Monday, January 22, 2018

Interesting Information about John N. Lenker, Editor of Luther's Sermons

 LCMS Cyclopedia

Lenker, John Nicholas
(November 28, 1858–May 16, 1929). B. Sunbury, Pennsylvania; educ. Wittenberg Coll. and Hamma Divinity School, Springfield, Ohio, and Leipzig, Ger.; ordained 1880; pastor Grand Island, Nebraska, 1882–86; with Bd. of Christian Extension of Gen. Syn. 1886–94; prof. Trin.Sem. of the United Dan. Ev. Luth. Ch. in Am. (see Danish Lutherans in America, 5), Blair, Nebraska, 1900–04; settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1904, and served as pastor and miss.in and near the city; founded Luther Press. Founded and ed. Northern Review; other works include Lutherans in All LandsLutherans in All Lands, SupplementDie Lutherische Kirche der Welt; tr. of M. Luther's works into Eng.
 Lenski's merged seminary is not doing so well either.

GJ - Lenker graduated from Hamma Divinity School in Springfield, where I started working on my PhD dissertation for Notre Dame (though Hamma had merged with Capital - of Lenski fame - to become Trinity Seminary). Trinity ELCA is in trouble with low enrollments - deservedly so.
Hamma definitely belonged to liberal side of the LCA equation, while Capital Seminary had a number of notable scholars still held in high esteem today.
 Rev. Rev. Jennell Rue is currently the pastor of St. Mark's
in Delaware, Ohio.

 I was friends with the ALC pastor of Loy's church in Delaware, Ohio.
Loy's service to Lutheran theology and hymnody is remarkable.


Lenker taught at another Trinity Seminary, in Blair, Nebraska, once the home of Dana College, which closed in 2010. That seminary merged with Wartburg Seminary ALC in Dubuque, keeping its name. But alas, Wartburg is not doing well. They can claim Reu as their famous professor, but they should repent (reue empfinden) of their current ELCA ecstasies.