Concordia Historical Institute Commends 2024 Publications that Advance Lutheran History in North America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 10, 2025
Concordia Historical Institute, at its 52nd Annual Awards Banquet and Annual Meeting, announced a total of 20 commendations for works published in 2024 that moved the study of Lutheran history in North America forward in significant ways. The Rev. Dr. Daniel N. Harmelink, Executive Director of CHI, with the CHI Award Committee, presented commendation certificates to those awardees present before over 90 people who attended this year’s annual event. “Each year, Concordia Historical Institute reviews hundreds of publications and singles out those individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to the study of Lutheran history in North America. This year’s commendations under the categories of major work, regional history, institutional history, reference work, congregational history, and journal articles were supplemented with the additional category of ‘significant contributions in advancing the history of Lutheranism in North America.’ CHI is also pleased to recognize 26 individuals receiving ‘honorable mentions’ as we encourage them to continue their research and writing in the area of Lutheran history.’”
This year’s awardees came from as far away as Norway to receive and respond to their commendation — and also hear from this year’s presenter, the Rev. Ted Krey, Regional Director for South and Central America and the Caribbean, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, who spoke about the history of Missouri Synod missions in Latin America under the title “Remember • Repent • Rejoice.” His presentation, along with this year’s awardees, will be included in the Winter 2025 issue of Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly.
Concordia Historical Institute is charged with advancing the cause of treasuring and trumpeting Lutheran history in North America and is the largest Lutheran archive and research center outside of Germany. The CHI catalog is available to search at concordiahistoricalinstitute.org
Awardees and commendations awarded in 2025 for works published in 2024:
AWARDS OF COMMENDATION
Major Work
Thomas E. Jacobson, Pain in the Belly: The Haugean Witness in American Lutheranism. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock, 2024.
Commendation: To James E. Jacobson, for this thorough and sympathetic portrait of the Norwegian Haugean pietists. The volume includes appendices with data on the Haugean Evangelical Lutheran Synod, its model congregational constitution, its synodical constitution, and a 1916 directory of the Haugean congregations. “Pain in the Belly” is commended for its objectivity and scholarship.
Robin Leaver, A New Song We Now Begin: Celebrating the Half Millennium of Lutheran Hymnals 1524–2024. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2024.
Commendation: To Robin Leaver, for this well-edited volume that, like so many others before it, takes advantage of the fact that 500 years have passed since an important date in Reformation history —in this instance, the publication of the Achtliederbuch and other Lutheran hymnals in 1524. This volume offers a variety of important considerations not only of German but American Lutheran hymnals that have been published across the millennia.
Bodil Stenseth with Kari Lie Dorer, translator. Muus vs. Muus: The Scandal that Shook Norwegian America. Minneapolis: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2024.
Commendation: To Bodil Stenseth and Kari Lie Dorer for the story of a Norwegian-American pastor, Bernt Julius Muus (the founder of St. Olaf College and an influential churchman in the Norwegian Synod) and his wife Oline and the lawsuit between the two and the scandal that it created. The translation is clear and crisp. The historical introduction sets the story in 19th century American Lutheran history especially noting the clash between the followers of the pietistic Hans Nielsen Hauge and the confessionally-oriented Herman Amberg Preus. The book provides a valuable window into the realities of church life including messy conflicts in this period of American Lutheran history.
James R. Thomas, A Rumor of Black Lutherans: The Formation of Black Leadership in Early American Lutheranism. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2024.
Commendation: To James Thomas, for this series of biographical essays about ten African American Lutheran leaders (pastors, teachers, deaconesses, etc.) who studied at Lutheran schools and seminaries of a variety of synods. The essays are well-written, interesting, and fully noted with a short index and solid bibliography. The author is not afraid to state the very difficult things which African Americans have had to face in the United States and in our Lutheran churches. This work is an important addition to the existing literature on the subject and deserves our praise and attention.
Regional History
Karen Auman, The Good Forest: The Salzburgers, Success, and the Plan for Georgia. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press, 2024.
Commendation: To Karen Auman for this important monograph presenting a fresh interpretation of the complicated and seemingly failed history of the German-speaking Lutheran Salzburgers who settled in Georgia in 1734. The author addresses internal divisions as the immigrants wrestled with the harsh realities of slavery, native-American attacks, and the ravages of military occupations during the Revolutionary War. This work is anchored in extensive primary sources, many from Germany and London, exhibiting depth of historical research, and careful attention to details regarding landscape, farming practices, sectarian divisions and theology.
