FROM CHRISTIAN NEWS, MARCH 3, 2003
Please Read Disclaimer
WHY IS THE
SYNOD IN SUCH TURMOIL?
He promised to bring “health and healing” to the
synod, but only days after taking office, the Rev. Dr. Jerry Kieschnick gave
full approval to Atlantic District President David Benke’s participation
in a prayer service in Yankee Stadium. That,
in turn, sparked one of the most far-reaching controversies our church body
has ever known.
All our pastors and congregations have a deep sympathy
for those who suffered the terrorist attack – but hundreds of LCMS pastors
and congregations were also greatly dismayed at the kind of witness which
was given at Yankee Stadium. Over
20 pastors and several congregations were moved to address their concerns by
following the formal process listed in the Synod’s Bylaws.
It was their sincere intention to address these concerns in a
personal, private and fraternal manner.
The LCMS synodical bylaws describe how Matthew 18
is to be followed if there appears to be a serious problem.
If the bylaws had been followed, we would not be experiencing such
turmoil today. The situation
became a crisis, however, when Dr. Benke decided to defend himself in the
court of public opinion rather than pursuing reconciliation with those who
had raised their formal concerns. Dr.
Benke hired a law firm despite the fact that our church changed its bylaws
over 10 years ago to exclude lawyers from the process of dealing with
disagreements between Christians. On
the internet, in public press releases and interviews, both Drs. Benke and
Kieschnick chose to caricature complainants as vicious attackers, hearing
them referred to by public officials as “Nazis” and “American
Taliban” while they sat by, saying nothing to discourage such
name-calling.
For too long, the people of our church as well as the
public have heard nothing more than the propaganda put out by Dr. Benke’s
lawyers, public relations consultants and even by synodically-funded media
which has utterly failed to give equal opportunity or space to present the
other side of the story. The
record should be set straight.
What follows are some questions and answers which will
help readers gain a better perspective of what is going on.
This booklet gives a balanced response to the content, methods and
means by which Dr. Benke and Dr. Kieschnick have used a national crisis to
promote beliefs and practices that controvert the Scriptures, the Lutheran
Confessions and our Synodical Constitution.
WAS YANKEE
STADIUM REALLY A WORSHIP SERVICE?
News media from all over the world report the event as
a prayer service. It began with
an invocation and ended with a benediction.
It contained prayers and hymns. For
example, MSNBC reported that:
“Yankee Stadium became a cathedral, mosque and
synagogue Sunday as some 20,000 people gathered for an interfaith service to
remember the victims of terrorism” and reported that “One after another,
members of the clergy – Jews, Roman Catholics Muslims, Hindus,
Protestants, Sikhs, Armenians, Greek Orthodox – stepped up to offer
prayers.”
And NBC News stated that:
“Second base became a stage and podium for today’s
service, dubbed a Prayer for
America
, and a spray of red, white and blue carnations covered the pitcher’s
mound. Winfrey and actor James
Earl Jones hosted the service, which included prayers from several Roman
Catholic clerics, Jewish rabbis, Islamic and Sikh ministers.
Cardinal Edward Egan, Iman Izak-El Pasha and Dr. Inberjit Singh were
among those officiating.
The world considered this to be an interfaith worship
service, getting the impression that each participant was praying to the
same Supreme Being, each in his own “tradition.”
This is altogether offensive to the Lord God who will have no other
gods before Him.
DID YOU KNOW?
Many articles other documents related to this crisis have been
archived at this website: www.crisisinthelcms.org
WHY
DO DR.
BENKE AND DR. KIESCHNICK ARGUE THAT IT WASN’T A WORSHIP SERVICE?
The reason these men are so vehemently opposed to
calling “A Prayer for
America
” at Yankee Stadium a worship service is because they know very well that
the members of the LCMS have formally agreed not to participate in worship
services where all kinds of religious beliefs are mixed together.
In fact, one of the conditions for being a member in the LCMS is
agreeing not to participate in joint worship services with people who teach
contrary to the clear Word of God.
Dr. Benke has a long history before and after this
service of praying, worshiping and communing in churches which hold contrary
beliefs to our own. For example
on
September 9, 1998
– nearly three years before “A Prayer for
America
” – the Rev. Dr. David Benke participated in an interfaith prayer
service, convened by the Roman Catholic Cardinal of
New York
and held in the Roman Catholic cathedral.
