Lutheran Historical Conference Newsletter

Vol. 38, No. 3...August 2000...ISSN 0460-0274

LHC Biennial Meeting 2000

The Program Committee has gathered a variety of presentations and panels on the theme “Lutheranism in America—A 20^th Century Retrospective,” to be held on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, October 19–21, 2000. The Local Arrangements Committee indicates that the weather in Milwaukee at that time of year will be chilly, but you will see no snow. To get to Milwaukee by plane, it may be difficult to get direct flights, but Midwest Express Airlines does have many direct flights from major U.S. cities.

Registration will begin Thursday morning, October 19, at 11 a.m. The program will begin after lunch at 1:30 p.m. At 5 p.m. Thursday there will be a business session, including election of board members and officers. The evening will be program-free so that attendees may enjoy a time of fellowship after dinner.

The Friday morning session will resume with presentations and panels until noon, when participants will board busses for a tour of Lutheran sites in the Milwaukee area. Among the stops will be Trinity Church in Freistadt and Concordia University. That evening will be the biennial banquet at John Ernst Café, featuring German cuisine and an address by outgoing LHC president James Albers. Program sessions will conclude by 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Papers will be presented on several fascinating 20th century Lutherans, including prominent race relations leader Andrew Schulze (Kathryn Galchutt), anti-evolutionist Byron Nelson (Mark Granquist), Stewart Herman Jr., a Lutheran pastor in Berlin during the early years of the Third Reich (Stephen Herr and Matthew Riegel), noted writer Elsie Singmaster Lewars (Susan Hill), and Wisconsin Synod titan J. P. Koehler (Joel Pless). Because 20^th century history is marked by significant times of war, additional papers will consider the Lutheran response to military chaplaincy (Mark Braun) and the conflict in Vietnam (David Settje).

In addition, several panels will be part of the program, allowing for less formal presentations and more interaction with the audience. Members interested in participating in any of these panels are asked to contact the indicated facilitator as soon as possible. Susan McArver is developing a panel of “works in progress” in which scholars who are currently conducting research might share preliminary findings. Additionally, panels are planned on issues of archivists and historians working together (Elisabeth Wittman) and on some of the major themes and historiography of 20^th century Lutheranism (Mary Todd).

Please plan to join us at what we hope will be an informative and exciting recap of the century just past. Mark your calendars and look for your registration materials in the mail soon.

Program Committee

Mary Todd, Chair

Susan McArver

Jon Diefenthaler

Mark Braun

James Albers

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