LCMS PROFESSORS ALLOWED TO DEFEND EVOLUTION, WOMEN PASTORS, HOMOSEXUALITY
Christian News, Vol. 48, No. 43, November 1, 2010, www.christiannewsmo.com
Professors in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s University System are permitted to promote evolution, women pastors and homosexuality even though the LCMS in convention after convention opposes evolution, women serving as pastors and homosexuality.
On September 30, 2010, Christian News sent the letter below, to Dr. Kurt J. Krueger, President, Concordia University System and Rev. Matthew Harrison, President, LCMS.
Christian News enclosed “The Teaching of Evolution at a Lutheran University” by Professor Charles Kunert of Concordia University, Port-land, Oregon, to make certain that the LCMS’s top officials, including all of its vice-presidents, had documentary evidence that an LCMS Professor was promoting evolution. Christian News has for almost 50 years provided LCMS officials with many such documents showing that LCMS professors were teaching evolution, supporting women pastors, and homosexuality in schools members of the LCMS are asked to support even though some schools in the LCMS’s Concordia University System have only a small minority of students from the LCMS. About 5% of the students at Concordia University, Portland are members of the LCMS. No pastor or professor on the LCMS clergy roster, who promotes evolution and demands women pastors and homosexuality, has ever been removed from the LCMS clergy roster.
During the LCMS’s first 125 years there were no supporters of evolution, women pastors, or homosexuality on the LCMS clergy roster. During the 1950s, Kurt Marquart and the CN editor first presented evidence to LCMS leaders that evolution was being promoted in the LCMS. Much of the evidence is in The Christian News Encyclopedia which LCMS leaders refuse to consult or recommend. The LCMS’s Council of Presidents appointed to the LCMS’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations one of the most outspoken evolutionists in the LCMS. CN protested the move. Most conservatives said nothing.
-----------------------------
September 30, 2010
Dr. Kurt J. Krueger, President
Concordia University System
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63122-7295
Rev. Matthew Harrison, President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63122-7295
Dear Gentlemen:
“Concordia University System VIEWBOOK” recently sent to the congregations of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod by the Concordia University System lists the various student organizations at each school in the CUS. Enclosed is a letter I sent to Dr. Charles Kunert of Concordia University, Portland, Oregon noting that the web site of this CUS school lists under clubs and organizations “Gay-Straight Alliance Club (GSA)” “Dr. Charles J. Kunert.”
Is there some reason why the CUS booklet sent to LCMS churches seeking funds for CUS does not mention the “Gay-Straight Alliance Club (GSA)” at Concordia, Portland?
Christian News has for years expressed concern about the favorable attitude toward homosexuality promoted at Concordia, Portland by at least some professors. Enclosed is “Unchristian Behavior,” which the September 13, 2010 Christian News published. Author Pastor Tim Rossow concludes: “We hope President Harrison will note this unchristian behavior at Concordia, Portland and in good time deal with it.”
A DayStar Reader, edited by Matthew Becker, includes an essay suggesting that the LCMS change its negative attitude toward homosexuality.
Are all professors in the Concordia University System required to maintain and teach that homosexuality is a sin and that homosexuals who continue living in their homosexual lifestyle are going to Hell as the Bible teaches (1 Cor. 6:9-11)?
The preface of A DayStar Reader, by LCMS pastor David T. Stein, says: “This volume of essays is a gift from this association to key leaders in the LCMS, district presidents, mission executives, university presidents, and religion faculties in the Concordia University System.”
A DayStar Reader promotes women pastors, evolution, and a change in the LCMS’s opposition to homosexuality. Christian News knows of no protest from any LCMS official or professor against the outspoken anti-scriptural views expressed in A DayStar Reader.
Formal charges of false doctrine against A DayStar Reader editor, Matthew Becker, were filed in July with Rev. Paul Linnemann, president of the Northwest District where the former Concordia, Portland and Concordia, Chicago faculty professor is still listed in the Lutheran Annual as being a member. Linnemann said he would consider the charges when he returned from vacation. (CN, August 2 and August 16, 2010). Copies were sent to Becker, and the members of the LCMS’s Praesidium, encouraging them to read the essays in A DayStar Reader which openly call for the teaching of evolution in CUS schools and acceptance of women pastors and a change in the LCMS’s opposition to homosexuality.
