Convention 2003: One-on-one with President Karl Gurgel
Convention 2003: One-on-one with President Karl Gurgel
President Karl Gurgel reflects on the convention and the focus set by the delegates for the next four years.
What was the spirit of the convention?
I think very forward looking, realistic, and confident. [Delegates] wanted to get on with the mission. They also recognized that we have some large challenges. But they were confident that with God’s blessing we can accept the commission, meet the challenges, and keep the commitment.
The delegates set North American outreach as the focus for the next four years. Why is this significant?
It might seem self-serving. But as I reflect on that, I don’t think that’s what we’re saying. North American outreach includes people from all over the world. It’s an acknowledgement that God is bringing a sample of the world’s population right here. . . . We’re recognizing that we have to open our eyes to see that the fields are white for harvest. Maybe that’s the wrong color. The fields are a different color than we have traditionally been seeing. We shouldn’t be frightened by that but excited about the prospect of having so many different people with whom to share the gospel.
What are the plans for going forward with North American outreach?
The administrators and the synod officers are taking the direction the convention gave us and identifying themes for the various areas of ministry. The areas of ministry then will be identifying how they’re going to carry that through in their particular area, conscious of the whole picture. . . .
I think that North American outreach will be a unifying emphasis for all the areas of ministry.
What challenges do you see for WELS in upcoming years?
We need to be more conscious of the many ethnic groups all around us who need the gospel as much as we do. We also need to become more creative in finding ways that groups of congregations can establish new mission ministry.
We need to clarify how we’re going to train competent workers for the future.
We also have a challenge to help our people rekindle their zeal for all of the lost. When I mention all the lost, I mean also those in our own congregations who are slipping away from us. If we aren’t concerned about them, why should we be concerned about those we don’t even know?
What was your favorite part of the convention?
I had a lot of them. One was the warm expression of gratitude to Gary and Carol Schroeder for their work in Hong Kong. There was also the tearful acknowledgement of the Indonesian people of their fellowship with us. And then the celebration of 50 years in Africa.
What was the spirit of the convention?
I think very forward looking, realistic, and confident. [Delegates] wanted to get on with the mission. They also recognized that we have some large challenges. But they were confident that with God’s blessing we can accept the commission, meet the challenges, and keep the commitment.
The delegates set North American outreach as the focus for the next four years. Why is this significant?
It might seem self-serving. But as I reflect on that, I don’t think that’s what we’re saying. North American outreach includes people from all over the world. It’s an acknowledgement that God is bringing a sample of the world’s population right here. . . . We’re recognizing that we have to open our eyes to see that the fields are white for harvest. Maybe that’s the wrong color. The fields are a different color than we have traditionally been seeing. We shouldn’t be frightened by that but excited about the prospect of having so many different people with whom to share the gospel.
What are the plans for going forward with North American outreach?
The administrators and the synod officers are taking the direction the convention gave us and identifying themes for the various areas of ministry. The areas of ministry then will be identifying how they’re going to carry that through in their particular area, conscious of the whole picture. . . .
I think that North American outreach will be a unifying emphasis for all the areas of ministry.
What challenges do you see for WELS in upcoming years?
We need to be more conscious of the many ethnic groups all around us who need the gospel as much as we do. We also need to become more creative in finding ways that groups of congregations can establish new mission ministry.
We need to clarify how we’re going to train competent workers for the future.
We also have a challenge to help our people rekindle their zeal for all of the lost. When I mention all the lost, I mean also those in our own congregations who are slipping away from us. If we aren’t concerned about them, why should we be concerned about those we don’t even know?
What was your favorite part of the convention?
I had a lot of them. One was the warm expression of gratitude to Gary and Carol Schroeder for their work in Hong Kong. There was also the tearful acknowledgement of the Indonesian people of their fellowship with us. And then the celebration of 50 years in Africa.
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