WEBVTT 1 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:27.900 Hello and Welcome to Word and Work an Intersection. 2 00:00:27.900 --> 00:00:32.900 I'm your host Dale Meyer. On today's program will visit with Dr. 3 00:00:32.900 --> 00:00:38.700 Daniel Preus. He is Concordia Seminary interim president and we'll 4 00:00:38.700 --> 00:00:44.600 spend some I know enjoyable time getting to know him. You know, the 5 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:49.100 last president Daniel decided to retire. Yes, I heard about that. 6 00:00:49.100 --> 00:00:51.200 What's with him? 7 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:53.500 So welcome. 8 00:00:53.500 --> 00:00:56.800 We're glad to have you here on Word and Work. 9 00:00:56.800 --> 00:01:01.900 We're glad to have you at the Seminary just how's it been two months 10 00:01:01.900 --> 00:01:02.800 now its interim president. 11 00:01:02.800 --> 00:01:03.600 How's it been? 12 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:06.900 Yeah, I'd say it's been hard and happy 13 00:01:06.900 --> 00:01:11.700 Hard in the sense that I have a bit of a learning curve. 14 00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:17.000 I've got a lot to learn that has been helped by the fact that I served 15 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:18.500 on the Board of Regents for nine years. 16 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:22.300 So there were there was a lot about the life of the Seminary that I 17 00:01:22.300 --> 00:01:27.900 did know. But as far as its inner workings and its daily life and 18 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:34.900 business, I've had a lot to learn. On the other hand the the staff, the 19 00:01:34.900 --> 00:01:39.600 faculty, the students have all been in cramped incredibly friendly, 20 00:01:39.600 --> 00:01:43.200 welcoming, hospitable and helpful. 21 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:46.500 So in that sense, it's really been a happy time. 22 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:48.300 Well, I'm glad to hear that. 23 00:01:48.300 --> 00:01:53.300 Don't worry about the learning curve because the last president took 24 00:01:53.300 --> 00:01:55.800 four years to figure out what was going on, 25 00:01:55.800 --> 00:02:03.000 so. And exactly as you say the faculty and the staff give you day to day information 26 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:05.200 on things and the Board of Regents is so supportive. 27 00:02:06.700 --> 00:02:08.699 Can we get to know a little bit about you? 28 00:02:08.699 --> 00:02:11.200 You know, you're at your personal life your history. 29 00:02:11.200 --> 00:02:11.900 Sure. 30 00:02:11.900 --> 00:02:16.700 Yeah, I'm the oldest of 10 children. My father 31 00:02:16.700 --> 00:02:21.200 Robert Preus was actually a faculty member here at St. 32 00:02:21.200 --> 00:02:25.400 Louis Seminary from 1957 to 1974. 33 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:27.800 I had him as a professor. Oh you did. 34 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:28.200 Okay. 35 00:02:28.200 --> 00:02:29.300 I was wondering about that. I enjoyed that. 36 00:02:29.300 --> 00:02:29.700 Yeah. 37 00:02:29.700 --> 00:02:34.000 So I grew up on this campus, grew to love it. 38 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:39.500 I had a very happy childhood here and then left St. 39 00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:45.900 Louis to go to college, Seminary met my wife in college, Linda. 40 00:02:45.900 --> 00:02:52.600 We've been married now for 48 years celebrate our 49th anniversary in 41 00:02:52.600 --> 00:02:53.100 October. 42 00:02:53.100 --> 00:02:55.100 What college did you go to? Ann Arbor. 43 00:02:55.100 --> 00:02:55.800 Okay. 44 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:56.300 Yeah. 45 00:02:56.300 --> 00:02:59.600 Well, actually I went to Ann Arbor for a year. 46 00:02:59.600 --> 00:03:02.100 That's why I met her then my second year. 47 00:03:02.100 --> 00:03:06.500 I studied in Germany at Oberursel and then went from there to the 48 00:03:06.500 --> 00:03:06.700 Senior 49 00:03:06.700 --> 00:03:12.000 College and then to the Springfield Seminary. And was one of the 50 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:16.400 last graduates of the Springfield Seminary before they moved. Okay. 51 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:21.500 But I was ordained in 1975 at that time 52 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:23.500 my wife and I have been married for a few years. 53 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:24.900 We have five children. 54 00:03:24.900 --> 00:03:30.900 We have 11 grandchildren. The children are kind of spread out. 55 00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:33.800 We've got one daughter here in St. 56 00:03:33.800 --> 00:03:34.000 Louis. 57 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:42.500 And then we have sons in Arizona, Colorado and Arkansas. Its an occasion to travel. 58 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:44.300 Well, we've used it for that purpose. 59 00:03:44.300 --> 00:03:46.200 And that's been that's been fun. 60 00:03:46.200 --> 00:03:47.000 That's great. 61 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:51.500 You have hobbies things you like to do apart from ministerial work. 62 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:53.300 I spend a lot of time reading. 63 00:03:54.200 --> 00:04:00.000 And I have kind of a versatile taste there I love the fiction. 64 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:01.500 I like history. 65 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:03.700 I love church history. 66 00:04:03.700 --> 00:04:09.600 And I spend time reading a variety of books in those different areas 67 00:04:09.600 --> 00:04:14.400 and my wife and I like to hike, so we we travel a bit. 68 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.100 We enjoy that very much and wherever we go. 69 00:04:17.100 --> 00:04:19.200 We're always looking for the local hikes. 70 00:04:19.200 --> 00:04:25.400 And as long as it's less than 5 miles, we're not much good beyond 71 00:04:25.400 --> 00:04:25.700 that. 72 00:04:25.700 --> 00:04:30.500 Have you had an opportunity to, its not hiking, but but walk through the 73 00:04:30.500 --> 00:04:32.200 Seminary neighborhoods. 74 00:04:32.200 --> 00:04:33.700 Well, yes. 75 00:04:33.700 --> 00:04:34.300 Yeah. 76 00:04:34.300 --> 00:04:38.700 I mean I did that a lot as a child, but then I was a director at 77 00:04:38.700 --> 00:04:43.000 Concordia Historical Institute for awhile. And that brought 78 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:47.800 me onto the Seminary campus and used that as an opportunity to walk 79 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:48.900 around in the neighborhood. 80 00:04:48.900 --> 00:04:53.600 Not just here at the Seminary, but you know the the homes in Clayton 81 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:53.700 that surround us here. 82 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:58.200 Yeah, when our forefathers selected this location. 