|
911 Prayer Was A Worship
Service But Kieschnick and Benke Say No
By: Rev. Jack Cascione |
|
|
|
|
|
Paula Kammerstein (a pseudonym) has written a widely circulated document
titled: "A Handbook on the Synod Controversy: What's Really Going
on?" This article is only a small portions of the full document
found at
http://luther_news.tripod.com
"Paula" answers the question "Was Yankee Stadium really a
worship service?" and then explains "Why Dr. Benke and Dr.
Kieschnick argue that it wasn't a worship service?" as follows:
------------------------------------------
WAS YANKEE STADIUM REALLY A WORSHIP SERVICE
News media from all over the world report the event as a prayer service.
It began with an invocation and ended with a benediction. It contained
prayers and hymns. For example, MSNBC reported that:
"Yankee Stadium became a cathedral, mosque and synagogue Sunday as some
20,000 people gathered for an interfaith service to remember the victims of
terrorism" and reported that "One after another, members of the
clergy - Jews, Roman Catholics Muslims, Hindus, Protestants, Sikhs,
Armenians, Greek Orthodox - stepped up to offer prayers."
And NBC News stated that:
"Second base became a stage and podium for today's service, dubbed a
Prayer for America , and a spray of red, white and blue carnations covered
the pitcher's mound. Winfrey and actor James Earl Jones hosted the
service, which included prayers from several Roman Catholic clerics, Jewish
rabbis, Islamic and Sikh ministers. Cardinal Edward Egan, Iman Izak-El
Pasha and Dr. Inberjit Singh were among those officiating.
The world considered this to be an interfaith worship service, getting the
impression that each participant was praying to the same Supreme Being, each
in his own "tradition." This is altogether offensive to the
Lord God who will have no other gods before Him.
DID YOU KNOW? Many articles other documents related to this crisis
have been archived at this website:
www.standrewslcms.org/tracts/crisisinlcms/lcmscrisis.htm
-------------------------------------------
"WHY DO DR. BENKE AND DR. KIESCHNICK ARGUE THAT IT WASN'T A WORSHIP
SERVICE?
The reason these men are so vehemently opposed to calling "A Prayer for
America " at Yankee Stadium a worship service is because they know very
well that the members of the LCMS have formally agreed not to participate in
worship services where all kinds of religious beliefs are mixed together. In
fact, one of the conditions for being a member in the LCMS is agreeing not
to participate in joint worship services with people who teach contrary to
the clear Word of God.
Dr. Benke has a long history before and after this service of praying,
worshiping and communing in churches which hold contrary beliefs to our own.
For example on September 9, 1998 - nearly three years before "A Prayer
for America " - the Rev. Dr. David Benke participated in an interfaith
prayer service, convened by the Roman Catholic Cardinal of New York and held
in the Roman Catholic cathedral. It included clerics from the Jewish
and Muslim faiths.
Dr. Barry, who was the synodical president at that time, called Dr. Benke to
repentance, Dr. Benke signed this confession, which later he implied that he
was coerced to sign:
'On September 9, 1998 , I participated in an interfaith prayer service for
the poor entitled: 'Lift Up the Poor With the Voices of Faith.'
The service included representatives of non-Christian religions, and also
representatives of Christian churches with which our Synod is not in
fellowship. My participation in this service was a direct violation of
the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, and consequently, a
violation of the Constitution, Bylaws and doctrinal resolutions of The
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. I also recognize and admit that my
participation in this interfaith prayer service was a violation of my duties
and responsibilities as an elected officer of The Lutheran Church --Missouri
Synod. While well-intended, what I did was wrong. I therefore
sincerely and publicly apologize to the Synod for my actions in this
connection. I assure the Synod that I will not repeat this error in
the future by participating as an officiate in ecumenical services.'"
|
|
March 24 , 2003 |