Robert C. Sauer (1921-2013) Papers

Collection

Identifier: Collection ID-1491

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Box 1

f.1-47 (unlabeled)

Box 2

f.48-59 (unlabeled)
60. [Correspondence re: Maier on Justification]
61. [Correspondence and others re: Maier on Justification
62. [Colloquy Committee Reinstatements]
63. [Special Colloquy Retreats for Seminex Graduates Serving LCMS Congregations]
64. [Bound papers, preliminary report of the Board of Control regarding the walkout. The final version is entitled Exodus From Concordia, 1979.]
65. 1974-1981 News Releases
66. 1981 Elections
67. [Correspondence A-B, 1977-1979]
68. [Correspondence C-F, 1977-1979]
69. [Correspondence G-I, 1977-1979]
70. [Correspondence J-N, 1977-1979]

Box 3

71. [Correspondence O-R, 1977-1979]
72. [Correspondence S, 1977-1979]
73. [Correspondence T-Z, 1977-1979]
74. [Correspondence Ackerman – Azzam, 1981-1986]
75. [Correspondence AELC – Atlantic District, 1981-1986 (topical)]
76. [Correspondence Bachman – Bernhagen, 1981-1986]
77. [Correspondence Bertermann – Buth, 1981-1986]
78. [Correspondence Bohlmann, 1981-1986]
79. [Correspondence Bohlmann, 1981-1986]
80. [Correspondence Campbell – Curtiss, 1981-1986]
81. [Correspondence Call – California-Nevada-Hawaii District, 1981]
82. [Correspondence Central Illinois District – Colorado District]
83. [Correspondence Colloquy, 1981-1986 (topic)]
84. [Correspondence Colloquy – Constitution]
85. [Correspondence Daeke – Dymond, 1981-1986]
86. [Correspondence Daeke – Doctrinal Review, 1981-1986]
87. [Correspondence Eagles – Evers, 1981-1986]
88. [Correspondence Eastern District – English District, 1981-1986]
89. [Correspondence Fair – Fuehrmeyer, 1981-1986]
90. [Correspondence Faith – Florida-Georgia District, 1981-1986]
91. [Correspondence Fort Wayne, 1981-1986]
92. [Correspondence Gardar – Graham, 1981-1986]
93. [Correspondence Grandey – Gutt, 1981-1986]

Box 4

94. [Correspondence Grace 1981-1986]
95. [Correspondence Haack – Hermsmeyer, 1981-1986]
96. [Correspondence Hettrick – Hutchison, 1981-1986]
97. [Correspondence Illick – Irmer (including Indiana District – Iowa District West), 1981-1986]
98. [Correspondence Jaeger – Jutzi, 1981-1986]
99. [Correspondence Kaczor – Kitcher, 1981-1986]
100. [Correspondence Klepper – Kuster, 1981-1986]
101. [Correspondence Kansas District – Koehneke, 1981-1986]
102. [Correspondence Laatsch – Lehmann, 1981-1986]
103. [Correspondence Lehnhardt – Lyons, 1981-1986]
104. [Correspondence Lutheran Worship, 1981-1986]
105. [Correspondence Maas – Metcalf, 1981-1986]
106. [Correspondence Meyers – Mutsavage, 1981-1986]
107. [Correspondence Michigan District – Missouri District, 1981-1986]
108. [Correspondence Molitoris 1, 1981-1986]
109. [Correspondence Molitoris 2, 1981-1986]
110. [Correspondence Montrose, 1981-1986]
111. [Correspondence Nachowicz – Nuese, 1981-1986]
112. [Correspondence Nebraska District – North Dakota District, 1981-1986]
113. [Correspondence North Wisconsin District – Northwest District, 1981-1986]
114. [Correspondence O’Gare – Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1981-1986]
115. [Correspondence Ohio – Ontario District, 1981-1986]
116. [Correspondence Palitowski – Powell, 1981-1986]
117. [Correspondence Prange – Puchan, 1981-1986]
118. [Correspondence Pflug – Preus, 1981-1986]

