The Lutheran Hour
Running time | 30 minutes |
---|---|
Original release | June 1930 |
Website | lutheranhour |
The Lutheran Hour is a U.S.-based
History
On October 2, 1930, the Lutheran Laymen's League began the weekly national broadcast of The Lutheran Hour with Walter A. Maier as the first speaker.[1] Initially, the program was on 32 stations of the CBS network.[4] Maier continued as the program's well-known speaker for the next twenty years (1930–1950). In 1940, The Lutheran Hour began a Spanish-language broadcast by Dr. Andrew Melendez. Beginning in 1955, Oswald Hoffmann became speaker for the next thirty-three years (1955–1988), heard on 1,200 stations in the U.S. and in thirty other nations.[3] In 1992, the Lutheran Laymen's League selected "Lutheran Hour Ministries" as the overall identity for its media outreach programs. By 2012, The Lutheran Hour was heard on 800 stations in the U.S. and on the American Forces Network, consisting of organ and choral music preceding the speaker's sermonette and a recitation of the Lord's Prayer.[5]
Current and past speakers
Since October 2018, Michael Zeigler is The Lutheran Hour's speaker. An engineering graduate of the
Past speakers are:[7]
- Dr. Walter A. Maier (1930–1950)
- Dr. Andrew Melendez (1941–1972) (Spanish Lutheran Hour)
- Dr. Lawrence Acker (1950–1951)
- Dr. Armin C. Oldsen (1951–1953)
- Dr. Oswald Hoffmann (1955–1988)
- Dr. Wallace Schulz (1977–2002) (associate speaker)
- Dr. Dale A. Meyer (1989–2001; guest speaker November 2017–September 2018)[8]
- Dr. Kenneth R. Klaus (2002–2011; guest speaker November 2017–September 2018)[9]
- Rev. Dr. Gregory P. Seltz (2011–October 29, 2017)[10]
Controversy in 2002
In July 2002, weeks after his promotion from associate speaker to main speaker, Dr. Wallace Schulz was involved in an LCMS controversy that resulted in his leaving the broadcast. Acting in his capacity as LCMS Second Vice President, Schulz suspended LCMS Atlantic District president
Schulz's removal, like the Benke case itself, proved controversial within the LCMS. His supporters argued that Schulz had a constitutional duty to rule in the case, and thus could not recuse himself upon the board of governors’ request.[14] The Rev. Eric Stefanski, in a column published by the conservative LCMS group Concord, accused the International Lutheran Laymen's League of waging "a massive, twisted PR battle" against Schulz, and of presenting him with "ultimatums that no pastor could agree to without denying his Ordination vows."[15] Supporters of Schulz also argued that a drop in financial receipts at the ILLL, which led to layoffs and program cancellations in 2003, were attributable primarily to donor and listener dissatisfaction over the speaker's removal.[16][17] Opponents of Schulz's actions praised the decision to suspend the speaker, with many arguing, as a column published by the liberal LCMS organization Jesus First stated, that those who disagreed with Schulz's actions were "working hard to present views more representative of this church."[18]
Footnotes
- ^ Cedar Rapids Gazette. p. 8A.
- ^ "Our History :: The Lutheran Hour". www.lutheranhour.org. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
- ^ New York Times. September 18, 2005. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
- ^ a b "Lutheran Hour in 25th season". Erwin Record. Erwin, Tennessee. October 16, 1957. p. 7.
- ^ "The Lutheran Hour" (video). Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler". History of 'The Lutheran Hour'. Lutheran Hour Ministries. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "History of 'The Lutheran Hour'". Lutheran Hour Ministries. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "The Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer". History of 'The Lutheran Hour'. Lutheran Hour Ministries. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "The Rev. Dr. Kenneth R. Klaus". History of 'The Lutheran Hour'. Lutheran Hour Ministries. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "The Rev. Dr. Gregory P. Seltz". History of 'The Lutheran Hour'. Lutheran Hour Ministries. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ ""Lutheran Hour host off air in LCMS tiff," Christian Century, July 31, 2002". Archived from the original on 2004-09-29.
- ^ "Edward E. Plowman, "A year later, controversy over a post-9/11 'interfaith' service still threatens to split Missouri-Synod Lutherans," World Magazine, September 7, 2002".
- ^ "Press release of the International Lutheran Laymen's League, July 21, 2002, posted at the Lutheran Central website". Archived from the original on September 6, 2005.
- ^ "Jack Cascione, "LLL and LCMS Caught in Ethical Conflict in Schulz-Benke Case," website of Concord: An Association of Confessional Lutherans in Texas, July 31, 2002". Archived from the original on September 7, 2005.
- ^ "Eric Stefanski, "ILLL in Trouble after Firing Schulz," website of Concord: An Association of Confessional Lutherans in Texas, May 20, 2003". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2006-12-09.
- ^ "Press Release, "LLL Wants Schulz to Withdraw from Benke Case," website of Concord: An Association of Confessional Lutherans in Texas, July 22, 2002". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2006-12-09.
- ^ "Eric Stefanski, "ILLL in Trouble after Firing Schulz," website of Concord: An Association of Confessional Lutherans in Texas, May 20, 2003". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2006-12-09.
- ^ "Reaction to Suspension Reflects Real LCMS," Jesus First website, August 1, 2002