It included clerics from the Jewish and Muslim faiths.
Dr. Barry, who was the synodical president at that
time, called Dr. Benke to repentance, Dr. Benke signed this confession,
which later he implied that he was coerced to sign:
“On
September 9, 1998
, I participated in an interfaith prayer service for the poor entitled:
‘Lift Up the Poor With the Voices of Faith.’
The service included representatives of non-Christian religions, and
also representatives of Christian churches with which our Synod is not in
fellowship. My participation in
this service was a direct violation of the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran
Confessions, and consequently, a violation of the Constitution, Bylaws and
doctrinal resolutions of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.
I also recognize and admit that my participation in this interfaith
prayer service was a violation of my duties and responsibilities as an
elected officer of The Lutheran Church -–Missouri Synod.
While well-intended, what I did was wrong.
I therefore sincerely and publicly apologize to the Synod for my
actions in this connection. I
assure the Synod that I will not repeat this error in the future by
participating as an officiate in ecumenical services.”
WAS A PRAYER
FOR
AMERICA
RECORDED?
Yes. A videotape
of the 2+ hour service is available
through CNN. If you
haven’t seen the full service, you should.
Some would have you believe that Dr. Benke merely said a prayer and
gave a much-needed Christian witness in the face of a catastrophe.
When you watch the full service, however, you will begin to note the
fact that many gods were placed on an equal level with Jesus that day.
The prayer merely mentioned Jesus’ name – it did “not”
proclaim a clear Gospel message.
DID YOU KNOW?
In
a sermon on
September 8, 2002
, the ELCA regional president Bouman stated that Dr. Benke met in the
house of Roman Catholic Cardinal Egan to make initial plans for A Prayer for
America
just a few days after the terrorist attack.
The idea that Dr. Benke’s participation “In A Prayer for
America
” was spontaneous or that he didn’t realize all those religions would be
there is utterly false.
DOES THE SYNOD’S CONSTITUTION SAY ANYTHING
ABOUT THIS? Most
definitely. In Article
VI of the
Constitution (page 8) it states that all members of Synod are to reject
“unionism and syncretism ‘of every description.’”
Unionism occurs when differing Christian denominations worship
together without agreement in the basics of Christian teaching.
Syncretism is the mixing of Christian and non-Christian religions.
At Yankee Stadium, the organizers wanted to treat all
denominations and religions equally. They
had no intention of letting Jesus be proclaimed as “The Way, the Truth,
and the Life” apart from whom is no salvation or true comfort.
Everything was blended
together in one service. Moslems,
Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, and atheists all took part in this common event which
mixed everything together.
Dr. Benke played a major part in planning the service,
even though he has claimed that he
wasn’t intending to be syncretistic.
Whether or not it was intentional doesn’t really matter.
The net effect was that it gave the impression that it is only
important for people to follow their own “faith traditions,” to
worship the “supreme being” in the way that seems best to them.
This false belief, however, cannot be overlooked by any Christian who
lovingly cares for the lost and longs to direct them to Christ.
It certainly isn’t something in which a Christian should take part.
BUT DIDN’T
DR. BENKE JUST BEAR WITNESS TO CHRIST?
When thousand of people are given the impression that
all religions are basically the same we cannot rightly claim that a true
witness was given to Christ. Dr.
Benke used the words ‘in the name of Jesus,” but said nothing of
repentance, Christ’s cross, baptism or forgiveness.
When the apostles spoke in public, their messages “always”
included these essential Gospel items.
In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus says, “Many will say
to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast
out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me,
you who practice lawlessness!’” It
is possible to do and say “good” things in the name of Jesus but still
be one who practices lawlessness.
Benke was even duplicitous in that he circulated a
document, which was supposedly his prayer.
But the videotapes revealed that what he had actually spoken in no
way bore witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for the
forgiveness of sins.
DID YOU KNOW? There are least three
versions of Dr. Benke’s prayer at Yankee Stadium which have been made
public? The first is what he
actually said. The second is the
version which Dr.
Kieschnick put on Synod’s website in defense of Dr. Benke.
The third is a revision which Dr. Benke polished up to look better
and posted on the Atlantic
District website when he realized that he was being held accountable for
his actions.
HOW DID DR.
