Reclaim News is deeply saddened to announce that Dr. August Seulflow
was called to his heavenly home on Friday, August 27th. At this time we are not aware of
any of the details. He was to speak on "How the Missouri Synod Became the Missouri
Synod" at the First Annual Conference on C. F.W. Walther.
This would have been exactly the kind of topic on which he was most eminently qualified to
speak.
Doctor Seulflow was scheduled to teach at the St. Louis Seminary this Fall. He was the
Synod's foremost authority on C.F.W. Walther and had served for most of his career as
Director of the Concordia Historical Institute.
Doctor Seulflow had expressed his eagerness to speak at the conference to Rev. Neil
Schmidt. However, he was concerned about his ability to recover from knee surgery this
past week.
We ask for God's peace and comfort for his wife and family in this hour of our loss and
heaven's victory.
This writer recalls hearing a number of his lectures on the history of the LCMS and the
theology of Walther. He spoke with such authority and depth his observations were
considered the final word on the subject. At this time there is no one to take his place.
This writer also recalls standing next to him at the 1995 LCMS Convention when the
delegates voted 67% to 33% to keep the name "Lutheran" on LCMS congregations. He
was completely astonished at the destructive inroads the Church Growth Movement is making
in the LCMS. I asked him if at the height of the liberal controversy in the 1973 New
Orleans Convention there would have been a higher percentage for the name
"Lutheran." He responded, "At least 90% if not 95%."
Doctor Seulflow was a treasured friend and advisor to the sainted Dr. Robert Preus whom
he now joins in paradise before the thrown of Christ.
He was committed to using all of his scholarship, experience, and skill for the
preservation and strengthening of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod he so dearly loved.
His God-given talents will be sorely missed.