For some 50 years LCMS officials have said that they can take no action against what Christian News considered false doctrine, since they have no evidence. Christian News has published plenty of documentary evidence. Christian News is sent to almost every LCMS congregation.
Officials who want to keep informed do have an opportunity to read the evidence. At least some officials say they do not read Christian News. Enclosed is “The Teaching of Evolution at a Lutheran University” by Professor Charles Kunert, a CUS professor. It is taken from pp. 185-204 of A DayStar Reader.
Christian News has written to all schools in CUS to find out if their science and religion professors are expected to teach that evolution is contrary to the Bible and true science, and if they believe that the Bible teaches women should not serve as pastors. The only school in CUS which says the school supported the LCMS’s official position opposing evolution and the ordination of women was Concordia, Selma.
Do you believe that the professors in CUS should be required to oppose evolution and women serving as pastors and that they should be removed after a fair hearing if they do not?
A copy of this letter, together with the essay on evolution by CUS Professor Kunert is being sent to Dr. David Kaufmann, author of the Lutheran Catechism on Homosexuality sent to all LCMS churches. He has served on various LCMS Boards and was teacher of the year at the University of Florida and is a former long time secretary of the Creation Research Society whose opposition toward evolution is rejected by Kunert. Kaufmann is being invited to prepare a response to Kunert to be published in Christian News.
Sincerely,
Herman Otten
Enc. “The Teaching of Evolution at a Lutheran University” by Charles Kunert.
September 24, 2010 Letter from Herman Otten to Charles Kunert.
“Unchristian Behavior” by Tim Rossow, Christian News, September 13, 2010
cc. Charles Kunert, Tim Rossow, David Kaufmann, David Stein, President, DayStar, Charles E. Schlim-pert, President, Concordia, Portland, LCMS Vice-presidents Herbert Mueller, John Wohlrabe, Paul Maier, Daniel Preus, Scott Murray
---------------------------
September 24, 2010
Dr. Charles Kunert
Concordia University
2811 NE Holman Street
Portland, Oregon
Dear Professor Kunert:
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The website for Concordia, Portland under clubs and organizations at the LCMS University lists “Gay-Straight Alliance Club (GSA)” “Dr. Charles J. Kunert.”
When a book promoting homosexual sex and showing homosexual sex was required reading for a class at Concordia, Portland, I asked the professor promoting the book if he recognized that homosexuality is a sin and if homosexuals who continue in their sinful lifestyle without repenting are going to Hell (1 Cor. 6:9-10). He did not respond.
A DayStar Reader edited by Matthew Becker includes your essay “Teaching Evolution in a Lutheran University” (pp. 185-204). Here you support the teaching of evolution as fact in an LCMS University. You are critical of the anti-evolution position taken by the Creation Research Society and Christian News. You commend the position taken by Carl Krekeler, whose support of evolution the editor of Christian News has opposed ever since his wife had Krekeler for a biology professor at Valparaiso University and he together with Kurt Marquart, Walter Otten and Ken Miller met with Valparaiso University President in his office to discuss the matter.
A DayStar Reader also includes an essay by Robert Sylvester calling for a change in the LCMS’s opposition to homosexuality (p. 210).
Do you recognize that homosexuality is a sin and that homosexuals who continue living in their homosexual lifestyle are going to Hell as the Bible teaches (1 Cor. 6:9-10)? Do you agree with Sylvester that the LCMS should change its opposition to homosexuality?
Do you agree with the LCMS’s Brief Statement (paragraph 5) which opposes evolution and says the world was created in six days?
If not, would you be willing to debate the views you defend in A DayStar Reader with some creationist such as David Menton, Ken Ham, or David Kaufmann? If you are not able to travel to St. Louis to debate your views at a Walther Conference held at Concordia Seminary, would you be willing to conduct the debate in writing. Both DayStar and Christian News could publish a statement from you of about 5,000 words on why you believe amoeba to man evolution took place and why the world is billions of years old and a similar statement from the creationist explaining why he opposes evolution and why it should be taught as fact at a Lutheran University. Each side could list questions for the other side to answer. Then both DayStar and Christian News would publish a statement of some 3,000 words in response to the other, a concluding response of some 2,000 words from each side could then be published by both DayStar and Christian News.
