Atlantic District Publications

Letters from the President - Catching UP

September 1, 2010 at 9:38 AM

Catching UP:   That’s pretty much my life.  Always catching up, never quite getting there.  Guess that makes me part of the human race.  Anyway, first of all, thanks from me and Judy and our family for all the expressions of love and comfort, including many memorial gifts sent to our Atlantic District Mission Society at the death of my mother, Dorothea Beata Wilhelmina Boerger Benke on July 12, 2010.  As my cousin, who visited her often in Milwaukee, related to me, “She was pure gift.”  As her son, I can rejoice not only in the gift of life she gave me and was to me, but in the gift of eternal life in Christ she now enjoys.  Again, thanks from the bottom of our hearts.

Secondly, we did have a national convention this summer!  And the Atlantic District contingent of 20, minus me for most of it, fared well in the Houston heat.  As you have all no doubt read, Matt Harrison was elected to serve as our Synodical President on the first ballot, following the passage of a number of the restructuring measures for our denomination.  Matt (and I should switch as of today to President Harrison but will remain with the first name for this missive) in his capacity as head of the Human Care division of the Synod for some years, has had a deep appreciation for our efforts in human care and world relief here, most particularly with regards to the Nehemiah Housing Plan, Lutheran Disaster Response, and the Haitian relief effort.  He descended with me two years ago to the “pit” at Ground Zero on September 11, the last year in which that could be done.  And this September 11 he will be installed in St. Louis.

One resolution that pertains directly to us passed by around a 60-40 margin.  We will be embarking on a study of district realignment with the New Jersey, New England and Eastern Districts.  There is no pre-set outcome to this study, but it promises to be an interesting effort.  As we move toward 2011, we’ll get it going in earnest.  Our continuing relationship with the ELCA is being studied intensively in the next year, including our ongoing work in what we call “cooperation in externals,” such as social service agencies, Lutheran World Relief, and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.  I am serving on the national board of Lutheran Services in America, which pulls together 300 social service agencies, 82 of which are inter-Lutheran.  Once again, you will be kept informed and your opinions and thoughts are valued.

Atlantic District schools are in my daily prayers.  It is a significant challenge in today’s economy to operate a Lutheran school at any level, from early childhood through seminary.  God bless our administrators and teachers as “with the Lord” they begin their task.

Finally, the Atlantic District office has officially moved to 4 Concordia Place on the campus of Concordia College.  Honey, we’re home!  Literally, we are now in a home.  Kris, who has done incredible work in making this transition happen, is ensconced on the first floor in the living room.  The rest of us are upstairs.  We like it, and hope you will too as you come to visit.  We will bless and dedicate our new office on Thursday, September 23 prior to the Atlantic District Board meeting, at 11:00 AM.  You’re all invited!