BENKE AND DR. KIESCHNICK RESPOND TO THE FORMAL COMPLAINT?
Despite the fact that Synod bylaws call for the parties
in a dispute to remain silent about sensitive matters while the matter is
under discussion, Dr. Benke and Dr. Kieschnick immediately took the case to
the church press and the secular media.
All the turmoil in the Synod and in the public was
created by Dr. Kieschnick and Dr. Benke themselves!
To this day, not a single one of those who wanted formally to discuss
the propriety of Dr. Benke’s participation at Yankee Stadium have uttered
a single word about their concerns in public.
Their side of the story has not yet been heard.
Proverbs 18:17 and 13 apply here for those who
only listen to what Benke and Kieschnick have to say:
“He who states his case first seems right, until the other comes
and examines him….If one gives answer before he hears, it is his folly and
shame.”
If the matter had been dealt with in a pastoral and
private way, the public would not have known about this.
Dr. Benke and his public relations agents have done an excellent job
at turning people away from the main issues.
They have done very well at making those who brought the case for
formal reconciliation to look like they are judgmental and unloving.
But in fact, when Dr. Benke complains in public that he has been so
viciously attacked, there really is no one to blame but himself.
IS IT TRUE
THAT THE CHURCH OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTS DR. BENKE AND DR. KIESCHNICK IN THIS
MATTER?
No. lay
support was high at first, largely because of the way these men have
“spun” the issue in the press. But
the facts remain that the synod’s Council of Presidents (all district
Presidents and the President and vice presidents of the synod) could not
pass a resolution of support for Dr. Benke and Dr. Kieschnick.
This has been attempted at numerous quarterly meetings since 9/11.
As people find out the facts of Yankee Stadium, the initial sympathy
and support for these men has been eroding.
DID YOU KNOW?
Dr. Kieschnick had nearly two whole months in which he could simply
have dismissed the complaints against Dr. Benke.
Why did he dally so long without doing anything?
After waiting 60 days, one of the groups of
complainants asked for Dr. Kieschnick to be disqualified in judging Dr.
Benke’s syncretism due to a conflict of interest.
After, Dr. Kieschnick had given Dr. Benke permission to participate!
It was at that time Dr. Wallace Schulz was called upon to do his
official duty as a synodical vice-president.
WHAT IS THE
“PRAESIDIUM”? DOES JERRY
KIESCHNICK HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE SYNOD’S PRAESIDIUM?
The Praesidium consists of the president and
vice-presidents of the synod – and only one of the five vice-presidents
supports Dr. Benke’s participation in “A Prayer for
America
” and Dr. Kieschnick’s defense of Dr. Benke.
His name is Paul Maier.
Rev. Maier is the son of the famous Lutheran Hour
speaker, Dr. Walter A. Maier. Though
Paul Maier has written some very helpful books, unfortunately, he is not
conservative like his father. He
is well into his 70s, and was ambiguous during the synod’s struggle over
the inerrancy of the Bible in the 60’s and 70’s.
He himself has participated in unionistic services.
He now supports the Jesus First radicals, and publicly associates
with liberal groups trying to change the Synod’s doctrine and practice.
WHO ARE THE
FAITHFUL MEMBERS OF THE PRAESIDIUM?
Rev. Daniel Preus (nephew of Jack Preus and son of
Robert Preus) is the Synod’s First Vice President.
Other faithful vice-presidents include Dr. William Weinrich, Dr.
Wallace Schulz, Dr. Robert King.
These four men pleaded with Dr. Kieschnick not to
proceed against synod doctrine by defending Benke.
These men have consistently tried to get Dr. Kieschnick to modify his
position of absolute support for Benke’s violation of the Bible, the Book
of Concord and the LCMS Constitution. Dr.
Kieschnick has been unmoved by any argument from the Bible.
He only refers to obscure
interpretations of CTCR
documents.
WHY HAS
SYNOD’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPOKEN OUT AGAINST DR. KIESCHNICK'’ ACTION?
Synod’s Board of Directors has on two occasions urged
Dr.
Kieschnick to refrain from giving his personal views and adding to the
negative publicity. They have
asked Dr. Kieschnick to remain silent and let the matter be handled through
the official channels and in the private manner prescribed in Synod’s
Bylaws. Dr. Kieschnick has in
turn used the synod's official publications to accuse them of issuing a “gag”
order. That is hardly an
appropriate way to treat the sincere desire to follow synodical procedures
peaceably which the Board of Directors hoped for.