83 00:04:58.200 --> 00:05:06.100 Wow, that was a wise move. Forest Park, Washington University have the 84 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:06.900 various neighborhoods 85 00:05:06.900 --> 00:05:11.300 it's a it's a great place place to walk. What home did you live 86 00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:12.400 on as a kid? 87 00:05:12.400 --> 00:05:17.200 I lived in number four. Okay so that how do we describe that 88 00:05:17.200 --> 00:05:20.500 if you don't know the Seminary campus. The old faculty homes, most of 89 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:26.300 which date to 1926 are on North Seminary Terrace. Right. 90 00:05:26.300 --> 00:05:30.600 And on the south side is house two and house four. Right. 91 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:31.300 Right. 92 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:36.100 So the president's house is on the North side number one and two on 93 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:36.500 the Southside. 94 00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:39.500 We lived in number four now 95 00:05:39.500 --> 00:05:41.500 I actually live in number 3. 96 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:46.000 So if I look out the window of my bedroom 97 00:05:46.700 --> 00:05:52.700 I see the bedroom window of the room in which my two youngest sisters 98 00:05:52.700 --> 00:05:58.000 slept. Really. And it reminds me of the time when I was a teenager when 99 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:01.400 I would put them to bed every night and say their prayers with them. 100 00:06:01.400 --> 00:06:07.500 So lot of fond memories come flooding back as a result of being of 101 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:10.700 living where we are right now. And one of the wonderful things is it 102 00:06:10.700 --> 00:06:14.200 because of the the phenomenal support of people throughout the church 103 00:06:14.200 --> 00:06:15.200 for this Seminary. 104 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:19.100 Those homes have been renovated. 105 00:06:19.100 --> 00:06:22.000 Yeah, yeah and and are being renovated. 106 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:24.500 The one we're living in is very nice. 107 00:06:24.500 --> 00:06:29.400 It's it's one of the more recently renovated homes, I believe and we 108 00:06:29.400 --> 00:06:36.700 don't have all our boxes unpacked yet, but it's a beautiful home very 109 00:06:36.700 --> 00:06:40.800 spacious and we're already enjoying it quite a bit. Your Interim 110 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:44.700 President when whenever the Lord leads the Seminary to president number 111 00:06:44.700 --> 00:06:46.100 11, what will you do then? 112 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:49.100 Well, I had intended to retire. 113 00:06:49.100 --> 00:06:54.800 In fact, I had just moved about two days before I got a call from the 114 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:57.600 Board of Regents asking me to serve in this position. 115 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:02.000 I had to driven up to a home that we've had built in Grand Marais, 116 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:02.200 Minnesota. 117 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:07.900 And Linda was going to be driving up in a few days and then I got this 118 00:07:07.900 --> 00:07:08.100 call. 119 00:07:08.100 --> 00:07:09.100 So that was the end of that. 120 00:07:09.100 --> 00:07:14.800 And so when my time here is over, we'll move back up to Minnesota. 121 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:16.900 It's a rather., 122 00:07:16.900 --> 00:07:20.500 yeah, cold place in the winter. 123 00:07:20.500 --> 00:07:25.500 We're right on Lake Superior about 40 miles from Canada in a town 124 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:30.900 called Grand Marais, but in the summer in the fall, it's it's a 125 00:07:30.900 --> 00:07:31.600 beautiful place. 126 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:32.900 We're going to enjoy it there. 127 00:07:32.900 --> 00:07:38.700 Well spend some cool weather down here in summer. I'd like to do that. 128 00:07:38.700 --> 00:07:42.400 It's usually about 20 to 30 degrees cooler up there than it is here in 129 00:07:42.400 --> 00:07:42.700 St. 130 00:07:42.700 --> 00:07:42.900 Louis. 131 00:07:42.900 --> 00:07:46.800 Well your family has a a Minnesota History doesn't it? 132 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:54.400 Going back some generations. Yeah. Yes, actually my grandfather was governor of Minnesota for 4 years. 133 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:59.700 And during the time of his tenure as Governor. 134 00:07:59.700 --> 00:08:06.200 He was offered the opportunity to buy some land on a border Lake in 135 00:08:06.200 --> 00:08:13.100 Minnesota and Ontario and he he bought this land in Ontario where he 136 00:08:13.100 --> 00:08:18.900 built a cabin. And then my father and my uncle Jack Preus built cabins 137 00:08:18.900 --> 00:08:24.100 there and yeah, those have the kind of expanded into more and more 138 00:08:24.100 --> 00:08:24.700 cabins. 139 00:08:24.700 --> 00:08:28.000 Now, I have brothers and sisters and cousins who have cabins there and 140 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:31.400 and that's where our family has historically go on every summer. 141 00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:34.299 So I don't have a cabin there. 142 00:08:34.299 --> 00:08:39.299 I received one in in Grand Marais, but I'm only 40 minutes away. 143 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:42.600 And I I get to see my relatives pretty often. 144 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:44.200 I appreciate it. 145 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:48.700 And I trust our listeners and viewers appreciate getting getting to 146 00:08:48.700 --> 00:08:49.200 know you better. 147 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:53.600 I think one of the great things about our church Lutheran Church, 148 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:58.800 Missouri, Synod is is were extended family and and we know and get to 149 00:08:58.800 --> 00:09:02.500 know one another. You said that you were at the Concordia Historical 150 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:03.200 Institute, 151 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:04.600 okay. Tell us about that, 152 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:05.800 would you please? Sure. 153 00:09:05.800 --> 00:09:10.700 Well, it's the department of archives and history of the Lutheran 154 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:11.000 Church-Missouri 155 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:17.700 Synod. Its task is to document the history of Lutheranism in North 156 00:09:17.700 --> 00:09:18.200 America. 157 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:25.100 It's focuses even more specifically on the history of the Lutheran 158 00:09:25.100 --> 00:09:28.200 Church-Missouri Synod, but it does have that broader task. 159 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:33.300 It's I believe the largest Lutheran archive in North America probably 160 00:09:33.300 --> 00:09:40.100 in the Western Hemisphere. And its dedicated to documenting the history 161 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:44.100 of our congregations the history of our pastors. 