Some Theological Reflections on the Pandemic By Robert Schmidt The death toll is staggering. The four horsemen are almost visible as they sweep through Wuhan, Milan, and New York, leaving in their wake makeshift morgues and deserted funerals. But they ride on through the slums of Delhi, Kenya’s Kibera, and the streets of Ecuador now…
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Reflections on Walter Brueggemann’s The Prophetic Imagination by Robert Schmidt Have you noticed the “numbness?” Citizens of the most powerful nation on earth are in a funk. No, don’t pay attention to the wordsmiths who make their living championing and bashing. Look rather at the bus riders, the shoppers, the teachers, and the clerks. Then…
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Norm Metzler *Dr. Norm Metzler taught Systematic theology and Ethics at Concordia University in Portland Oregon. He recently served a vacancy at a congregation where he worked with a deacon in training to complete his program and get licensed by the district. The deacon then was contracted to serve a vacancy at a neighboring congregation which…
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The Epiphany (Winter) Issue of the Daystar Journal will be devoted to the mission of the church. It is a very pertinent topic and was the subject of a recent LCMS conference. Our first article addresses the question, “What Is the Purpose of the Local Church?” The question has particular relevance to small…
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Affirmations of God’s Mission Adopted by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (1965) Prayer Read at the Beginning of the Report of the Floor Committee on Missions: O God the Father, who didst send Thy Son into the world to redeem the world, which Thou didst create for Thy glory; O God the Son, who hast redeemed…
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In Nomine Jesu A Statement We, the undersigned, as individuals, members of Synod, conscious of our responsibilities and duties before the Lord of the Church, herewith subscribe to the following statement: *ONE* We affirm our unswerving loyalty to the great evangelical heritage of historic Lutheranism. We believe in its message and mission for this crucial…
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By Robert Schmidt At its recent convention, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod resolved to deal with the question of licensed deacons. The President is to create a task force to develop a plan “to resolve questions about individuals who are not rightly called (prepared, examined, called and ordained) serving congregations of The Lutheran…
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The Article on which the Church Stands or Falls By Karl Wyneken Matthew Harrison, recently elected president of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, foresees big things ahead for his denomination, thanks to the unrest in Christendom being created by one hotly debated issue. The issue is homosexuality, resulting in discord and division in some denominations that…
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