Brandon Booth
MollieMore programmatic and business problems!
From the most recent newsletter of Rev. James May, a missionary Burkina Faso and Togo, West Africa:
I regret to inform you that due to programmatic and business decisions, World Mission has decided to cease employing me as a missionary in West Africa. This decision came as a shock to me and my family as it may also be a surprise to you.
World Mission has been pressuring me to move on and inform you as soon as possible. One reason is that I would be without a paycheck and insurance soon after we have a baby due in July. We hope that by the grace of God we could have another call in place when my salary and benefits terminate at the end of August 2008.
The decision leaves three newly planted churches in Burkina Faso without a theologically trained leader and also the Lutheran Church of Togo without a missionary which they had been awaiting for six years. Please keep all these people involved in your prayers.
Again, we spend $25,000 on congregations in Missouri such as JeffersonHills Church that puts up signs purporting to come from Satan, but we don’t have funds to spread the Gospel in Togo?
We don’t have money problems. We have priority problems.
Update: the link to Rev. May’s newsletter (which will open a Word Document) is here.
Filed under: Updates
Is this a joke? I could not find this information on Rev May’s web site.
Sean,
I added a link to the newsletter in the post.
“We don’t have money problems. We have priority problems.”
Exactly! Now the only question we need to ask is, “What IS our priority?”
“But the woman took off the great lid of the jar with her hands and scattered all these and her thought caused sorrow and mischief to men. Only Hope remained there in an unbreakable home within under the rim of the great jar, and did not fly out at the door…”
–Hesiod, Works and Days
This breaks my heart. Is there anything we can do?
Mollie, or anyone else for that matter,
I first started hearing rumblings of the recall of missionaries back in ‘03 or ’04 while visiting CTS in Fort Wayne. But, I never was able to get hard numbers on how many were actually recalled since President Kieschnick took office. Does anybody have the number of missionaries out in the field as of 2000 versus how many are out there right now?
I know, as I’m signed up on numerous email lists, that the LCMS is always asking for volunteers for missions overseas, but the opportunities that are advertised are usually for English as a second language teachers as opposed to pastors who preach the Word to those who would hear it.
The priorities Pastor Wilken? Why anything that resembles Madison Avenue marketing will do as long as it’s glossy or can be hung in your fellowship hall or sanctuary (ewww)…
This stinks. I was supporting this Rev May. There’s no lack of support. The Middle Man is the problem. LCMS World Missions is cutting off all of the Word and Sacrament efforts out there; and keeping sycretistic dufus’s like Rev Ted Engelbrecht in Vietnam who despises Lutherans who practice closed communion. LCMS World Missions financing is as corrupt as KFUO’s. You send money for one thing, and they give it to another while dropping the original entirely.
LCMS World Missions used to support Pastor Poillet at St Sauveur of the EEL-SFB in Paris, France. That got cut as early as 2002-2003. Fortunately, with their shoestring budget, the EEL-SFB has been able to keep St Sauveur on its feet. If you are flying to Paris, please consider a courier drop off of materials for these tenacious French Lutherans. Unlike Ablaze, they are confessional.
Ironically, if you translate this, Ablaze dropped St Sauveur (the Holy Savior).
So, we recall a true mission church and Pastor from Africa that has no LCMS church for hours and hours and miles and miles.
BUT we can start not one but four new “mission” churches that are all within a stones throw from LCMS churches.
These are planned / talked about in the St. Louis area.
1.Jefferson hills is open and running
2.Waterloo Illinois, (sponsored by a congregation out of the Illinois district. I guess when you cross a river ,a state line or district line that’s considered a mission)
3.New Town St Charles (two to three miles away through the corn fields to a 140 year old congregation) They have to drive further than that for a Wal-mart
4.Washington Missouri. Washington Mo. has had established congregation/s for eons.
This is crazy. Sure you can start the church but where are the Pastors going to come from? Has this been considered? Have you looked at the vancancy list lately?
2000 new by 2017 huh. I guess we will all have non- theologically trained people just like Togo will be soon.
John Hooss
PS. good to see you out here Pastor Wilken!
Anonymous,
The LCMS Web Site says that the Paris church is supported by World Missions.
