MacPherson honored for book
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Larry Lumpke (far left), executive director of Concordia Historical Institute, and board member Rodney Rathmann (far right) present awards to Peter Harstad (center left) and Ryan MacPherson (center right) at the institute's November 2012 banquet in St. Louis.
MANKATO, MN – Dr. Ryan C. MacPherson, chair of the history department at Bethany Lutheran College, was honored on November 8, 2012, with an Award of Commendation by Concordia Historical Institute in St. Louis, Missouri. The award was presented for MacPherson's contribution as managing editor of Telling the Next Generation: The Evangelical Lutheran Synod's Vision for Christian Education, 1918-2011 and Beyond (2011). Ten college students working over a five-year period produced this 450-page historical anthology under Dr. MacPherson's guidance. "It was my pleasure to serve as mentor and managing editor," says MacPherson.
Telling the Next Generation "preserves a distinctive approach to education, one that stressed both the Word of God and the liberal arts, catechesis and academics," says Dr. Gene Edward Veith, Jr., provost at Patrick Henry College in Purceville, Virginia. The book "offers a harmonies chorus, singing about ideas and issues relevant to the Lutheran task of telling the next generation about the permanent things of confessional piety," notes Dr. Mark A. Kalthoff, professor of history at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.
Co-editors Paul G. Madson and Peter M. Anthony also were recognized with awards. Madson serves as archivist for the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Anthony is a farmer in Nicollet County, Minnesota.
Telling the Next Generation was published by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod Historical Society, which has sponsored several internships for history students at Bethany Lutheran College. MacPherson, a charter member of the society, has served on the board of directors since 2004. The society presently is collaborating with the synod's centennial celebration committee to produce a pictorial history book and video marking the 100th anniversary of the synod's formation (1918-2018). Today, the synod numbers about 17,000 souls and operates Bethany Lutheran College as well as several world missions and over a hundred domestic congregations.
Concordia Historical Institute, located on the campus of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, is the largest repository of Lutheran history in North America. This year marked the 38th annual awards ceremony, recognizing books, articles, video productions, and congregational anniversary pamphlets that commemorate the history of American Lutheranism.
Also recognized this year were Bethany alumni Peter T. Harstad and Karyn Lukasek for their book Store Per: Norwegian-American "Paul Bunyan" of the Prairie (2011). Harstad wrote, and Lukasek illustrated, this collection of history and legend concerning Peter ("Big Pete") Tjernagel, a nineteenth-century immigrant who came to America from Norway with his Bible, his bride, and his violin. "Store Per makes a wonderful contribution to the story of our forefathers and their brave journey across the stormy Atlantic to make their home in America," according to Dr. Odd S. Lovoll, professor emeritus at St. Olaf College in St. Peter, Minnesota.
Telling the Next Generation and Store Per are both available for purchase. For an interview with Dr. MacPherson, call 507 344 7787.