Normally, the work of the Board of Directors has to do
with legal and financial matters of the Synod.
At this point, however, they are concerned that Dr. Kieschnick’s
actions and his use of the Board for Communication Services is pushing the
synod into a financial and legal crisis – not just a matter of poor public
relations. They have had to
express their concerns with growing alarm and with greater gravity because
Dr. Kieschnick continues to act indignantly.
WHY IS THERE A
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MINORITY, WHICH SUPPORTS BENKE/KIESCHNICK?
Jean Garton, Betty Duda, Oscar Hanson and Ed Trapp are
holdovers from the days when the Board of Directors was in solidly liberal
hands. In fact, they all opposed
Dr. Barry throughout his tenure as Synod President, putting many stumbling
blocks in his way and causing him much heartache in the process.
It’s sad but true. Dr.
Barry never once had a supportive Board of Directors in his decade of
service as president of the Synod, but he was able to maintain peace and
order in spite of their serious differences.
WHAT ABOUT THE
COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS (COP)?
The majority of the council of presidents supports Dr.
Kieschnick’s work in one way or another.
All of the district presidents are ultimately concerned about the
mission and ministry of the LCMS. Naturally,
they are concerned whenever something happens which might look bad in public
and be a stumbling block for those who need to hear the Gospel.
They thought that it would be better not to criticize Dr. Benke’s
participation in the Yankee Stadium prayer service than to have negative
publicity. This has caused the
district presidents to act in various ways.
Some, like Arleigh Lutz of the North Wisconsin
District, have tried to get strong reprimands sent out to those pastors and
congregations who registered their formal complaints.
He is one who would like to get those pastors expelled from synod
because they seem too judgmental in his opinion and are behaving like
“troublers of
Israel
” (l Kgs.
18:17
).
Other district presidents such as Larry Harvala of the
North Dakota District think that Dr. Kieschnick and Dr. Benke had to make a
tough call in a serious situation – and that we should give them a break
as we try to work out our differences. This
way of thinking is at best naïve given the past history of Dr. Benke and
the current facts of the situation.
Still others like Gerhard Michaels of the
Florida-Georgia District believe that we “should” participate in events
with other clerics of mixed confession.
He thinks that because the world is becoming more cosmopolitan we
have to witness to the Gospel by getting involved with other religions in
their joint prayer events in order to proclaim the Gospel.
Given the example of
St. Paul
with the Corinthians, however, we believe quite the contrary.
If ever there was a time to keep the Gospel clear and
unmixed with other beliefs, that time is now – just like it was at the
time of the apostle Paul. We’re
“not” living in a different world. As
Ecclesiastes 1:9 clearly states, “That which has been is what will
be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under
the sun.”
There “are” some faithful district presidents like
Ron Garwood of the Wyoming District and David Bode of the Minnesota North
District who stand for the truth of the faith as clearly identified in the
Holy Bible and the Lutheran Confessions.
But generally speaking, they are ostracized by other district
presidents and kept out of the loop.
DID YOU KNOW?
Arnold Scherer, president of the Southeastern District and Howard
Patton, president of the Kansas District, each sent out a personal, pastoral
newsletter articles to the members of their districts, addressing some
heartfelt concerns and stating that Dr. Benke would never be removed from
office.
The only problem is this: over 98% of these two letters
are exactly word-for-word identical. This
kind of plagiarism isn’t even acceptable for high school students let
alone synodical district presidents with “
Rev. Dr.
” in front of their names. Their
letters were not very personal if they were simply copied from someone else.
And who was that someone else? Did
one copy from the other – or did Dr. Kieschnick tell them what to say?
DOES THE
COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY (CTCR)
DOCUMENT TO WHICH KIESCHNICK REFERS ACTUALLY SUPPORT JOINT PRAYER SERVICES
WITH PAGAN RELIGIONS?
By no means. Resolution
3.07C from the 2001 synodical convention was produced as a response to
the question of how the members of Synod relate to other “Christians,”
not joint prayer services with other religions.
