“If you don’t know where you have been and you do not where you are going then you are likely to be mistaken when you think you know where you are.”
This was the mantra of The Rev. Dr. James Utt over the past four years as he worked to compile a 25 year history of the Virginia Synod.
This 300 page book tells the story of all the congregations and organizations who make up the Virginia Synod. The word synod means, “Journey Together”, a meaning that is the namesake of the book.
“Journey Together: A History of the Virignia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 1988-2012” will be released during the annual Virginia Synod Assembly which will be held at Roanoke College June 5-7.
Because of the generosity of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winchester, each congregation of the Virginia Synod will recieve a free copy of the book which can be picked up during Synod Assembly. Additional books may be purchased for $30 at the Assembly.
Bishop Mauney approached Utt on behalf of the Synod Council in July of 2011 to ask him to undertake this project. At the time, Utt, who is now retired, was a pastor of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winchester, Va.
“In the busyness of our lives it is too easy for us to quickly forget the great commitment of thousands of Lutherans in Virginia,” said Bishop James Mauney. “We want to cling to that history and always have it for our generations to come.”
Pastor Utt is continuing a legacy of historians from Grace, Winchester. The well known history of the Virginia Synod that spanned the years 1717-1962 was written by The Rev. William Eisenberg who also served as a pastor of Grace.
As Utt was working on the book he said that he “was just amazed at the level of talent among the lay leaders and the rostered leaders, and the dedicationthat those people gave.”
It was the desire of Utt to not just record the various events and committee meetings that occurred over the last 25 years. He wanted to tell an engaging story and bring the readers along a journey.
“In every chapter you will read about the creativity of Synod staff, lay leaders, pastors, rostered leaders, and deans who engendered new programs , and whose ideas, gifts, faith, and talents gave life and newness to emphases and events,” Bishop Mauney said.
While Jim Utt is the main author, he is quick to give credit to everyone who has helped with this endeavor.
“I am so thankful for all the help that was expended to me, especially the help of George Kegley and Jean Bozeman.”
From left to right: Bishop James Mauney, The Rev. Dr. Jim Utt, The Rev. Jean Bozeman, and George Kegley with the final manuscript.
Both Kegley and Bozeman helped gather facts and photos from around the Synod, but their memory alone was a great asset. Kegley worked with Eisenberg on the history of the Virginia Synod that was published in 1967 and Bozeman served as the Assistant to the Bishop for many years.
“We believe we have work to be proud of and we hope that our members will take time to read the book,” said Kegley.
“For me, writing the history of the Synod was a labor of love and devotion,” Utt said.
“The past and the future inform the critical moment of the present, therefore our history is important. I hope the book will serve to inform this and future generations of Lutherans in Virginia.”
