Kieschnick Over Wenthe:
What Happened?
By Rev. Jack Cascione

 

A lot of people have different answers as to why Jerry Kieschnick was elected President over Dean Wenthe. This writer was informed by a Synodical Vice President, numerous pastors, faculty from Fort Wayne, and lay people that if the question of Church and Ministry had not been brought up Wenthe would have won. They blame this writer. They claim my opinions of Fort Wayne's views on Church and Ministry were neither fair nor accurate.

It was never my intent to elect Kieschnick, the "Jesus First" candidate, President of the LCMS. I also promised not to speak about Wenthe after he was selected by the "United List," a promise I kept.

Hindsight is more accurate than assumptions about the future. "Jesus First" was far more organized than the complacent "Balance" and "Affirm" whose lay support base has been eroding for the past nine years.

Wenthe's selection by the "Untied List" was by a few people, in a closed room. No one was permitted to debate Wenthe's candidacy or promote a different candidate in any open meeting. No one who was openly opposed to Wenthe's candidacy was invited to meet with the "United List." When they lost they blamed this writer for the loss.

Hartwig was removed on the first ballot. Had he been the choice of the United List he may have proved a far stronger candidate. Preus, whom we are told couldn't win a Synodical election by members of "Balance," was elected First Vice President while Wenthe failed to win enough votes to be elected as a Synodical Vice President (2 through 5).

Was the issue of Church and Ministry worth risking a Synodical presidency? I didn't create the issue. I only reported it. Even in the July 2001issue of "For the Life of the World" Wenthe wrote on page 2, "The Scriptures and our Lutheran Confessions have rightly resisted portraying the pastoral office as 'above' the laity or possessing a special grace." However, he failed to say that the Lutheran Confessions say that the congregation is over the pastor. "In 1Cor. 3:6, Paul makes ministers equal, and teaches the Church is above the ministers." (Concordia Trig. Par. 11. 507) The Word of God is above the Church and the Church is above the ministers.

Who kept the Fort Wayne faculty and Chairman of the Board of Regents from saying: "Of course we all agree with Voter Supremacy," "Of course the congregation is over the pastor," "Of course we agree with Walther that the voters are the 'final tribunal' in the congregation." "Of course, no one receives a spiritual blessing through the Sacrament of ordination" "Of course, a group of lay people can vote themselves into being a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregation"?

No, they couldn't say these things. Rather, this writer and anyone who agrees with these positions was excoriated, berated, and called un-Lutheran by Fort Wayne faculty, students, and graduates for the past three years.

The primary reason for promoting these issues was to give a theological and practical basis for telling congregations that the voters and not the pastor are the final authority on worship, hymnbooks, and catechisms. Therefore, the Church Growth and Pastoral Leadership Institute advocates of contemporary worship have no authority to change worship without a vote of the congregation. However, the hyper-euro-Lutherans don't agree that a voters' assembly have this authority. It is a lose-lose situation for the laity.

When these issues were brought up three years ago, who knew that Wenthe would be a candidate for the LCMS presidency in April of 2001? It was former President Barry who told me privately and in public, that the Synod's official position on Church and Ministry was the same as C. F. W. Walther's.

Where does this leave us with President Jerry Kieschnick? Regardless of what has been written, he is the choice of the Convention. He is entitled to his honeymoon with the Synod. He must be supported as the president of the Synod unless his words or actions prove beyond doubt that he is not worthy of our support.

Publicly, his endorsement of the inerrancy of Scripture, his agreement with the Lutheran Confessions, his opposition to women clergy and condemnation of "Jesus First" are excellent. We all have to wait and see and give the man a chance to perform the duties to which he was duly elected. We hope that he also supports article VI of the LCMS Constitution that requires exclusive use of orthodox hymnbooks, catechisms, and agenda in church and school.


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.

July 21, 2001