Unusual Practise in the English District of the LCMS

District Awards Doctor of Divinity Degree

(Ed. How can this be? This honor is usually bestowed for reasons of merit by an institution of higher learning. A bureaucratic entity such as a district of another bureaucratic entity has no right to bestow this title which may be mistaken as a degree. Is this not unusual? What worth is a title such as this? Ought not our terminal schools be disturbed by this novel practice? Will other districts jealously pursue this practice? Please tell us that this is an error or a joke.)

MEMO

TO: Congregations and Pastors of the English District

FROM: The Rev. David H. Ritt

SUBJECT: Nominations for Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa)

DATE: October26, 1998

The Board of Directors of the English District has authorized that annually the title Doctor of Divinity be granted a pastor of the District. The title will be conferred at the chief Divine Service of the pastoral conference or the District Convention. The nominees will be submitted to the College of Visitors and Praesidium for selection of the pastor to be honored.

This memo is a call for nominations. You are invited to make nominations. In submitting a nominee you should indicate the reason that you feel the pastor nominated should be considered for this honor.

Nominations must be in by February 1.1999.

May the Lord bless all pastors who have served and continue to serve faithftilly in the Lord's Vineyard.

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