MARQUART: ST. LOUIS SEMINARY LOST CASE VS OTTEN

LCMS’ COP, Administration, Special Presidential Committee, And Seminary All Disagree With Ft. Wayne Professor:

MARQUART: ST. LOUIS SEMINARY LOST CASE VS OTTEN
Christian News, October 10, 2011


Those who claim the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Haven, Mis-souri and editor of Christian News is an impenitent sinner on the road to hell all disagree with Dr. Kurt Marquart who insisted that Herman Otten won the Seminary vs. Otten case. Among those who disagreed with Marquart are LCMS presidents Harms, Jacob Preus, Ralph Bohlmann, A.L. Barry and his assistant, Paul McCain, Jerry Kieschnick, and Matthew Harrison. During the last 50 years hardly any member of the LCMS’ Council of Presidents has agreed with Marquart.


Very few have ever read the 1,050 page transcript of the Seminary vs. Otten case in the files of Concordia Historical Institute and the research center of Christian News. Dr. Martin Noland, former director of the Concordia Historical Institute said after he read the transcript that Marquart’s defense “completely exonerated” Otten. (“Marquart’s Defense Exonerated Otten,” CN, January 18, 2010). “Kurt Marquart – God’s Chosen Instrument In the Church – Missouri Synod’s Great Battle for the Bible” (CN, January 18, 2010), noted that the LCMS’ Concordia Publishing House would never publish a biography of Kurt Marquart, nor would the Schwan Foundation finance it if it mentioned Marquart’s association and defense of Otten. When CPH published two volumes on the works of Herman Sasse, edited by Matthew Harrison, it did not mention that Sasse defended Otten or that some of Sasse’s articles were published in Christian News.


So far the only publication which includes a biography of Marquart, testimonials about him, and a long list of many of his writings is CN’s “Marquart’s Legacy – The International Luther” available from Christian News for $5.00.


A 41ft. 21st Century Reformation Cross at Camp Trinity, New Haven, Missouri dedicated in memory of Dr. Marquart, who promoted a 20th Century Formula of Concord, will be dedicated during a Reformation service at the Missouri District’s Washington Circuit on October 30 at 3 p.m. Chaplain Brandt Klawitter, a great admirer of Marquart, will preach.


James C. Burkee, in his Fortress Press published Power, Politics and the Missouri Synod – A Conflict That Changed American Christianity has this caption of a photo of a young Marquart in his book: “Kurt E. Marquart, long time Otten friend and ally. Marquart constantly advocated for the ‘regularization’ of Otten’s clerical status, which he considered key to ‘pacification’ in the church.”


If Concordia Seminary, the leaders of the LCMS, and the LCMS COP had accepted the final ruling of the LCMS’ Board of Appeals, the case, which led to the latest suspension of Trinity, New Haven, Missouri would never have happened. The COP ruling vs. Otten’s congregation led to the ruling that Otten is an impenitent sinner on the road to hell (CN, October 3, 2011).

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Professor Kurt Marquart of Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne, told a Special Presidential committee asked to deal with Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, vs. Herman Otten case that the seminary failed to show just cause for refusing to certify Otten for the ministry. The committee was formed in response to a resolution adopted at the LCMS’ 1995 convention.


Many regard Marquart as one of the leading theologians in the U.S. The Board of Appeals of the Lutheran Church -Missouri Synod ordered the St. Louis Seminary to show cause for refusing to certify Otten.


Marquart told the committee: “The case ended in a 5-5 tie or non decision. Anywhere else but in the Soviet Union and in other dark corners of unchallenged bureaucratic arrogance, it would have been self-evident that the seminary had failed to show cause.”


When Otten asked Dr. James Kalthoff why the Special Presidential committee took issue with Marquart’s statement, he said the he could not answer any questions about the committee’s report. Marquart was a counselor for Otten in the case. They had been roommates at the St. Louis Seminary. Dr. Siegbert Becker, a professor at Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, and Rev. H.W. Niewald, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, New Haven, were Otten’s other counselors.


The Special Presidential Committee said in its 41-page report published in the March 3, 1997 issue of CN, that the meaning of the 5-5 ruling has not been clarified even though the LCMS’ Commission on Appeals ruled in 1984 that the 5-5 ruling meant that the seminary failed to show cause and that Otten was the prevailing party. The LCMS’ Handbook says that such rulings are binding. The Special Presidential Committee faults Otten for failing to ask for a rehearing. Otten and his counselors did not ask for any rehearing because they accepted the ruling of the Board of Appeals. Why should the winner ask for a rehearing? Members of the committee were James Kalthoff, Wallace Schulz, David Mueller, Doris Christopher, and Patrick Stacher. Kalthoff later suspended Otten’s congregation from the LCMS. . . . .