Announcement . . .

The Rev. Todd Wilken, host of the popular radio program “Issues, Etc.,” will be the guest preacher at a special evening service at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bonne Terre, Missouri (about 45 minutes south of St. Louis), on Wednesday, June 25, at 7:00 p.m. The Vespers service will commemorate the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession. After the service, the church will host an ice cream social and reception for Rev. Wilken, which will also serve as a “kick-off rally” for the new radio and Internet version of “Issues,” set to debut on June 30. St. Matthew’s is located at 340 Summit St. in Bonne Terre (63628). For more information, contact St. Matthew’s pastor, Rev. Charles Henrickson, henricksonc@yahoo.com or (314) 779-8108.

Something to remember

From today’s New York Times:

On June 15, 1904, more than 1,000 people died when fire erupted aboard the steamboat General Slocum in New York City’s East River.

It was the worst disaster in New York City prior to September 11. The steamboat had been chartered by St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and which served primarily German immigrants. The loss of 1,021 parishioners devastated the German Lutheran community and the effects can be felt to this day — the LCMS presence on Manhattan itself is paltry relative to other city boroughs. Only about 200 Lutherans survived the disaster, which killed the rest in less than 20 minutes.

Well said

Many people are wondering about the recent news that President Kieschnick repented for a small part of his major role in the damage caused by Yankee Stadium’s Interfaith-o-rama and the after effects of same. It is true that we rejoice in his repentance for calling those that signed “That They May Be One” schismatic. But there is much more to be dealt with in this years-long drama.

To that end, I had to highlight this recent comment from D. Berger in a recent thread that efficiently sums up some of the larger issues:

Re TTMBO: While one might rejoice at a small gesture, the deed which still cries out for confession is, as has been noted, the error of giving permission to participate in the interfaith prayer service (as it was indeed billed) at Yankee Stadium. Historical perspective is helpful: Both permission and participation were ultimately (and erroneously) based on an irrelevant synodical resolution (3.07A, 2001) on Christian fellowship, which refers to “cases of [pastoral] discretion” that might arise in certain events involving only other Christians. There was (still is) disagreement about what those who voted for Res. 3.07A really intended, but there is no question that it dealt only with “fellowship,” i.e., relations among Christians.

In its deliberations, the Dispute Resolution Panel in the case asked the CTCR if Res. 3.07A “prohibited” Dr. Benke from participating at YS (a phrasing of the question that assured a certain response). The CTCR, of course, said “no.” Why? Because the resolution did not apply to interfaith events. However, Res. 3.07A then also did not “permit” participation at YS. Knowing this, and even acknowledging in writing that the complainant (Dr. Wallace Schulz) had made a thorough scriptural case against Dr. Benke’s participation at YS, the DRP compounded the original errors by citing the irrelevant Res. 3.07A as a key factor in its decision exonerating the participant. That the “witnesses” for Dr. Benke before the DRP included the president of Synod and the executive director of the CTCR is at least a curious historical fact. That neither objected to the DRP’s citing Res. 3.07A in the face of the CTCR’s ruling that it did not apply is another curious historical
fact.

The sad chain of errors and omissions meant that the issue has never been properly resolved and the division it caused never healed. Ambiguous “church rules” are no substitute for Scripture as a guide in spiritual matters. The admission of error in misreading the intent of a document (TTMBO) that had attempted to shed scriptural light on participation in such interfaith services, while a small positive step, is far from confessing the error that precipitated the writing and signing of that document. If the apology leads people to believe that anything relating to the substance of the case has finally been resolved, the error will have been further compounded.

Pirate Christian Radio

Could St. Augustine be the inspiration for Pirate Christian Radio?

Material changes

Reader Rich noted something interesting from the May 8-9 minutes of the LCMS Board of Directors (.pdf):

He [The Treasurer] also spoke from his perspective as Treasurer regarding the cancellation of the KFUO “Issues, Etc.” program, noting that policy requires that if a variance from budget of more than ten percent is contemplated, Board of Directors approval of such a material change is required. The $80,000 negative impact to the KFUO budget of the “Issues, Etc.” action was such a material change.

Rich asks:

Does this mean that the treasurer believes that the cancellation of Issues, Etc. should have required the approval of the Board of Directors?

The answer is: yes.

So, of course,

Jeff is back to work. At his new desk.

Finally!

Jeff has a desk!

Todd has a desk

but does no work.

Hey, guess what Jeff is reading!

Another view of Jeff

who doesn’t need no stinkin’ desk!