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=12763
Mollie,
Thank you so much for all you do!!
Ed & Lee Dippold
P.S. Good to hear from you Pastor Bettler.
Pastors and members of our church take relatively expensive mission trips for a week or two, but we can’t support full time missionaries. What is wrong with this picture?
thanks for the link to the newsletter, Mollie. This is very sad.
Mollie,
Thanks for the note about the Paris church. That’s interesting news to me. I thought LCMS World Missions left it for dead. I’ve barely gotten to know Pr Jones and have had trouble contacting him since last fall, but with the change of calls in 2007? I will try to write and phone him and Pr Poillet right away here.
A short and expensive mission trip gets the folks all “ablaze” for supporting “mission” and whatever is put under that mantle by TPTB. It’s like the Mormon missions–most “missionaries” don’t get a single “convert,” but it sure bolsters loyalty to the “Church.” After all, isn’t the most important part of the Great Commission “Go!”? Do something! Anything! Go! Go! Go!
I thought there was something there about teaching and baptizing, but I forget…
Is there any more doubt that the LCMS has been hijacked??
My wife who is a convert to Lutheranism was perusing “The Lutheran Witness” magazine a couple of years ago, when they had an article by a Synodical bureaucrat outlining our financial troubles. She became incensed when she realized that the LCMS was recalling missionaries from the field to keep jobs at the purple palace. What we need at the next convention is a huge revolt that sweeps these hacks out of power and results in massive firings at Synodical headquarters. Under cover of propriety and authority they are waging war on the remnants of Confessionalism in our midst. What we have on our hands is a purge of Confessional ministers and theology.
Frank et al, recalling missionaries is nothing new. My wife’s uncle was an LCMS missionary and spent a couple of decades in Panama and Venezuela. He was recalled from one mission due to lack of funds and then was sent to the next. I think it was last summer that he was recalled permanently and is now in Ft. Wayne teaching Spanish at the sem and doing some studies in hopes of another mission call. However, it doesn’t seem like that will happen.
It was not a funding problem. During the last 21 months supporters had sent in $248,000 to keep us on the field. A new program by World Mission requires that career missionaries raise $120,000 per year or risk being sent home to raise more support. It was not easy but we tried our best to find supporters. It should be noted that $120,000 is FAR more than what was spent to pay our field costs.
“Is there any more doubt that the LCMS has been hijacked??”
No. There has been no doubt the LCMS has been hijacked by people, who can only be described as evil, for a very long time.
This is outrageous. Mollie, can you be imposed upon to do another article about this latest LCMS travesty?
Ugh. This is just depressing.
What is their rationale for the raising of 120k a year?
Rev May,
If it was not a funding problem what programatic and/or business issues are the cause of you being pulled out of the mission field?
I would also like to hear your input on the need for non cleargy missionaries that teach English or serve on short-term trips. Are they taking money away from our missionaries?
I saw a video with sem students in Madagascar. Were you on that mission trip? Your name is familiar.
Maybe folks in the St. Louis are should pass out flyers, etc. at these “Ablaze” churches and tell them that the LCMS is cutting confessional missionaries while at the same time funding these churches. Wonder how that would go over with “seekers” and these pastors? Does methodology — how you go about doing something — matter to these ‘crats? What
ever happened to doing the right thing?
Can we start some kind of May fund? Like we did with Todd and Jeff?
And thanks for speaking up, Todd! You and Jeff get my personal thumbs up!
Was James May’s letter an open letter? Does he know it’s used here? Was he aware of the cancellation of Issues, etc. and the terminology used in the reasoning behind it? Is the term “business and programmatic reasons” his term, or the actual reason provided by the LCMS?
James May’s letter came straight out of his newsletter (linked to at the end of Mollie’s post), and he’s commented on this page so he is aware of it.
I’m a missionary kid who was raised in Liberia, West Africa* - the sorrow I feel at this cannot be expressed.
Church plants here in the US in areas where there already ARE LCMS churches within DRIVING distance while WEST AFRICANS go without, in some cases, ANY church — do we only care about WHITE Lutherans, or what?
I feel like throwing up.