Institutional History
Stephen Anderson, Forward in Faith: A History of Texas Lutheran University. Independently Published, 2024.
Commendation: To Stephen Anderson, for his well-researched and clearly presented history of Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas. This monograph chronicles foundations that stretch back to the late 1800s and narrates the institution’s history as it developed from a junior college to a senior college to a university. The volume is enhanced with additional “Spotlights” — short articles that highlight important aspects of the larger narrative.
Todd M. Walsh and Frederick L. Johnson. Castle on the Hill: The Lutheran Ladies’ Seminary of Red Wing, Minnesota. Goodhue County Historical Society, 2023.
Commendation: To Todd M. Walsh and Frederick L. Johnson for this finely published and richly illustrated documentation of the rise, flourishing, and sunset of a significant Lutheran college for women. This book does an exemplary job of preserving the memory of a school that played a major part in Lutheran education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Reference Work
Evangelical Lutheran Synod Congregations and Pastors: A Historical Register, 1918–2023. Elsa Ferkenstad ed. Mankato, Minnesota: Evangelical Lutheran Synod, 2024.
Commendation: To Elsa Ferkenstad and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod Committee on Archives and History for this in-depth reference work chronicling officers, congregations in the United States and around the world, and elementary school teachers. The number of photographs added to this reference work is also to be highly commended.
Congregation History
Nathan R. Pope, Those Villa Street Lutherans: The Story of First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Racine, Wisconsin. Diet of Worms Press, 2024.
Commendation: The author presents in an extremely well-written and carefully researched fashion a lively narrative of one of the oldest congregations in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, including a church member accused of murder, a pastor who nearly touched off a riot by not allowing the American flag to be displayed at the funeral of a veteran, and another pastor who faced a heresy trial for conducting seances with his deceased father. In addition to the other features that make up a good congregational history, this book sets First Evangelical Lutheran Church in the context of the founding and maturing of the WELS, including how the congregation navigated the breakup of the Synodical Conference.
Journal Article
Roy S. Askins, ed. “Broken Community: Fifty Years after the Walkout.” in The Lutheran Witness, 143:2 (February 2024 issue).
Commendation: To Roy S. Askins and the authors of the articles contained in the February 2024 issue of The Lutheran Witness. With fifty years of perspective, this issue skillfully presents the historical details of the Walkout at Concordia Seminary in a way that is both approachable and insightful.
Mark E. Braun, “A Quieter Walkout: The LCMS Mission Affirmations.” in Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, 121:4 (Fall 2024), pages 243–270.
Commendation: To Mark E. Braun for this thorough analysis of the history and significance of the LCMS “Mission Affirmations” in the context of the 1960s and the growing appeal of the so-called social gospel within the Missouri Synod. As the author demonstrates, even though the significance of the Mission Affirmations has been overshadowed by the Concordia Seminary walkout and the formation of a seminary in exile a decade later, the disputes they occasioned represented “a full-fledged war for the heart and soul of LCMS missions, both foreign and domestic.”
Mark A. Granquist, “Lutherans in Canada.” in Journal of the Lutheran Historical Conference 2024, pages 197–210.
Commendation: To Mark A. Granquist for “Lutherans in Canada,” another excellent piece of research and writing. It covers the entire history of Canadian Lutherans in thirteen pages and does so as only a master historian can do.
Mary Jane Haemig, “Paul Gerhardt in America, 1743–2007.” in Lutheran Quarterly, 38:3 (Autumn 2024), pages 293–322.
Commendation: To Mary Jane Haemig for this investigation of the influence and reception of Paul Gerhardt’s hymnody among American Lutheran pastors and laity and where his hymns have occurred in Lutheran and other denominational hymnbooks. The first part reviews how Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (born Heinrich Melchior Mühlenberg) was influenced by and used Gerhardt’s hymns. The second part demonstrates how the presence of Gerhardt in American Lutheran hymnbooks is waning. This article is characterized by originality, objectivity, readability, and timeliness. Hymnists, liturgists, and anyone in the parish who makes decisions about the hymns and anthems sung in church should read and consider this article.
Victoria Jesswein, “German Language Use at Pennsylvanian Lutheran Seminaries.” in Yearbook of German-American Studies 57 (2022) [published in 2024], pages 1–12.