162 00:09:44.100 --> 00:09:48.700 So on a regular basis when they get further into their Ministry 163 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:52.700 pastors are encouraged to write up kind of a summary or biography of 164 00:09:52.700 --> 00:09:57.400 their lives and send it to Concordia Historical Institute. All of the 165 00:09:57.400 --> 00:10:04.300 Departments of Synod are required by the bylaws to send their 166 00:10:04.300 --> 00:10:09.500 minutes their financial reports and any other official business that 167 00:10:09.500 --> 00:10:12.400 they conduct to Concordia Historical Institute. 168 00:10:12.400 --> 00:10:13.300 Some of that is exciting reading and some of it's not. I think they send the boring stuff to CHI. 169 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:27.100 But it becomes a repository for information and it it's got 170 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:33.100 researchers in there pretty regularly doing research for publishing 171 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:37.400 that they want to do and so on. Now an interesting thing is that the 172 00:10:37.400 --> 00:10:43.100 CHI is an entity of the Lutheran Church-Missouri, Synod not Concordia 173 00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:44.600 Seminary, correct. Right. 174 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:45.000 Right. 175 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:48.900 We're on Concordia Seminary's campus and you know what 176 00:10:48.900 --> 00:10:53.500 I don't know maybe you know whether Concordia Seminary actually owns 177 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:58.100 the land on which Concordia Historical Institute sits. 178 00:10:58.100 --> 00:11:02.800 Yeah, I think that's the case and the Synod owns the building. The Synod 179 00:11:02.800 --> 00:11:04.000 owns the building. 180 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:10.800 Yeah, it's an interesting situation CHI is a separate corporate entity 181 00:11:10.800 --> 00:11:13.500 like Concordia Publishing House. 182 00:11:13.500 --> 00:11:18.300 So it does have some degree of independence from the Synod. 183 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:23.300 But some of our board members are elected by the Synod and then 184 00:11:23.300 --> 00:11:29.100 others are elected by the membership. Yeah, its an interesting arrangement and it was never 185 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:34.200 documented contractually, but the Synod owns the building the 186 00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:36.500 Seminary owns the ground. Right. 187 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:40.200 And so when some people suggested that we build the Berlin Wall around 188 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:43.900 CHI, we said no. Just joking. 189 00:11:43.900 --> 00:11:48.500 Just joking. In fact it is a blessing for us and I hope CHIi to 190 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:52.200 be on campus because our great library just across the street 191 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:58.500 and the possibility for interactions for having CHI events in our 192 00:11:58.500 --> 00:12:03.700 buildings and having a student's do the work and research over there. 193 00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:07.500 It's just a great Arrangement and I'm thankful for that. 194 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:11.500 I know you have a special appreciation for it. And it really is a good 195 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:16.300 relationship because we need researchers to help those who are 196 00:12:16.300 --> 00:12:18.500 coming into the building to do research and 197 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:23.300 students have helped us in that capacity for many many years. 198 00:12:23.300 --> 00:12:28.600 So it's kind of a natural fit, especially between the students who are 199 00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:34.300 going to be studying Historical Theology and Concordia Historical Institute. 200 00:12:34.300 --> 00:12:39.100 It's been a neat relationship. Now you have experience with partner 201 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:42.800 churches across the waters. 202 00:12:42.800 --> 00:12:46.600 Could you tell us about that and one of the reasons I bring 203 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:50.600 this up is not always so we get to know you but but it gives me a 204 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:54.800 great feeling to know that we have someone in the office of president 205 00:12:54.800 --> 00:13:00.400 with a mission mind because if without a mission mind, you know, we 206 00:13:00.400 --> 00:13:03.800 turn into the Dead Sea. So tell us about your experiences 207 00:13:03.800 --> 00:13:07.400 that way. I appreciate that question quite a bit. 208 00:13:07.400 --> 00:13:13.800 I have had a lot of experience with leaders in churches overseas 209 00:13:13.800 --> 00:13:18.500 through two of the jobs that I've held. 210 00:13:18.900 --> 00:13:23.500 One was as first vice president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod 211 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:26.800 where I served from 2001 to 2004. 212 00:13:26.800 --> 00:13:31.100 But then after that I was director of an organization called Luther 213 00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:38.700 Academy from 2005 to 2012. And the one of the duties of Luther Academy 214 00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:43.600 was to conduct the theological conferences for pastors overseas. 215 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:46.100 So through that work. 216 00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:52.300 I got to know a lot of church leaders in Africa and especially in 217 00:13:52.300 --> 00:13:57.200 Scandinavia. Because the Scandinavians, I don't know how much you know 218 00:13:57.200 --> 00:14:01.700 about what's going on in the Church of Scandinavia, but the the state 219 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:09.700 churches have by-and-large become very liberal and unbiblical and it's 220 00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:15.200 been a a sad and very frustrating experience for those who want to 221 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:18.900 continue being faithful Lutherans. And so some 222 00:14:18.900 --> 00:14:22.500 of these faithful Lutheran's in Scandinavia ask me. 223 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:29.900 Oh, I think it was in about 1997 to assist them in starting up an 224 00:14:29.900 --> 00:14:34.500 organization that would assist them in focusing on the Lutheran 225 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:38.900 confessions our Lutheran Theology and encourage bible-believing 226 00:14:38.900 --> 00:14:40.200 Lutheran's in these countries. 227 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:44.500 And so we did that and they've been no holding their conferences ever 228 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:51.200 since and I've gotten to know the leaders now in very young emerging 229 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:55.100 confessional Lutheran churches in Scandinavia. 