*1978-1990, TILL / LBT
Actions such as these remind me of the government. Let’s close city swimming pools, cut library hours, etc. so citizens will be more willing for taxes to be raised. The Synod seems to be using this approach. Let’s cut back on the appropriate types of church works in the hopes that individuals and/or churches will send more money.
If you click on the link in Mollie’s post to Pastor May’s newsletter, and scroll down past all the fascinating photos to his suggestions, you will find that he recommended Issues, Etc., and provided the link. Just a little too ironic. Thanks, Mollie.
Unbelievable! Misson based Church? Yeah, right! So tired of hearing that from LCMS/Church leadership. The LCMS today is no better than the 3 yahoos/Idioti/_fill-in-the-blank_ being draggged out for your Presidential vote = All hot air and show - No substance that you would/should want.
The LCMS has been heading south, Biblically & ethically since @ least Y2000, and the charge away from Luthers Beliefs was/is being led by el Presidente K in conjunction with his PC henchmen. We all see what’s happening there, so no more needs to be said about it. K & his mob are not leading folks on the right path or teaching/living life from the Bible. If the Honorable Martin Luther were around today, he would probably pitch a fit at or start a crusade on the current crop of so called spiritual leaders in the LCMS today.
I could offer many more sentiments about the evident crisis in the LCMS and the spiralling course of destruction it seems bent on; most of which would probably not be appreciated on this site, although a lot of you would most likely agree with the sentiment.
Bottom Line: Focus on God, believe on and in Jesus Christ, and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you go on your Journey.
HIS peace blows this other stuff out of the water, and your journey will be pleasant. Oh, and it would be good to help others on your travels if you can - God does equip us all for the tasks we have to carry out, so no excuses Folks.
We all have opinions and ideas on how to help people, i.e. el Presidente K, et al. (as a negative example); but if you can help these Missionary’s in Africa and/or other countires, start a contact list and go ahead with a secure website, and let a CHRISTIAN LUTHERAN PASTOR be over the project so you have help with spiritual guidance. WE do not need the middle man as he stands today.
I ask in the name of Jesus, that GOD may bless all who help with Missionary work, from the Pastor/Missionary/Guy in the firing line in Africa, etc., to the lowest paid/volunteer person who sends out Missionary eMail updates from their comfortable office in the USofA after management has gone home for the night…God Bless them all, protect them and keep them. Amen. Amen. Amen.
How about this. Perhaps it is time for congregations to start passing resolutions of no confidence in the administration. They’ll blow off a few, but if we could get a lot of congregations to it, it might have an impact.
I suppose the answer is this: will those in Burkina Faso and Togo send money to the Synod? No? Well, then, we need to spend our money where we get the greatest return to the synodical beaurocracy can sustain itself; i.e., from well-to-do Americans who cannot think of anything other than how something entertains them. These men have been so far detched from the Church that their god is now money; who cares if people don’t hear the Word.
This is VERY sad. Something has GOT to be done to put out the Ablazing!® flames of this evil transformation of synodical priorities!
Synod’s three priorities should be training pastors, sending them out into the world, and providing doctrinal oversight. The synod is NOT supporting our seminaries, it is calling pastors BACK from the mission field, and FAILING miserably in its job of oversight.
These facts MUST be documented for the purpose of informing our congregations with the intent of taking godly action. I believe this action must include a letter to synodical leadership and a redirection of our financial support to the proper functions of synod.
Perhaps we could even directly fund pastors such as Rev. May without sending the money through synod. I sent him a note asking what we could do to help. We should even increase our funding of particular synodical activities, but we must STOP giving undesignated gifts to the synod.
These revelations DEMAND a response from Christian people.
I am very sad.
†Erich
I have made this suggestion privately to people, I will now make it publicly. If you have made a donation to support Rev. May or to support Issues, Etc. contact the office of the attorney general of the state of Missouri and ask for an investigation as to where your donation has went, since Issues is now canceled and Rev. May recalled. Express concern that your donation was received by the synod under fraudulent circumstances.
If you are not a prosperous suburban church watch out. Africa doesn’t have enough prosperous suburbs. South America doesn’t have enough prosperous suburbs. South Dakota, Iowa, Southern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin don’t have enough prosperous suburbs. In the eyes of the LCMS administration these places are nothing more than fly over country. They don’t have enough resources to contribute to LCMS corporate headquarters.
