Essay File: Recent submissions
Now showing items 3321-3340 of 4187
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A History of the Vicar Program at St. Peter Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church
(2004)Clint Burow’s essay documents the extensive history of the vicar program at St. Peter Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in Savanna and Mt. Carroll, Illinois. Since 1962, these congregations have hosted 37 vicars, ... -
Buddhism
(1989)Joseph P. Burkhardt’s 1989 essay offers a comprehensive overview of Buddhism, examining its historical origins, theological teachings, and cultural appeal, especially in the West. The paper begins by exploring the myths ... -
The Confessional Lutheran Emigrations from Prussia and Saxony Around 1839
(1989)Martin O. Westerhaus’s comprehensive study, The Confessional Lutheran Emigrations from Prussia and Saxony Around 1839 (1989), examines the historical, theological, and social forces behind two major 19th-century Lutheran ... -
Tracing the Steps of the Circuit Pastor
(2006)Paul Burk’s historical essay traces the development of the office of circuit pastor in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), from its origins in the 19th century to its modern form. Initially introduced in 1868 ... -
Faithful Christian Witness in the Space Age Society in our Social and Civic Relationships
(1968)Milton Burk’s 1968 convention essay addresses the challenges of Christian witness amid the moral and social upheaval of the “space age” society. He contrasts the lawlessness and defiance of divine authority in modern times ... -
The American Lutheran Church Today
(1982)Martin O. Westerhaus’s essay, The American Lutheran Church Today (1982), analyzes doctrinal trends within the American Lutheran Church (ALC) in the decades preceding its merger into the ELCA. Westerhaus begins by noting ... -
Our Bicentennial Prayer and Goal: A Nation under God
(1976)Martin Westerhaus presents an overview of God’s view and use of government by following the three points of 1) God establishes a nation and its rulers, 2) God assigns proper functions to its rulers, 3) God appoints important ... -
A Nearly Forgotten Founder of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod: The Life and Work of Pastor and Teacher Johann Friedrich Buenger
(2005)Daniel Burgess’s essay presents a detailed biography of Johann Friedrich Buenger, a pivotal yet often overlooked founder of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Born in 1810 in Saxony, Buenger was shaped by a lineage of ... -
The History of the WELS Mass Media Ministry
(1984)Norman Burger’s essay chronicles the development of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod’s (WELS) Mass Media Ministry from its early radio efforts in the 1960s to its formal establishment in 1979. Initially focused on ... -
Lutheran Missionaries Today?
(1989)In this 1989 Reformation lecture, Eugene W. Bunkowske explores the challenges Lutheran missionaries face in communicating the Gospel across cultures. He contrasts traditional West African and North American worldviews, ... -
Material for a History of the WELS Campus Ministry
(1979)Martin O. Westerhaus’s essay, Material for a History of the WELS Campus Ministry (1979), provides a detailed survey of the development of Lutheran campus ministry, with emphasis on the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod ... -
Luther the Missionary?
(1989)In this 1989 Reformation lecture, Eugene Bunkowske challenges the claim that Martin Luther was not a missionary, arguing instead that Luther was foundational to modern missiology. Bunkowske traces Luther’s spiritual ... -
Literary Landmarks of Pietism
(0000)Martin O. Westerhaus’s essay, Literary Landmarks of Pietism (1985), surveys key works of German Lutheran Pietism that have endured as theological classics. Westerhaus identifies three major writings still in print and ... -
Confessional Lutheranism: The Mother of Vernacular Bible Translation
(1989)Eugene W. Bunkowske’s 1989 Reformation lecture argues that Confessional Lutheranism, rooted in Scripture alone and justification by grace through faith, is the driving force behind vernacular Bible translation. He contrasts ... -
Faithful Christian Witness in the Space Age Society in our Job or Business
(1968)Walter R. Bunge’s essay, delivered at the 1968 Southeastern Wisconsin District Convention, explores the challenges and responsibilities of lay Christians as witnesses in the workplace. Drawing parallels to Elijah’s isolation, ... -
An Evaluation of Popular American Youth Organizations from a Confessional Lutheran Perspective
(1981)Martin O. Westerhaus’s essay, An Evaluation of Popular American Youth Organizations from a Confessional Lutheran Perspective (1979/1981), examines five major youth organizations—Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, ... -
The Meaning and Import of Ordination
(1940)In this 1940 essay, Pastor Carl H. Buenger explores the theological and practical significance of ordination within the Lutheran tradition. He affirms that the divine call—properly extended by a congregation and accepted ... -
God in History: Business Cycles, Immigration and the WELS
(1984)Quinten A. Buechner’s 1984 senior history paper examines the interplay between secular historical trends—specifically business cycles and immigration—and the expansion of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). ... -
Adolf Hoenecke and the Quartalschrift
(0000)Martin O. Westerhaus’s essay, Adolf Hoenecke and the Quartalschrift (1980), commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly by examining its origins and Hoenecke’s foundational role as first editor ... -
The Christian Congregation: Its Responsibility, Its Discipline, Its Service
(1966)In this essay, Pastor Reinhold Buchholz explores the essential characteristics of a living Christian congregation, emphasizing its responsibility to uphold pure doctrine, exercise loving discipline, and serve one another ...