LLL Wants Schulz to Withdraw from Benke Case
By Rev. Jack Cascione

 

It is reported that after Schulz refused to resign as Lutheran Hour Speaker he was placed on suspended status. The request from the LLL President and Board of Governors makes it impossible for Schulz to return as Lutheran Hour Speaker.

The following release from the LLL states that Wallace Schulz may return as Lutheran Hour Speaker if he excuses himself from the Benke Case. "Dr. Schulz's . . . acted despite our request to excuse himself from ruling on the matter." according to Int'l LLL President Al Waldron.

The LLL has replaced Schulz with a speaker who was the "Jesus First" candidate to the Board of Directors at Fort Wayne. During the LLL Convention it was requested that Christian News not be given out to the delegates.

The following is the complete text of the LLL News Release.

Int'l LLL Board of Governors Defines Conditions for Schulz's Return to Service

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, July 21, 2002 -The Rev. Dr. Wallace Schulz can return to the service of Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) and the International Lutheran Layman's League (Int'l LLL) after agreeing to stipulations that would govern his future employment, the league's board of governors has ruled. Those stipulations will be specified by the league's executive director, Rodger Hebermehl.

Schulz was relieved temporarily of his duties as Lutheran Hour Radio Speaker on July 12. This action was taken after Schulz, acting in his position as second vice president of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, suspended the president of that church body's Atlantic District, the Rev. Dr. David Benke. Schulz ruled that Benke violated church doctrine and policy by participating in a prayer service at Yankee Stadium for victims of the September 11 tragedy and their families.

The Int'l LLL takes no position on Schulz's ruling. However, the league's leadership anticipated that any ruling he made would polarize the league and have harmful consequences. When the ruling was announced, the league immediately began hearing from donors and listeners protesting the action. A second round of protest developed after Schulz was temporarily relieved of duties with full compensation.

"Our mission is to bring Christ to the nations and the nations to the church," said Int'l LLL President Al Waldron. "We cannot allow polarization to compromise and harm our ministry. Dr. Schulz's action had that effect, and he acted despite our request to excuse himself from ruling on the matter."

The league's board of governors determined that Schulz violated the organization's code of ethics and its conflict of interest policy. The code of ethics requires employees to work together to bring Christ to the nations and the nations to the church. If a choice of conduct is unclear or might not serve the best interests of all, the code requires employees to ask for guidance from supervisors, other league officers or pastoral advisors. The conflict of interest policy requires employees not to enter into activities that may be knowingly detrimental to the league. Schulz sought no guidance and paid little attention to the guidance offered him, Waldron said.

"Nevertheless, the board recognizes Dr. Schulz's many contributions ... and that he has many friends within the league and the church at large," Waldron said. "He is a man of numerous gifts and talents. The board would like to see him continue his service to the Lord through the league and is reaching out to him in this way."

Schulz must agree to the stipulations specified by the executive director as a condition of being returned to service. When agreement takes place, the executive director may reinstate Schulz to duties that the executive director deems appropriate.

Lutheran Hour Ministries, with headquarters in St. Louis, is a service of the International Lutheran Laymen's League (Int'l LLL) a volunteer organization of 130,000 members. The Int'l LLL is an auxiliary of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Lutheran Church-Canada.


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 22, 2002