Great Lakes Pastoral Conference Meets in Madison

Holy Cross Lutheran Church on Milwaukee Street in Madison, Wisconsin hosted the annual Great Lakes Pastoral Conference on April 24 and 25, 2007. This annual pastors conference brings together pastors from circuits three to six, that is, from the states of Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

The Rev. Paul Zager presented a paper on Sacerdotalism—Its Effect on Lutheranism Today," which dealt with the idea that one can draw near to God only through a pastor. The Reverends Jeffrey Londgren and Gene Lillienthal formed a panel to discuss "Contemporary Worship, Pro and Con," with the Rev. Edward Bryant as moderator. Prof. Mark Harstad presented a discussion on "The Trinity in the Old Testament."

Bethany Lutheran College Graduates 96

Commencement exercises for 96 graduates of Bethany Lutheran College occurred on May 11, 2007. Thirteen of these graduated Summa Cum Laude with a grade-point average of 3.9 or higher. Eight students graduated from the Department of Elementary Education.

The Rev. Herbert Huhnerkoch, a member of the Board of Regents and a father of one of the graduates delivered the commencement address, entitled "See Clearly! Focus on Christ!" Professor Ronald Younge, Vice President for Academic Affairs, presented the diplomas. Sarah Harstad, Director of Alumni Affairs, welcomed the graduates to the alumni association. Both the Bethany Concert Band and the Bethany College Choir participated in the ceremony.

Thoughts of Faith Commissions a New Pastor Mentor

The Rev. Richard Warnke was commissioned on April 13, 2007 to be the next Pastor Mentor for Thoughts of Faith. The commissioning took place at the Thoughts of Faith building in Oregon, Wisconsin. Thoughts of Faith chairman, the Rev. Paul Schneider, served as liturgist and preacher, ELS president, the Rev. John Moldstad, conducted the rite of commissioning.

Rev. Warnke has served parishes in the United States and was a WELS missionary in Africa for five years. The Warnkes will travel to Ukraine in mid-June. They are replacing the current Pastor Mentor, the Rev. Wayne Borgwardt. He and his wife Myrna are completing their third year working in Ukraine.

Krugs Return to the States

Bill and Faith Krug are no strangers to the ELS. They worked with the Rev. Theodore Kuster in Lima, Peru in the 1960s. They have served Thoughts of Faith in the Czech Republic and, for the past year, in Ukraine. They completed a year as Lay Mentor to Ukraine. They lived in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk and assisted the congregation with Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and teaching English as a Second Language classes.