Box 5

119. [Correspondence Quade – Riehle, 1981-1986]
120. [Correspondence Riemer – Rummel, 1981-1986]
121. [Correspondence Rocky Mountain District – Rosin, 1981-1986]
122. [Correspondence St. John’s – Seehausen, 1981-1986]
123. [Correspondence Siebert – Swihart, 1981-1986]
124. [Correspondence Schneider, 1981-1986]
125. [Correspondence Southeastern District, 1981-1986]
126. [Correspondence Southern District – Stephan, 1981-1986]
127. [Correspondence Taddey – Tweedy, 1981-1986]
128. [Correspondence Texas District, 1981-1986]
129. [Correspondence Valdes – Van Rhein, 1981-1986]
130. [Correspondence (Vice President Memorandum), 1981-1986]
131. [Correspondence Wachs – Wyssmann, 1981-1986]
132. [Correspondence Document Wording – Wyoming District, 1981-1986]
133. [Correspondence Yambrek – Youth, 1981-1986]
134. [Correspondence Zander – Zoller, 1981-1986]
135. [Correspondence various Zion Lutheran Churches, 1981-1986]
136. [Correspondence various Zion Lutheran Churches, 1981-1986]
137. [Correspondence various Zion Lutheran Churches, 1981-1986]
138. [Commission on Ministerial Health 1, Confidential]
139. [Commission on Ministerial Health 2]
140. [Commission on Ministerial Health 3]
141. [Commission on Ministerial Health 4]
142. [Commission on Ministerial Health 5]
143. [Commission on Ministerial Health 6]
144. [Commission on Ministerial Health 7]
145. [Commission on Ministerial Health 8]
146. [Commission on Ministerial Health 9]

Box 6

Special Hymnal Review Committee: Files A-Z of correspondence, various documents used by the committee, news releases

Box 7

Reel-to-reel tapes: 1973 LCMS Convention, Committee 3, March 23-24, 1973

Side 1: Introductory Meeting, 9:00 a.m., March 23, 1973 through 11:00 a.m. - Preus and Zimmerman
Side 2: Introductory Meeting, 11:00 a.m. March 23, 1973 through 3:10 p.m. - Zimmerman and Hume
Side 3: Introductory Meeting, 3:10 p.m., March 23, 1973 through 5:30 p.m.
Side 4: Introductory Meeting, 5:30 p.m., March 23, 1973 through 6:20 p.m., also Klotz Saturday Morning, March 24, 1973 8:35-9:50 a.m.
Side 5: Introductory Meeting, 9:50 a.m., March 24, 1973 through 12:20 p.m. - Klotz presentation - what to do now

Various documents, photocopies of articles, news releases, correspondence regarding Tietjen, Preus, Seminex, LCMS doctrinal controversy in the 1970s

Dates

Creation: 1973 - 1986

Biographical / Historical

Sauer served more than a decade as an LCMS vice-president under three different Synod presidents. He is married to Joyce L. (nee Johnson) and has two daughters, twins, Sharman and Sheryl.

He was a graduate of Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Illinois and of Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield (1948). He served 25 years in the Holy Ministry during which he pastored a 2500 member congregation at Palatine, Illinois, a congregation in Taylorville, Illinois and also Our Saviour, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He initiated a mission station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as an Air Force Chaplain during the Korean War. His administrative career began in 1974 when he began his service as assistant to the president (Preus) which continued until 1981. He served two terms as 4th vice president of the LCMS (1977-1979, 1992-1995), two terms as first vice-president (1981-1986) and one term as third vice-president (1989-1992). Additionally, he served one term as vice-president of the Missouri District (1987-1989).

The bulk of his work appears to have been connected to various committees. This collection shows an extensive service on the synod’s colloquy committee. He also was involved in the doctrinal debates/discussion/controversy with Walter A. Maier II relating to the proper understanding of Justification. He also served as the chairman of the special Hymnal Review Committee established following the 1977 Dallas convention of the LCMS.

His published works include Daily Prayer (two volumes), Exploring Luther’s Small Catechism, The Church Takes Shape: a study of church history, and "Lutheran Worship: The Special Hymnal Review Committee" in Lutheran Worship: History and Practice, all produced by CPH.

Dr. Sauer received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (1976). He died September 19, 2013 at the age of 91.

