Saturday, 7 May 2011, is the commemoration of C. F. W. Walther, recognising the date of his passing into eternity in 1887. We encourage the members of LCC (and the LCMS) to take particular note of this patriarchal theologian and founding president (of both the LCMS and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) in this, his two-hundredth birthday year.
Walther was born on 25 October 1811 in Langenchursdorf, Saxony, Germany. Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary plans to recognise his bicentennial with a festive convocation beginning with a public lecture on the evening of Sunday, 23 October, and continuing on Monday, 24 October. Please place these dates on your calendar.
Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther (1811–87), the father of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, served as its first president from 1847 to 1850 and then again from 1864 to 1878. In 1839 he emigrated from Saxony, Germany, with other Lutherans, who settled in Missouri. He served as pastor of several congregations in St. Louis, founded Concordia Seminary, and in 1847 was instrumental in the formation of the LCMS (then called the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States), the mother of Lutheran Church–Canada. Walther worked tirelessly to promote confessional Lutheran teaching and doctrinal agreement among all Lutherans in North America. He was a prolific writer and speaker. Among his most influential works are Church and Ministry, Pastoral Theology, and The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel.
O Lord God, heavenly Father, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people, keep them steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and comfort them in all temptation, defend them against all enemies of Your Word, and bestow on Christ’s Church Militant Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary 