From the Senior

A retreat of the Leadership Council of the Society of the Holy Trinity was held February 6–8, 2007, at St. Christopher Conference Center on Seabrook Island, S.C. This is a facility of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina that has been used by the Carolinas Chapter for their retreats. The Leadership Council is composed of the officers of the Society and chapter deans or representatives appointed by the deans. It is an opportunity for the deans to share what is happening in their chapters, to cross-fertilize ideas and programs, and for all of us to do the work of the Society between annual chapter and general retreats. Part of this work is considering the spiritual or theological needs of the Society. Three particular needs were addressed this year.

First, there were many positive comments about the content of the 2006 general retreat. Reviewing our Lutheran identity in an ecumenical context is important for our Society. Therefore, the Leadership Council has adopted a plan presented by the senior and the vicar to have a three-year focus at our general retreats on the marks of the Church. Our plan is to deal with Holy Scripture and Holy Baptism in 2007, Holy Communion and Confession in 2008, and the Holy Ministry and public prayer, praise, and thanksgiving in 2009, with the sign and theology of the cross running through all three years. I hope the members will be as excited by this three-year prospectus as the Leadership Council was. This focus on the marks of the Church will give us an opportunity to consider the evangelical catholicity of our Lutheran identity, and they relate most directly to our exercise of the Holy Ministry of the Word and the Sacraments.

Second, there are a number of things happening in our churches that place Society members in a theologically tenuous situation. Two in particular concern possible requests to perform same-sex unions and decisions about using the new Lutheran worship books. The Society as an organization has resisted insinuating itself in the internal discussions and actions of particular Lutheran denominations, because we are an inter-Lutheran ministerium—and political activism on our part would deflect us from the purposes delineated in the Rule. But discussion at the Leadership Council focused on the fact that pastors may be confronted with these issues in their congregations and might desire guidance from the Society. Therefore the Council approved a process to develop position statements styled as "pastoral guidance to pastors" on such issues as requests to perform same-sex unions and the proper ordering of Lutheran worship in its historical development and catholic context. These statements will be drafted by individuals, shared with the members of the Leadership Council, adopted by consensus, and posted on the Society Web site, where they may also serve as a witness to the whole Church.

Again, I reiterate: these statements, which may take a year to develop, will serve as "pastoral guidance to pastors." While we know that these issues cause more anxiety for those members of our Society who are pastors in two of our denominations than for those who are in other Lutheran denominations, we will maintain our stance of not becoming politically active in particular denominations. In our ministerium all should bear the burdens of all.

Finally, while the Society has an intentional way for new members to subscribe to the Rule, we do not have an intentional way for members to be released from the Rule. There may be a number of reasons why members wish to take leave of the Society. We would hope that these reasons would be discussed in chapter meetings, or privately with the chapter dean or the Society senior. As a ministerium that seeks to provide support for its members through the mutual conversation and consolation of the brothers and sisters, members also need to share their concerns, difficulties, or spiritual pilgrimages with their brothers and sisters. In particular, as I have said before, it should not come as a surprise to one's chapter that one is leaving the Society or the Lutheran ministry—for whatever reason. A member leaving the Society for any reason other than entering the Church triumphant should be formally released from obedience to the Rule by the senior. This can be done by letter or e-mail, by a telephone conversation, or in person at a chapter or general retreat. It is part of the sense of accountability the Society is trying to inculcate as a ministerium.

It should go without saying that a person who leaves the Society is nevertheless welcome to continue attending retreats and, in any event, should receive whatever pastoral care from the Society is feasible.

I thank the members of the Society for their pastoral care of me during my recovery from colon surgery and my debilitating chemotherapy protocol. I look forward to the last full chemo session the week after Easter, and then I hope I will recover my "normal" life in the months following. I appreciate all the prayers that have been offered on my behalf. Our prayers for one another are an important part of who we are as a ministerium and pastoral oratory.

In caritate Christi,
Frank C. Senn, STS, Senior

The Society Trust Fund

We have decided that it is worth a million dollars, or even more, for that matter, to support a society of Lutheran pastors who will commit themselves to be held accountable for a life in parish ministry that is formed in daily prayer, lived in obedience to Christ, shaped by Scriptural and confessional norms, and focused on preaching and teaching, baptizing and communing, visiting and praying for parishioners; these are also pastors who will work for the liturgical, confessional, and spiritual renewal of our Lutheran churches.

At this moment, the trust fund of the Society stands at $86,964. The income generated from this fund is to be used: (1) to support the Society as it seeks to strengthen pastors and renew the Church for its mission in this world, and (2) to inform all pastors and seminary students about the Society and make it accessible to them.

We have engaged professional help to properly invest the funds, and the annual returns will be used in the manner prescribed above. The funds are now and will be made available to those who will use them for these purposes.

All the members of the Society will be contacted in the near future to help in building up the trust fund to its stated goal of one million dollars. After we have successfully completed this first major fund-raising venture, we will assess what the future needs may be and move on from there.

The Society, in my judgment, is not only a great blessing to those who have signed the Rule, but also a great blessing to our churches, being one of the few instruments seeking the liturgical, confessional, and spiritual renewal of our Lutheran churches in North America.

K. Glen Johnson, STS, Rocky Mountain Chapter

Day Retreats for the Laity

In Upstate New York, we are blessed to have four pastors of the Society within relatively close proximity (at least in Upstate New York terms!) to one another. A few years ago, we began together to offer STS-style day retreats for the members of our congregations for their spiritual benefit, but also to give them an idea of what their pastors are doing when they go off to chapter retreats. The retreats are on Saturdays—usually at the end of October and the beginning of June—at the Lutheran Church of the Atonement in Oneonta, N.Y., because of its facilities and central location. Retreatants are highly appreciative of the day, and attendance has grown each time. Approximately 25 people attended our most recent day retreat.

By way of encouraging our brothers and sisters in other locations to follow our lead, we offer an outline of how the day goes:

  9:00 a.m.       Introduction, with instructions for worship and a short description of the Society
10:00 a.m.       Teaching (e.g., we've been going through the Small Catechism)
11:00 a.m.       Corporate Confession and Forgiveness
11:30 a.m.       Lunch (we have someone bring in food for us, for which we ask a $5.00 contribution from participants), during which time Individual Confession and Forgiveness is offered
  1:00 p.m.       Teaching
  2:15 p.m.       Holy Communion
  3:15 p.m.       Bach cantata (listening to one, not singing!)
  3:45 p.m.       Evening Prayer

If anyone has any questions or wants more details, please feel free to contact me at secretary@societyholytrinity.org.

John E. Priest, STS, Secretary
Pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Delhi, N.Y.

Pennsylvania Multi-Chapter Retreat Planned

A multi-chapter retreat of the Society of the Holy Trinity is planned for April 30–May 1, 2007, at the Antiochian Village Retreat Center in Ligonier, Pa. The Rev. Dr. Philip Pfatteicher will serve as teaching theologian on the subject "Praying the Divine Office." A copy of Dr. Pfatteicher's book, The Daily Prayer of the Church, will be given to each of the first 45 registrants.

The retreat begins with lunch at noon on Monday, April 20, and concludes with lunch at noon on Tuesday, May 1. Costs are as follows: room with triple occupancy, $76.04 per person; double occupancy, $85.85 per person; single occupancy $114.30 per person. Four meals (lunch on Monday through lunch on Tuesday) are included in the cost. Sunday overnight and full breakfast on Monday morning may be arranged for an additional cost of $46.36 per person.

Ten chapters of the Society are cooperating in this multi-chapter retreat, to which all Society members are welcome. Currently, at least five seminarians plan to attend; please note that seminarians are encouraged to apply for scholarship funds. Guests are also cordially welcomed.

Society members register through their chapter deans; members-at-large and guests register through Paul Lundmark, STS. He may be reached at 302-239-6481, ext. 3, or plundmark@verizon.net.

This program is made possible through a Worship Renewal Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Mich., with funds provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Chapter News

CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
california@societyholytrinity.org

The California Chapter met March 19–20 at Christ the King Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, Calif., from noon to noon. Discussion centered on Chapter II of the Rule, "A Life of Obedience to Jesus." Paul Bieber, STS, served as chaplain, and Allen Schoonover, STS, preached at Evening Prayer.

GREAT RIVERS CHAPTER
Dean, Timothy D. Hubert, greatrivers@societyholytrinity.org

The Great Rivers Chapter met in retreat on February 5–6 at Todd Hall Retreat Center, Columbia, Ill. Fritz Baue, STS, spoke on the doctrine of creation, highlighting the play, "Inherit the Wind." Bill Callister, STS, was our chaplain. Seven of our chapter members and one intern were in attendance.

On November 27, 2006, at a day retreat of the chapter at the Campus Religious Center of Illinois State University, Normal, Ill., Timothy Hubert, STS, was elected chapter dean. Seven of the eight chapter members were in attendance. This is his second term as chapter dean.

The chapter's next retreat is May 7–8, at Todd Hall Retreat Center. Tim Hubert will speak on the Roman Catholic Counter-Reformation in Elizabethan England. Vicar Jackie Griffin will be chaplain.

IOWA CHAPTER
Dean, David A. Aanonson, pastor@ctklutheranic.org

The Iowa Chapter met in retreat at American Martyrs Retreat Center, Cedar Falls, Iowa, on February 19–20. It was just one year ago that the group met for the first time. Christopher Staley, STS, served as chaplain. Jerome Cloninger, STS, led a discussion of Principles of Lutheran Theology by Carl Braaten. David Aanonson, dean, served as confessor. Thanks are extended to Gary Hatcher, STS, and Ken Kimball, who provided refreshments.

At the chapter's first retreat as an "official" chapter on November 13–14, 2006, David Aanonson, STS, was elected dean in an election conducted by Senior Frank Senn. Frank also served as teaching theologian on the topic, "Normative Lutheran Piety." Dennis Meyer, STS, served as chaplain.

The Iowa Chapter meets again at American Martyrs House on May 7–8.

MICHIGAN-EASTERN CANADA CHAPTER
Dean, David M. Darling, michigan-eastern_canada@societyholytrinity.org

A retreat of the Michigan-Eastern Canada Chapter was held on Sunday, March 18, beginning at 4:00 p.m. and ending on Monday, March 19, following the Office of None at 2:30 p.m. We met at Saint Augustine's House, Oxford, Mich. Father Richard Herbel was our chaplain, and Father Del Baier, STS, led our Bible study. In addition, we looked at the new hymnals of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and received a report of the STS Leadership Council retreat. We reserved time for individual confession and for fellowship.

MINNESOTA CHAPTER
Dean, Luther M. Mathsen, minnesota@societyholytrinity.org

The Minnesota Chapter of the Society held a 24-hour Lenten retreat at Christ the King Retreat House, Buffalo, Minn., beginning at noon, Monday, March 12, and concluding at noon, Tuesday, March 13. Attendees were encouraged to bring the Rev. Dr. Philip Pfatteicher's book, The Daily Prayer of the Church (published by Lutheran University Press), which served as the chief resource for daily prayer. The retreat also centered around Holy Communion and "mutual conversation and consolation." Trevor Bailey, STS, served as the retreat chaplain. Private confession and absolution were offered, as well as quiet time for reflection.

At a retreat of the chapter on December 4–5, 2006, Luther Mathsen, STS, was elected dean with eight of nine voting members in attendance, as well as ten guests and inquirers.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS CHAPTER
Dean, Keith L. Forni, northernillinois@societyholytrinity.org

Seventeen pastors and one seminarian registered for the Northern Illinois Chapter 24-hour retreat at the Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Center in Oregon, Ill., March 5–6. Thelma Megill Cobbler, STS, presented the topic, "Mary, Mother of Our Lord" and Gary Blobaum, STS, joined her in leading a follow-up discussion. Jim Harbaugh, STS, reviewed new Lutheran worship resources, which also prompted lively conversation.

In a November 6–8, 2006, multi-chapter retreat at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., Keith Forni, STS, was elected as the third dean of the Northern Illinois Chapter.

An Eastertide "day retreat" is being planned for May 2, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Luke, Chicago, Ill. Efforts are being made to reach out to Lutheran clergy and seminarians, especially of the ELCA and LCMS, inviting them to consider involvement in the common life of our ministerium.

PASSAVANT CHAPTER
Dean, Paul A. Baglyos, pbaglyos@thiel.edu

A quarterly retreat of the Passavant Chapter occurred on Friday and Saturday, March 2–3, at St. Emma Monastery in Greensburg, Pa. The Passavant Chapter elected Kevin Anderson, STS, chapter dean during this retreat. Robert Hawk, STS, a member of the Passavant Chapter, conducted the election on behalf of the Society since arrangements for a Society visitor could not be made. We were led during the retreat by Mike Boggs, STS, who served as teaching theologian; Kevin Anderson, confessor; and Dennis Roser, STS, chaplain.

SANGRE DE CRISTO CHAPTER
Dean, David M. Wendel, pr-wendel@saintlukes-cs.org, and
GUADALUPE RIVER CHAPTER-IN-FORMATION
Mark A. Hoffman (contact), bursar@societyholytrinity.org

The Sangre de Cristo Chapter and the Guadalupe River—Texas Chapter-in-Formation enjoyed a joint retreat February 26–27 at Briarwood Retreat Center, Argyle, Tex. The Rev. Dr. Ray Pickett spoke on the Gospel of Luke. There was conversation on Chapter VI of the Rule, "Learning and Teaching Sound Doctrine in the Church." The Daily Prayer of the Church, by the Rev. Dr. Philip Pfatteicher, was used, along with the Lutheran Book of Worship, for the prayer offices and worship.

The inspiration for the February joint retreat of the two chapters was a successful joint retreat held on November 13–14, 2006. The focus of this retreat was a review of the new Evangelical Lutheran Worship, led by Thomas Pavlechko, St. Martin's Lutheran Church, Austin, Tex., who served on the committee to review and select service music for the new ELCA resource.

Given the small size of both mission chapters, sites for additional joint retreats are being explored in the Dallas, Tex., area, which would be more accessible to both groups.

UPSTATE NEW YORK CHAPTER
Dean, Troy A. Mulvaine, upstate.newyork@societyholytrinity.org

The Upstate New York Chapter of the Society of the Holy Trinity met in retreat December 7–8, 2006, at Stella Maris Retreat Center in Skaneateles, N.Y. Carl Voges, Vicar of the Society, was our Society visitor and conducted the election for a chapter dean. Troy Mulvaine, STS, was elected. He is the pastor of Augustana Lutheran Church in Tonawanda, N.Y.

The next retreat of the chapter will be a joint retreat with the Passavant Chapter and others at the Antiochian Village in Ligonier, Pa., April 30–May 1, 2007.

The chapter will also meet in retreat September 27–28 and December 6–7 at Stella Maris in Skaneateles.

Reported by John E. Priest, STS, Secretary

WISCONSIN CHAPTER
Dean, Mark W. Knappe, gdlc@execpc.com

The Wisconsin Chapter gathered in retreat at St. Norbert Abbey, DePere, Wis., on February 12–13. It was good to be together in the new year. We prayed, planned, and discussed the little book, Who Is Christ for Us? by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The time of prayer and mutual conversation was life-giving in our anticipation of the Lenten season.

On May 7–8, the chapter will gather for a 24-hour retreat at St. Norbert Abbey. The morning office will be prayed with the Norbertine community.

From the Vicar

As the Society strides into the completion of its first decade, its members continue to have a deep awareness of the strains that we experience in the exercise of the Church's ministry. While we have looked to the regional and national levels of our structures for a re-coupling of the Church's ministry with its biblical and confessional foundations (and even looking at structures other than Lutheran), the Lord God has been drawing us back to those foundations in the Society's life and work.

Through the Holy Spirit, we have discovered how vital the Lord's four holy places of Baptism, Scriptures, Supper, and Forgiveness are to the Church's ministry. Through the Spirit's working, we are able to have significant conversations with one another even though we are a part of differing Lutheran structures. These places and the conversations steadily encourage us that we were prepared and ordained for ministry in these chaotic times.

It was very encouraging several weeks ago to notice how the Holy Trinity continues to stimulate the Society's life and work. In a gathering of the Society's deans and officers (over two brilliant days and nights), we committed ourselves to re-visit Martin Luther's seven marks of the Church: Baptism, Scriptures, Supper, Forgiveness, Prayer, Ministry, and Cross, beginning with the August 2007 general retreat at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.

The linkage in these marks is intriguing. It begins with the four holy marks where the Lord's activity dominates, to the two marks where we respond to the Lord in prayer and ministry. The seventh mark, the Son's Cross, is the reality running through the other six.

The impact of these marks on the Society's life and work as it enters a second decade promises to firm us up as the Church's ministry gets carried out. These marks surfaced in Luther's teaching and writing during the chaotic years of the Church's reforming movement, grounding the lives of the baptized in the rescuing actions of the Lord God.

Since there is a similar chaos running through our cultures, it is fitting that the seven marks re-surface in the lives of the Lord's people today. Continuing with the Law-Gospel dynamic that was unpacked so well at last year's general retreat, we will see how the marks keep our attention focused on the Life and Ways of the Lord God, while keeping us honest about the human condition. The marks will immerse us in the Church's tradition and history, while providing a superior context for the ministry exercised in our parish communities and this Society.

These marks are a template throbbing with the Life of the Holy Trinity. The template reaches out to the regional and national levels of our church structures. The template of these marks further enables us to wade in the world's afflictions and sufferings, crossing those realities with the Life streaming from the Holy Trinity.

During these weeks of Lent, we are reminded that the unholy trio of sin, Satan, and death will do all it can to blur or vacate these seven marks. They prefer to rip and tear at our lives and the lives of our parishioners, running us back to our natural self-centering. That's why it is such a strain for the baptized and the ordained to exercise the Church's ministry. The same marks, though, will steadily remind us that it is the Lord's dying and rising that has broken the trio's grip on us and the people of our parish communities!

Carl A. Voges, STS, Vicar