For free and open debate,
Sincerely,
Herman Otten, editor
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
CN's PLAN TO SPREAD THE WORD
A Twenty-First Century Reformation
CN’s PLAN TO SPREAD THE WORD
Christian News, October 25, 2010 Vol. 48, No. 42
www.christiannewsmo.com
Page 5 of this issue is the same page which appeared on the back of the issue of Christian News which included the address the editor presented to the 13th Congress of the International Council of Churches which met at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Copies were taken home by delegates who came from many nations and church bodies around the world. It included the editor’s essay on 1) The Crisis in Christendom, 2) Why a Twentieth Century Formula of Concord, and 3) a Twenty-First Century Formula of Concord. When the ICCC met in Geneva, Switzerland in 1965, the convention organizers placed a copy of the editor’s Baal or God in the registration packet of each delegates. This helped spread Christian News around the world and in many denominations. Note on page 5 what reviewers from various denominations said about Baal or God.
The editor has been working on an updated edition of Baal or God. It will again in simple terms present the scriptural position on the basic Christian doctrines but history and truth show what has been going on in Christendom since Baal or God was first published.
When the 350 page paperback Baal or God was first published CN sold boxes of 100 copies for $25.00. This helped lead to widespread distribution. At the beginning of the Twentieth Century two wealthy laymen made it possible to send a series of some ten books known as The Fundamentals to every pastor and congregation in America. If Christian News similarly received a large sum of money, it would send an inexpensive update of Baal or God to every congregation in the U.S. The book will show that in every major denomination in the U.S. today there are theologians who deny the fundamentals of the Christian faith. It will contain the kind of material about the Papacy which appeared in the October 16, 2010 Christian News. It will document the fact that Christendom today needs a Reformation more than it did 500 years ago.
It will spread the Word about how any computer literate person can have access to all the material CN has published during the last 48 years in almost 2,250 issues.
It will help true Christian missions around the world by showing how universalism has thoroughly infiltrated every major denominations and destroyed true Christian mission work. Then it will present a solid scriptural defense of historic Christianity. It will show that the evolutionary and higher critical views of the Bible promoted in all major denominations are contrary to the Bible and the best scientific and archaeological evidence. It will show why all of Christendom needs a Reformation today far more than it did some 500 years ago when Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517.
CN’s PLAN TO SPREAD THE WORD
Christian News, October 25, 2010 Vol. 48, No. 42
www.christiannewsmo.com
Page 5 of this issue is the same page which appeared on the back of the issue of Christian News which included the address the editor presented to the 13th Congress of the International Council of Churches which met at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Copies were taken home by delegates who came from many nations and church bodies around the world. It included the editor’s essay on 1) The Crisis in Christendom, 2) Why a Twentieth Century Formula of Concord, and 3) a Twenty-First Century Formula of Concord. When the ICCC met in Geneva, Switzerland in 1965, the convention organizers placed a copy of the editor’s Baal or God in the registration packet of each delegates. This helped spread Christian News around the world and in many denominations. Note on page 5 what reviewers from various denominations said about Baal or God.
The editor has been working on an updated edition of Baal or God. It will again in simple terms present the scriptural position on the basic Christian doctrines but history and truth show what has been going on in Christendom since Baal or God was first published.
When the 350 page paperback Baal or God was first published CN sold boxes of 100 copies for $25.00. This helped lead to widespread distribution. At the beginning of the Twentieth Century two wealthy laymen made it possible to send a series of some ten books known as The Fundamentals to every pastor and congregation in America. If Christian News similarly received a large sum of money, it would send an inexpensive update of Baal or God to every congregation in the U.S. The book will show that in every major denomination in the U.S. today there are theologians who deny the fundamentals of the Christian faith. It will contain the kind of material about the Papacy which appeared in the October 16, 2010 Christian News. It will document the fact that Christendom today needs a Reformation more than it did 500 years ago.
It will spread the Word about how any computer literate person can have access to all the material CN has published during the last 48 years in almost 2,250 issues.
It will help true Christian missions around the world by showing how universalism has thoroughly infiltrated every major denominations and destroyed true Christian mission work. Then it will present a solid scriptural defense of historic Christianity. It will show that the evolutionary and higher critical views of the Bible promoted in all major denominations are contrary to the Bible and the best scientific and archaeological evidence. It will show why all of Christendom needs a Reformation today far more than it did some 500 years ago when Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
THE POPE'S ATTACK ON HISTORIC CHRISTIANITY
THE POPE’S ATTACK ON HISTORIC CHRISTIANITY
Christian News, October 18, 2010 Vol. 48, No. 41
www.christiannewsmo.com
“Does the Pope Believe in the Resurrection?” on p. 1 from the Free Presbyterian Magazine of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland should come as no surprise to regular readers of Christian News.
