I began attending Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA) in the summer of 2005. During my very first week there, I met the girl who would later become my wife. It only took 3 years to get the first date, but it was worth the wait.
I am eternally grateful for CUAA. I made friends there. I grew from a shy, quiet kid to a semi-shy, loud adult. I made a few mistakes. I grew in my knowledge and love of God.
I was shaped and taught there by professors and mentors like Ben Freudenburg, Karna Doyle, Richard Shuta, Charles Schulz, David Adler, and so many others. I gained leadership experience and insights. Through my work there, I became the first person in my family to graduate with a college degree (2 actually).
My internship through CUAA sent me to Westfield, NJ, my first time ever living outside of Michigan. This opened up a whole new world for me to explore and taught me an appreciation for the Lutheran church on the east coast. I still work for a church on the east coast because of how much I enjoyed my time in NJ.
For all of this and so much more, I am indebted to Concordia University Ann Arbor, though not literally, because I recently paid off my student loans from CUAA and Concordia Seminary St. Louis. My time at CUAA changed my life in so many positive ways, and I am grateful.
It is with a spirit of thankfulness that I also lament about what is happening to CUAA right now. CUAA is being changed by people who seem to have no appreciation for the work it has done to point so many people to Jesus. Check out this site to learn more about what has happened in the last year. But right now, and attempting to put the best construction on things, CUAA is being gutted and destroyed because incompetent leaders who are making decisions in secret.
CUAA always made Christ preeminent in all things. To see people treat this institution, its people, and its mission field with complete disrespect is not putting Christ first. It is putting lies first. It is putting money first. It is putting identity first. This is just another part in a dark decade for our church body and its Concordia University System. Change needs to happen, but the closing of CUAA is not the change our church body needs.
I believe in God, who can do impossible things. And I hope that He can intervene in some way in this situation. Attitudes need to be adjusted, hearts need to be humbled, and minds need to be refocused on Christ.
I also invite you to participate in the process of helping CUAA and our church body. Some simple ways include:
- Pray. Our God is near the brokenhearted. He hears our laments for what is happening to CUAA. Turn back to Him and pray, “Thy will be done…”. And give thanks to God for all that He has done through CUAA.
- Tell people in your congregations and church region about what is happening at CUAA.
- Check out CUAA Coalition to learn ways to share.
- Stay up-to-date by following Concordia Matters on Facebook.
- Pray for the Michigan District as it tries to navigate this situation.
- Check out my post “A Path Forward” to participate in the nomination process for changes in our national leadership.
I am grateful to be a CUAA Cardinal. I am sadden by what is happening to CUAA. And I pray to God that He opens all of our hearts and minds to follow His will.
Photo by Nora Jane Long on Unsplash
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