230 00:14:55.100 --> 00:15:02.400 And then of course, Africa is is very encouraging as many problems as 231 00:15:02.400 --> 00:15:08.400 Africa has it's an amazing thing to see the Lutheran confession kind 232 00:15:08.400 --> 00:15:14.600 of exploding in countries like Tanzania and and 233 00:15:16.400 --> 00:15:24.100 Kenya, especially Ethiopia, Madagascar and that that's been very 234 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:25.000 very encouraging. 235 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:30.800 I don't have great experience, very little experience with Africa, but 236 00:15:30.800 --> 00:15:34.400 with President Rast of our Fort Wayne Seminary, we went to Ethiopia 237 00:15:34.400 --> 00:15:41.000 and wow. I mean hit it staggers the mind the opportunities that they 238 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:45.600 are pursuing and which we can support with our theological knowledge 239 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.700 and personnel here. 240 00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:48.000 So I mean, 241 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:51.800 it's a great thing to have you in that chair because of that knowledge 242 00:15:51.800 --> 00:15:57.400 that you have and churches around the world look to us for the kind 243 00:15:57.400 --> 00:16:01.500 of education you've described. Yeah, and that that is so encouraging because 244 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:06.500 we did not go in there and tell them we wanted to help them. 245 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:12.100 They came to us and asked us to help them and now to see professors 246 00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:15.800 from our Seminary is going there a pastor's from some of our 247 00:16:15.800 --> 00:16:16.300 congregations 248 00:16:16.400 --> 00:16:20.700 going there. To teach them the kind of theology that they want 249 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:26.800 is incredibly encouraging and then the Lord blesses that work. Now, 250 00:16:26.800 --> 00:16:28.100 that's a church body 251 00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:31.000 I think you may know this better than I do since you were there, but I 252 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:35.700 think they're close to 10 million members. And I know they have some 253 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:40.500 problems they've they've got challenges but for us to be involved in 254 00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:44.900 assisting them at this time in the life of the church's history. 255 00:16:44.900 --> 00:16:46.900 Wow, very exciting. 256 00:16:46.900 --> 00:16:49.400 I always answer the question. 257 00:16:49.400 --> 00:16:55.200 What do you like about your job by saying the students. And and you'll 258 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:55.800 have the opportunity 259 00:16:55.800 --> 00:17:00.200 if not already to get to know not only are American students but these 260 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:04.599 foreign students who come here and just just soak up the knowledge of 261 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:06.700 God's word and our theology. 262 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:09.700 And and I know that'll be a delightful time for you, 263 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.700 it certainly was for me. 264 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.000 Yeah. 265 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:12.099 I'm looking forward to that, 266 00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:15.000 yeah. Right now the only students have met her taking Greek and 267 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:15.300 Hebrew. 268 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:19.300 And they seem to be fairly excited about it. 269 00:17:19.300 --> 00:17:24.300 But I think that when they actually get to the studying of theology, 270 00:17:24.300 --> 00:17:26.000 it'll be even more fun. 271 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:30.800 We got to get this COVID thing behind us so that we can get get through it and I 272 00:17:30.800 --> 00:17:35.700 know we'll come through it and and and thank goodness for all the 273 00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:39.400 supporters of the Seminary who have enabled us to be able to be in a 274 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:45.000 strong position to face this. But man, it's just it's a great place 275 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.900 Concordia Seminary. 276 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:49.900 We're glad Daniel Preus is here. Where going to take a short break now, but I 277 00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:52.700 encourage you to stay with us and we'll be right back. 278 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:57.800 Concordia Seminary St. 279 00:17:57.800 --> 00:18:02.600 Louis provides continuing education resources for pastors and lay 280 00:18:02.600 --> 00:18:07.700 people to discover all the Concordia Seminary has for you visit us on 281 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:10.200 the web at CSL. 282 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.000 EDU. 283 00:18:14.300 --> 00:18:18.100 Welcome back to Word and Work an Intersection. 284 00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:21.700 I'm your host Dale Meyer. Today our guest is Dr. 285 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:22.700 Daniel Preus. 286 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:26.500 He's serving as Concordia Seminary Interim President. 287 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:29.300 Again, thank you for being with us. 288 00:18:29.300 --> 00:18:30.500 I'm enjoying this. 289 00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:32.500 I hope you're comfortable doing this. 290 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:36.300 I am I really appreciate the invitation to be with you. That's 291 00:18:36.300 --> 00:18:36.900 that's right. 292 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:38.100 Well, you know, you're the boss. 293 00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:38.600 Yeah. 294 00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:46.500 I'm just doing a little part time work. Well for the time being. You've been in the ministry what over 40 years. 295 00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.600 Yes. 296 00:18:47.600 --> 00:18:49.500 I was ordained in 1975. 297 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:54.600 What are some of the highlights that you have had? You mentioned 298 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:57.900 earlier that you were on the Board of Regents for Concordia Seminary 299 00:18:57.900 --> 00:19:01.500 for 9 years, CHI, a long time 300 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:03.900 parish pastor, synodical official. 301 00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:05.500 What are some of the highlights? 302 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:09.700 Well, I since you mentioned my service on the board here. 303 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:14.300 I do need to say that President Harrison. 