We were asked…
Dear Jack,
"Kieschnick, Benke, or their associates, must have released reports
about the charges to the media."
I am little concerned about why you make the above assumption. Do you know
that for a fact? If not, why did you make it at all? You talk a lot about the
8th Commandment and how Werning is not abiding by it in your case. Are you, by
making the above assumption, defending your neighbor, speaking well of him and
explaining everything in the kindest way?
Please think about it. Doesn't the president of our synod deserve better
treatment than this?
Rev. David Henslin
Dear Rev. David Henslin:
Thank you for your email. It is rather obvious from the following release
from St. Louis who broke the news about the charges filed against Dr.
Kieschnick by two LCMS pastors. It was St. Louis. Also notice that President
Kieschnick is adamant that it was a "civic event" when the event was
always presented as "Prayer Service" and clergy from all faiths were
asked to participate. President Kieschnick will have a great deal of
difficulty altering this reality. We are well aware that the LCMS does not
forbid prayer with other denominations. However, it does forbid formal
participation by LCMS pastors in worship services and prayer services with
other denominations.
The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services
LCMSNews -- No. 93
Dec. 3, 2001
Kieschnick issues statement
An LCMSNews release of Nov. 11 reported that Lutheran Church--Missouri
Synod President Gerald B. Kieschnick has been charged by two clergy members of
the Synod with allegedly violating synodical fellowship principles.
Specifically, the two cite Dr. Kieschnick's support of a fellow LCMS leader's
participation in a Sept. 11-related event at Yankee Stadium, and his own
participation at another New York-area event, both involving prayer with
people not in altar and pulpit fellowship with our denomination.
Dr. Kieschnick offers the following statement as a means of clarifying the
LCMS position on these matters.
The statement was originally released by David Strand, the Synod's director
of public affairs. For more information about this matter, contact Strand via
e-mail at david.strand@lcms.org, or
phone him at (314) 996-1229.
-------------
"A STATEMENT FROM LCMS PRESIDENT GERALD B. KIESCHNICK:
"Recent discussion on Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod practices with
respect to worship has resulted in confusion about the official position of
the Synod regarding the participation of Missouri Synod Lutherans in events
involving prayer or worship that includes the participation of non-Christians.
"Our church body's national convention last summer approved a document
that speaks of "civic events" where "pastors . . . are often
asked to participate . . . offering prayers, speaking, and reading Scripture.
. . ." The convention noted that a pastor, guided by his own discretion,
may choose to participate in such civic events so long as he is allowed to
remain true to his faith and, if asked to pray, to do so in Christ's name.
Such occasions, after all, "may provide opportunity to witness to the
Gospel." What happened Sept. 23 at Yankee Stadium was such an event, and
the Missouri Synod pastor who participated in it prayed in Christ's name.
"The Missouri Synod does not forbid prayer with other Christians. We
have a long history of praying with and for other Christians. However, we
refrain from engaging in common prayer with those who do not recognize or
accept Jesus Christ as true God. For it is only through Jesus Christ that we
can approach the true God. We want to do nothing that would compromise the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, such as suggesting through our actions that there are
other gods than the Triune God-Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
"In all we say and do, we in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod seek
to honor Jesus Christ and take every opportunity to give public witness to Him
and to share the good news that through faith in Him, we have the free gift of
eternal life with God."
Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
St. Louis