2011 Lectures on Lutheranism

Lutherans have a sense for and use of the words call, keys, pastor and district president.  A local pastor takes a call and the congregation gathers to call a new pastor. The congregation seeks advice from a district president. The pastor who accepts a call is installed by the district president who asks the pastor if he will perform his duties according to Scripture and Confessions. Among other things, the pastor is to exercise the office of the keys (forgiving and retaining sins).

Seems simple enough. Not so. There are plenty of call/keys - pastor/president issues which have been debated and still are debated. Can a call be given to one outside the Holy Ministry? Are the keys just for pastors? When district presidencies were formed in 1854, all district presidents were pastors of congregations. Now, not so. Should presidents be local pastors?

President Brian Saunders, district president of Iowa District East-LCMS will lead this year’s Lectures on Lutheranism on Saturday, exploring the relationship between call/keys and pastor/president.  He will also lead the Sunday morning Bible Class and preach at the Divine Service that morning.  Plan to be the guest of Christ Lutheran Church on the weekend of June 18-19.  Call 620-665-8513 or e-mail clchutchinson@sbcglobal.net for more information.
 

 

Saturday June 18
12:30 pm	Divine Service (Pr. Brockman)
2:00 pm	President Saunders
3:00 pm	Break
3:30 pm	President Saunders
4:45 pm	Vespers (Pr. Hoppe)
5:30 pm	Brat / Beer Supper
Sunday June 19
9:00 AM	Bible Class lead by President Saunders
10:15 AM	Divine Service (Pr. Saunders)

 
 

The Rev. Brian Saunders has been a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod since 1990, and is currently serving his first term as president of the Iowa District East. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1990, after having received a BA from St. John’s College (Winfield, Kansas) in Biblical Languages in 1986 (he also found time to coach the SJC Johnnies baseball team!).

Rev. Saunders has served two parishes: Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Ft. Wayne, Indiana (1990-1992) and Our Savior Lutheran Church in Muscatine, Iowa (1992-2009). In addition, he has served our Synod as circuit counselor, district vice-president, Synod reconciler, and PALS coordinator.

The Rev. Saunders was born on July 8, 1958 in Sioux City, Iowa. He and his wife Karen are parents to four children and grandparents to five. Outside of theology, his passion is golf----playing it, watching it played and teaching his wife to play it!  

Map location of Christ Lutheran Church 3600 N Monroe St Hutchinson KS 67502