304 00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:21.100 Back in 2010 when he was first elected asked me if I would be willing 305 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:26.000 to serve on the Board of Regents for Concordia Seminary and I said 306 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:28.100 with great delight would I do that. 307 00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:31.800 And I and I did enjoy that service quite a bit. 308 00:19:31.800 --> 00:19:35.500 It was it was marvellous to get to know more about the how the 309 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:39.400 Seminary goes about conducting its Mission and to be involved as a as 310 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:43.100 a member of the board in assisting the Seminary to go forward in 311 00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:46.700 carrying out that mission. Some of the other highlights would be 312 00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:52.400 probably the first thing I would have to say is simply serving as a 313 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:58.500 pastor in congregations where I had the opportunity to teach and 314 00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.500 preach the Word of God. 315 00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:05.690 And to be teaching and preaching to the same people week after week 316 00:20:05.690 --> 00:20:12.500 and see the light go on see them come to an appreciation of what the 317 00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:18.200 Word of God means and see them come to a clearer understanding the 318 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:21.800 gospel the message of forgiveness in life in Jesus. 319 00:20:21.800 --> 00:20:27.400 And of course, that's the center of our Proclamation, but it's amazing 320 00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:33.100 to see how much people needed and how much they appreciated when they 321 00:20:33.100 --> 00:20:37.300 come to understand that, that was definitely a highlight of my life. 322 00:20:37.300 --> 00:20:42.700 You served as a as a as a pastor more recently as a vacancy Pastor, correct. 323 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:43.100 Yes, 324 00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:47.700 I did I served a congregation in northeastern Minnesota. 325 00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:52.700 In fact in Grand Marais where we've built our retirement home. And I 326 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:58.300 served there for 13 months very small congregation, but it got me back 327 00:20:58.300 --> 00:21:00.600 into the happiness of that 328 00:21:00.600 --> 00:21:06.200 experience of preaching and teaching again. And one of the wonderful by 329 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:10.200 products of that was that it got me back into my Greek again. 330 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:15.900 So to each Bible class I thought it was pretty important to study the 331 00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:20.900 Greek text and it is got me back into my Greek and help me improve 332 00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:24.600 beyond what I've been doing in recent years. 333 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:28.100 So yeah, that was that was a wonderful experience. Well misery loves 334 00:21:28.100 --> 00:21:28.500 company. 335 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:31.000 I've got to tell you I mean my Greek is always been being good. 336 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:37.600 Yeah. My Hebrew need some resurrection and and and retirement now my 337 00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:42.600 job number one and the chairman of the board said they'll do this is 338 00:21:42.600 --> 00:21:44.300 to read the commentary on 1st Peter. 339 00:21:44.300 --> 00:21:52.300 So I'm enjoying that big big time into the language but also the text. 340 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:58.000 Your your last Service as of as a vacancy Pastor in Grand Marais, 341 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:04.200 that's quite a few years after your your previous parish service. 342 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:08.000 Yes. Did you notice changes as time had passed? 343 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.900 Yeah, there are changes there. 344 00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:14.890 There are definitely changes, but I noticed those changes to during 345 00:22:14.890 --> 00:22:15.300 the twenty years 346 00:22:15.300 --> 00:22:19.900 I was in the ministry. At the beginning for example back in the late 347 00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:20.500 70s. 348 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:26.000 You could go visit people that was not difficult later on in my 349 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.900 Ministry, man 350 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:31.000 you you had to make an appointment and that was very difficult to 351 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.800 get into people's homes to visit them. 352 00:22:32.800 --> 00:22:37.000 That was a change. Because they were busy? Because they were busy and 353 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:43.300 and I think actually people have become less outgoing in many ways 354 00:22:43.300 --> 00:22:48.300 less welcoming more reluctant to have people into their homes. 355 00:22:48.300 --> 00:22:53.000 I don't know if that's true generally across the us but its 356 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:54.600 certainly something I witnessed. 357 00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:59.800 Another change of course was declining worship attendance. 358 00:22:59.800 --> 00:23:06.400 When I entered the ministry, it was close to 50% in the first couple 359 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:07.400 of congregations 360 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:08.200 I served. 361 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.600 What is it today? 362 00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:11.300 It's probably below 30. 363 00:23:11.300 --> 00:23:20.700 Yeah. Below 30. So in your position as Interim President and again you're by definition you're not able to make 364 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:22.600 profound changes. Right. 365 00:23:22.600 --> 00:23:25.800 But you're going to be interacting with students interacting with 366 00:23:25.800 --> 00:23:27.100 faculty and staff. 367 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:35.700 How will you bring your real-world pastoral loving suggestions to the 368 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:37.500 work that they're doing here at the Seminary? 369 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:41.900 I've already been doing a lot of writing for various different 370 00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:47.000 publications that the Seminary has. I have been meeting students. 371 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:53.300 I've had conversations with the executive staff and with faculty 372 00:23:53.300 --> 00:23:59.300 members and I am going to build on what has been done before. 