The members of the Commission on Theology which penned
this document have asserted it is illegitimate to use the document in the
way Kieschnick is doing so. Kieschnick
has summarily asserted: “The
document means what I say it means.”
Those who were members of the CTCR
when the document was actually written, however, say that Dr. Kieschnick’s
claim is a gross misunderstanding and misuse of what the text says.
Men like Prof. Kurt Marquart have demonstrated this quite clearly,
but still Dr. Kieschnick insists on interpreting it in a way that makes him
look good.
Dr. Kieschnick realizes that his personal
interpretation of this newly-written untested resolution is his only hope
for defense. He interprets it in
such a way that is diametrically opposed to the historic, Scriptural
practice we have followed throughout the history of
The LCMS. If
he based his reasoning on the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions alone,
he wouldn’t have any support for his position.
He can find no scriptural or confessional evidence to support his
belief that it is permissible to pray with pagans in a pantheistic setting.
The office of the synodical president has the ability
to appoint numerous men to the CTCR.
Dr. Kieschnick has been using this ability to his advantage, aided
and abetted by Dr. Samuel Nafzger who has served as the executive director
since the liberal Bohlman days. Dr.
Nafzger encouraged Rev. Dale Meyer to participate in an interfaith prayer
service in
St. Louis
much like the one in Yankee Stadium. Nafzger
has been instrumental in trying to get the LCMS to join the LWF (a global,
ultra-liberal political organization) and longs to move the LCMS closer to
the ELCA despite their stand on abortion and homosexual unions.
It is no surprise that Nafzger has been influencing
Kieschnick to appoint people to the CTCR
who approve of his personal interpretation of the policies of our church –
positions which are very much at odds with the faithful practice of the LCMS
– and with other confessional Lutherans throughout the world.
Dr. Kieschnick and Dr. Nafzger maintain that we have to
change our beliefs and practices so that missions and evangelism will be
more effective. They say that
the LCMS can’t remain faithful to it’s traditional doctrine and practice
if it wants to gain more members. They
want to win converts from the world by becoming more like the world contrary
to the clear words of God as found in such passages as these:
(Matthew 16:24)
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let
him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
(Romans 12:2)
Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal
of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect.
(2 Thessalonians 2:15)
So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you
were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
(1 Timothy 4:16)
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.
Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and
those who hear you.
DOESN’T DR.
KIESCHNICK EMPHASIZE MISSIONS, EVANGELISM, AND THE GREAT COMMISSION?
Dr. Kieschnick talks repeatedly about the mission of
the church. Sure, he talks about
Jesus. But we have to remember
what Jesus said in the Great Commission itself, “Teach them to observe
‘all things’ I have commanded you.”
You won’t hear Dr. Kieschnick doing that.
Instead, you will find him using the CTCR,
the CCM, and other resources to
“change” Synod’s historical practice and Biblical understanding of
such things as our relationship with those who deny Christ’s real presence
in the Lord’s Supper, with those who support abortion and homosexual
unions, with those who deny that the Bible is divinely inspired, and with
those who say that women should be ordained as pastors.
If Dr. Kieschnick gets his way, we will be right back
where the liberals wanted to be in the 60's and 70’s.
WHAT ABOUT THE
THEOLOGICAL CONFERENCES?
When Dr. Kieschnick announced his intention to hold a
model conference in
Phoenix
to get people to talk about their differences, it sounded like a good thing.
In reality, however, it was a veiled attempt to change the Scriptural
stance of our synod.
At that conference – and at subsequent conferences
planned around the synod – Dr. Kieschnick and Dr. Nafzger in conjunction
with Dr. Bohlmann were already trying to reshape the teachings of synod.
They gathered surveys at that conference in order to find out what
people thought. They wanted to
learn how to say what people want to hear rather than paying close attention
to what the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions have to say.
It’s just like what
St. Paul
warned in 2 Timothy 4:3-4:
“For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have
itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn
their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
In all their hubbub and media magic, from simple
e-mails to flashy webcasts, it is easier to distract the unwary from the
bottom line. It is absolutely
essential for Christ’s people to ask, “What is the end result of Dr.
Kieschnick and Dr. Nafzger’s efforts?”
Take note if the outcome looks significantly different than what
Christ’s church has believed, taught, and confessed according to the Bible
throughout its history. That is
what they have in mind.
BUT ISN’T
DR. KIESCHNICK CONSERVATIVE LIKE DR.