Commendation: To Victoria Jesswein for this research which brings to the foreground the German to English language transition faced by the General Synod and General Council, and their respective seminaries at Gettysburg and Philadelphia in the mid-19th century. The work also clarifies how the language problem was intertwined with the struggle between the confessionalism of the General Council, on the one hand, and the “American Lutheranism” of S.S. Schmucker, on the other. Jesswein’s article exhibits excellent judgment and objectivity.
Sheila Joy, “The First Black ELCA Congregation in Pennsylvania: Rev. Allen Youngblood and Annunciation Lutheran Church.” in Journal of the Lutheran Historical Conference 2024, pages 71–76.
Commendation: To Sheila Joy for this short biography of Pastor Youngblood, who was the founder of Annunciation Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. The National Lutheran Council (later part of the LCA) called Rev. Youngblood to its Board of Home Missions for work in the city districts into which African Americans were moving. Annunciation was formed in 1945 with Pastor Youngblood as its pastor. Later it merged with Grace in West Philadelphia, forming a “totally integrated congregation.” Joy records this important oral history to preserve the legacies and stories of African Americans within North American Lutheranism.
Karen Kuhnert, “Canadian Lutheran History Sources and Resources Presentation: Remembering for the Sake of the Gospel.” in Consensus, 44:2:7 (2023).
Commendation: To Karen Kuhnert for this essential reference tool including the most significant books, journals, and other resources on Canadian Lutheranism. Historians of North American Lutheranism should download and read this original and readable summary—while not overlooking the important endnotes included.
Allen K. Schroeder, “Rev. David Friedrich Johannes Beer: The Last Director of Michigan Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saginaw, Michigan. ‘Gottes Wort und Luthers Lehr.’ ” in WELS Historical Institute Journal, 42:2 (Fall 2024), pages 1–26.
Commendation: To Allen K. Schroeder for this well-researched and well-written article about a lesser known, yet influential individual for North American Lutheranism. The article traces how Beer served as professor and president of Ebenezer Seminary in Schleswig-Holstein; as a pastor in Winnipeg, Manitoba; president of the German Synod of Manitoba and Northwest Territories (General Council); finally serving as the Director of the Michigan Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saginaw, Michigan which served the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan Synods. Schroeder also traces Beer’s involvement in the election and conversion controversies which led to his final break with the Wisconsin Synod.
Karen Walhof, “A New Day in Worship for Lutherans: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Publication of Lutheran Book of Worship.” in Journal of the Lutheran Historical Conference 2024, pages 96–121.
Commendation: To Karen Walhof for “A New Day in Worship for Lutherans,” an article which fills an essential gap in the history of American Hymnody. Walhof was on the publishing house staff involved with the Lutheran Book of Worship project, so can report both from written sources and first-hand knowledge. Overall, this is an excellent resource for the topic of the history of LBW and well worth recommending to future hymnal committees, authors, editors, anthologies, and bibliographies.
Significant Contributions in Advancing the History of Lutheranism in North America
Mr. Lynn Degenhardt
Commendation: To Lynn Degenhardt for his extraordinary contributions to preserving German-American heritage through his work on the German Family Tree project, a massive compilation of Perry County and Cape Girardeau County Lutheran Church records, Perry County federal census records, and Perry County marriage records. He has ensured that these records are not only preserved, but also accessible to the public, bringing history to life and fostering deeper connections to ancestral roots. His work has created a lasting legacy and will continue to serve future generations.
Mr. Richard C. Kessler
Commendation: To Richard C. Kessler, a member of the historic Ebenezer congregation of Lutheran Salzburger immigrants located on the Savannah River in Georgia and major donor and board chair of the New Ebenezer Retreat and Conference Center, which continues to serve as “a living history museum.” Richard Kessler later served as the President of the Georgia Salzburger Society and sponsored an English translation of Johann Martin Boltzius’ daily diary (35 volumes). Mr. Kessler is well-known for his collaborative efforts with Emory University’s Pitts Theological Library. In 1987, he established the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection, the largest Reformation imprints and manuscript collection in North America—now totaling over 4,000 pieces (many of which are from the time of Martin Luther).
HONORABLE MENTION
Braun, Mark. “Seminex: Looking In from the Outside.” in Concordia Theological Quarterly, 88:4 (2024), pages 291–322.