373 00:23:59.300 --> 00:24:06.200 I think you had a very productive time here as Seminary president. 374 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:11.800 And as you kind of implied, I'm not coming in here to start new 375 00:24:11.800 --> 00:24:13.100 initiatives or new programs. 376 00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:15.700 I don't think that's my role. 377 00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:23.800 I think it's rather to be sort of a gatekeeper not gatekeeper, but a 378 00:24:23.800 --> 00:24:29.200 well one who one who continues the course we'll put it that way and 379 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:31.100 that's what I'm going to try to do. 380 00:24:31.100 --> 00:24:37.200 I I think what that entails is a and intense focus on the Gospel. 381 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:43.400 On what it means to be a Christian with the hope that that attitude 382 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:50.300 and that theme can be character can characterize the life of the 383 00:24:50.300 --> 00:24:53.000 Seminary the life of the students the professors and so on. 384 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:57.100 I'll do everything I can to promote that. That's great the 385 00:24:57.100 --> 00:25:00.400 president of Seminary is not a pastor per say. Right. Like in a congregation. 386 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:06.900 But I found and you're a natural for this is is you have to be 387 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.600 pastoral. 388 00:25:07.600 --> 00:25:10.000 Obviously, 389 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:12.800 our students are all members of Lutheran Church-Missouri, Synod. 390 00:25:12.800 --> 00:25:15.300 We're going to become pastors our deaconesses. 391 00:25:15.300 --> 00:25:18.600 Not all our staff is Lutheran. Right. 392 00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:23.100 And and and whether they are or are not what I found out is that your 393 00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:26.200 presence is pastoral to them and there's a lot of times when you 394 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:32.000 bring a word of encouragement to somebody who is down based on our 395 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:38.700 faith. Right. There is an amazing opportunity on this campus to take those 396 00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:43.600 pastorals skills that you have and have used over the years in 397 00:25:43.600 --> 00:25:45.300 just casual conversations with people. 398 00:25:45.300 --> 00:25:51.900 Well, I'm looking forward to that so far since course courses have not 399 00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:57.300 yet begun by the academic year is starting very soon, obviously, but 400 00:25:57.300 --> 00:26:01.300 I've had limited opportunity for that, but I'm looking forward to 401 00:26:01.300 --> 00:26:01.500 that 402 00:26:02.300 --> 00:26:07.300 opportunity as the year goes on. And of course one other major aspect of 403 00:26:07.300 --> 00:26:12.200 my work will be to assist the Board of Regents in the main task 404 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:14.900 I think that it has before it right now and that's the search for a 405 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:18.100 new president. We have this COVID pandemic to consider as well which is very distracting. And has complicated our work. I wish I could have arrived when that was not an issue but that's the way it is. 406 00:26:20.590 --> 00:27:02.300 But more important than that is the search for a new president. And I hope I can work closely with the board to facilitate that happening in a good way. Well your the executive officer of the board so you certainly will be. Is there any expectation when a new president will be selected. Todd Peperkorn is the chairman of the board he has not indicated to me absolutely when that will happen. 407 00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:02.430 He thought it it could happen still in this calendar year that we But more important than that is the search for a new president. And I hope I can work closely with the board to facilitate that happening in a good way. Well your the executive officer of the board so you certainly will be. Is there any expectation when a new president will be selected. Todd Peperkorn is the chairman of the board he has not indicated to me absolutely when that will happen. 408 00:27:02.430 --> 00:27:07.200 He thought it it could happen still in this calendar year that we 409 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:12.900 would issue a call. But we need to give faculty the opportunity to do 410 00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:18.500 the kind of work that they do and trying to identify potential 411 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.400 candidates. 412 00:27:19.400 --> 00:27:26.700 We need to allow a time to elapse after we print the notice in the 413 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:30.300 Lutheran Witness and so on so you have to allow a certain amount of 414 00:27:30.300 --> 00:27:31.500 time to go by it's time-consuming. 415 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:36.800 So I think it's more likely that the call will be issued in February. 416 00:27:36.800 --> 00:27:43.700 I can't imagine that it would be issued later than that when when the 417 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:47.400 board contacted me and asked me if I would serve I ask them, 418 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:48.600 How long will my service be? 419 00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:52.900 And they said will it'll be until the next president is installed. 420 00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:55.100 Well, how long is that? 421 00:27:55.100 --> 00:28:01.200 And the answer I got was well, it'll be sometime between 6 and 18 422 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:01.300 months. 423 00:28:01.300 --> 00:28:08.500 So that's kind of open-ended, but I anticipate that we'll issue a call 424 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:13.100 in February. I could be wrong, but I think that for my experience that 425 00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:17.800 seems a reasonable explanation. The school year 426 00:28:17.800 --> 00:28:22.200 I think it's 182nd is beginning. 427 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:27.100 Yeah. Anything you can tell us about this new school year. 428 00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:35.100 Well, maybe I'll start by saying that I have chosen as a theme Hebrews 429 00:28:35.100 --> 00:28:42.400 13 verse 8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 430 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:47.700 That's great. And I think it's a suitable theme for the kind of time 431 00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:53.800 we're facing right now. But it's an interim and so professors 432 00:28:53.800 --> 00:28:58.300 I'm sure faculty and staff are wondering and who's the next president 433 00:28:58.300 --> 00:29:04.500 going to be and what is his administration going to be like things 434 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:04.900 like that. 435 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:09.900 And of course everybody's wondering when this pandemic is going to end 436 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:12.000 and people are worried about it. 437 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:18.500 You see violence around the country people are anxious as they look 438 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:20.200 at what's happening in many of our major cities. 