CN has documented the theology of leading liberals, including Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) for some 50 years. During these years CN has reviewed at considerable length such major officially approved Roman Catholic works as the 15 volume, 15 million word New Catholic Encyclopedia, the Jerome Biblical Commentary, the Jerusalem Bible and the writings of hundreds of Roman Catholic theologians. Many of these works claim the Bible contains myths, fictions and errors. They attack such doctrine as the vicarious satisfaction of Christ. The 2242 back issues of Christian News contain one of the most complete records of what has been going on within all Christendom during the past 50 years. What has CN said about the present Pope Benedict XVI?
“Catholic Press Promotes New Theology” was the title of the lead story in the September 20, 1993 Christian News. CN reported:
“Following the Pope’s lead, the entire Catholic press now promotes the ‘New Theology’ says Bishop Richard Williamson of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Winona, Minnesota, in a letter he sent this month to friends and benefactors of the seminary.
“According to Bishop Williamson, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, appointed by the Pope to serve as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, ‘is a Prefect for the Faith Without the Faith!’ Bishop Williamson maintains that Cardinal Ratzinger denies the scriptural doctrine of the deity of Jesus Christ. Williamson notes that Ratzinger was a colleague and disciple of the leading progressive teacher, Karl Rahner.’ Rahner rejected such Christian doctrines as the doctrine of the Holy Trinity (See the Christian News Encyclopedia).
CN published the documentation Bishop Williamson presented to show that Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), denied the scriptural doctrine of the deity of Christ.
CN has published reviews of some of Pope Benedict’s writings showing that he is a universalist, an evolutionist, a higher critic of the Bible, and undermines such doctrines as the Trinity.
The July 4, 2005 Christian News quoted at considerable length from Pope Benedict XVI’s book, Truth and Tolerance, where the Pope boldly promotes universalism and approves theistic evolution.
“Pope Promotes Historical Criticism – Undermines Basic Christian Doctrine” was CN’s title of its August 8, 2005 review on page one of the latest edition of the Pope’s Introduction to Christianity. The report includes many quotes from Pope Benedict showing that he is a liberal higher critic of the Bible and undermines basic Christian doctrine. The Free Presbyterian rightly exposed Pope Benedict’s theological liberalism. The Pope’s refusal to take any real serious disciplinary action against the thousands of homosexual churchmen in the Roman Catholic Church is bad enough. His defense of and promotion of anti-Christian theology in Rome is far worse. Confessional Lutherans have never had more valid reasons for insisting with the Lutheran Confessions, Martin Luther, C.F.W. Walther, and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s Brief Statement that the Papacy is indeed the anti-Christ of 2 Thessalonians.
The pro-Loehe, anti-Walther Romanizers in the LCMS who highly praised Father Richard Neuhaus, one of Pope Benedict’s chief defenders, are wrong for not boldly recognizing that the Papacy is the Anti-Christ. They should keep up with what is going in the theological world by reading Christian News. The LCMS’s new Lutheran Study Bible should have boldly championed the doctrine that the Papacy is the Anti-Christ. A review of The Lutheran Study Bible in the Fall, 2010 Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly by Editor John Brug, says:
“In some instances, one becomes concerned about lack of doctrinal clarity. The discussion of 2 Thessalonians 2 (p 2062) states that the Lutheran Confessions describe papal and Islamic doctrines as marks of Antichrist and that Antichrist will manifest himself as an authority over the church at the end of time. Where is the clear Confessional statement that the pope is the very Antichrist? A Lutheran study Bible should sound a clear signal at this point. In Revelation 17 (p 2224) the comments associate the prostitute with the goddess Roma and with a personification of Rome. But which manifestation of Rome? Imperial or papal?”
The Muslims with their vicious Koran promoting hatred of Christians and Jews , and the Jews with their Talmud teach that Jesus Christ is a bastard and Mary a whore are not the Antichrist. The Papacy is the Antichrist of 2 Thessalonians 2: The Jews and Muslims do not “sit in God’s Temple.”