This news comes on top of some sad news in my family. To say my heart’s broken is about right. I can no longer believe that Jerry Kieschnick and his coterie really have a heart for people’s souls, rather, for their pocketbooks so that they can point proudly to the LCMS, “as big as Willow Creek, etc.”
Yeah, confessional missionaries like Pastor May get sent home. Meanwhile, a professor who says that we should consider not using the name of Jesus in worship–the better to “reach” Muslims–well, he’s the regional director for LCMS World Mission in Sri Lanka and India. No kidding. Herbert Hoefer, prof at Concordia Portland, wrote a paper called “Muslim Friendly Christian Worship.” Therein he said we should stop using Jesus’ name, stop reading the epistles, use grape juice, change the creeds, etc. to “reach muslims.” The paper used to be up on his personal website, but he took it down after someone brought it to light, so you can find it at http://www.oldparson.blogspot.com
I’m compiling a list of these things for our congregation’s next budget meeting, and you should too.
I hope that Jay will make more details available so that other congregations who wish to support confessional Lutheran missions will think carefully about what the priorities of LCMS World Mission really are.
Karl, if you or someone else could provide a concise report of these things which we could share with our elders and congregations that are unaware, that would be most helpful.
That is a lot of money you had to raise. What was it for? Did it all go into the mission? And how much time did you have to devote to fund raising as opposed to preaching and teaching the Word?
If only there were theologically trained bean-counters in the synod. If only there were theologically trained synodical officials. If only there were a theologically trained synodical president.
We need to depose “our modern day Stephan” (aka GK) and elect “one of our modern day Walthers.”
Rev. Walter,
That’s a really good idea.
Whatever happened to the old understanding that Synod was supposed to be advisory, not directive? How did that get turned on its head? Perhaps we need to educate congregations that in the original construct, congregations were supreme and Synod only advisory.
With the stuff coming out of the Kirkwood Kremlin these days, I fear and mourn for our Church.
shocked: MALAYSIA MAKE NEW RULES FOR CHRISTIANS!!
EVERY CHRISTIANS MUST SAY “ALLAH” RATHER THAN “GOD” & DONT SAY “TRINITY” ANYMORE..
This is because English language not suitable anymore because the original Bible is in Arabic.
The full story is here: ckasih.blogspot.com
I do not have the habit of following blogs and there are many comments here. Hard to respond to them all. God will take care of my family during the difficult times. What I am concerned about are those that have little or no voice (the new Lutheran in Burkina Faso) and the members of the LCMS who do not know what is going on.
When I went to missionary orientation at Concordia St. Paul in June 2006 there were 28 missionaries sent out. Rev. Dr. Bob Roegner said that this represented the same number called back in 2002. Here lies the problem, the details have been obscured. 25 of the 28 were DCEs, DCOs, or college students. I was the only pastoral candidate and there were two vicars. The two vicars were called back before my call was rescinded. DCEs and DCOs who go out to teach English only have to raise between $15,000 and $25,000 before being sent but the career missionaries like pastors and vicars need to raise $120,000. Including a mission summit meeting in Houston before the convention last year, that sum is 50% more than our expenditures. Last year we raised $148,000 and $120,000 so far this year. There is a small disclaimer at the bottom of the donor sheet that any extra funds will be used to fund other projects as World Mission sees fit. In my two years I did not receive one penny for project money. All the bibles, books, and building materials were paid for with personal funds. I think it is right to ask questions and be accountable. Many congregations had asked me for a breakdown of the funds. We were told that we would get a pie chart but I have yet to get the breakdown. It is your money and it was intended for these people who cant even afford a bible. LHF was able to come out and bring boxes of catechisms in French to distribute freely. It was a great gift but caused complaints to fall upon me for working with them. At least they were providing resources so that they could understand God’s Word.
Many of the comments have mentioned “Ablaze”, I was talking to a friend at church and she said that as far as she could tell whenever ablaze is used in the bible it seems to be a negative thing. I did a quick search for a concordance and found it seems to be often used in regards to Gods judgment. Could someone with more knowledge please comment on this and if so I find it ironic.
