More media coverage of Issues, Etc.

Synodical officials aren’t permitting any coverage of the events surrounding Issues, Etc., but that isn’t keeping other media outlets from reporting on the situation.

In World magazine, LCMS journalist, author, scholar Gene Edward Veith reports on what happened with Issues, Etc.

‘Issues’ no longer
Cancellation of LCMS radio show raises ruckus

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has 2.4 million members, a vigorous Christ-centered theology, and the largest Protestant network of Christian schools. And yet much of Christendom and the secular culture hardly knows it exists. So a hallmark of synodical president Gerald Kieschnick’s administration has been the “Ablaze” program, focusing on personal witnessing, church planting, and evangelism.

So why did that administration suddenly eliminate what may be its best known, most respected, and most effective vehicle for evangelizing the lost, interacting with other Christians, and bringing Lutheranism into the public square?

Wyoming in the house

The Wyoming District Pastoral Conference took action on the cancellation of Issues, Etc. In their resolution, they posed questions of the President of Synod, the Board for Communication Services, and the Council of Presidents. I look forward to seeing their timely responses.

Questions Regarding “Issues, Etc.”

Whereas, the radio program “Issues, Etc.” on KFUO AM was a blessing to many residents of the Wyoming District LC-MS and other listeners within the range of KFUO and of the other stations which carried this program in syndication, and on the worldwide web, keeping us abreast of current issues at the intersection of theology and American culture, and helping us to respond to these issues in a truly biblical, evangelical, and Lutheran way; and

Whereas, “Issues, Etc.” has been an uncommonly excellent vehicle for broadcasting some of the best teaching that our synod has to offer to the world; and

Whereas, the Executive Director of the Board for Communication Services without consulting his supervising board, canceled the program “Issues, Etc.”, and terminated its host, the Reverend Todd Wilken, and its Producer, Mr. Jeff Schwarz; and

Whereas, this decision has caused much “anxiety, worry, and consternation…in the Synod” (Statement from LCMS President – April 21, 2008) as evidenced by an online petition of over 7000 signatures; therefore be it

Resolved, that the Wyoming District Pastor’s Conference, gathered at Rock Springs, Wyoming, in order to help resolve the ongoing controversy in our Synod, submits the following questions to the President of Synod, the Board for Communication Services (BCS), and the Council of Presidents:

1. The Council of Presidents and Executive Director of the BCS both released statements which claim that the terminations were handled in a Christian and Compassionate manner. How is it an exercise in Christian Compassion to terminate two individuals who had served in this capacity for nearly a decade, on such short notice, and during Holy Week?

2. How does summarily firing a man who was not simply an “at will employee” but also one who had a Divine Call reflect a confessional understanding of the Office of the Holy Ministry?

3. If this decision was made, as has been stated, for purely stewardship and programmatic reasons, why was the Treasurer of Synod (stewardship) and the full BCS (programmatic) not consulted?

4. Given concerns for the 8th Commandment as we deal with issues such as these, why was the decision to discontinue “Issues, Etc.” and the consequent firing of Rev. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz no immediately followed by a statement which clearly indicated that such termination was in no way related to their job performance or any other personal issues with these faithful men?

5. In light of the admitted “anxiety, worry, and consternation” which this decision has caused, and in light of synodical bylaw 1.5.1.3 that “all staff of corporate Synod and every agency of the Synod shall be sensitive in their activities to taking or giving offense, giving the appearance or impropriety, (or) causing confusion in the Synod…” what actions has Dr. Kieschnick taken or does he plan to take to remedy this situation by reversing actions of Synod staff which have broken this bylaw according to his mandate in bylaw 3.3.1.2.c, “He shall call up for review any action by an individual officer, executive, or agency that, in his view, may be in violation of the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod.”?

Adopted May 7, 2008

Good questions.

