President Harrison Elected to Another Term

[TKA_TN]

President Harrison was elected to another term as LCMS president with 51.76 percent of the vote. The other two candidates received 39.89 and 8.35, respectively. I haven't been a LCMS member for long, but like what President Harrison stands for. Any other thoughts? Good decision?

 

[tampasteve]

I feel he solidly represents what most LCMS members desire. A good choice for the denomination.

 

[Athanasius377]

President Harrison is a solid candidate from the confessional side of the LCMS. I for one am glad he was re-elected.

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

I did not vote for him. And am disappointed he NARROWLY won a 4th term.

Theologically, there was no difference whatsoever between the 3 running; this choice had NOTHING to do with doctrine - as all 3 noted. No difference at all there.

The issue was...

1. Harrison has had 3 terms to do the things he promised he'd do when he ran the first time. All those things have gotten significantly worse during his tenure. And what is his solution, his plan to address this? "It's happening at all denominations!" IMO, Harrison had 9 years to do SOMETHING, to do ANYTHING about what he promised, and he didn't - and now doesn't even have a plan, an idea, a clue. IMO, that alone was reason to "thank and excuse" him. He had his chance....

2. Harrison has been intent on centralizing power at the national, synodical level and especially in himself. In other words, he has tried (and in part succeeded) in abandoning the LCMS's historic congregationalism to the ELCA model of episcopalism. This is why so many District Presidents (including the past 3 Chairman of the District Presidents) opposed him. He seems to have a very basic distrust of District Presidents, pastors and laity and has created ways to circumvent them and rule over them. This is simply not our heritage or history. One organization that has arisen in the LCMS is called "Congregations Matter" and is pretty much about TRYING to prevent this fundamental change in the LCMS, this centralization of power in the synodicial president and synodical office.

3. There have been a number of issues (financial transparency, the sell out of our ministry in Hong Kong, etc, etc.) which he just seems to evade - and gets away with it.

But just as with the US congress, the people tend to reelect folks endlessly. That he only got 51% of the vote is what is surprising.

Well.... we need to move on. Delegates to the National Convention in Tampa this summer will need to work to focus our church on the Gospel, on outreach and growth, on building trust and affirmation. And since Harrison has not a clue what to do, that will need to come from the delegates.

.

 

[TKA_TN]

I did not vote for him. And am disappointed he NARROWLY won a 4th term.

Theologically, there was no difference whatsoever between the 3 running; this choice had NOTHING to do with doctrine - as all 3 noted. No difference at all there.

The issue was...

1. Harrison has had 3 terms to do the things he promised he'd do when he ran the first time. All those things have gotten significantly worse during his tenure. And what is his solution, his plan to address this? "It's happening at all denominations!" IMO, Harrison had 9 years to do SOMETHING, to do ANYTHING about what he promised, and he didn't - and now doesn't even have a plan, an idea, a clue. IMO, that alone was reason to "thank and excuse" him. He had his chance....

2. Harrison has been intent on centralizing power at the national, synodical level and especially in himself. In other words, he has tried (and in part succeeded) in abandoning the LCMS's historic congregationalism to the ELCA model of episcopalism. This is why so many District Presidents (including the past 3 Chairman of the District Presidents) opposed him. He seems to have a very basic distrust of District Presidents, pastors and laity and has created ways to circumvent them and rule over them. This is simply not our heritage or history. One organization that has arisen in the LCMS is called "Congregations Matter" and is pretty much about TRYING to prevent this fundamental change in the LCMS, this centralization of power in the synodicial president and synodical office.

3. There have been a number of issues (financial transparency, the sell out of our ministry in Hong Kong, etc, etc.) which he just seems to evade - and gets away with it.

But just as with the US congress, the people tend to reelect folks endlessly. That he only got 51% of the vote is what is surprising.

Well.... we need to move on. Delegates to the National Convention in Tampa this summer will need to work to focus our church on the Gospel, on outreach and growth, on building trust and affirmation. And since Harrison has not a clue what to do, that will need to come from the delegates.

.

Again, being relatively new to the LCMS, what did he promise the first time he ran?

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I did not vote for him. And am disappointed he NARROWLY won a 4th term.

Theologically, there was no difference whatsoever between the 3 running; this choice had NOTHING to do with doctrine - as all 3 noted. No difference at all there.

The issue was...

1. Harrison has had 3 terms to do the things he promised he'd do when he ran the first time. All those things have gotten significantly worse during his tenure. And what is his solution, his plan to address this? "It's happening at all denominations!" IMO, Harrison had 9 years to do SOMETHING, to do ANYTHING about what he promised, and he didn't - and now doesn't even have a plan, an idea, a clue. IMO, that alone was reason to "thank and excuse" him. He had his chance....

2. Harrison has been intent on centralizing power at the national, synodical level and especially in himself. In other words, he has tried (and in part succeeded) in abandoning the LCMS's historic congregationalism to the ELCA model of episcopalism. This is why so many District Presidents (including the past 3 Chairman of the District Presidents) opposed him. He seems to have a very basic distrust of District Presidents, pastors and laity and has created ways to circumvent them and rule over them. This is simply not our heritage or history. One organization that has arisen in the LCMS is called "Congregations Matter" and is pretty much about TRYING to prevent this fundamental change in the LCMS, this centralization of power in the synodicial president and synodical office.