Thanks
To use that phrase in letting someone go makes sense from the LCMS bureaucrats’ p.o.v. They think they can point to that and say, “See? We really did fire Wilken and Schwarz for p&b reasons, just like we’re firing Rev. May”
Because it sounds to me like they are firing Rev. May if they’re leaving him without salary and benes.
The phrase can cover everyone now. A synod department head is found supporting an anti-ablaze efforts? Invoke “programmatic and business reasons” and oops! there he is - let-go.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
This is a time from imprecatory psalms,
Psalm 69…
Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
You’re in our prayers, James. Let us know if there’s anything we can do to help!
It needs to be clarified that “programmatic and business reasons” IS NOT the wording used by WM in their correspondence with Rev. May. I have been in contact with him through this whole process, and the wording was selected specifically because of the recent events surrounding Issues Etc.
Please stop taking these words literally and attributing them to those who have not used them in this particular case, before some serious damage is done.
I shot a lot of pool and drank a lot of beer with Rev. May back at the seminary, and this situation provokes me as much as the rest of you. Nevertheless, “know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires.” This isn’t the time for a lot of talk, especially as the details are getting muddled in the process.
In Christ,
Rev. Christopher M. Fincher
Elkhart and Hugoton, KS
I repeat, because it appears that I omitted a word in my above reply:
These words were not used by WM in their firing of Rev. May.
Rev. May selected these words in the course of notifying his supporters of the change in his status, in the family’s final newsletter from the field.
“Programmatic”? But I thought ABLAZE! was a “Movement”, not a “Program”!
It’s a joke, people!
It is a joke, that like all good humor, is based upon reality and bears a poignant message. It is time that such things are brought into the full light of day, rather than to continue hide or be selective about the details and be told to trust those unwilling to put the facts on the table.
So what reasons WERE given for ending Pastor May’s call? If he was bringing in quite a bit more money to World Mission than it cost to support him and his family, and he was serving where there was a great need, and with all the effort it takes to train a missionary and get him on the field, why WAS Rev. May let go?
Robert: Indeed, those are the questions that should be asked. My main concern was that the language not be misunderstood and the real problem overlooked. Ask the questions– but with the correct understanding of what Rev. May has said, and not said.
Pr. Hering: I appreciate your understanding the rather dark humor in Rev. May’s letter. It is designed to highlight the truth of the situation. I do hope that those responsible for this action give the details which are theirs to give. For my part, what I actually know is very little, and what I am free to tell is even less.
The reasons are known best to those involved in the situation, which I am not. The fact that Rev. May has chosen to use language similar to that associated with the termination of those responsible for Issues, Etc. is indicative of the type of disagreement which has led to this action.
This, unfortunately, is nothing new. Called pastors have been leaving–or being removed–from overseas positions for MANY years. I left after one term due to the fact that the bfms had changed “allegiances” with national church leaders and was supporting a bishop who was not only theologically bankrupt, but through dishonest practices had bankrupted the national church.
Consider these statistics–In 1967 there were 167 Called pastors serving in “World Missions”; In 1972 there were 128; In 1982 there were 65; and in 2006 only 27. This is an alarming trend that must be reversed. One way to do so is to shift funds away from management positions in the synod, and support missionaries directly. The other way is to form separate mission societies comprised of congregations that are responsible for calling and sending missionaries.
Do tell more, Patrick. How do we form and register a missionary society? I have heard of this but don’t know how it works.
No need to reinvent the wheel:
http://www.lhfmissions.org/
LHF is a great organization, but I don’t believe they are Calling and sending missionaries. I think this is a very Lutheran idea, the precedence of which was set by Lutherans in Germany, and was responsible, at least in part, for proclaiming the Gospel here in America.
I would like to mention that I didnt know that my newsletter was being placed on this blog. I only knew about it after someone notified me that it was here. Having seen so many comments I have used the opportunity to inform others of some of the things that are happening in World Mission.
The reason I chose “programmatic and business decisions” to describe my reason for dismissal was because I did not want to defame those responsible in my public newsletter. Nevertheless, the reasons are not theological. I have not taught false doctrine. I have not abandoned my post. And I am not guilty of gross sin that would demand I leave my call.
