is hard or lonely.

Holy Ministry: Thank God for the gift of pastors and preachers to proclaim Christ. Ask Him to make them faithful to God’s Word. Pray that they be filled with love for the people under their care. At the same time, beg the Lord to put it into the hearts of a new generation of servants to enter the ministry in this needy time, and ask His blessing on all who teach and learn at our seminaries. Ask our Father also

Joy and Steadfastness: Pray that God would give us eyes and heart to see the joy He gives us in being His saved, forgiven children. Ask Him to put down every scheme of the evil one to drown us in frustration or despair. Pray for the gift of steadfastness, to cling in life and death to the Christ Who endured to the end for you.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2016

Plan. Make a difference, for your loved ones and the ministries you value.

Meeting your congregation’s future financial needs. $6 Million promised to congregations over the last 5 years.

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Plan today for the ministry of tomorrow.

Call a Gift Coordinator today

1-877-711-4438 toll free www.lutheranfoundation.ca

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Lutheran Foundation Canada A FINANCIAL MINISTRY OF LCC

REFLECTING GOD’S GRACE