It has been some time since you’ve heard me talk about
"Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions." I have very good news. All work has been completed on the second
edition and we are, at this point, telling folks that we expect to
have it here at CPH in time to be able to fill the thousands and
thousands…and thousands!… of standing orders for it by the
beginning of January 2007. The complexities of getting press
time and adequate paper supplies make it impossible to promise it any
sooner than very, very early in the new year and even that date is not
100% sure, due simply to the details of the actual printing and
binding process. Thanks for your patience. They say that
patience is a virtue. I am pleased to tell you that the Commission on Doctrinal
Review’s report about the book was addressed very thoroughly and all
issues and solutions were mutually agreed to in a spirit of true
"concordia" and fraternal conversation. I wish the entire
church could have been in on our meetings to hear the careful
discussions about points of translation, theology, doctrine, church
history and so forth. I am very pleased with the results of our
numerous meetings, conversations and negotiations. A supplement of clarifications and explanations about the first
edition, per the Commission’s request, is being sent out early in
October so that folks may continue to use the first edition of
"Concordia," as the Commission indicated. A copy of the
supplement will be mailed to every LCMS congregation, with the offer
to them to request as many additional copies as they may wish to have,
a copy will be mailed to every customer whom we can identify in our
data base who ordered one directly. The supplement will be posted to
the Internet for downloading as well. It has been a real blessing to me to be able to spend so much
time with our Lutheran Confessions and every time I do I come away
from the experience profoundly moved by the rich depth of faithful,
Biblical, pastoral theology and confession that we are blessed to have
as Lutheran Christians. When I have more details to share, I will, but I thought you
might appreciate this update. Thanks for your patience, support,
understanding and encouragement. A situation that was less than good
has become, by God’s grace, a true blessing for this edition of the
Book of Concord.