3. There have been a number of issues (financial transparency, the sell out of our ministry in Hong Kong, etc, etc.) which he just seems to evade - and gets away with it.

But just as with the US congress, the people tend to reelect folks endlessly. That he only got 51% of the vote is what is surprising.

Well.... we need to move on. Delegates to the National Convention in Tampa this summer will need to work to focus our church on the Gospel, on outreach and growth, on building trust and affirmation. And since Harrison has not a clue what to do, that will need to come from the delegates.

.

LCMS is watching our restructuring up here in Canada. While we are retaining a level of congregationalism; we are also centralizing and restructuring our governance. In each of our three regions, we have a Regional Pastor who's responsibilities extend only to the spiritual guidance of the region. Likewise, or National President holds the same responsibilities for the whole Synod. The buisiness part of the running of our Synod and Regions have been centralized to reduce duplication of services (reduce costs and make the Church efficient); and to improve transparency by centralizing the oversight of the financial affairs of our Synod at all levels.

So, we have Bishops that actually are doing what Bishops are to do; that is, to guard and protect the spiritual welfare of the Church; the business part will be ran like a business, by business minded administration. One single convention rather than district ones and a national one.

In many districts the LCMS is seeing declining membership, and resources. A more centralized administration may well be an advantage.

How soon the antics of Gerald Kieschnick have been forgotten. President Harrison has been responsible for a restoration to Lutheran Orthodoxy; and most of his real detractors are of the same mindset of those who elected Kieschnick.

I think this is a blessing to the LCMS.

 

[Newtheran]

In many districts the LCMS is seeing declining membership, and resources.

That's something we need to fix. Not just by reaching the lost, but also by reaching those who have already decided to follow Christ with the message of the faith once delivered to the saints. Even those who seek to sincerely follow God are going to increasingly be frustrated with churches that drift further and further into compromise and irrationality.

 

[FireDragon76]

I did not vote for him. And am disappointed he NARROWLY won a 4th term.

Theologically, there was no difference whatsoever between the 3 running; this choice had NOTHING to do with doctrine - as all 3 noted. No difference at all there.

The issue was...

1. Harrison has had 3 terms to do the things he promised he'd do when he ran the first time. All those things have gotten significantly worse during his tenure. And what is his solution, his plan to address this? "It's happening at all denominations!" IMO, Harrison had 9 years to do SOMETHING, to do ANYTHING about what he promised, and he didn't - and now doesn't even have a plan, an idea, a clue. IMO, that alone was reason to "thank and excuse" him. He had his chance....

2. Harrison has been intent on centralizing power at the national, synodical level and especially in himself. In other words, he has tried (and in part succeeded) in abandoning the LCMS's historic congregationalism to the ELCA model of episcopalism. This is why so many District Presidents (including the past 3 Chairman of the District Presidents) opposed him. He seems to have a very basic distrust of District Presidents, pastors and laity and has created ways to circumvent them and rule over them. This is simply not our heritage or history. One organization that has arisen in the LCMS is called "Congregations Matter" and is pretty much about TRYING to prevent this fundamental change in the LCMS, this centralization of power in the synodicial president and synodical office.

3. There have been a number of issues (financial transparency, the sell out of our ministry in Hong Kong, etc, etc.) which he just seems to evade - and gets away with it.

But just as with the US congress, the people tend to reelect folks endlessly. That he only got 51% of the vote is what is surprising.

Well.... we need to move on. Delegates to the National Convention in Tampa this summer will need to work to focus our church on the Gospel, on outreach and growth, on building trust and affirmation. And since Harrison has not a clue what to do, that will need to come from the delegates.

.

It seems to me many of the strongly confessionalists want more uniformity, so that's not surprising they would elect him with his agenda of centralization.

 

[Newtheran]

It seems to me many of the strongly confessionalists want more uniformity, so that's not surprising they would elect him with his agenda of centralization.

Yep.

We certainly don't want any fairy godmothers, priestesses, and shamans corrupting our liturgy. President Harrison is working to ensure that this sort of thing (Teaching and Accepting goddess Worship, Praying to 'Mother,' and Gender Neutral Language) never enters our churches.

 

[TKA_TN]

Yep.

We certainly don't want any fairy godmothers, priestesses, and shamans corrupting our liturgy. President Harrison is working to ensure that this sort of thing (Teaching and Accepting goddess Worship, Praying to 'Mother,' and Gender Neutral Language) never enters our churches.

Scary stuff in that link. We must pray for them.

 

[kdm1984]

That's something we need to fix. Not just by reaching the lost, but also by reaching those who have already decided to follow Christ with the message of the faith once delivered to the saints. Even those who seek to sincerely follow God are going to increasingly be frustrated with churches that drift further and further into compromise and irrationality.

I joined in large part because I thought the theology was the most balanced. They don't compromise, but are warm enough that even my non-theistic husband and religiously indifferent half-sister have been impressed by their friendliness and intelligence. (So much of conservative American evangelicalism is dumbed down, or else their behavior comes across morally elitist and arrogant, so Lutherans often surprise non-theists who aren't overtly hostile of Christianity, but are tired of the lack of mind or else the Pharisaical smugness that can be all too common in conservative United States Christianity.)

As far as getting the membership to increase, my local LCMS places value on reaching out to minorities and immigrants, while also encouraging married members to breed more.

 

[Julian of Norwich]

watching and wondering