Radio show hosts

After dealing with the not-so-communicative Communications Department of the LCMS , I’m downright shocked to see something so tech-savvy as the Ohio District’s blog.

Back at the end of March, District President Cripe offered a proposal to return Issues, Etc. to the air for six months and charge its listeners 50 cents a pop for downloads.

So how about it? Instead of writing a protest or signing a petition, why not offer a proposal: return Issues for six months for a download subscription and see what happens. Just how much is Issues, Etc, worth to you?

You might recall that charging listeners for downloads was an idea that Todd and Jeff had suggested to David Strand but that he had rejected it.

Anyway, DP Cripe responded to one of his interested blog readers this week with the following update:

John,
As of now, there are no plans for such a thing. Too bad, because I believe a lot of needed revenue was lost. We have been assured that a new apologetic program is coming, hosted by various seminary professors.
- President Cripe

I wonder who assured DP Cripe of this programmatic update and when that happened. It’s interesting. I would note that radio show host is not a vocation shared by all seminary professors. They would probably make very good radio show guests. Anyway, let me know if you have heard anything about this . . .

Steve Siegel

Six days ago I asked David Strand, Vicki Biggs and Barbara Ryan to tell me whether or not Steve Siegel is employed by KFUO and, if so, in what capacity.

They have not been able to answer my question. Isn’t that weird?

Extra, extra, read all about it!

Get yourself over to Father Hollywood’s site for an interesting look at how the Synod’s official newspaper has handled the news related to Issues, Etc.

More on Pastor May

We have so many comments here, it’s difficult for me to read them all. But I did catch one in a thread from a few days ago that I thought should get more attention regarding Pastor James May, a missionary in West Africa, who is being sent home.

The following is a report from Pr. James May regarding his mission work in West Africa.

Rev. Kurt Hering, Pastor,
Trinity Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
of Layton, Utah

I was sent to Ouagadougou to learn French. There are no Lutheran churches here. I was directed to take my family and worship at non-Lutheran churches. I was forbidden to plant Lutheran churches in Ouagadougou.

In my daily life I was often encountered by locals asking who I am and what I am doing in Burkina Faso. I explained that I am a Lutheran pastor and am learning French. Many people wanted to know more. In a country that is 80% Muslim and animistic, I was happy to confess my faith in the savior Jesus Christ. People wanted to know more.

I was insubordinate and started Bible studies, and the area facilitator said that the regional director would not be happy, and therefore, even though he was informed, he said that he would turn a blind eye. Later while in the language learning process a friend of mine named his first born son after me.

My regional director had expressly told me that if someone wanted to be baptized I should send them to the Baptist church and NOT baptize them. Again I was insubordinate and preferred to disobey that order rather than break a relationship by insulting him and refusing to baptize his son. The father, Etienne Sam, has used his tailor shop to publicize and distribute Good News magazines.

A second time a man came from Cote d’Ivoire and was very poor. He couldn’t afford to send his kids to school which costs about $4 per child. His youngest son became very sick with dysentery. During a two week span he ceased eating and we feared for his life. His father was a Catholic but had been attending our Good News classes. I asked him if his son was baptized and he said the Catholic Church demanded $15 per baptism and he didn’t have the money. The Baptist Church was not going to baptize the child. Again I was insubordinate and baptized him so that his parents would have the assurance that even if dysentery won, the devil would not because Jesus would make Victorien His child. Miraculously the day after his baptism he also began eating and the dysentery left.

Finally, Rev. Dr. Anssi Simojoki, the Vice President of LHF and director for the Africa region, was making a trip through West Africa and contacted me. His son is the godfather of two of our children. I offered our house for him to stay in. I received an email from Rev. Dr. Paul Mueller in which he stated that he had not given me permission to have Anssi stay in my house. I was not aware that my personal home is ruled by World Mission. Again I was insubordinate and allowed Anssi to stay at our house.