BARRY?
Absolutely not. Dr.
Barry’s greatest fears and nightmares are being realized in Dr.
Kieschnick. Through the decade
of Dr. Barry’s leadership of our Synod, Dr. Kieschnick was his worst and
most vocal opponent. Dr.
Kieschnick opposed every effort of our beloved synod president to restore
sound doctrine and true evangelical practice to the synod.
Dr. Kieschnick publicly and privately lambasted the “What About”
series. When Dr. Barry informed
the public that true Lutherans are not in agreement with the Roman Pope on
the doctrine of justification by grace, Dr. Kieschnick “publicly”
criticized President Barry
When Dr. Kieschnick arrived in
St. Louis
, he promptly joined the most liberal LCMS church in town, Concordia
Kirkwood. Dr. Kieschnick
claims to be “conservative,” and in comparison to the ELCA, he may be
right. But the fact of the
matter is, he holds his church membership at Concordia –
Kirkwood
, one of the most liberal and left-wing congregations still in the LCMS.
Concordia is the headquarters for the “Jesus
First/Daystar” movement, which
so viciously attacked Dr. Barry.
The pastor of that church, Vern Gundermann, is a
long-time supporter of women’s ordination.
He practices open communion. He
has women distributing the Lord’s Supper.
At a recent meeting at Concordia, liberals like district presidents
Ron Meyer (
South Wisconsin
) and Ron Bergen (
Ohio
), together with Gloria Edwards and many others were devising plans to move
the LCMS away from the faithful, Scriptural and historic teachings and
practice of our church in order to be more appealing to the worldly crowds
and liberal churches.
WHAT IS THE
LIBERAL AGENDA OF DR. BENKE, DR. KIESCHNICK AND “JESUS FIRST”?
The agenda is this:
1.
Attack and label all opponents as “extremists” and
identify themselves as being in the middle.
2.
Move the LCMS into a closer relationship with the ELCA.
3.
Get
Missouri
to accept women as seminary professors, congregational presidents and
elders, then pastors.
4.
Eliminate close(d) communion.
5.
Multiply lay people (including women!) as preachers,
“pastors” and celebrants of communion by greatly exaggerating the clergy
“shortage.”
6.
Radically increase “alternate routes” to ordination,
because non-educated, dumbed-down clergy won’t let doctrine or the serious
teachings of the bible stand in the way of the liberal agenda.
7.
Encourage congregations to turn worship into entertainment to
“attract young people,” but numerous studies have shown that the young
people of today don’t want the watered-down self-serving worship of the
60’s or 70’s.
8.
Act quickly, because the older liberal pastors like Dr. Benke
are aging quickly, and younger seminary graduates from both seminaries are
far more conservative.
9.
Use presidential appointments to the Commission on
Constitutional Matters (CCM) and the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR)
to legislate rulings which make synodical officials immune from any kind of
accountability.
10.
Use theological conferences and district conventions to
manipulate laypeople into changing doctrinal beliefs based on God’s Word
into personal beliefs based on feelings.
BUT DR.
KIESCHNICK SPOKE POSITIVELY OF DR. BARRY BEFORE BEING ELECTED DIDN’T HE?
Yes, but it was a calculated move.
Dr. Kieschnick had been working feverishly to position himself as the
“Jesus First” alternative to Dr. Barry.
In doing so, he was able to garner more nominations for synod
president than anyone but Dr. Barry (whose total far exceeded Dr.
Kieschnick’s). He made his
move, announcing his intention to run for president within days of the news
that Dr. Barry was on his deathbed. With
Dr. Barry’s strong leadership gone, “Jesus First” pushed, got a
sympathetic leader into power.
Many of the convention delegates were supporting Dr.
Daniel Preus and Dr. Dean Wenthe. Either
of these men would have continued the faithful service and direction which
Dr. Barry had established in the previous twelve years.
But the votes of confessional delegates were split between these two
allowing Dr. Kieschnick to get elected by a mere 18 votes over Ft. Wayne
Seminary President, Dean Wenthe.
BUT HASN’T
DR. KIESCHNICK BEEN CHAMPIONING THE CONSTITUTION, BYLAWS AND RESOLUTIONS OF
SYNOD?
Only in appearance.
