CHI News
Building Expansion Project Nearly Complete
Outstanding Contributors to Lutheran History Are Honored
Mr. Laurence E. (Larry) Lumpe Honored with Distinguished
Service Award
Building Expansion Project Nearly Complete
Work to convert space in the Concordia Historical Institute building to
provide additional archival storage space is almost completed. The Spacesaver mobile compact shelving system
has been installed. The electrical connection of the second section of shelving
still needs to be made, and the floor will be tiled once work on the shelving
has been completed.
Left: Lighting installed in aisles of
section one. Lights come on when an aisle is opened or when someone enters an
open aisle.
Right: End panels installed for section two. Electrical connection is still to
be made.
(7 December 2007)
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Outstanding Contributors to Lutheran History Are Honored
Individuals who contributed in significant ways to preserving Lutheran history in America were honored at the 33rd Annual Awards Banquet hosted by Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) on the Concordia Seminary campus on November 8, 2007. Sixteen individuals were presented Awards of Commendation for their publications or audiovisual media contributions. Mr. Laurence E. (Larry) Lumpe, was presented with the Distinguished Service Award for his exceptional leadership of the Concordia Historical Institute.
Each year Concordia Historical Institute, the Department of Archives and History of The Lutheran Church-Missouri synod, recognizes individuals, congregations, agencies, or boards for historical publications, for unique contributions to Lutheran literature, or for personal service in the field of Lutheran archival and historical work. Members of the CHI Awards Committee narrowed a large field of nominations to chose this year's recipients to honor for works that they completed in 2006 to help preserve American Lutheran history.
By category, the honorees are:
Major Publications:
MRS. MARY BETH MUELLER DILLON of Indianapolis, Indiana, for Wittenberg, Missouri,
which blends the spirit of human achievements and struggles from the perspective of a well-known Lutheran community in a way that produces a result that is masterful, enjoyable, enlightening, and fun.
DR. RICHARD BAEPLER of Valparaiso, Indiana, for Witness to His Generation: Selected Writings of John Strietelmeier,
an intriguing journey into the life and thought of this educational leader whose commitment to the fusion of intellect and faith provided enlightened leadership and insightful perspective during some of America's and his church's most challenging decades.
DR. NORMAN J. THREINEN of Summerland, British Columbia, for Religious-Cultural Mosaic: A History of Lutherans in Canada,
a most welcome general history of Lutherans and the Lutheran Church in Canada that is set against the backdrop of Canada's national history. The book is clear, concise, and well-documented.
Family Histories:
DR. JOSEPH M. MENIUS of St. Louis, Missouri, for Menius-Open to Change: A Biographical Historical Sketch of the Menius Name,
in which the author not only traces his successes with family history and genealogical research, but also adds a deep, intense fascination that can enthrall the reader or researcher and bring many moments of inspiration and encouragement.
District or Regional Histories:
MR. MICHAEL J. DOYLE
of Upland, California,
for
Feed My Sheep: A History of the Hispanic Missions in the Pacific
Southwest District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod,
a comprehensive work that chronicles the history of forty Hispanic congregations
established in the district over the past seventy-five years, as well as tracing
the roots of the German/Anglo churches that preceded them.
NORWEGIAN GROVE LUTHERAN CHURCH,
Gaylord, Minnesota, for its well-written 125th anniversary booklet that is
replete with compelling information that reflects the "personality" of the
congregation and demonstrates that the ideals of the founders are carried
through even until today.
ST. PETER'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH,
Fair Haven, Michigan, for
St. Peter's
Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery: Established 1881,
the product of an ongoing research that offers not only the cemetery plat plan,
but also genealogical information about those buried in the cemetery, and many
photos of the cemetery's gravestones to accompany that information. It is a
very well done memorial that is also useful and interesting.
MRS. SANDRA LEE
HARPER of Baltimore, Maryland,
for
Martini Lutheran Church: Chapter and Verse,
an exemplary congregational history that demonstrates warm and friendly
storytelling, salted with humor that serves to bind the congregation into a
close-knit family, equipping its members to tell their story in a most creative
way.