439 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:23.700 And so to a great degree is it's a time of uncertainty. 440 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:30.400 But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever what we 441 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:35.500 have in him what we have in the Gospel never changes. And as it 442 00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:39.700 supported God's people in the Old Testament, God's people at the time 443 00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:44.800 of Paul and Peter and so on. Martin Luther and the other 444 00:29:44.800 --> 00:29:45.400 confessors. 445 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:49.500 It's the same Gospel from which we live today. 446 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:53.400 That's a great theme of there was a university professor who told me 447 00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:55.900 years ago, and I took it to heart. 448 00:29:56.800 --> 00:30:04.200 Accept chaos give back calm provide hope. And saying Jesus Christ the 449 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:07.800 same yesterday today and forever really does that and keep the focus 450 00:30:07.800 --> 00:30:12.200 on him which Concordia Seminary is about him and about his and his 451 00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:15.000 mission. Exactly. The pandemic. 452 00:30:16.100 --> 00:30:21.500 What are some of the adjustments the Seminary has had to make so that 453 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:26.400 the mission continues and yet we respect what we have to do because of 454 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:27.900 the pandemic, talk about. 455 00:30:27.900 --> 00:30:34.400 Yeah, I think it's been difficult but the staff here are pretty 456 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:38.800 competent people and they have adjusted very well. 457 00:30:38.800 --> 00:30:40.200 It hasn't been easy. 458 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:45.700 But as you know, well enough you were still president at the time. 459 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:51.000 We we had to go to well you are at your president when the decision 460 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:56.700 was made we had to go to online classes. And we've been struggling with 461 00:30:56.700 --> 00:31:01.900 that concept again now are we going to have to do that again. And 462 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:06.300 we had determined that we would have in-person classes. 463 00:31:07.700 --> 00:31:12.900 But I think it was just yesterday where the state of Missouri was 464 00:31:12.900 --> 00:31:17.900 designated as one of the hot spots in the United States. 465 00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:23.000 And so unfortunately, we've already had to make the decision that 466 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:32.400 we're going to do in a virtual orientation. Orientation for our new. For our new students. And may I throw in that unless 467 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:33.000 something has changed. 468 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:37.700 We have seen a significant increase in new students over the previous 469 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.300 years. 470 00:31:38.300 --> 00:31:38.900 That's right. 471 00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.500 Still, correct. 472 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:40.500 That that's true. 473 00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:46.000 I had a great meeting with Ben Haupt who is the associate Provost 474 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:53.000 in in charge of Recruitment and enrollment and it's not quite 50% 475 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.500 increase. 476 00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:56.200 Wow. But it's close. 477 00:31:56.200 --> 00:32:00.000 I think it's forty some percent increase in the number of new students. 478 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:03.100 Wow, that is amazing and it's during this time. 479 00:32:03.100 --> 00:32:04.900 And so you think yourself. 480 00:32:04.900 --> 00:32:07.600 Oh, this is going to hurt us, you know. 481 00:32:07.600 --> 00:32:10.600 This pandemic it's going to make things terrible well, and then 482 00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:14.600 something like this happens very encouraging but we have some tough 483 00:32:14.600 --> 00:32:16.800 decisions to make and in just the next few days. 484 00:32:16.800 --> 00:32:20.900 Will the Opening Service be an in-person service? 485 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:23.800 We're going to talk about that tomorrow morning. 486 00:32:23.800 --> 00:32:29.000 And then what about the classrooms are the are the students going to 487 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:33.500 be in the classroom or is that going to be virtual as well tough 488 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.200 decisions? 489 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:39.000 But the last time that they had to make the decision to go online. 490 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:42.600 They did it pretty quickly. They adjusted. 491 00:32:42.600 --> 00:32:47.500 If I may mention two things one is it that the decision was made 492 00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:51.000 during the Reading Week in the in the middle of the Spring 493 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.600 semester. 494 00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:56.900 And and when the Reading Week was over all our classes were already 495 00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:57.300 online. 496 00:32:57.300 --> 00:33:01.000 So the so that happened and one of the reasons we were able to do this 497 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:05.400 is thank you to our supporters and our donors across the country 498 00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:11.000 because you among other things put us in a strong position and we have 499 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:12.600 the tech capabilities to do that. 500 00:33:12.600 --> 00:33:17.000 So it's not every every school was able to respond as quickly as we 501 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:21.600 could and about the competence of our staff as you know, very well 502 00:33:21.600 --> 00:33:27.500 one of our key leaders in dealing with a pandemic is an epidemiologist, 503 00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:29.600 PhD in epidemiology. 