Rather I was told to seek another call. I do not believe that is biblical. In fact, the President of the Lutheran Church of Togo, Kombate Bigbi, called me and was upset about this decision and it was not what he wanted. The parishioners of the three newly planted churches are not happy. The missionaries on the field are not happy and tried to stop it from happening.
The one who made this decision made it unilaterally and should speak for himself. If you do receive a response, please let me know and I can verify if all that information is correct. I want to give him the opportunity to defend his decision.
But really, that is third on my list of issues. First is, the need for church planters and theological education for West Africa. An article in the latest For The Life of the World magazine published by Concordia Theological Seminary highlights the dire need. Secondly, members of the LCMS need to know what their mission body is doing since the bylaws state that they are the only ones officially allowed to send missionaries. What kind of proclamation of Christ are they doing? What are they doing with the money? How big is their staff? Have many missionaries are there? How many are pastors? If we stop searching for the truth they will keep doing this around the world in the name of Christ and the name of the Lutheran Church.
Not to be confused with the other anonymous here…
patrick writes: Consider these statistics–In 1967 there were 167 Called pastors serving in “World Missions”; In 1972 there were 128; In 1982 there were 65; and in 2006 only 27.
One of these 27 is Rev Ted Engelbrecht in Vietnam–a major theological disappointment. He does Yankee stadiums daily. Not “Here I stand,” but “Here I blend.” I guess that he is with the program.
mollie helped me figure out that Pr Roger Jones of the ELCE in Paris, is counted among “12 Ablaze Alliance Missionaries,” which looks like a new thing since 2007. At least these guys are ordained. But one of them is listed as Rev Ralli of the Lutheran Church of Argentina who serves as a missionary in Spain. Rev Ralli has been in Spain since as early as 2004. Do these “alliance” men count as LCMS send-outs?
LCMS World Missions is sponsoring a group tour of East Asia with optional tour of Vietnam with Rev Roegner. woo-hoo. It’s a travel agency now.
Rev May,
Do we have ways to contact Rev Bigbi and to send support directly to him to continue the efforts? If he has enough, can his church body extend a call to you directly?
Thank you.
I would have to check the directory to see if those “alliance” missionaries count but on an interesting note about some of them is this statement in the “Missionary Support Manual” that you should be aware of;
“4.2 Terms of Service: International Lutheran Congregations Overseas
Pastors of international Lutheran congregations overseas will serve on an alternating basis between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) for a maximum of two terms of three years each. The congregations currently under this agreement are located in Frankfurt, Germany; Seoul, South Korea; and Guam. These two terms of service shall be according to the following schedule:
A. First term of a two-term period of service shall be 34 months, followed by two months of vacation.
B. The second term of a two-term period shall be three years, followed by vacation up to six months.”
Is that acceptable to you? Maybe we could just join the two Synods since we share the missionaries.
With the recent tragedy in Burma and the great need for funds to go to relief efforts, our inclination is to immediately send money to LCMS World Relief. However, we have been hearing that some LCMS World Relief funds have recently been diverted to other agencies in the synod. How can we be confident that our gifts to LCMS World Relief will be used to provide relief to those suffering in Asia rather than to provide relief for synodical shortfalls?
I just want to be another voice here that says that the LHF is definitely worthy of any support you could give them. Giving out Catechisms, Bibles and the BOC in the local languages, supporting missionaries all over the world…. They are a wonderful organization.
http://imabaldyii.blogspot.com/2008/05/walking-in-resurrection-proclaiming.html
Based on a letter from Rev. Paul Mueller, regional director Africa, LCMS World Mission, Rev May has the freedom to share with the synod why he was dismissed.
My questions for Rev May is:
Do you have this freedom or is Rev Mueller misleading us?
If you are able to share why have you allowed everyone to speculate? If fact you seem to have encouraged it by the opening line of you newsletter.
Sorry the second question sounds harsh but I am very frustrated by all this and it seems like both sides are not telling the entire truth.