Dauck, Justin L. “A Look at the Beginning of WELS Mission Work in Western Canada.” in WELS Historical Institute Journal, 42:1 (2024), pages 19–27.
Douglas, Bill R. The People are Kind: A Religious History of Iowa. Eugene, Oregon: Resource Publications, 2024.
Eyerman, Timothy H. The Power of Faith – The Story of Zion Lutheran Church [El Paso, Texas]. Self-published, 2024.
Farney, Kirk D. “KFUO: The Beginnings of the ‘Supermissionary of the Air.’” in Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, 97:3 (2024), pages 9–34.
Faugstad, Abraham P. “A Brief History of How the Merger of 1917 Affected the Life of Young Norwegian Pastors Realized Through the Experiences, Perspectives, and Writings of Justin A. Petersen.” in Lutheran Synod Quarterly (Volume 64:2-3, 2024), pp. 119-164.
Grime, Paul J. “Dissension in the Making of The Lutheran Hymnal.” in Concordia Theological Quarterly, 88:2–3 (2024), pp. 161–184.
Grindal, Gracia. “The Week Ulrik Vilhelm Koren Fell Silent.” in Logia, 33:1 (2024).
Hequet, Suzanne. History – Jehovah Evangelical Lutheran Church (Five Parts: 1923–2024). Self-published, 2023–2024.
Jacobson, Thomas E. “The Varied Career of Claus Lauritz Clausen.” in Journal of the Lutheran Historical Conference 2023, pages 56–64.
Larson, Stephen, et al. “Remembering Canadians in Global Missions and World Service.” in Consensus, 44:2:17 (2023).
Lifting High Christ’s Cross for 150 Years (1874-2024). Rural Bancroft, Nebraska: Zion Lutheran Church, 2024.
MacKenzie, Cameron A. “Seminex Fallout: Doing and Undoing Church Fellowship with the ALC.” in Concordia Theological Quarterly, 88:2-3 (2024), pages 203–228.
Melin, Jaron. “The Beginnings of Jewish Missions in the LCMS.” in Grapho, 6 (2024), pages 54–71.
Nerheim, Gunnar. Norsemen Deep in the Heart of Texas: Norwegian Immigrants, 1845–1900. Texas A&M University Press, 2024.
Phelps, Benjamin T. “Lutheran Identity in the Early American Republic.” in Journal of the Lutheran Historical Conference 2023, pages 152–166.
Pietsch, Stephen. “Wilhelm Loehe‘s Doctrine of the Office of the Ministry in Historical and Contemporary Perspective.” In Concordia Theological Monthly, April 2024.
Quanbeck, Stanley and Katherine Quanbeck with James Vigen, editor. Rest of the Story: The Memoirs of Stanley D. Quanbeck, MD and Katharine D. Quanbeck, RN with Rev. Dr. James B. Vigen, PhD including some Mission History, Ancient and Current. Forty Years as American Lutheran Medical Missionaries Working under the Malagasy Lutheran Church in Madagascar as Led by the Holy Spirit, 1964–2004. Lulu.com, 2024.
Richmann, Christopher. “The Concept of Inner Call to Ministry in American Lutheranism.” in Journal of the Lutheran Historical Conference 2023, pages 122–151.
Rorem, Paul. Singing Church History: Introducing the Christian Story through Hymn Texts. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2024.
Schurb, Ken. “Seizing an Occasion: 1980s LCMS Gospel Broadcasting on Commercial Radio Stations in Fort Wayne.” in Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, 97:3 (2024), pages 55–70.
Stechholz, David P. God’s Acre: The Story of Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Parks. Chelsea, Michigan: Sheridan Books, 2023.
Walker, Lars. “The Dream of a Free Lutheranism.” in Religion and Liberty, 34:3 (2024). https://www.acton.org/religion-liberty/volume-34-number-3/dream-free-lutheranism
Wilke, Michael R. “In Their Own Words: An Oral History of Issues, Etc.” in Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, 97:3 (2024), pages 39–54.
Wilken, Todd, host. “A Retrospective on the Lutheran Battle for the Bible”. Issues, Etc. Podcast. Eight episodes, 2023.
Nominate a 2025 publication
Concordia Historical Institute encourages submissions of 2025 publications to be considered for next year’s awards. A nomination form is available on the CHI website here.
