Concordia University River Forest President, Rev. Dr. George Heider, is the
First Synodical College President to receive the Lord's Supper from a ELCA
Woman Pastor in the history of the LCMS. Heider was attending the funeral
service of faculty member Del Klaustermeier.
On February 13, 2002, Heider wrote to Northern Illinois District President,
Rev. William Ameiss, "In testimony to our fellowship in Christ with both
Del [Klaustermeier] and Mary [Todd], I made the decision to receive the
sacrament, as did my wife."
Letters on this subject are passing between Heider, Ameiss, and Herman
Otten.
Heider further explained [I was,] "conscious that I might cause
offense to some by participating and to others by not participating in the
sacrament."
In his apology to Ameiss, Heider states: "I am sorry for any offense
given to or taken by other's or any trouble caused to you. At the same time, I
recommit myself, with you to work under Scripture and the Confessions to
remove the scandal of disunity in the Body of Christ, by which even the
celebration of a colleague's home-going can become the occasion for difficult
decisions and controversy."
On February 15, 2002, President Ameiss responded to Heider: "I thank
you for your words of apology for any offense given to or taken by others. I'm
especially grateful for the reassurance that your decision was in no way
intended as an expression of protest or dissent from our Synodical position. I
pray under God's blessing that that assurance on your part will enable all
members of the campus community relating to these issues to enter into
collegial dialogue. In that way, all involved can listen not only to each
other, but solely to the Scriptures and The Confessions as they speak to these
issues."
"I deeply appreciate your explanation and am satisfied that this
should put the matter behind us."
On February 24th, Heider writes to Rev. Herman Otten, Editor of Christian
News: "For the entirety of my nearly quarter-century as a pastor and
professor of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, I have been advised not to
respond to communications from you, such as the fax that arrived in my office
on Wednesday of this week . . ."
Evidently, Heider has been warned for the past 25 years not to respond to
Herman Otten. But in the LCMS, Heider has not been given similar warning to
avoid Communion from women ELCA pastors.
Evidently, Heider was more interested in showing fellowship with the widow
of the deceased than with Jesus Christ.
The ELCA's abandonment of the Gospel in its document with Rome, abandonment
of the inspiration of Scripture, abandonment of God's will that only men hold
the pastoral office, and abandonment of the real presence in the Lord's Supper
just weren't enough barriers to prevent Heider from taking the Lord's Supper
from a woman ELCA pastor. But don't write to that Herman Otten!
How can those in agreement with ELCA, now have the real presence in the
Lord's Supper after the ELCA confesses Communion fellowship with the Episcopal
Church, Presbyterian Church USA, The Reformed Church in American, The Moravian
Church, and the United Church of Christ? But watch out for that Herman Otten.
Evidently, Heider is more concerned that others are offended instead of
Jesus Christ. Heider has placed the Second Table of the Law over the First
Table of the Law and the love of people over the love of God.
District President Ameiss is eager to absolve Heider's momentary,
emotional, theological drift at the Communion Rail, the same University
President who still has the presence of mind not to communicate with that
Herman Otten.
The next time Ameiss's bank shortchanges him a $1,000.00, I'm sure he will
accept their apology when they say they are sorry if they caused him any
offense without a guarantee they will change their accounting practices.
It all starts getting a little ridiculous when our relationships to each
other in the LCMS are more important than our obedience to God's Word.
Instead of the LCMS, how about the LCSE, The Luther Church of Situation
Ethics? The best advise for Heider is watch out for that Herman Otten. There
is the real problem; people who expect accountability.