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Convention okays
—establishing Lutheran house of studies
by Betsy Carlson (Editor, WordAlone Network)
News: May 5, 2006
The WordAlone Convention authorized the board of directors to implement a proposal for an “autonomous and accredited” Lutheran theological house of studies on Tuesday, May 2, in Golden Valley, Minn.
The 2005 WordAlone convention started the planning for a Lutheran theological house of studies when it called for study of creating an institution whose teachers would be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Reformation. 
The proposal, which came from a task force formed last year, was forwarded to the convention by the WordAlone Board.
The words “autonomous and accredited” drew fire from some at the convention but efforts to remove them from the resolution failed on a voice vote.
Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt, who leads the Lutheran theological house of studies task force, said he thought the words “autonomous and accredited” were very important. He reminded the convention that since the WordAlone Network began, it had been autonomous within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He said the board of directors wanted to keep that autonomy for the Lutheran theological house of studies.
He added that autonomy would allow the institution to “keep the distance necessary” to be a prophetic voice. Accreditation would provide external pressure for excellence. Bielfeldt is a member of the WordAlone board and professor of philosophy and religion at South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D.
St. Paul, Minn., Luther Seminary Prof. Gracia Grindal, a WordAlone board member, said the statement was not detailed enough for her to support it and that supporting it would be a conflict of interest for her as a WordAlone board member and Luther Seminary professor. She said she could support it if “autonomous and accredited” were dropped. She said Luther Seminary had produced confessional pastors.
Luther graduate Pastor M. Luther Johnson, Donnelly, Minn., said he agreed with Grindal and moved to delete the words. He said another seminary was not needed and that a house of studies could stand within an existing seminary.
Pastor Kurt Borows, Jr., Port Clinton, Ohio, said he was against Johnson’s amendment because he was “scared stiff when kids today” said they wanted to go to seminary because he had “seen what seminaries do to them.” He said he didn’t want the proposal watered down or its credibility reduced.
Another Luther Seminary professor, Steven Paulson, said he was against the amendment. He said he thought a new Lutheran theological house of studies could partner with Luther Seminary but that he would not want it under the auspices of a seminary.
Bielfeldt was asked if Lutheran house of studies graduates would be able to be certified by ELCA candidacy committees and to serve in the ELCA. He said he didn’t have an answer but that he wanted that to happen.
“We are hopeful for certification and will pursue it,” Bielfeldt said.
Al Quie, former WordAlone board member, said he thought the Lutheran theological house of studies should be autonomous because of the tendency to become like what one was near.
He said WordAlone needed to “speak the truth” and not be “just a private little place next to an institution.”
In other action, the convention elected Bill Drew, Spokane, Wash.; Pastor Scott Grorud, Hutchinson, Minn., and liaison from Lutheran CORE; Jennifer Mason, Crystal, Minn.; and Pastor Dan Storvick, Prescott, Ariz., to the board of directors.
Elected to the nominating committee were: Pastor Chuck DeHaven, New Braunfels, Texas; Pastor Gerald Miller, Annapolis, Md.; Quie, Minnetonka, Minn.; Pastor Dan Selbo, San Jose, Calif.; and Pastor Tony Stoutenburg, Hayward, Wis.
After the convention, the board met and re-elected its officers: John Beem—chair, Pastor Fred Baltz—vice-chair, Irv Aal—treasurer and Grindal—secretary. Pastor Jaynan Clark Egland was re-elected WordAlone president.
The board members finishing their three-year terms were Doug Bahr, M.D., McQueeney, Texas; Diane Eaton, Deephaven, Minn.; Clark Egland; and Pastor Randy Freund, Hutchinson, Minn. John Beem and the convention thanked them with applause for their service.