The January issue of the Reporter arrived at our church on February 3rd. How did the picture of Ralph Bohlmann, former President of the LCMS, get on the front page of the LCMS Reporter? Because he disagrees with President Barry on the Doctrine of Justification?

When in the history of the LCMS has the opposing opinion from the former LCMS President been published in the Reporter or any other Synodical publication? Now, the "loyal" opposition to justification gets equal time? How many ways are there to heaven?

Let's have all the District Presidents publish the opinions of the loyal opposition on the front page of their District papers.

Let's have the alligators in every congregation publish their opposing opinions to the CEO and hyper-euro-Lutheran pastors on the front page of their church newsletters. This should be a lesson in Doctor Norbert Oesch's PLI-Leader playbook.

A number of us objected to the Praesidium's weak response to the aberrations in the Doctrine of Justification in Wayzata, Minnesota. We were astonished to learn, during our January meeting with President Barry, that Bohlmann was Redeemer, Wayzata's and their pastor's advisor.

Why didn't Mahsman say, "Bohlmann is wrong" or doesn't he know?

If Bohlmann wants to tell everyone why we should rejoice over the ELCA selling out the Gospel and the Reformation to the Catholic Church, let him do it on the pages of Christian News without using Synodical ink. Of course, Herman is very opinionated. That, right there, is the Synodical sin. It is little wonder that the St. Louis Faculty doesn't want him on the roster. He lacks Synodical objectivity.

The Reporter's publishing of the percentage of agreement and disagreement with Barry on justification is completely and utterly appalling. We've gone from witnessing to reporting. Why don't we publish the Pope's objection to the Augsburg Confession in the Book of Concord and the Catechism? What if Pope Leo was right?

Twice in the first chapter of Mark, Christ refuses to give the devil equal time.

Let's have Mahsman publish a survey on how many of the opposition don't under stand the Gospel or hate the Gospel and are destined for eternal damnation. Maybe we could have an opinion poll from people excommunicated from LCMS congregations?

Synodical Presidents may be correct or incorrect. If people don't like what they say, the Convention will decide. But, giving equal time to those who oppose a Convention resolution on the Gospel simply shows how deeply engrained the bureaucratic bi-partisan decay has infected the Synodical headquarters.

Bohlmann's opposition to Barry also shows that the LCMS President has no authority over publishing the truth and nothing but the truth to the members of the LCMS because of Paul Devantier and the Board for Communication Services. Let them try out their objectivity on confessing the Gospel to Jesus Christ at the last Judgment. He might call them lukewarm.

The Doctrine of Justification appears to be subject to majority opinion in the LCMS.

The crucifixion was about the opinion of One versus the world. Mahsman is going to have to apologize to the Martyrs. If we want objectivity why don't we job out the Reporter to the St. Louis Post Dispatch? They can redesign the Reporter like their op-ed page.

There are a number of discrepancies in Bohlmann's objection to Barry's news release.

1. The 1998 LCMS Convention adopted Resolution 3-8A "To Express Deep Regret and Profound Disagreement with ELCA Actions." In regard to the ELCA's agreement on justification with the ELCA, resolution 3-8A states in part: ".also its [the ELCA's] adoption of 'The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification' which claims a common understanding between Lutherans and Roman Catholics on the sinner's justification by God's grace through faith in Christ in spite of continuing lack of agreement between them on critically important aspects of the doctrine of justification-have significant implications for all Lutherans and other Christians in the United States and around the world;.." Yet Bohlmann writes, "As the immediate past president of that church body, I want to assure readers that the ad does not present the official position of the church body on that agreement."
2. Bohlmann claims the ad represents the personal opinion of the current President. However, he ignores the fact that part of the duties of the Office of President according to the LCMS Handbook XI.4 state that, "The President shall see to it that the Resolutions of the Synod are carried out." Barry has only brought the position of the LCMS Convention on the Joint Declaration to the attention of the general public. Many LCMS Lutherans were not aware of their Church body's position on this issue due to confusion in the media. The media presents the agreement as representing all Lutheran and Catholics.
3. Bohlmann claims that Barry is only speaking for himself. Then who is Bohlmann speaking for when he writes: "To all who may have been offended by this ad, I offer this unofficial but very profound apology."?
4. Bohlmann feels compelled to oppose Barry in public and then writes that people don't like Barry's ad because: "ads in the public media are not a helpful way for church bodies to deal with their differences." Bohlmann has only shown that disagreements in the Synod on the doctrine of justification extend from the congregations to the Office of the Synodical President.
5. Bohlmann says we should rejoice when other Christians come to agreement, yet the agreement between the ELCA and Rome is an agreement without the Words of Christ.

The laity is witnessing a public disagreement between the current and past presidents of the LCMS on the Synod's most central teaching, the doctrine of justification, how God saves sinners through faith alone in the work of Christ.

The Convention's response to the public humiliation Bohlmann has brought to the LCMS will most certainly be a standing ovation for President A. L. Barry in July of the 2001 Convention for his courageous confession of the doctrine of justification. One wonders if Bohlmann called up Barry and asked him how he could help Barry get reelected in 2001.