FAQs

Who Am I?
First an introduction… My name is Pastor Jeremiah Gumm. I have the God-given privilege of serving as pastor of Cross of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, a Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) congregation in Liverpool, NY (just NW of Syracuse–one of the snowiest places on earth! Believe me, you haven’t seen snow until you drive through a lake-effect snow squall coming down at 2+” an hour!). I am privileged to be the husband of Lisa and the father of our daughter, Adelaide.

What is “The Shepherd’s Study”?

With the Lord’s help, The Shepherd’s Study was created to be a source of encouragement primarily for the busy Lutheran shepherd (a pastor, a teacher, a staff minister, a deacon, an elder, etc.). It is meant to be “A Place of Rest and Renewal for the Busy Lutheran Shepherd”. That means this blog is intended to be much like the study of a called worker…

1. A place to get away for a moment from the busyness of ministry to get some insights from the vast resources of the history of the Christian church, including those of the present day.
2. A place to find spiritual rest in God’s Word and through the encouragement of those who spent their lives proclaiming it, especially when the ministry gets difficult or overwhelming.
3. A place where one’s creativity or zeal for ministry can be renewed through the sharing of ideas, trends, suggestions and thoughts.

What Will the Spirit of the Blog Be? (The Comment Policy)

The Shepherd’s Study is not meant to be a source for ranting or destructive criticism. Far too many blogs that call themselves Lutheran already do that and make that their sole purpose. (So if you want to rant and rave, please find another blog!) Now this does not mean the Law will not be proclaimed when necessary, but with God’s help, the Gospel will dominate in this place.

Comments written in a civil, courteous and respectful manner are welcome on this blog. If you have direct questions for me, please use the Contact Form. All comments submitted are subject to editing at my discretion.

How Often Will You Post Updates?

A busy shepherd of souls does not spend all his time in the study, but comes and goes on a regular basis. For this reason, I plan to post updates on a weekly basis with occasional posts at other times on other days. This blog won’t likely clog your inbox or newsreader, but will provide updates in a consistent and timely fashion.

What Are the “Currently Reading” and “Recently Read” Sections?

Under “Currently Reading”, you’ll find the current books I happen to be reading or working through at any one time. Under “Recently Read”, you’ll find the five latest books or journals I’ve read.

One caveat: If a book is listed in either of these sections, it does not mean I recommend or endorse it! (Check out my “Recommendations” sidebar list for books or resources I do recommend!)

The lists simply consist of what I’m reading or have read for a wide variety of reasons. For example, these lists could include theological books I read to expand my knowledge and help me grow as a pastor, books from other publishers I read for review for Northwestern Publishing House, or even secular books I read for enjoyment.

As far as book recommendations, I’ll occasionally publish one of those for your perusal. Once in a while, though, we’ll also have a guest book reviewer.

What Is Your Privacy Policy?

Comments are welcome and encouraged on this blog! Please don’t hesitate to submit them if you so desire. Be assured that the contact information you provide through the comment section or contact form will never be used for sales, telemarketing or any other unauthorized or inappropriate use. That information will only be used as a means for me to privately contact for any reason a person who has left a comment or submitted a note through the Contact Form.

At the same time, please note that I am not responsible for the privacy policies of any websites or blogs to which I might link on this blog. I reserve the right to change this Privacy Policy at any time. If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or would like to contact me for any other reason, please use my Contact Form.

Why Start The Shepherd’s Study?

Personally I have always loved reading and sharing what I’ve read. As my theological training advanced, I found myself reading more and more books of a theological nature, primarily Lutheran. My theological library grew considerably and I took great care to mold my library, paring out the books I found useless for ministry or theological drivel. (Hauling my library through several cross-country moves didn’t hurt the paring down process either!) The more I read, though, the more I wanted to share some of the great things I found in the great texts I was reading.

I’ve always wondered how to do that. In the fall of 2007, a dear friend of mine from North Carolina suggested I create a blog to share these ideas with fellow Lutheran shepherds and Christian leaders out in the world. I had never thought of that and was a little unsure of trying it out, but the idea for “The Shepherd’s Study” began to percolate. (Thanks, Christy!) Another good friend of mine serving a WELS congregation out in California, who had experience with blogs (and whose blog may eventually end up on my blogroll!), helped me to flesh out the concept for this blog. God-willing, he may even serve as a guest contributor in the future. (Thanks, Hans!) Thanks also to my lovely wife, Lisa, who actually thought this was a good idea and has encouraged me through the percolation process! With God’s help, then, The Shepherd’s Study launched 23 January 2008 — The Eve of the Festival of St. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor — and here we are today!

It is my prayer that the Lord make this blog a source of great blessing for God’s people, especially for all you busy Lutheran shepherds serving the flocks of the Good Shepherd. May this blog be a source of spiritual rest for you in the midst of your busy lives, and a place where your creativity and zeal for serving the Lord can find renewal.

May the Lord richly bless you, dear Reader, whenever you visit The Shepherd’s Study, but above all, Soli Deo Gloria! — To God alone be the glory!