LCC President sends farewell letter to Synod

President Bugbee preaching at the Opening Divine Service for LCC’s Synodical Convention in 2017.

WINNIPEG – In his final communication with members of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) President Robert Bugbee expresses his thanks to God for the almost ten years he spent serving the Canadian church. “For anything I was able to do or say that ended up building Christ’s kingdom and helping you, I owe all the credit to God and His mercy,” he writes. He goes on to ask forgiveness from God and His people “for actions of mine that were defective or hurtful.”

One of the major accomplishments during his tenure was the restructuring of Synod passed at the 2017 convention and currently in congregations for approval of the new Constitution which details the operational aspects of the new structure. The president expresses the hope that “with a simplified ‘machinery,’ all of us will give clearer focus to what should really matter most in our churches: First, to root our congregations ever more deeply in the Word of Christ; and, second, to reach out with the love of Christ to the staggering number of people around us who do not confess Him, even though they need Him as much as we do.”

The letter notes the daunting scope of the work ahead for President-elect Timothy Teuscher and the new Board of Directors. He asks the church to pray for the new president and “I implore you to be patient with him and the new Board of Directors, even as God in Christ has shown His endless patience toward you.”

The Synodical Convention elected Pastor Bugbee in 2008 in Winnipeg. In addition to serving as President of Lutheran Church–Canada he was Vice-chairman of the International Lutheran Council (ILC) and participated in and encouraged inter-church dialogue in an effort to find common theological understanding.

Assuming the official synodical title of Past President, Rev. Dr. Bugbee will be installed as pastor of First Lutheran Church, Windsor, Ontario on Sunday, February 4.

Full letter in PDF