Every Lutheran publication in the nation should reprint “Does the Pope Believe in the Resurrection?” The Pope of Luther’s day affirmed the Resurrection. He was not a universalist and evolutionist. Christendom today needs a Reformation far more today than it did 500 years ago.
Christian News, October 18, 2010 Vol. 48, No. 41
www.christiannewsmo.com
“Does the Pope Believe in the Resurrection?” on p. 1 from the Free Presbyterian Magazine of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland should come as no surprise to regular readers of Christian News.
CN has documented the theology of leading liberals, including Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) for some 50 years. During these years CN has reviewed at considerable length such major officially approved Roman Catholic works as the 15 volume, 15 million word New Catholic Encyclopedia, the Jerome Biblical Commentary, the Jerusalem Bible and the writings of hundreds of Roman Catholic theologians. Many of these works claim the Bible contains myths, fictions and errors. They attack such doctrine as the vicarious satisfaction of Christ. The 2242 back issues of Christian News contain one of the most complete records of what has been going on within all Christendom during the past 50 years. What has CN said about the present Pope Benedict XVI?
“Catholic Press Promotes New Theology” was the title of the lead story in the September 20, 1993 Christian News. CN reported:
“Following the Pope’s lead, the entire Catholic press now promotes the ‘New Theology’ says Bishop Richard Williamson of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Winona, Minnesota, in a letter he sent this month to friends and benefactors of the seminary.
“According to Bishop Williamson, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, appointed by the Pope to serve as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, ‘is a Prefect for the Faith Without the Faith!’ Bishop Williamson maintains that Cardinal Ratzinger denies the scriptural doctrine of the deity of Jesus Christ. Williamson notes that Ratzinger was a colleague and disciple of the leading progressive teacher, Karl Rahner.’ Rahner rejected such Christian doctrines as the doctrine of the Holy Trinity (See the Christian News Encyclopedia).
CN published the documentation Bishop Williamson presented to show that Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), denied the scriptural doctrine of the deity of Christ.
CN has published reviews of some of Pope Benedict’s writings showing that he is a universalist, an evolutionist, a higher critic of the Bible, and undermines such doctrines as the Trinity.
The July 4, 2005 Christian News quoted at considerable length from Pope Benedict XVI’s book, Truth and Tolerance, where the Pope boldly promotes universalism and approves theistic evolution.
“Pope Promotes Historical Criticism – Undermines Basic Christian Doctrine” was CN’s title of its August 8, 2005 review on page one of the latest edition of the Pope’s Introduction to Christianity. The report includes many quotes from Pope Benedict showing that he is a liberal higher critic of the Bible and undermines basic Christian doctrine. The Free Presbyterian rightly exposed Pope Benedict’s theological liberalism. The Pope’s refusal to take any real serious disciplinary action against the thousands of homosexual churchmen in the Roman Catholic Church is bad enough. His defense of and promotion of anti-Christian theology in Rome is far worse. Confessional Lutherans have never had more valid reasons for insisting with the Lutheran Confessions, Martin Luther, C.F.W. Walther, and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s Brief Statement that the Papacy is indeed the anti-Christ of 2 Thessalonians.
The pro-Loehe, anti-Walther Romanizers in the LCMS who highly praised Father Richard Neuhaus, one of Pope Benedict’s chief defenders, are wrong for not boldly recognizing that the Papacy is the Anti-Christ. They should keep up with what is going in the theological world by reading Christian News. The LCMS’s new Lutheran Study Bible should have boldly championed the doctrine that the Papacy is the Anti-Christ. A review of The Lutheran Study Bible in the Fall, 2010 Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly by Editor John Brug, says:
“In some instances, one becomes concerned about lack of doctrinal clarity. The discussion of 2 Thessalonians 2 (p 2062) states that the Lutheran Confessions describe papal and Islamic doctrines as marks of Antichrist and that Antichrist will manifest himself as an authority over the church at the end of time. Where is the clear Confessional statement that the pope is the very Antichrist? A Lutheran study Bible should sound a clear signal at this point. In Revelation 17 (p 2224) the comments associate the prostitute with the goddess Roma and with a personification of Rome. But which manifestation of Rome? Imperial or papal?”
The Muslims with their vicious Koran promoting hatred of Christians and Jews , and the Jews with their Talmud teach that Jesus Christ is a bastard and Mary a whore are not the Antichrist. The Papacy is the Antichrist of 2 Thessalonians 2: The Jews and Muslims do not “sit in God’s Temple.”
