Walking Backward Into the Future

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Editor’s Note: After graduating from college in India, Rev. Stanley taught Math and Social Studies at St. Teresa High School, Malwani, mostly among Muslim and Hindu kids. This started a journey with cross-cultural and inter-faith engagements that culminated in him going to Concordia Seminary, Nagercoil, India, for his one-year Bible course. 

Rev. Stanley has theological degrees from the Protestant Theological University at Kampen, Netherlands (Master’s in Cross-Cultural Theology, 2006–2007) and a Ph.D. degree in Historical Theology from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (May 2016). 

Recently, Pastor Stanish was officially rostered as an LCMS pastor while continuing in his position as Executive Director at Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA). Dr. Judith Meyer, Board Chair, recounts this special event below. 

Pastor Jeff Cloeter of Christ Memorial Lutheran Church charged the Reverend Doctor Stanish Stanley and CFNA to “walk back into the future!” by remembering our past as we move forward at the August 10th installation service for Rev. Stanley. Presiding over the installation was Pastor Randy Asbury, the second vice president of the Missouri District. Many members of the CFNA community, including 19 pastors, participated in the installation of Stanish Stanley as the Executive Director of CFNA. 

Though Pastor Stanish has served as a lay person in this position since 2017, it was not until the Missouri District leadership encouraged CFNA’s Board of Directors that we could call him as an ordained minister for this role. Of course, this took many months as the India Evangelical Lutheran Church – where Stanish had previously been rostered – agreed for him to be recognized as an ordained LCMS pastor in the United States. 

Joining the celebration was Stanish’s wife and three daughters, as well as his American “parents”, Joe and Joan Hartwell, who provided for the family while Stanish attended the Seminary for his PhD.  Stanish’s sister and her husband, Pastor Kang, joined the CFNA community for the installation from Florida. After the installation, guests were treated to curried chicken and rice, naan, and cake in Ascension’s fellowship hall. 

CFNA is grateful to have Pastor Stanish faithfully continue serving in this role, and for the LCMS community for supporting him during this call process. 

By Dr. Judith Meyer
Board Chair, CFNA