DR. C. T. AUFDEMBERGE
of Flagstaff, Arizona, for
They Had a Good
Band, which offers a very
engaging history of the Saline Valley Band, which operated under the auspices of
St. John Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Kansas, from 1917 to 1939, as well as the
story of other local and church bands that thrived in Kansas during the late
19th and early 20th centuries.
Journal Articles:
DR. WILLIAM R. CARIO
of Mequon, Wisconsin, for
"One Blessing after Another: A History of Concordia University Wisconsin" in
Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly,
Summer 2006, a thoroughly researched article that makes an important
contribution to the history of the schools that comprise the Concordia
University System, and does so in a very entertaining and interesting manner.
DR. ALBERT COLLVER
of St. Louis, Missouri,
for "Lay Elders-A Brief Overview of Their Origin in the Missouri Synod:
Implications for Elders Today" in
Concordia Journal,
January 2006. Beginning with a helpful exploration of C. F. W. Walther's
writings on the office of lay elder in Lutheran congregations, Dr. Collver
traces the contested and sometimes ambiguous history of this category of service
as practiced in Lutheran churches in America. This history, as Collver presents
it, offers valuable insights with contemporary application, and this study
exemplifies the usefulness of historical research to inform present practices in
the church.
REV. BENJAMIN T. G. MAYES
for "Reconsidering Grabau on Ministry and Sacraments" in
Lutheran Quarterly,
Summer 2006. Rev. Mayes applies his considerable talents to an old argument
that has haunted conservative Lutherans, both within the Missouri Synod and in
its relationships with other church bodies. By a careful re-reading of the
important source materials (such as
Grabau's Hirtenbrief)
in the original German, Mayes proposes a more positive analysis of Grabau's
views on church and ministry than has traditionally been the case. His article
is an excellent example of the historical theologian's craft, and his arguments
deserve attention even from those who disagree with his conclusions. That is
high praise for this young scholar.
REV. ROLF PREUS
of Mayville, North Dakota, for "The Old Ministry Debate in the Synods of the
Synodical Conference and in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod Today" in
Pieper
Lectures, Vol. 10, which gives
recognition to and highly values history as it provides a clear and concise
analysis of issues surrounding "call" and "ordination" in the synods of the
former Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America.
REV. JON VIEKER
of St. Louis, Missouri, for
"'Who from Our Mothers' Arms': The Story of the Hymnals that Came before Us" in
Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly,
Spring 2006, an easy-reading essay on the history of hymnology in The Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod that is especially of interest with the recent publication
of a new service book for the Synod.
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Mr. Laurence E. (Larry) Lumpe Honored with Distinguished Service
Award
Mr. Laurence
E. (Larry) Lumpe of St. Louis, Missouri, was presented with the Distinguished
Service Award for his exceptional leadership of the Concordia Historical
Institute.
Larry Lumpe has served as the
Institute's vice-president for nine years and is presently its interim
president. Appointed by President A. L. Barry in 1998 to the Concordia
Historical Institute's Board of Governors, he was elected by the membership of
the Concordia Historical Institute in 2003. Mr. Lumpe served as the Institute's
interim director in 2001.
Mr. Lumpe is invaluable in all
matters pertaining to the financial affairs of the Institute, and is especially
valuable to the Institute in its development activities as an advisor to the
director and in making calls to donors and foundations. He has given of his
time and energy most recently as the Institute's development officer for the
Museum and Building Expansion Project. He has persistently held before the
board the vision of a quality museum, which is now in the process of becoming a
reality. Mr. Lumpe has conducted himself throughout his years of service as a
true ambassador of the Institute.
Larry Lumpe has also served his
church faithfully in many other capacities, including serving as the Director of
Development of the Missouri District LCMS (1981-89), Executive Director of the
Lutheran Hour Ministries (1989-96), and Gift Planning Counselor for the Lutheran
Hour Ministries (1996-98). He served on the International Lutheran Laymen's
League Board of Governors from 1974 to 1988 in various offices, and served on
the board of directors and stewardship board of the Missouri District-LCMS. He
is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Des Peres, Missouri, where he has
served as president of the congregation. He is married to Carol and they have
three grown children.
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