The life, times of a churchman
Preus recounts details of hierarchy, politics
By Sandra Guy O
n the heels of an autobiography of Herbert W. Chil- strom, the ELCA’s first presiding bishop, comes one from David W. Preus, who implemented significant theological and ecumenical principles during his 14-year tenure as president of the former American Lutheran Church. Preus’ book, Pastor and President: Reflections of a Lutheran Churchman, has little of the personal family and emotional details of the Chilstrom tome. In fact, it reads much like a textbook. Yet it provides fascinating details of church in-fighting and policy minutia that pre- saged the ELCA’s formation, underlining Martin Luther’s description of Christians as “simultaneously saint and sinner” and providing a refreshingly honest view of how political the religious hierarchy can be. He unsparingly details the dissolution of friendly relations between the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and ALC, concluding that he was saddened but realistic that the Missouri Synod couldn’t live with more moderate theological philosophies.
Preus shines through as a leader who broke ground in key areas that still influence the church today. Most keen observers will realize how today’s top issues, such as ecu- menism, the need for greater grass-roots evangelism and the wisdom of a broad worldview that welcomes diversity and progressive ideals, have been around for decades. For example, Preus distinguished himself in these areas: • The need for congregations to be the centerpiece for the church’s work and mission, rather than enabling bish-
ops and the hierarchy to hold too tightly to control. Preus writes that his support of this view is so strong it led him to regret his support in 1969 of the title bishop rather than district president in the ALC. “In retrospect, I think it helped prepare the way for acceptance of an Episcopal-Lutheran agreement that included a requirement that subsequent installations of Lutheran bishops had to have an Episcopal bishop partici- pating,” he writes. “Such action assured the Episcopalians that ELCA pastors would be ‘properly’ ordained through the historic episcopate. My problem is that it moves Lutherans in the direction of a hierarchical view of the church.” • Evangelism should be a top priority, and a mission- ary priority is essential to a vital congregation. Yet Preus points out the ongoing struggle for Lutherans, many of whose ancestors came from state-sponsored churches where one’s faith was synonymous with national citizen- ship, is to find a way to balance gospel words with gospel deeds. Preus demonstrated how mission could serve a role in the public good when he served as chair of the Minneapolis School Board. • Unity is a clear call—a philosophy that required Preus to compromise when others in church leadership refused. He first shook up his superiors when, as a young man with only five years’ parish experience, he sponsored a resolution calling on the ALC to join the World Council of Churches. Preus went on to become a leading
critic of South Africa’s apartheid regime, a key supporter of nuclear disarmament during the Cold War and a critic of the Roman Catholic Church’s “swing back to medieval conservatism,” as he describes it.
For anyone interested in the kinds of policies that get wrapped up in mergers, whether in religion, business or government, consider that key differences existed among the ELCA’s predecessors (the ALC, Lutheran Church in America and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches) on pensions, regional offices, synod duties, the authority granted teachers in the parochial school systems, church council representation at national meetings and the proper site of the new body’s national headquarters.
Preus details his ultimately futile support of Minneapo- lis rather than Chicago as national offices as an example of how leaders must often let go of cherished beliefs to realize a bigger outcome.
To order Pastor and President, call 888-696-1828 or go online to
www.LutheranUPress.org. February 2012 33
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