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| "Be thou continuously changing dogma to fit the the times - except UOJ!" |
http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2010/11/john-lawrenz-church-and-changer.html
A new president was installed and three students graduated during a special service at Asia Lutheran Seminary (ALS) in Hong Kong Nov. 1.
Dr. Steven Witte, who arrived at ALS in October 2009, will start in his new position as president in January 2011. He will replace Dr. John Lawrenz, who has been serving as president since this seminary operated by WELS World Missions opened in 2005. [Witte earned a DMin in Church Growth at Gordon Conwell. He is a founder of WELS Church and Change.]
"This opportunity to serve brings me great joy and some anxiety," says Witte. "When I look at myself and the challenges of the work, I lose confidence that things will go well for ALS in the future. When I look at God and his promises and the team of workers he has provided around me, I become excited at what God has accomplished in Hong Kong and China—and what the future holds."
Witte says that future goals for ALS are many, including providing a complete seminary education—including Hebrew and Greek—for those in Hong Kong as well as building "education pipelines" to other East Asian countries. He says ALS also will continue translating Lutheran materials into Chinese as well as preparing some of its graduates to serve as professors someday.
Lawrenz, who is already beyond retirement age, says he is stepping down to provide continuity in leadership at ALS. He will continue to serve at ALS as a professor and as an advisor to Witte. He says he is thankful for his experiences as ALS president: "Starting with a mandate and little more, our team has arrived at a point where we can reach for stability with a faculty of four and the staff and learning resources to go with it."
Fifty-six students, plus two people via Skype, are taking classes at ALS. Including the three recent graduates, seven students have now graduated from ALS and are serving at congregations in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Read more about these recent blessings at ALS from Dr. John Lawrenz's viewpoint on the mission blog.
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GJ - They graduate women at their seminary too. The photos are hard to kelm, but if nothing good is on QVC tonight, I may give it another try.
A new president was installed and three students graduated during a special service at Asia Lutheran Seminary (ALS) in Hong Kong Nov. 1.
Dr. Steven Witte, who arrived at ALS in October 2009, will start in his new position as president in January 2011. He will replace Dr. John Lawrenz, who has been serving as president since this seminary operated by WELS World Missions opened in 2005. [Witte earned a DMin in Church Growth at Gordon Conwell. He is a founder of WELS Church and Change.]
"This opportunity to serve brings me great joy and some anxiety," says Witte. "When I look at myself and the challenges of the work, I lose confidence that things will go well for ALS in the future. When I look at God and his promises and the team of workers he has provided around me, I become excited at what God has accomplished in Hong Kong and China—and what the future holds."
Witte says that future goals for ALS are many, including providing a complete seminary education—including Hebrew and Greek—for those in Hong Kong as well as building "education pipelines" to other East Asian countries. He says ALS also will continue translating Lutheran materials into Chinese as well as preparing some of its graduates to serve as professors someday.
Lawrenz, who is already beyond retirement age, says he is stepping down to provide continuity in leadership at ALS. He will continue to serve at ALS as a professor and as an advisor to Witte. He says he is thankful for his experiences as ALS president: "Starting with a mandate and little more, our team has arrived at a point where we can reach for stability with a faculty of four and the staff and learning resources to go with it."
Fifty-six students, plus two people via Skype, are taking classes at ALS. Including the three recent graduates, seven students have now graduated from ALS and are serving at congregations in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Read more about these recent blessings at ALS from Dr. John Lawrenz's viewpoint on the mission blog.
***
GJ - They graduate women at their seminary too. The photos are hard to kelm, but if nothing good is on QVC tonight, I may give it another try.
