St. Louis Seminary Professor Defends And Teaches For PLI
By Rev. Jack Cascione

Letter from Dr. Bartelt

Dear Brother Cascione,

It is disturbing to read many instances of misinformation and error in your public statements. As an example, I would reference your article in the September 18, 2000, Christian News (page 30).

"PLI's Curriculum Will Be Sent in the Next Release." As simply one example within that article I would cite the following paragraph: "Only a quick glance at the curriculum [of PLI] will show that the St. Louis seminary is an active participant in establishing secular business standards as the criteria for the pastoral ministry in the LCMS."

This paragraph along with most of the article is utterly false and sadly misleading. It would be in the best interests of truth if you would provide some evidence and factual basis for making such statements.

Sincerely yours in Christ's service,

Andrew H. Bartelt
Vice President for Academic Affairs

What did we say in the Release?

PLI's Curriculum Will Be Sent In The Next Release

Reclaim News has received a copy of Doctor Norbert Oesch's Pastoral Leadership Institute (PLI) curriculum. We are not surprised to see Dr. John Johnson, President of the St. Louis Seminary, as one of the lecturers for PLI. We are also not surprised to see that the St. Louis Seminary is arranging graduate credit for PLI students.

This is all taking place before PLI has received Recognized Service Organization (RSO) status from the LCMS Board for Higher Education (BHE).

Only a quick glance at the curriculum will show that the St. Louis Seminary is an active participant in establishing secular business standards as the criteria for the pastoral ministry in the LCMS.

What else should we expect from a Seminary that no longer endorses Walther's writings on congregational polity, Voter Supremacy, and Pastoral Theology as the only official polity for all LCMS Congregations?

In fact, at this time, neither LCMS Seminary endorsed any particular polity for LCMS congregations. The word "Synod" is becoming obsolete in the LCMS. "Walking together" no longer includes a unified congregational polity.

Without a clear vote from the 2001 LCMS Convention endorsing Walther's Voter Supremacy as the only congregational polity of the LCMS, the laity must inevitably surrender the administration and ownership of their congregations to the corporate hierarchy being taught by PLI and see their pastors recast as CEOs.

What is Dr. Bartelt Complaining About?

Bartelt says that our article is false and misleading and he wants to see documentation.

We have copies of PLI Documents that list President John Johnson and Doctor Bartelt as speakers at PLI events. PLI lists Bartelt as a speaker for the first year class at its Annual Conference Event on June 23-27, 1999 at Concordia Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas.

We have another document announcing, "Dr. Norbert Oesch and Dr. Andy Bartelt will make major presentations giving the biblical perspective on leadership on June 21-25, 2000 at Concordia, San Antonio."

We have the "The PLI Course SYLLABUS: CONFERENCE EVENT #1 - VISIONARY LEADERSHIP. The Syllabus lists Dr. Andrew Bartelt and President Johnson as guest presenters."

The Course Syllabus says that the St. Louis Seminary will offer graduate credits to those who participate in the conference.

We have "SYLLABUS: CONFERENCE EVENT #2 - NURTURING TRANSFORMATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING"
The list of Guest Presenters include Dr John Johnson. It also states that credit is to be established by Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Conference Dates: May 17-21, 2000 at St. John's in Ellisville MO.

We have a copy of a document with the following statement about President Johnson's support for PLI. St Louis Seminary President, John Johnson was one of the four original organizers of PLI. On February 6, 1998, Dr. Oesch wrote: "In 1996 the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) asked four of us to answer a question, namely, 'If the LCEF were to use some of its operating expenses to stimulate something that would make a difference in our church body, what would that be?' Unanimously we responded, 'Invest in pastoral leadership training'. In consultation with Concordia Seminary President, Dr. John Johnson, with Dr. Bill Meyer (Executive Director) of the Board for Higher Education, and with President, Gerry Kieschnick of the Texas District, the idea of a Pastoral Leadership Institute was shaped. Although I was part of the shaping, I was overwhelmed when I was asked to bring it into reality."

Why does Dr. Bartelt want documentation for what he knows is true?

Why does Bartelt want documentation to prove how he and Johnson have been working with PLI when he already knows it is true?

We have already sent the Syllabus for these events including the reading list. They author's for the reading list are a Whose Who of secular business leadership techniques including Covey, Glass, Drucker, Senge, and Gardner.

Obviously, Bartelt is aware all of these facts. He also knows that the LCMS Board For Higher Education is voting on whether to give PLI Recognized Service Organization status next weekend in Portland.

Dr. Bartelt promoting change in LCMS Congregations through PLI

Bartelt knows that his work with PLI is intended to "transform" and change LCMS congregations guided by the authors in the readings away from the model for church and ministry and the polity for LCMS congregations as written by C. F. W. Walther.

The following units are in the Syllabus for:

"SYLLABUS: CONFERENCE EVENT #2 - NURTURING TRANSFORMATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING"

UNIT ONE: "A Biblical View of Nurturing Change" An examination of how change is both natural and Biblical
UNIT TWO: "Making the Vision Come Alive at Our Congregation" Two case studies on change strategies in the local congregation
UNIT THREE: "Nurturing Transformation" An ongoing process activity: Learning and preparing to use the eight-stage process of creating major change
UNIT FOUR: "Change: How to Do It and Live to Tell About It" Recognizing, welcoming, and handling the challenges of change
UNIT FIVE: "Church on the Brink: Cultural and Theological Transformation in the 21st Century" The impact of cultural change on the church
UNIT SIX: "Developing the Action Plan" Local lay involvement, 12-month goal setting, developing a system of accountability, planning mentor events

Reclaim News stands behind its release, all of the facts, and all of the conclusions

First, we charge Bartelt with being part of a conspiracy to change LCMS congregations away from the structure for congregational polity established by C. F. W. Walther. Walther is not even on the PLI reading list.

Second, we charge Bartelt with accepting fund from PLI, paid in part from misappropriated funds given to PLI by the Lutheran Church Extension Fund.

We challenge Bartelt to explain how PLI can announce that credit will be given to the pastors participating in PLI from the St. Louis Seminary and how the St. Louis Seminary is not thereby involved in promoting PLI.

We challenge Bartelt to explain how the St. Louis Seminary President and the Vice President for Academic Affairs are teaching for PLI without lending support from the Seminary to PLI by their participation.

In April of this year, Bartelt refused to respond to a poll sent to all St. Louis Seminary Faculty asking if he agreed with Walther's quotes supporting Voter Supremacy.

Without a clear vote from the 2001 LCMS Convention supporting a resolution endorsing Voter Supremacy in all LCMS congregations Walther's church administration by Voter Supremacy will be lost to the laity. Bartelt and Johnson are clear examples that the changes are coming from the Seminaries.

If such a resolution is not adopted, Congregations will have to reconsider their membership in the LCMS or expect to lose control and ownership of their church property. When the Voters not supreme, the courts will not consider them owners and administrators of their church property.