Extent

5.58 Linear Feet (Five cu. ft. boxes; one 5" letter box, one 2" letter box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Physical Location

3.22.1.3, 3.22.1.4, 3.22.1.5

Custodial History

NOTE 1: This collection arrived with various bound copies of minutes from the boards on which Dr. Sauer served. In many cases the minutes were already held by CHI in the collections of the particular board or entity. If this was the case (and Sauer’s copies contained no significant marginalia) then the minutes were removed from the Sauer collection as surplus. Those items removed are listed here.

Board of Director Minutes: January 1971 – July 1981
Board of Administrators Minutes: 1968-1984
Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) Minutes: 1973-1981
Council of Presidents Minutes: 1965-1984

NOTE 2: The following printed materials (minutes) were included in this collection and have been moved to the collection of the particular entity elsewhere in the CHI collection.

Colloquy Board (Board for Higher Education) Minutes
LCMS Praesidium Minutes: 1962-1973
Board of Control (Regents) Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, IN Minutes: 1980-1983
Commission on Ministerial Health Minutes, 1967-1984

NOTE 3: The following printed materials were included in this collection. The items were check against the CHI holdings and added as necessary or not been retained as surplus to the CHI collection. They contained no significant marginalia.

Affirm: III:3, IV:2
California Concerns: Vol. 8: 1, 4; March, December, 1980
Colorado Laymen’s Newsletter: No. 39, 40; February, May 1980
Concord: No. 2 December 1980
Doctrinal Concerns: Vol. 1: 7-9 (1978); Vol. 2:1, 3, 4 (1979);
The Evangelical Lutheran: Vol. 5 No. 2 December 1979
Laymen’s Analysis: 2:14 (1975); 3:Oct. (1976); 5:1-2 (1978), 6:1-3 (1979)
The Loyal Defender: 2:2 (1979); 3:1 (1980)
Loyal Laymen: 3: 1-3, 5-6 (1980), 4: 1-4, 6 (1981)
Loyal Lutheran: Vol. 5 No. 1 (1979)
Loyal Lutheran: No. 35-37, 40, 42 (1978, 1980)
The Lutheran Voice, East Coast Edition: Vol. 8 No. 1 April 1980
The Lutheran Voice, New England Edition: Vol. 6 No. 1 April 21, 1980
Lutherans United for Synod: 6:9 (1979); 7: 3, 10 (1980)
The Lay Voice of Nebraska Lutherans: Winter 1979
Newsletter of the New Orleans Doctrinal Concerns Committee: Vol. 7 No. 1 January 28, 1981
The Northern “Light”: July, 1975; Spring, 1980
The Northwest Passage: Vol. 15 No. 2 March 1979
Oklahoma Evangel: Vol. 1 No. 3-5. 7 (1979-1980)
Newsletter of the Pensacola Area Doctrinal Concerns Organization: 4: 8 (1978); 5: 1, 4, 7-8 (1979); 6: 1, 3-5, 7, 9, 11 (1980)
“Talking Together”: 4:8-9 (1978); 5: 1, 3-9 (1979); 6: 1-5, 7-8 (1980); 7:2-5 (1981)
God’s Word and Luther’s Doctrine, selected readings translated from the German, (Katechismus Erklaerung – Fuer Reifere Christen), Friedrich Brunn, translated by Walter Friedrich Brunn, 1973;
Report of the Synodical President to the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, 1971;
Watershed at the Rivergate: 1400 vs. 250,000, Tom Baker, Sturgis, MI, 1973;
Faithful to Our Calling, Faithful to Our Lord, Part I, c.1972;
The Lutheran, 10:7, 12:12;
dialog, “Lutheran Identity is Insistent on Truth, J. A. O. Preus, 16:Fall 1977;
Occasional Papers, published by Affirm, Spring, 1973;
Recounting His Mercies, a series of essays delivered at the Iowa District West Convention, August R. Suelflow, June 18-22, 1972;
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied, Herman F. Neunaber;
Report to the Church, A, J. A. O. Preus, 1975;
Message to the Church, J. A. O. Preus, 1974;
Lutheran Stance toward Contemporary Biblical Studies, A, Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, c.1966;
Sword of the Spirit, The, Paul G. Bretscher, ELIM, 1979;
From Concordia to Seminex: A Seminary in Exile, A Christian Century Reprint, 1973, 1974;
Northwest Perspective, Oct. 1975;
The Kansas Layman, III:2 (1976);
Together in Mission, April 1975;