I am also bothered by Rev. May’s most recent post. Is this an LCMS World Mission Issue or is it something that must be decided at convention? The LCMS has the same issues with many campus ministry sites.
Anonymous,
Did you see the four comments Rev. May posted in this thread? At least some of them address your questions.
The Regional Director has my permission to share the reasons on this blog. It seems that the information is on more than 9 different blogs and I cant follow them all. Some inaccuracies have already occurred. The reason I have not stated the reason for my dismissal is two-fold.
I stated above,
“The reason I chose “programmatic and business decisions” to describe my reason for dismissal was because I did not want to defame those responsible in my public newsletter. Nevertheless, the reasons are not theological. I have not taught false doctrine. I have not abandoned my post. And I am not guilty of gross sin that would demand I leave my call.
Rather I was told to seek another call. I do not believe that is biblical. In fact, the President of the Lutheran Church of Togo, Kombate Bigbi, called me and was upset about this decision and it was not what he wanted. The parishioners of the three newly planted churches are not happy. The missionaries on the field are not happy and tried to stop it from happening.
The one who made this decision made it unilaterally and should speak for himself. If you do receive a response, please let me know and I can verify if all that information is correct. I want to give him the opportunity to defend his decision. ”
Secondly, there seems to be a lot of double talk and I have libeled. I have the proof but it seems those above the director either do not care or have not been told the truth.
Again, the only reason I am posting here is to inform others the current mission strategy. Many do not know and there are many what some would call “moderate” or “liberal” congregations who are appalled, much less those who consider themselves “confessional” or “conservative”. I do not care about those terms. The vows of a Lutheran pastor are to teach the scriptures according to the inspired and infallible Word of God and to teach the biblical doctrine which is clarified and without error in the Book of Concord. Missionaries who hold to this are persecuted beyond belief. I am not looking for your sympathy. I am looking to protect the few remaining missionaries as well as address the current agenda since many well-intentioned congregations and lay people have sent in hundreds of thousands of dollars to support me and millions to support others. I believe they have a right to know the theology and agenda of the Board for Mission Services. The theology of the call is not respected by the Board for Mission Services and many posts simply say, “more hire and fire mentality”.
These responses are conciliatory and despondent. If any change is to take place legitimate arguments need to be formulated and the discussion must be biblical and tempered and NOT emotional. Also, the root of the problem is not personal. Firing one person is not going to fix it. Ignoring the problem or becoming despondent is not going to solve it.
Like I said, I didnt put my newsletter on here. I am using it as a forum in hopes that we can make real change. If not, why stay in the LCMS?
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Rev May writes: “Is that acceptable [Alliance missionaries sharing ILC (eg LCMS) & LWF (eg ELCA) pulpits] to you? Maybe we could just join the two Synods since we share the missionaries.”
yikes. If LWF is in pulpit fellowship with the UCC, Rev Jeremiah Wright comes in pulpit fellowship with LCMS World Missions. So this is how Yankee Stadium ends.
R&R Muench writes: “…we have been hearing that some LCMS World Relief funds have recently been diverted to other agencies in the synod…”
Do you have a reference for this? It doesn’t surprise me one bit now, but this is the information that many congregations need to finally pull the plug on Synod/District disbursements. Never mind Burma. Where did the Tsunami funds go?
I saw this letter posted on another blog:
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
You know, we ought to ask Rev. Mueller some tough questions. Like, what exactly is the relationship between LCMS World Mission and the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. And between LCMS World Mission and the ELCA.
There’s a Paul Mueller of Maplewood, MN (South Minnesota District) listed in http://jesusfirst.net/endorsements.htm
Could this be the Rev Dr Paul Mueller of the South Minnesota District, who is in Africa? And what did he learn studying missiology at Fuller?
Is it JF protocol to grant or deny permission to pastors for with whom they can associate and how? Or am I mistakening them with Jehovah’s Witnesses or the mode of operation of LCMS World Missions now?
Why don’t you ask him? He can be reached at:
http://www.lcms.org/cntc/contactus.asp?unitabrv=10
Hey, looks like he has been insubordinate again. Check out his website, more baptisms.
At the rate people are entering the Kingdom of God in his vicinity, we need more insubordinate pastors in the LCMS.