A Negative Review of "How To Start Or Keep Your Own LCMS Church"
By Rev. Jack Cascione

 

The following is a negative review of "How To Start Or Keep Your Own LCMS Church." The LCMS is now so pluralistic in its approach to church and ministry that in practice it really has no position on the subject. We thank Pastor Peter Dorn for his criticism. We also took the opportunity to reply.

(The book sells for $5:00, plus $2.00 handling and shipping and can be ordered by calling 573-237-3110 or emailing cnmail@fidnet.com or reclaimnews@earthlink.net.)


Dear Pastor Cascione,

I received and looked over the book by you that was mailed ("How to start or keep your own Missouri Synod Church). I thought I would give you some feedback.

Even though I disagree with much of what you write, I found much agreement with this book. The positive statements you made I agree with. I, too, grew up a Missouri Synod Lutheran and support the view of church polity that you espouse. So the question comes to my mind--what are we fighting so much for?

I do have a couple of disagreements with the book. The first is that you are spending a lot of time and effort on something that in the Lutheran Confessions is considered adiaphora. Church polity has always been considered adiaphora. There is no one structure of the church, which has been given by God. Every structure you examine has flaws, including the one you espouse (and I agree with). The question is, does the structure help us promote the kingdom of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ or not? This can change from generation to generation and culture to culture, as long as it does not hinder the preaching of the Gospel.

My second disagreement has to do with the comments made about church growth. That seems to be everybody's punching bag right now. I have read a lot of church growth books, and do not recognize what I read in yours and other people's comments about church growth. The type of argument you are using seems to be the "straw man" argument, namely, to create a position and then knock it down. The problem with the "straw man" approach is that it does not adequately represent that against which you are fighting. What you are fighting is not what I am reading. I am sure you can find books that show what you are fighting against, but church growth covers a broad spectrum that is impossible to boil down to one thing. I disagree with much of what I read in church growth, but that does not make it all bad. Are you against the church growing? Don't you want to use all available tools that God has given us to advance the Kingdom of God?

The positive statements you make I agree with. It is the negative statements that I have a problem with--because they do not adequately take into account the position you are fighting. If you would stop to really listen, perhaps you would not be so negative.

Thank you.
Rev. Peter Dorn


Perhaps I don't understand Pastor Dorn's position. He writes: "I, too, grew up a Missouri Synod Lutheran and support the view of church polity that you espouse." Then he writes, "Church polity has always been considered adiaphora." Adiaphora means something neither forbidden nor required by Scripture. With his understanding of polity the Missouri Synod, itself, is an adiaphora.

FIRST, Resolution 7-17 is hardly an adiaphora, as Pastor Dorn wishes to characterize the doctrine of Church and Ministry in the LCMS.

Resolution 7-17 "To Affirm Synod's Official Position on Church and Ministry"

Overture 7-39 (CW, p. 251) Whereas, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) has experienced during its history confusion with regard to the doctrine of church and ministry; and

Whereas, Dr. C. F. W. Walther addressed this confusion in 1851 through his Theses on Church and Ministry which was subsequently presented as the position of the LCMS in 1851; and

Whereas, The book, "The position of our Church on the Question of Church and Ministry," by Dr. C. F. W. Walther was published in 1852 and adopted in 1854 by the LCMS in convention as the official position of the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod meeting in convention in the year of our Lord 2001 affirm the above referenced writings of C. F. W. Walther as the definitive statement of the Synod's understanding on the subject of Church and Ministry; and be it further

Resolved, that the LCMS in convention re-affirm the decision of the convention in 1854, recognizing C. F. W. Walther's book, "The Position of Our Church on the Question of Church and Ministry," as the official position of the LCMS; and be it finally Resolved, That all pastors, professors, teachers of the Church and congregations honor and uphold the resolutions of the Synod as regards the official position of our Synod on Church and Ministry and teach in accordance with them.

SECOND, whether or not Pastor Dorn agrees or disagrees with the polity of LCMS Congregations, as taught in Walther's "Church and Ministry," it is a position that he must teach as an LCMS pastor.

THIRD, naturally Pastor Dorn feels that Church Growth is not given a fair hearing because it promotes a different polity than taught by Walther. The honest thing to do is to change the Synod's official doctrine on the subject before inventing his own polity. There is no way to implement Walther's "Church and Ministry" without a voters' assembly governing the congregation.

If Walther's doctrine of "Church and Ministry" is a hindrance to growth then we have to ask if it is really the church that is growing?

Of course, if the Convention votes against Resolution 7-17 the Missouri Synod will cease to exist.

The June issue of the "Lutheran Witness" has a cover story titled "Why Some Pastors Quit." The authors would have us believe that the church will grow and the pastor will be happy if the people are nice. The article clearly abandons the doctrine of "Church and Ministry" and then searches for and explanation as to why things aren't working well in the congregation. The entire article is an exercise in absurdity and irrationality. Doctrine must be practiced, including church and ministry!

Blessings,
Pastor Cascione


Rev. Jack Cascione is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS - MI) in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He has written numerous articles for Christian News and is the author of Reclaiming the Gospel in the LCMS: How to Keep Your Congregation Lutheran. He has also written a study on the Book of Revelation called In Search of the Biblical Order.
He can be reached by email at pastorcascione@juno.com.

June 18, 2001