Dr. Barry taught the church, producing many useful documents and
resources on the church’s worship life; why Lutherans use hymnals and
liturgy; why we are conservative, why we have confessions; why we are not
the ELCA; why we practice close(d) communion; why women are not pastors, and
the like. But the “most
prominent” thing Dr. Kieschnick “has” supported is Dr. Benke’s
violation of the Bible, the Lutheran Confessions and Synod’s doctrine,
assenting to Dr. Benke’s participation in a service which put the Triune
God at the same level as other gods.
Notably, one of Dr. Kieschnick’s election plans was
that he would de-emphasize our synod’s constitution and bylaws.
Dr. Kieschnick was a persistent opponent of the many positive
conservative resolutions of Synod in convention.
As a district president in
Texas
, he encouraged the churches to ignore them!
But now that he has control of the CCM
and CTCR – and
can control convention floor committees and resolutions – he is using his
power to get rulings which centralizes his own authority.
On at least two occasions since becoming the president
of the LCMS, Dr. Kieschnick has participated in ELCA worship services.
Why is this significant? The
ELCA continues to support abortion
rights and is working to bless homosexual marriages and to ordain
homosexuals as pastors.
Furthermore, the ELCA denies that the Bible is truly
the Word of God and allows pastors to teach that hell doesn’t really exist
and that Adam and eve were not real people.
The ELCA is in full communion with churches that publicly deny
Christ’s body and blood are actually present in the Lord’s Supper.
The ELCA ordains women pastors, something which is clearly contrary
to the Word of God.
Why, then, does Dr. Kieschnick want to participate in
worship and in communion with them and to act as if these differences
don’t really amount to anything serious?
How can Dr. Kieschnick, for example, claim to be supportive of
“Lutherans for Life,” but then join in worship with the ELCA as if the
issue of murdering unborn babies in the womb alone weren’t enough to limit
such fellowship?
WHY IS
KIESCHNICK SO ADAMANT IN SUPPORTING BENKE?
It will not surprise you to learn that Dr. Benke is the
district president who organized the opposition to Dr. Barry’s Scriptural
and Confessional emphases for the synod.
When Dr. Barry died, Dr. Benke went into overdrive to get Dr.
Kieschnick elected. Benke was
the chairman of the “Kieschnick for President” campaign.
Dr. Kieschnick “owes” Dr. Benke, and Dr. Benke has reminded Dr.
Kieschnick of that pointedly.
JUST WHO IS
DR. BENKE? IS HE CONSERVATIVE AS
HE CLAIMS?
Dr. Benke is a pastor who graduated from the
St. Louis
seminary at the height of its liberal days (1970), when the most liberal
theology was taught there. His
own vicarage was marred by a liberal approach to morality.
Dr. Benke supported – and still supports – the
theology of Seminex.
He is on record in the Atlantic District’s Board of Directors
minutes expressing the fact that he has taken his district in a different
direction that the synod has been going.
He has been referred to as “the Brooklyn Dodger” because he gives
shifty answers when asked direct questions about such things.
But perhaps most regrettably of all, Dr. Benke is using the horrific
tragedy of 9/11 as an opportunity to advance his liberal agenda for the
whole church contrary to the clear teachings of the Scriptures as shown in
the historic practice of the LCMS.
Dr. Benke is “best
friends” with his New York ELCA counterpart, Bishop Bouman.
Bouman graduated from the St. Louis Seminary at nearly the same time
as Benke. He however, had the
courage of his convictions and left the Missouri Synod in the 70’s.
Dr. Bouman says he and Dr. Benke commune together.
He says that the whole Yankee affair didn’t “just happen” as
Dr. Benke claims, but that he, Dr. Benke and the Roman Catholic Bishop
planned the whole event together. Dr.
Bouman is a strong supporter of the ordination of homosexual pastors and the
acceptance of homosexual marriages.
BUT HOW COME
EVERYTHING THAT APPEARS IN THE MEDIA IS PRO-BENKE/KIESCHNICK?
Dr. Benke has employed a Jewish law firm in
New York
which also serves as his public relations agent.
They are “spinning” the story so that Missouri Synod
conservatives look as bad as possible. Dr.
Kieschnick, who has complete control of the synodical media, is playing
right along.