504 00:33:29.600 --> 00:33:33.600 Wow, that is like people say it's a God thing, bringing 505 00:33:33.600 --> 00:33:33.900 Dr. 506 00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:36.100 Gary to us who's been on Word and Work. 507 00:33:36.100 --> 00:33:37.800 That was that was the Lord's guidance, 508 00:33:37.800 --> 00:33:44.900 so. Well, she we meet once a week as a as an executive committee 509 00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:49.200 I guess you would call it and she's always there to keep us updated 510 00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:50.500 about what's going on. 511 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:52.700 She has been an absolute gem. 512 00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:58.700 She knows her her material so well and she has guided us through these 513 00:33:58.700 --> 00:33:59.000 times. 514 00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:04.100 So as you indicated that a real gift from God. We're nearing the 515 00:34:04.100 --> 00:34:07.600 end of our time together, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Anything more 516 00:34:07.600 --> 00:34:08.400 that you'd like to say? 517 00:34:09.600 --> 00:34:10.500 I'll say this. 518 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:13.000 This is a privilege for me. 519 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:16.000 I had not expected it. 520 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:19.900 I was just going to retire and be happy in my home in Minnesota. 521 00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:28.900 And then and then I got this call and I was given about one day to 522 00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:33.800 give an answer because the board needed to make a decision. And I have 523 00:34:33.800 --> 00:34:36.700 I've really enjoyed it so far. 524 00:34:36.700 --> 00:34:38.200 It's been exciting. 525 00:34:38.200 --> 00:34:40.200 It's been fun. 526 00:34:40.200 --> 00:34:49.400 It's been hard but. I appreciate you saying hard. Yeah, its been hard. But the support that I've gotten from faculty staff 527 00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:52.900 doing everybody has been absolutely phenomenal. 528 00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:54.800 That's great. 529 00:34:54.800 --> 00:34:59.200 Well, we certainly wish you the Lord's blessings and and I know that 530 00:34:59.200 --> 00:35:04.700 we and I include myself in in that will be cooperative and and at 531 00:35:04.700 --> 00:35:09.200 your beckon call to give supporting information and whatever I ever 532 00:35:09.200 --> 00:35:09.500 to you. 533 00:35:09.590 --> 00:35:11.500 Thank you. 534 00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:13.300 The way the world is today. 535 00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:18.090 I mean the mission of Concordia Seminary is as vital as as it's ever 536 00:35:18.090 --> 00:35:18.300 been. 537 00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:21.400 It. is. So it is you have our hundred percent. 538 00:35:22.590 --> 00:35:28.300 Good wishes and prayers for success as God deems success. 539 00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:29.100 Thank you. 540 00:35:29.100 --> 00:35:30.900 I really appreciate that very much. 541 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:33.700 Could we were at this up with with a little prayer, 542 00:35:33.700 --> 00:35:38.900 may I? Absolutely. And for those who are listening in the radios as their 543 00:35:38.900 --> 00:35:39.400 driving. 544 00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:41.900 Please don't fold your hands and close 545 00:35:41.900 --> 00:35:48.600 your eyes. But the rest of us let's go to the Lord Jesus in prayer. Our Dear Lord Jesus, 546 00:35:48.600 --> 00:35:51.700 we thank you for being the Lord of the church. 547 00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:56.300 And we seek your continued guidance and presence. 548 00:35:57.200 --> 00:36:02.800 on us individually and our family lies in our congregations and in 549 00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:05.500 in our dear Concordia Seminary for the future. 550 00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:08.500 We thank you for bringing Dr. 551 00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:10.200 Preus to serve in this position. 552 00:36:11.600 --> 00:36:16.400 Give him the wisdom that you have and he needs as he guides the 553 00:36:16.400 --> 00:36:20.900 Seminary. Continue to give him the support and the cooperation of 554 00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:24.700 people on the campus alumni and all others. 555 00:36:24.700 --> 00:36:30.400 This is your mission to a world that is increasingly living without 556 00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:33.200 the help and the hope that you offer in your Gospel. 557 00:36:33.200 --> 00:36:38.400 So we ask that you bless him, bless the faculty and the staff, bless 558 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:43.000 The Board of Regents as they work toward or the election of president 559 00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:46.500 number 11. And be with our students. 560 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:51.600 You've given him good hearts in baptism the comradery and learning 561 00:36:51.600 --> 00:36:53.400 that they experience here on campus. 562 00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:58.200 Whets their appetite to get out there and tell people about you. So we 563 00:36:58.200 --> 00:37:03.100 commend this everything about our lives and our Seminary, your 564 00:37:03.100 --> 00:37:08.200 Seminary to your your gracious care and keeping. And we do all of this 565 00:37:08.200 --> 00:37:12.600 because you have loved us so much that you came to die to rise again. 566 00:37:12.600 --> 00:37:17.000 You give us your spirit you give us your Word you guide us into the 567 00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:20.800 future and one day you'll take us to our Heavenly inheritance in your 568 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:21.000 name. 569 00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:21.400 We pray. 570 00:37:21.400 --> 00:37:22.900 Amen. 571 00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:26.300 So that's our prayer to the Lord of the church and in and we have 572 00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:29.600 confidence will bless us Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and 573 00:37:29.600 --> 00:37:29.900 forever. 574 00:37:29.900 --> 00:37:33.300 I thank you Doctor Preus of for being with us. 575 00:37:33.300 --> 00:37:38.000 I thank you for stepping in during this transitional time between that 576 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:43.000 guy who was number 10 and and number 11. And I know the church at large our 577 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:46.200 faculty, staff, students and the Board of Regents 578 00:37:46.200 --> 00:37:47.300 appreciate your your 579 00:37:47.400 --> 00:37:48.600 service here. 580 00:37:48.600 --> 00:37:53.700 I want to thank you also for joining us. You our audience are always 581 00:37:53.700 --> 00:37:57.700 the reason why we do this in the mission of Our Lord. I'm Dale Mayer 582 00:37:57.700 --> 00:38:03.200 and I pray that the intersection of Word and Work will be busy on your 583 00:38:03.200 --> 00:38:03.800 corner.