Synodical Council Proposal
Today the synod issued a press release from the Synodical Council meeting over the past weekend. The Synodical Council is proposing that some group in Michigan take over funding MLS in the 2008-09 school year, meaning that MLS would close as a preparatory school and reopen as an area Lutheran high school. This proposal is to be reviewed at the SC meeting in April, and if upheld there, is to be forwarded to the synod in convention this coming summer.
We are surprised that the Synodical Council is proposing something that seems to be so different from what the synod in convention resolved (http://mlsem.org/2005res). We trust that they are acting in good faith as Christian brothers.
The men on the Synodical Council are prayerful Christian leaders. They make decisions after looking at a lot of details, always trying to keep the purpose of the synod in mind. By this proposal they are saying that everything else that we are doing as we walk together, great and small, is more crucial to the mission of the synod than the contributions of MLS to the ministerial education system.
The men on the Synodical Council would like to hear your considered responses, both pro and con, to their proposal. At the end of this message is a way to contact them. They serve by district, so it is appropriate that you would contact the representative from your district. They have made WELS Pres. Gurgel personally responsible for the prioritization of the synod budget, so you should probably also copy him with your response.
In all things we pray that the will of the Lord be done and that his Kingdom be increased by the preaching and teaching of the gospel.
Cordially in Christ,
Pres. Prange
Synodical Council Representatives
Pres. Gurgel, 2929 N. Mayfair Rd., Milwaukee, WI, 53222,
karl.gurgel@sab.wels.net, 414-256-3201
Arizona-California – Mr. Tom Schlittenhart, 3134 Ten Mile Drive, Sparks, NV, 89436,
tomsandpams@charter.net, 775-354-1658
Dakota-Montana – Mr. Seth Hansen, 1408 Yellowstone Dr., Brookings, SD, 57006,
hansen_seth@attglobal.net, 605-697-6231
Michigan – Mr. Philip Hempel, 1781 Pug Rd., Saint Clair, MI, 48079,
phhempel@comcast.net, 810-329-4407
Minnesota – Mr. Paul Holzhueter, 101 N. 2nd Street, Suite 110, Mankato, MN, 56001,
Paul_Holzhueter@malt-O-Meal.com, 507-291-1286
Nebraska – Mr. Kurt Austad, 2512 E. Terraridge Dr., Highlands Ranch, CO, 80126,
kurt.l.austad@lmco.com, 303-688-8579
North Atlantic – Mr. Rodger Anderson, 204 Spring Rd., Schenectady, NY, 12302,
randerson@drs-pt.com, 518-399-5427
Northern Wisconsin – Mr. Ron Hillmann, N4558 Glacier Trail, Marion, WI, 54950,
hillmann@mid-county.com, 715-754-5864
Pacific Northwest – Mr. Warren Ehlke, 4763 N. Eagle Pointe Place, Star, ID, 83369,
warren.ehlke@hp.com
South Atlantic – Mr. Dale Anderson, 2901-6 Choto Rd., Knoxville, TN, 37922,
dalewanderson@msn.com, 865-966-9378
South Central – Mr. Robert Timmerman, 9610 Leaning Rock Cr., Austin, TX, 78730,
fine@texas.net, 512-794-0334
Southeastern Wisconsin – Mr. John Oswald, 20400 Brook Park Dr., Brookfield, WI, 53045,
joswald7@wi.rr.com, 262-787-0253
Western Wisconsin – Mr. David Steinert, 311 View St., Tomah, WI, 54660,
steinert@charter.net, 608-372-6901