Every Lutheran publication in the nation should reprint “Does the Pope Believe in the Resurrection?” The Pope of Luther’s day affirmed the Resurrection. He was not a universalist and evolutionist. Christendom today needs a Reformation far more today than it did 500 years ago.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
PAY THE BILL ANSWER THE QUESTION - OPERATE FRUGALLY
LCMS Officials
PAY THE BILL ANSWER THE QUESTION – OPERATE FRUGALLY
Christian News 10/11/10 http://www.christiannewsmo.com/
“A wicked man borrows and doesn’t pay back” Psalm 37:21.
A story on page one reports that The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is being sued by Faith Satellite Radio for not paying a ¾ million dollar bill.
CN has some 80 pages of legal documents filed by both sides in this matter. As soon as CN received the first 60 pages, CN called Ronald P. Schultz, Chief Administrative Officer of the LCMS. CN wanted to publish the LCMS’s defense vs. the lawsuit. At first the LCMS official said he hardly knew anything about any such lawsuit. When CN told Schultz that CN had the legal documents, including an “Affidavit by Ronald P. Schultz,” Schultz asked CN to put CN’s questions in writing. The letter CN then sent Schultz is in this issue. Copies of the letter with CN’s questions were sent to:
Rev. Yohannes Mengsteab, African Immigrant
Lutheran Mission-Society, Inc.
Rev. Matthew Harrison, President, Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod
Mr. Thomas Kuchta, Treasurer, Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod
Dr. Robert Kuhn, Chairman, Board of
Directors, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Dr. Larry Stoterau, Chairman, Council of
Presidents, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Professor John Loum, Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, Missouri
CN has not yet received an answer to any of CN’s questions from Schultz or any of those sent a copy. However, CN did receive 20 more pages of legal documents. One was titled “Supplemental Affidavit of Ronald P. Schultz” and the other “Defendants The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Yohannes Mengsteab’s Reply In Support of Their Motion to Dismiss and Alternate Motion to Transfer.”
Is The LCMS Hierarchical or Congregational?
An attorney, who read the documents, concluded they show that there are crooks in high places in the LCMS. The editor is not an attorney. CN’s advice to the LCMS is: “Pay the bill.” If an agreement is made by anyone to pay for services rendered, simple honesty demands “pay the bill.” The LCMS seems to be arguing that since the lawsuit was filed in Washington D.C., where the LCMS has only two congregations, it can be ignored.
CN asked Schultz how it is possible in this case for the LCMS to argue that it is congregational and therefore can’t be sued in Washington, D.C. and to argue in the Oakland 4 case that it is hierarchical. CN asked: “Does the LCMS change its position depending upon the situation? Does it defend one position on the West Coast and another one on the East Coast?”
If the LCMS is being blackmailed and a dummy corporation was set up in Tennessee, the crooks should be exposed.
Drop the California Lawsuit
CN has pleaded with the top officials of the LCMS, including the LCMS’s attorney, president, chairman of its COP, chairman of Board of Directors, and president of its California-Nevada-Hawaii District to drop the lawsuit against the “Oakland 4” for church property. More than a million dollars have been spent in legal fees to fight the case vs. the “Oakland 4.” Records show that at least some of the more than a million dollars came from mission funds. The Oakland 4 has spent about $600,000 to defend themselves against the lawsuit.
These lawsuits are not helping the reputation of the LCMS. A church body which claims to defend the truth of God’s Word should also demonstrate absolute financial integrity. This includes paying bills.
The Key Question
The editor mentioned in his letter to the LCMS’s Chief Administrative officer that CN has repeatedly asked Lutheran World Missions if all those associated with Lutheran World Mission in anyway, such as Concordia University, Portland, Professor Herbert Hoeffer and Rev. Yohannes Mengsteab of African Immigrant Lutheran Mission society, Inc. must maintain and teach that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven and that non-Christians are lost without saving faith in the merits of Jesus Christ? Even if the top officials of the LCMS to whom CN sent copies never heard about the California case or now the case in D.C., they should have no difficulty answering question 6 in CN’s letter to the LCMS’s Chief Administrative Officer. In the past, most members of the COP have refused to answer this simple question.