In my most recent conversation with Rev. Dr. Paul Mueller in Conakry, Guinea, he said it is due to these acts of insubordination that he has determined I am a detriment to the LCMS WM team in Africa and that I was directed to seek another call. He would not put this in writing, rather he stated that I am unwilling to live in a primitive village, and therefore should leave Africa. This is untrue. I was unwilling to move to a village where access to emergency care is unattainable during rainy season. I have a pregnant wife and four children, one of which already had a medical emergency and nearly lost her fingers. Planting of churches and visiting of those remote congregations could have been done from cities with hospitals. This request was denied.

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

By His Grace alone,
Pr. James May

Official notices

The following two letters relating to the situation with Dr. Noland are of interest:

It is with regret that I confirm that Dr. Martin Noland has resigned as Executive Director of the Concordia Historical Institute effective May 9th, 2008. Dr. Noland has expressed to me in the past that he has missed the parish ministry and has a desire to return.

Dr. Noland is as excellent Church Historian and has been a great asset to CHI as we fulfill our responsibilities to collect and preserve articles of historical value and records of officers and entities of the Synod.

In the past year we have nearly doubled the storage capacity of the valuable materials. We have also moved forward with an excellent museum to be located in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod headquarters. Construction is under way.

Our prayers are with Martin and Karla that the Lord will bless him with a call to serve a parish or in another way to serve as a Church Historian.

Larry Lumpe, Chairman
Concordia Historical Institute

And then this note:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

This weekend I received word from the Synod President’s representative to the CHI Board that Rev. Martin Noland of Concordia Historical Institute, desiring to return to parish ministry, resigned his position as Executive Director. I spoke this morning with Mr. Larry Lumpe, Chairman of the CHI board, who confirmed this information and concurred with my suggestion that I share this brief notice with Synod leaders.

Unless and until we receive further notice from CHI, it would be neither necessary nor appropriate for anything else to be said. We pray for Pastor Noland and his family in the days ahead as they await the Lord’s leading, guiding and directing in their lives.

Blessings in Christ to you all!

Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

Whatever else may be said about this situation, the first sentence of Dr. Kieschnick’s letter is in error.

Another firing

Rev. Dr. Martin Noland has been fired from Concordia Historical Institute. This is the Synod’s archives and history office. More details to come.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Officially speaking, Dr. Noland offered his resignation to the board. Also, there is no indication that this was anything “bigger” than a board-motivated action.

UPDATE: Based on my reporting today, I can share the following additional information. The CHI board asked Dr. Noland to resign. Since he serves at their pleasure, he resigned.

The only reason really given was that CHI is short of unrestricted money and needs to make cuts. In the board’s opinion, Noland’s position would be the easiest to have vacant for an extended period of time. The board plans to fill the position with a “volunteer” for the time being. These discussions took place in executive session.

I also hear that Noland had been urging his board to allow him to be more aggressive with development, but that they had resisted. Having said all that, it looks like an agreement was reached between the parties.

Dr. Noland is a very smart and affable man and would be an excellent addition to a faculty and a wonderful parish pastor. I have no doubt that he will be scooped up in no time.

In the meantime, I think we should pay careful attention to what happens at CHI. I believe that a pastor should head up the Institute since there are so many subtle and complex theological questions in the papers and archives of the LCMS.

Of diversity and the use of statistics in worship

I commend to you David Berger’s excellent essay responding to a plan of the Commission on Worship. Berger is the librarian at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and is a member of the Board for Communication Services.

With a name like Schmucker . . .

Pastor Brondos posted a couple of interesting quotes over at his site:

“The days when compromises with and concessions to symbolism were made are passed. If a clash between symbolism and American Lutheranism is unavoidable within the General Synod, the sooner it comes, the better it is.”

and . . .

“He strove to eliminate everything distinctively Lutheran and to substitute the basis of the Evangelical Alliance for the Augsburg Confession and Luther’s Catechism.”

For the context, read the rest of his post.