At the direction of Dr. Kieschnick, Tom Lapacka, David
Mahsman, and David Strand, (key leaders in charge of the synod’s
communication department), are spinning every story in Dr. Kieschnick’s
favor, intentionally omitting important facts and failing to do justice to
the other side of the story. Mahsman,
in particular, has several LCMS communications staff working directly for
Dr. Kieschnick as his personal PR team.
Mahsman has a long history of opposition to Dr. Barry, refusing to
cooperate fully when Dr. Barry wanted to “get the message straight,” and
“get the message out.”
Those pastors and congregations who formally raised the
issue of Dr. Benke’s participation with pagans in a prayer service have
chosen not to use the media in this way.
They have no recourse to try to set the public record straight by
giving rebuttal to Dr. Benke'’ false claims.
They cannot respond to Dr. Kieschnick at the numerous conferences
where he fails to present the facts of the case accurately.
These people have chosen to abide by the orderly
synodical adjudication process, waiting until the matter has been concluded
before making all the details known. The
entire process, however, can take more than a year.
Until that happens, it seems that little can be done officially to
stop Dr. Benke and Dr. Kieschnick from stirring up our church and the public
with half-truths in the attempt to fulfill their unbiblical dreams for the
LCMS.
DO BENKE AND KIESCHNICK
HAVE THE SUPPORT OF DR. KUHN, FORMER SYNOD PRESIDENT, AND VICE PRESIDENT
UNDER DR. BARRY?
No. Dr.
Kuhn is aghast at the turmoil Dr. Kieschnick’s support of false doctrine
has brought the Synod. Dr. Kuhn
is Chairman of the Synod’s Board of Directors.
The BOD majority has let the church know that Benke/Kieschnick are
flagrantly, repeatedly and constantly violating the bylaws of the synod as
well as the directives of Matthew 18, by “trying this case in the
press.” The BOD statement on
these violations can be found on the Synod’s web page:
www.lcms.org
ARE OTHERS
IMPOSING THEMSELVES INTO THIS MESS
Yes. One of
these is former Synod President Ralph Bohlmann.
Losing the election to Dr. Barry over a decade ago, Dr. Bohlmann was
ousted by the synod in convention for his liberal agenda and for causing
untold turmoil. He has been
bitter about it every since, looking for some way to regain his former
prestige. Sadly, Dr. Bohlmann
has become deeply involved in this controversy, giving directions to Gerald
Kieschnick and to the dissenting minority of synod’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Bohlmann’s involvement includes producing the statement which
the dissenting minority used in response to the Board of Director’s recent
plea for Dr. Benke and Dr. Kieschnick to cease and desist the illegitimate
use of the church press for their liberal ends, in violation of the bylaws.
Interestingly, a copy was not even shared with the rest of the Board
of Directors!
Another interloper is Wilbert Sohns, a former district
president wanting to recapture some of his former spheres of influence by
inciting members of Jesus First to sign a petition against the complainants.
Dr. Kieschnick allowed his office, synodical staff and resources to
be used by this group to send out a 48-page mailing and promotes Dr. Sohns
to a key position, allowing him to vote even with a conflict of interest.
Recently, Dr. Kieschnick appointed Dr. Sohns to the
Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM)
which is responsible for making key judgments relating to this case in light
of Synod’s Constitution. In
the first meeting of this 5-member committee (3 of which were appointed by
Dr. Kieschnick), Dr. Sohns managed to get Dr. Benke’s agenda passed which
renders him immune from accountability.
These rulings will soon be exposed as political tampering which run
contrary to the clear words of our synodical constitution and bylaws – as
well as Scripture and the Confessions.
WHAT CAN
PEOPLE DO?
It is vitally important that members of LCMS churches
get back to reading the Bible, the Small and Large Catechisms, and the other
confessional and historical writings upon which our synod was founded.
You can read “What Luther Says” (a topical index of
excerpts from Luther’s Writings) or search the Scriptures with free
computerized Bibles from www.e-sword.org
to see what Jesus says about “doctrine” and “teaching.”
You can read Herman Sasse essays entitled “The Lonely Way” or
“Testing the Claims of Church Growth” by Rodney Zwonitzer.
You can commune regularly to be strengthened and preserved in the
truth faith – and pray that the Lord will preserve and keep us, turning
people away from their errors and to the truth in Christ.
Use this opportunity to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus
Christ!
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