CN has often noted that mission work in the major denominations now involves primarily proclaiming some social gospel teaching English, etc., rather than preaching the saving Gospel to lost sinners. Church officials spent huge amounts of money flying around the world. Churches bring in natives from overseas to participate in church conventions and gatherings to give the impression that the denomination is preaching the Gospel around the world and is therefore worthy of mission support.
Note “LCMS Missions Following Major Denominations” and “International School – Lutherans Financing Pluralism and Universalism” in the September 27 Christian News.
What Was the Cost?
CN still hasn’t been able to find out how much the big installation service recently held at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis cost. Note “What About the Cost? THE BIG INSTALLATION” in the September 20 CN. An LCMS news service story said that “Representatives from other Lutheran church bodies worldwide attended from the Philippines, Tanzania, Ghana, India, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Russia, Guatemala, Chile, and Haiti. About 200 pastors, church workers, seminary faculty, deaconesses, partner-sister church officials, and the members of the Council of Presidents participated in the service’s processional.” It makes little difference who paid for all the travel, meals, hotel rooms, etc. The money could have been used to keep some missionaries on the field rather than calling them home for lack of funds. CN suggested that it would have cost far less to have the installation of most officers elected at an LCMS convention immediately following the convention when most of those to be installed were already present. This is the way it was done in the past when funds were not so freely spent by the bureaucrats.
Hierarchicalism Growing In LCMS
Then again things are changing in the LCMS. The Bible says little about what kind of headgear a clergyman should wear. It’s a matter of adiaphora. But is it wise for the preacher at an LCMS installation to wear a miter hat when there are so many pro-Loehe, anti-Walther Romanizers in the LCMS who prefer some form of hierarchicalism to congregationalism, claiming ordination is a sacrament and promote Apostolic Succession. Did Luther and Walther wear miters?
Operate Frugally
In an age when many congregations are now finding it necessary to cut their budgets, including the salaries and benefits of their pastor, it is time for the LCMS bureaucracy to operate as frugally as possible. The bureaucrats at the LCMS’s international Center, CPH and district offices, who were trained to be pastors, should all follow C.F.W. Walther’s example and also serve as pastors of congregations. They should be paid little more than the salary recommended for pastors in the district in which they reside.
Meetings and travel should be cut to the absolute minimum. If the congregations of the LCMS observe that the bureaucracy is functioning in a frugal manner and the bureaucrats are not being paid several times the salary of their own pastors, giving for LCMS missions and seminaries will improve.
PAY THE BILL ANSWER THE QUESTION – OPERATE FRUGALLY
Christian News 10/11/10 http://www.christiannewsmo.com/
“A wicked man borrows and doesn’t pay back” Psalm 37:21.
A story on page one reports that The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is being sued by Faith Satellite Radio for not paying a ¾ million dollar bill.
CN has some 80 pages of legal documents filed by both sides in this matter. As soon as CN received the first 60 pages, CN called Ronald P. Schultz, Chief Administrative Officer of the LCMS. CN wanted to publish the LCMS’s defense vs. the lawsuit. At first the LCMS official said he hardly knew anything about any such lawsuit. When CN told Schultz that CN had the legal documents, including an “Affidavit by Ronald P. Schultz,” Schultz asked CN to put CN’s questions in writing. The letter CN then sent Schultz is in this issue. Copies of the letter with CN’s questions were sent to:
Rev. Yohannes Mengsteab, African Immigrant
Lutheran Mission-Society, Inc.
Rev. Matthew Harrison, President, Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod
Mr. Thomas Kuchta, Treasurer, Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod
Dr. Robert Kuhn, Chairman, Board of
Directors, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Dr. Larry Stoterau, Chairman, Council of
Presidents, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Professor John Loum, Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, Missouri
CN has not yet received an answer to any of CN’s questions from Schultz or any of those sent a copy. However, CN did receive 20 more pages of legal documents. One was titled “Supplemental Affidavit of Ronald P. Schultz” and the other “Defendants The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Yohannes Mengsteab’s Reply In Support of Their Motion to Dismiss and Alternate Motion to Transfer.”
Is The LCMS Hierarchical or Congregational?
An attorney, who read the documents, concluded they show that there are crooks in high places in the LCMS. The editor is not an attorney. CN’s advice to the LCMS is: “Pay the bill.” If an agreement is made by anyone to pay for services rendered, simple honesty demands “pay the bill.” The LCMS seems to be arguing that since the lawsuit was filed in Washington D.C., where the LCMS has only two congregations, it can be ignored.
