Kieschnick Admits Unauthorized Travel Expenses For His Wife

By: Rev. Jack Cascione
MEMO

TO:                 Members of the Board of Directors of The Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod

FROM:           President Gerald B. Kieschnick

DATE:            January 11, 2003

SUBJECT:      Presidential Travels

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

It has come to my attention that an unofficial electronic communication
circulating the LCMS is critical of the travels of the President of the
Synod and questions the frequency of his wife accompanying him on his trips
throughout the Synod.  That communication suggests that I am traveling too
extensively, that I travel for political purposes, and that Terry joins me
too often.  It also wonders who is paying her travel expenses and even
insinuatingly connects my travel expenditures to the reduction in mission
staff at the International Center and from the mission field.  Such an
insinuation is at best uninformed and at worst defamatory.

Normally I would not involve the Board of Directors in a matter such as
this.  I do so in this case, however, because the aforementioned electronic
communication, initiated and circulated by a pastor whose membership on the
clergy roster of the Synod is on the agenda of the LCMS Presidium in a case
alleging his repeated violation of the eighth commandment, has widely
published your e-mail addresses and is encouraging LCMS congregations and
individual members to contact you and the Treasurer of the Synod to raise
the same concerns.  I am responding at some length, sharing a copy of this
memo with the LCMS Council of Presidents for their information and also
because they are mentioned, unfavorably, in the referenced communication.

Here is my response to these questions and concerns:

Travel is a major part of the office of the LCMS President, no matter who he
is.  This is a large church body spread throughout the entire United States
of America.  The President is the chief ecumenical officer of the Synod and
has responsibility for relationships with the 29 church bodies around the
world with whom our Synod is in altar and pulpit church body fellowship.  I
travel a lot.  I am out of town even as this memo is being sent.  Previous
Synodical Presidents also have traveled a great deal. You have seen my
regular reports and know exactly where I have traveled in the past year and
a half and for what reason.  I share identical reports with the Council of
Presidents of the Synod.

My office receives an abundance of requests for presidential
appearances-speeches, presentations, conferences, conventions, sermons,
town-hall forums, special occasions, congregational anniversaries, building
dedications, etc.  I strive to accommodate as many of these invitations as I
reasonably can, particularly those of a District or Synodical nature, in my
service as President of the entire Synod.

It is important for the President of the Synod to be out in the church among
the pastors, educators and people of our Synod, especially in times when the
church is troubled, conflicted and controverter.  Our pastors and people are
full of questions.  They often receive unofficial communications, such as
the one referenced above, many of which, sadly and unfortunately, include
inaccurate information, innuendos, half-truths and non-truths.  Our pastors
and people appreciate the opportunity to have their questions addressed
personally, directly and frankly by the President of the Synod.  I believe
that is part of my responsibility and am more than happy to do so.

Extensive and frequently exhaustive travels are an integral part of my
duties and responsibilities as President of The Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod.

In general, I am on the road between one half and three quarters of the
time, including many consecutive days and nights away from home.  It would
not be appropriate for me as a husband to leave my wife home alone on so
many days and nights on a consistent basis throughout the years of my
ministry as Synodical President.  Terry is a tremendous helpmeet to me and a
very fine model to the church of a pastor's wife.

One of our great concerns is the well-being of pastors' wives, which
directly affects the health and effectiveness of pastors themselves, of
their children and of their ministry.  Terry knows first-hand from her many
years (one-third of a century) of marriage to a Lutheran clergyman the joys
and sorrows, difficulties and blessings of being a pastor's wife.  She is
also well acquainted with the unique stress, concern, pressure and anxiety
experienced by the wife of a District President in the LCMS.

For that reason, she has been and continues to be strongly supportive of
pastors' wives.  She has been and continues to be directly involved in
pastors' wives' retreats, in speaking engagements to groups of pastors'
wives at District pastoral conferences, at gatherings of wives of District
Presidents and in individual visits with spouses of professional church
workers, both as a result of direct invitations and in connection with
events to which I have been specifically invited.

From feedback both she and I have received, the overwhelming reaction of
those attending these retreats, events and functions has been one of sincere
thanks, appreciation and gratitude.  We are not talking here about shopping
trips or bridge tournaments; we are talking about long hours of intentional
encouragement, prayer, care and concern-be it through seminars, workshops,
speeches, retreats, conferences or candid conversations-that have a direct
bearing on the health and happiness of the pastoral marriage, home and
ministry.  She also spends significant time with members and leaders, along
with their spouses, of congregations, auxiliaries, organizations and
institutions of the Synod, all on a voluntary basis, providing sensitive
affirmation and loving support for many.

It is a wonderful blessing to have a loving, supportive wife at my side,
both at our home in St. Louis and on many of my travels as President of the
Synod.

When Terry is specifically invited to be a presenter or participant in an
event or asked to participate in the same event that I am attending, the
event's host routinely assumes her expenses.  When she is not expressly
invited but accompanies me to provide support and encouragement not only for
her husband but also for the pastors' wives and/or District President's
wives in attendance at the event, her expenses are covered by the President'
s office budget, consistent with the travel policy of the Synod, and/or by
personal resources.

For these many reasons, including my love for my dear wife of 37 years and
thus my effectiveness as President, and in light of the tremendous amount of
time my responsibilities take me away from our home in St. Louis, I consider
having my wife at my side, as I travel across the Synod, responsible and
prudent stewardship of the precious resources entrusted to my care.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, should you have any specific
questions about this matter, I encourage you to address them to my
attention.  In addition, you are certainly free to share this memo with
anyone who inquires of you concerning the report of the unofficial
electronic communication referenced above.

God's grace, power and peace be with you all!

Transforming the world through Christ's love...in time...for eternity.  John
3:16-17
Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

C:  LCMS Council of Presidents

January 13, 2002