Pivotal Points & Pivotal Persons: Critical Junctures in the 100 Years and Those God Gave to Navigate Them

Shortly before the Norwegian Synod was reorganized in 1918, someone said, “The big men have left us, those who were considered our leaders, the learned men. We are only small men left…” Yet God does not leave His people without hope. Shortly after the reorganization, it was also said, “Perhaps He has reserved His best men for days when a heavy reinforcement will be needed.” God did just that at pivotal points in the history of the reorganized Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
1918
Merger of Norwegian Lutheran Church Bodies: Bjug Harstad
The first pivotal moment occurred in 1918. One year earlier, a merger of Norwegian Lutheran church bodies occurred. A remnant of the Norwegian Synod refused to enter into this new synod because it was based on the false teaching that an individual can somehow cooperate with God in bringing about their own conversion. This is not a small matter or a fine point in doctrine, but a question of the central Biblical teaching of justification by grace alone.
At that time, God used Bjug Harstad as the pivotal person to rally a minority of the old Synod. He had served as a district president of the Norwegian Synod and helped establish Pacific Lutheran Academy in Parkland, Washington. He became the spokesman for the minority and, along with other men, such as pastors C. N. Peterson and J. E. Thoen, was instrumental in planning the convention that gathered under the oak trees at Lime Creek Lutheran Church in northern Iowa in June 1918. Here the synod was reorganized. As the first president of the newly formed church body, Harstad encouraged the small gathering with the word of the prophet Jeremiah, “And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls” (6:16).
1927
Purchase of Bethany Lutheran College: S. C. Ylvisaker
A second pivotal moment in the history of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod occurred nearly ten years later. If the young synod was to endure, it needed an identity. That physical identity came with the 1927 purchase of Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota. Dr. S. C. Ylvisaker was pivotal in the purchase and development of the college. As a seminary graduate, he had earned a doctorate in Semitics from the University of Leipzig, Germany, and was experienced both as a college professor and also a parish pastor. Serving as the college’s president from 1930-50, he was a theologian, educator, and leader who expended considerable energy in promoting the cause of “Our Bethany.” He was the chief administrator who was responsible for securing gifted faculty members, raising money, and preaching daily in chapel. In speaking of the importance of Bethany Lutheran College, President Ylvisaker reminded the synod, “It is well that our synod consider that one single school year means a year of blessing to those who attend, a year of opportunity to them and to our synod, a year even of harvest where the church is given to see the fruit of its labors…. who can trace the influence which is brought through them to parents, friends, and congregations wherever their future activity may lie?”
1946
Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary Established: Norman A. Madson, Sr.
Having established a college, the next significant event for the synod was to establish a theological seminary. For the first twenty-eight years of its existence, the synod depended on sister synods for the training of pastors. But the synod had a unique background and difficulties which necessitated the need for its own school with teachers who understood the culture of the synod. It also was considered vital that pastors be trained by those who had lived through a large part of the history of the synod. One of those men was Norman A. Madson, Sr., who had joined the synod shortly after its reorganization. In 1946, he was called by the synod to serve as the first Dean of the Theological Seminary at Bethany Lutheran College. As such, he was responsible for the administration of the seminary and the development of the seminary curriculum.
1963
Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference Withdrawal: Milton E. Tweit
After reorganization, the synod immediately found fellowship among the synods comprising the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference. At that time, the conference was the largest grouping of Lutherans in North America. However, fissures began to form within the conference. The differences centered especially on the doctrines of church fellowship and verbal inspiration. In 1963, the ELS withdrew its membership from the Synodical Conference, already having suspended fellowship with the Missouri Synod eight years earlier. During the intervening years of heartache and sorrow, the Rev. Milton E. Tweit served as president. As the synod struggled with the question of whether to leave the Synodical Conference, his firm hand steadied God’s people as several pastors and congregations withdrew their membership. Pastor Tweit said, “We must seek a God-pleasing settlement of the strife which has overtaken us… so that we can with one mind, faith and zeal go about doing the work which our gracious Lord assigns to us — the work of bearing witness to Him by our Christian missions, Christian education, Christian charity and the like.”
1968
Independent Mission Work Begun: George Orvick
The next pivotal moment in the synod’s history occurred in 1968 when the ELS began independent mission work. During twenty-eight of the following years, the Rev. George Orvick served as the president of the synod. During these years, mission work expanded, and eventually thirteen missionaries and their families labored in Peru. In 1992, work began in Chile, and over the years, nine missionary families labored there. Thoughts of Faith commissioned its first missionaries to eastern Europe in 1990. Since then, the synod’s mission field also has included work in India and South Korea.
1993
CELC Established: George Orvick
Another key event transpired in 1993. George Orvick was the pivotal person who said, “It is important for our ELS to demonstrate our support for small groups around the world who are struggling to uphold the truth. Such groups are found behind the iron curtain in East Germany, in Sweden and Norway, and in Australia. They need our prayers and encouragement just as we did when our synod was reorganized in 1918.” Together with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), the ELS continues a blessed fellowship with thirty-two church bodies throughout the world in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC), which meets triennially to encourage and strengthen one another.
God raised up the best men at pivotal points in the history of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. As we observe this centennial of the Lord’s work, we proclaim the wonders God has done and recall the words of George Orvick: “The oak trees still stand at Lime Creek. They are taller and sturdier. The synod lives today also, but it too has changed. It has become larger, stronger, adding proof to the Lord’s promise concerning His Word: ‘It shall not return unto me void…. It shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.’ The forces of nature may one day humble our oaks. But if it be our determination to ever remain faithful to God’s Word, our synod shall have a perennial youth and vigor, for are we not reinforced by Christ’s promise to the Church? ‘The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ May God bless those who have labored, whose labors have not been in vain, and may this blessing rest upon all those who shall in the future build Christ’s Kingdom.”
Rev. Craig A. Ferkenstad
Centennial Committee
Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Mankato, MN