CN asked Schultz how it is possible in this case for the LCMS to argue that it is congregational and therefore can’t be sued in Washington, D.C. and to argue in the Oakland 4 case that it is hierarchical. CN asked: “Does the LCMS change its position depending upon the situation? Does it defend one position on the West Coast and another one on the East Coast?”
If the LCMS is being blackmailed and a dummy corporation was set up in Tennessee, the crooks should be exposed.
Drop the California Lawsuit
CN has pleaded with the top officials of the LCMS, including the LCMS’s attorney, president, chairman of its COP, chairman of Board of Directors, and president of its California-Nevada-Hawaii District to drop the lawsuit against the “Oakland 4” for church property. More than a million dollars have been spent in legal fees to fight the case vs. the “Oakland 4.” Records show that at least some of the more than a million dollars came from mission funds. The Oakland 4 has spent about $600,000 to defend themselves against the lawsuit.
These lawsuits are not helping the reputation of the LCMS. A church body which claims to defend the truth of God’s Word should also demonstrate absolute financial integrity. This includes paying bills.
The Key Question
The editor mentioned in his letter to the LCMS’s Chief Administrative officer that CN has repeatedly asked Lutheran World Missions if all those associated with Lutheran World Mission in anyway, such as Concordia University, Portland, Professor Herbert Hoeffer and Rev. Yohannes Mengsteab of African Immigrant Lutheran Mission society, Inc. must maintain and teach that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven and that non-Christians are lost without saving faith in the merits of Jesus Christ? Even if the top officials of the LCMS to whom CN sent copies never heard about the California case or now the case in D.C., they should have no difficulty answering question 6 in CN’s letter to the LCMS’s Chief Administrative Officer. In the past, most members of the COP have refused to answer this simple question.
CN has often noted that mission work in the major denominations now involves primarily proclaiming some social gospel teaching English, etc., rather than preaching the saving Gospel to lost sinners. Church officials spent huge amounts of money flying around the world. Churches bring in natives from overseas to participate in church conventions and gatherings to give the impression that the denomination is preaching the Gospel around the world and is therefore worthy of mission support.
Note “LCMS Missions Following Major Denominations” and “International School – Lutherans Financing Pluralism and Universalism” in the September 27 Christian News.
What Was the Cost?
CN still hasn’t been able to find out how much the big installation service recently held at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis cost. Note “What About the Cost? THE BIG INSTALLATION” in the September 20 CN. An LCMS news service story said that “Representatives from other Lutheran church bodies worldwide attended from the Philippines, Tanzania, Ghana, India, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Russia, Guatemala, Chile, and Haiti. About 200 pastors, church workers, seminary faculty, deaconesses, partner-sister church officials, and the members of the Council of Presidents participated in the service’s processional.” It makes little difference who paid for all the travel, meals, hotel rooms, etc. The money could have been used to keep some missionaries on the field rather than calling them home for lack of funds. CN suggested that it would have cost far less to have the installation of most officers elected at an LCMS convention immediately following the convention when most of those to be installed were already present. This is the way it was done in the past when funds were not so freely spent by the bureaucrats.
Hierarchicalism Growing In LCMS
Then again things are changing in the LCMS. The Bible says little about what kind of headgear a clergyman should wear. It’s a matter of adiaphora. But is it wise for the preacher at an LCMS installation to wear a miter hat when there are so many pro-Loehe, anti-Walther Romanizers in the LCMS who prefer some form of hierarchicalism to congregationalism, claiming ordination is a sacrament and promote Apostolic Succession. Did Luther and Walther wear miters?
Operate Frugally
In an age when many congregations are now finding it necessary to cut their budgets, including the salaries and benefits of their pastor, it is time for the LCMS bureaucracy to operate as frugally as possible. The bureaucrats at the LCMS’s international Center, CPH and district offices, who were trained to be pastors, should all follow C.F.W. Walther’s example and also serve as pastors of congregations. They should be paid little more than the salary recommended for pastors in the district in which they reside.
Meetings and travel should be cut to the absolute minimum. If the congregations of the LCMS observe that the bureaucracy is functioning in a frugal manner and the bureaucrats are not being paid several times the salary of their own pastors, giving for LCMS missions and seminaries will improve.
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