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We
wish to thank Concordia Seminary for allowing us to rent Werner Hall for the
Fifth National Free Conference on C. W. Walther.
The food service and chief at the Seminary Dining Hall provided an
excellent meal for the banquet.
This
year attendance increased by nearly a hundred to 268 registrants. There was
no fee for students or faculty, and at times there may have been 300 or more
listening to the lectures.
In
contrast to most theological conferences, the majority of those attending
were laypeople from approximately 20 states including
California
,
Florida
,
Texas
, and
New Jersey
.
Some
of the highlights of the conference were Doctor David Menton's outstanding
photographs of a human hair follicle, seen through an electron microscope,
and then compared to the impossible claims of evolution.
Past
Minnesota Governor Al Quie and Rev. Roger Eigenfeld from WordAlone, an ELCA
network, focused the conference's attention on the apostasy of Episcopal
Hierarchy in the ELCA and their desire to redirect ELCA lay people back to
the Bible. However, at the same
time, they still endorse women clergy.
Their
openness to questions and the sincere intensity of their concerns made for a
dynamic and thought-provoking interaction for all involved.
Laypeople kept asking them questions about the Bible without getting
direct answers. Laypeople were equally horrified at the possibility of
Episcopal Hierarchy taking hold in the LCMS and deeply appreciated
Eigenfeld's and Quie's warnings.
There
was a dramatic moment when Rev. Henrickson tore up a letter from the
Atlantic District warning him not to show the Yankee Stadium video, and then
threw it on the floor. There was
spontaneous applause. It is all
recorded on videotape.
We
were astonished to see how many hands were raised when the audience was
asked if there were any delegates present for the 2004 LCMS Convention.
Rev.
Herman Otten's analysis and solutions for the future of the LCMS received
thunderous applause. Reverend
William Bischoff introduced Otten. This was the first time Otten spoke on
the campus of Concordia Seminary for more than 30 years.
The
question on everyone's mind was how would Dr. Kurt Marquart, a candidate for
the LCMS Presidency, communicate in such a forum.
Marquart covered a wide range of subjects from worship to doctrine to
fellowship and Synodical structure.
In
one question Marquart was asked about his reaction to reports that some LCMS
pastors were simply choosing the congregational convention delegate without
a vote of the congregation, usurping the congregation's authority, and thus
creating the best convention the pastors could pick.
Marquart called that kind of practice deplorable and that it should
not be tolerated in the Synod. You
should see or hear it on tape for yourselves.
Marquart
demonstrated his qualifications for LCMS President by his ability to respond
quickly in public dialogue over difficult issues with officials from other
church bodies, which is required of every LCMS President.
The
panel discussion between Quie, Eigenfeld, Marquart, and Congressman
Dannemeyer was one of the most illuminating events of the Conference.
We strongly recommend that congregations purchase the Marquart video
and panel discussion.
Marquart
had little difficulty articulating LCMS doctrines on the basis of Scripture
in comparison to those of the ELCA. Should
Marquart be elected, no
Lutheran
Church
body in
America
will have a more qualified and
knowledgeable spokesman.
To
order tape cassettes and videos contact
Hope
Lutheran
Church
as follows:
Hope
Lutheran
Church
10701 St. Cosmas Lane
St. Ann
,
MO
63074
or
email fnp@hope--lutheran.org
or
Phone (314-429-3808)
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