Brothers and Sisters of the Michigan District:

This week the next steps regarding Concordia have been made public. Concordia Wisconsin is selling the main campus (4090 Geddes Road) to the University of Michigan for $60 million dollars. Possession of the property will take place July 1. The 10 acres that the Michigan District and Church Extension Fund offices are on are not part of the sale. Concordia holds the lease on this property for approximately another 37 years. The North Campus off from Plymouth Road is also not part of the sale.

There is no firm indication of what exactly the University of Michigan plans to do with the property. There has been push back from the Ann Arbor City Council and now State Legislators about the purchase.

Concordia Wisconsin plans to maintain a presence in Ann Arbor at the North Campus providing health science education. At some point, they hope to reintroduce church work programs. There are also plans for a council or advisory board to be established by them that could include people from the Michigan District to explore the future use of that site.

There is no word about the future of the Chapel of the Holy Trinity. Concordia Wisconsin leaders plan to hold a decommissioning service.

Be assured that through it all our District leadership has advocated for Concordia Ann Arbor with leaders at Wisconsin and St. Louis explaining our point of view, our hopes, and our various suggestions about how to move forward in a way that would keep faith with the long-term interests of Concordia supporters.

Where do we go from here? Many of us disagree vehemently with the direction and actions that have dismantled what was viewed as a vibrant, Gospel-focused University on the brink of financial sustainability. Many are hurt. Many are angry. Many are upset with both Concordia leadership and Synod leadership.

Trust me, none of this has worked out as I had hoped. For that matter, I know that to be true of President Harrison and President Ankerberg.

And people are watching: people around the Synod, people across Michigan, our neighbors here in the Ann Arbor community, and literally my next-door neighbors. What are we to do as the Church, the people of God?

Forgive.

Once something is done, it cannot be undone. Once something is said, it cannot be unsaid. The only way to fix a wrong action or word is to forgive it.

What has happened at Concordia cannot be undone. The many things claimed, asserted, or said cannot be taken back. No one can undo it; forgiveness is the solution.

And it is what we are to do. Jesus’ mission focused on forgiveness of what we have done and said. He absorbed our wrong and cleansed us. Jesus’ power is exercised in forgiveness. Forgiveness is the restorative power. And in it God is glorified.

It is to the glory of God when his children live lives of forgiveness to others. Forgiveness stems from God’s forgiveness to us, not the worthiness of the one to be forgiven. We know full well what Scripture says. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). His forgiveness brings healing. We were taught to pray fervently to forgive others: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Paul wrote, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13). A Church that has trouble being quick to forgive is in trouble at being the Church.

We need healing. We need healing in regard to Concordia Ann Arbor. We need healing in regard to our relationships across the Synod. Forgiveness is the only way. Many have felt and been powerless in this whole situation. The solution to powerlessness between humans is forgiveness. This is the Kingdom’s “superpower.”

And so as the situation regarding Concordia Ann Arbor comes to what many of us view as a very sad and unfortunate ending, let us take hold of that power and forgive. It changes things. It will change you.

Everything else we leave up to God to work together for good according to his promises. In the meantime, let’s devote ourselves to love and good works, serve our local communities vigorously through our congregations, and stay engaged positively in the life of our larger Church body.

And through it all, we fix our…eyes on Jesus…

David A. Davis

District President

Michigan District, LCMS

3773 Geddes Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Toll Free: 888.225.2111

Fax: 734.665.0255

david.davis@michigandistrict.org

michigandistrict.org