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Many LCMS congregations have yet to send in their
nominations for LCMS President and Vice President.
Voters’ Assemblies must send in their nominating ballots before
March 15.
Reclaim News has received a number of requests to give
a brief list of reasons why Gerald Kieschnick should not be reelected as
LCMS President.
In comprising such a list it should also be remembered
that President Kieschnick has taken some excellent positions against
abortion, in favor of the Marriage Amendment to the US Constitution, and has
stated his belief that the Bible is the Word of God. We would expect no less
from any LCMS President.
However, his first term in office has been marked with
more conflict and opposition to LCMS doctrine and practice than any
president in the history of the Synod.
The following is a brief list of reasons why Gerald
Kieschnick should not be reelected as LCMS President.
1. During his acceptance speech at the 2001 LCMS
Convention, Kieschnick stressed the importance of keeping the Eighth
Commandment, but he refuses to answer questions about the Trinity.
The LCMS President will not answer questions about God, but claims he
has a burning fire to save the lost.
2. He publicly supports Dr. David Benke’s
participation in a prayer service in Yankee Stadium with Moslem Clergy.
Benke claims that the Moslems also worship the true God.
3. He broke the LCMS By-Laws by publicly
disagreeing with LCMS Vice President Wallace Schulz who was appointed to
adjudicate the charges against Benke. Kieschnick’s
publicity of the case resulted in Wallace Schulz being fired as the speaker
of the Lutheran Hour.
4. He appointed men to the Synod’s Commission
on Constitutional Matters (CCM) whose rulings interfered with the duties of
the LCMS Board of Directors (BOD). After
consulting with legal counsel, the BOD voted, for the first time in the
history of the Synod, that 8 of the CCM rulings “are of no effect.”
5. While he supports spending hundreds of
thousands of dollars on the “Ablaze” evangelism program, 19 of the
Synod’s missionaries were cut from the mission field due to lack of funds.
6. His support for Pastoral Leadership Institute
(PLI) is an effort to promote the anti-Lutheran teaching of Church
Growth/Leadership Training in place of the Synod’s historic support for
voter supremacy. Voters’
Assemblies, not pastors who think they are God’s chosen CEOs, should
govern LCMS congregations.
7. He objects to the LCMS Board of Directors’
efforts to reduce the current 220 million dollar deficit by requiring
Districts to cut district staff and budgets.
8. He has not spoken out against pastors in the
LCMS who teach that ordination is a Sacrament and who also promote Episcopal
hierarchy instead of voter supremacy. The
LCMS doesn’t need bishops like the ELCA.
More could be added to this list.
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