Media Confused by Charges Filed Against LCMS President Kieschnick
By Rev. Jack Cascione

 

The following is courtesy of LCMSNOTES@crf.cuis.edu

Clarification of Charges Against Benke

President Kieshnick's Most Recent Statement To the Press

Date: Friday, 30 Nov 2001 15:09
From: David Strand <david.strand@lcms.org>


Clarification of Charges Against Benke

The American news media has published and announced a number of erroneous reports that newly elected LCMS President, Dr. Gerald Kieschnick has been fired, removed from office, or sued, by LCMS pastors because he prayed with people in New Your City at ground zero.

Actually, three LCMS Districts have requested clarification as to why LCMS Atlantic District President Dr. David Benke, a close friend of President Kieschnick, participated in a joint "Prayer Service" at Yankee Stadium in New York City on September 23, 2001. Among the many clerics participating in the "Prayer Service" were Moslems, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jews, and other groups that reject the deity of Christ.

Many LCMS pastors would have overlooked this violation of the LCMS Constitution, but during the event, Benke, who did pray in Jesus' name, failed to identify Jesus Christ as the only God. Benke also refuses to answer the question, "Is Jesus the only way to heaven?"

If Benke prayed in the name of Jesus Christ, who was to be understood as just one among many gods, he failed to warn these Jews, Buhdists, Moslems, and Sikhs, that they are eternally damned without Christ. "Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

If Benke was concerned about offending other clergy in the "Prayer Service" Benke should not have participated.

Kieschnick has defended Benke's actions and wants to refer to this event as a "civic event" rather than a "Prayer Service." However, it was clearly identified as a "Prayer Service" by the Mayor of New York City.

Two LCMS pastors have indeed filed charges against Kieshnick, not in civil, but in LCMS church court, called "Dispute Resolution."

Kieschnick, Benke, or their associates, must have released reports about the charges to the media. Constitutional rules governing Dispute Resolution state that those filing the charges must keep their actions confidential. During the dispute between St. Louis Seminary President, Dr. John Tietjen and LCMS President Dr. Jacob Preus, that led to the Seminex "Walk Out" in 1974, the liberals led by Tietjen, regularly used the public media to promote their agenda.

It appears that in 2001, liberals are again adopting the same tackics to influence LCMS theology and practice.


President Kieshnick's most recent statement to the press.

A Statement from Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick
President of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod

News articles reporting on charges brought against me by two pastors in the Synod have resulted in confusion about the official position of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod regarding relationships with Christian churches not in altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS and regarding the participation of Missouri Synod pastors and congregations in events and occasions involving worship which also include the participation of non-Christians.

The official position of the LCMS on these issues is presented in the Constitution of the Synod. The Synod's Constitution lists as one of the conditions for acquiring and holding membership in the Synod the "renunciation of unionism and syncretism of every description" such as "serving congregations of mixed confessions by ministers of the church and taking part in the services and sacramental rites of heterodox congregations or congregations of mixed confessions." This means that the pastors and congregations of the Synod are pledged by virtue of their membership in the Synod not to lead formal worship services with Christian churches and pastors not in church fellowship with the Missouri Synod.

This is a position, which the Synod has repeatedly reaffirmed, most recently at the 2001 Convention of the Synod. This is the position to which I as the President of the Synod am fully committed. I am also required by virtue of the duties of my office "to see to it" that all the pastors and congregations of the Synod follow this position.

In reaffirming this constitutional provision on church fellowship this past summer, the Synod in convention also adopted "for continued use and guidance" a report prepared by my predecessor Dr. Barry and by the Synod's Commission on Theology (2001 Res. 3-07A). The statement includes a section on "cases of discretion," which reads as follows:

B. Cases Of Discretion

"Not every occasion where worship takes place is necessarily a manifestation of church fellowship. There are situations where discretion is appropriate. Some laity raised concerns about attending Baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals, etc. of family and friends in churches not in church fellowship with the LCMS. Attendance at such services is generally a matter of personal judgment and individual conscience. On such occasions LCMS members will want to refrain from receiving Holy Communion and participating in rites of other churches that compromise their confession of faith. Doubtful situations may produce emotional distress and may require pastoral counsel.

"Pastors, teachers, and other officially recognized church workers are often asked to participate in activities outside of their own and other LCMS congregations. Some of these are civic events. Offering prayers, speaking, and reading Scripture at events sponsored by governments, public schools and volunteer organizations would be a problem if the organization in charge restricted a Christian witness. For instance, if an invitation requires a pastor to pray to God without mentioning Jesus, he cannot in good conscience accept. Without such a restriction, a Lutheran pastor may for valid and good reason participate in civic affairs such as an inauguration, graduation or a right-to-life activity. These occasions may provide opportunity to witness to the Gospel. Pastors may have honest differences of opinion about whether or to what extent it is appropriate or helpful to participate in these or similar civic events. In these cases charity must prevail.

"There are also 'once-in-a-life-time' situations. It is virtually impossible to anticipate all such situations or to establish rules in advance. Specific answers cannot be given to cover every type of situation pastors and congregations face. These situations can be evaluated only on a case-by-case basis and may evoke different responses from different pastors who may be equally committed to LCMS fellowship principles. The LCMS has always recognized this.

"However, the response to one situation should not establish a precedent for future ones. Where pastors regularly consult each other and are convinced of one another's integrity, they are freer to use their discretion where such prior consultation is impossible. We do not want to fall into the trap of case law rigidity by setting down rules for every conceivable situation. At the same time, the exception should not become the rule, lest the truth of the Gospel be compromised.

"A pastor may face situations in the community where no other pastoral care is available and he may be asked to minister to those outside his congregation. Before doing this, ideally he would consult with other LCMS pastors, especially the Circuit Counselor, District President or Vice Presidents. But often these cases do not allow for consultation of any kind and on-the-spot decisions have to be made. In these and other situations nearly every pastor may question even his own decision and wish he had taken another course of action. We do not have the option of changing the past but must be content with believing that we made the best possible decision under the circumstances."

It was on the basis of this synodically approved understanding of the Synod's position on "cases of discretion" that I responded to Atlantic District President Benke's request for counsel regarding his participation in an event held in Yankee Stadium on September 23.

Because some members of the Synod have raised questions regarding what constitutes a "civic event," I have formally asked the Synod's Commission on Theology and Church Relations to address this topic in greater depth. I have specifically asked the CTCR to take up the issue of the participation of Synodical pastors and congregations in civic events which include the offering "of prayers, speaking and reading Scripture" including civic events involving the participation of non-Christians. And I have asked the Commission to give this assignment the highest priority and have its response ready for distribution throughout the Synod prior to the 2004 Synodical Convention.

In conclusion, I would urge the members of the Synod to recommit themselves to the position of the Synod as set forth in the Synodical Constitution and in the official resolutions of the Synod. Occasions such as we have experienced in recent weeks call for difficult decisions to be made. Pastors and congregations of the Synod may have honest differences of opinion about whether or to what extent it is appropriate or helpful to participate in these or similar events and activities. But as former President Barry and the CTCR have stated, "In these cases charity must prevail." This is also my prayer for the Synod. May our continuing discussions in the Synod of these issues bring glory and praise to the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel which offer life and salvation to all.


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.

December 1, 2001