MEMO June 27, 2002
TO: Northwest District Congregations, Pastors, Church Workers, And
Church Leaders
FROM: Warren Schumacher, President, Northwest District - LCMS
RE: Lutheran Hour Speaker and 2nd VP Dr. Wallace Schulz Suspends
Atlantic District President, Rev. Dr. David Benke
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I received word today that Lutheran Hour Speaker and 2nd Vice President,
Rev. Dr. Wallace Schulz suspended the Rev. Dr. David Benke, President of the
Atlantic District, from his office as District President.
LCMS Second Vice-President Wallace Schulz has placed Atlantic District
President David Benke on suspended status for his participation in "A
Prayer for America - a Memorial Service at Yankee Stadium" hosted by the
City of New York and Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. This event took place on
September 23, 2001, following the tragic World Trade Center Twin Towers
terrorism attack of September 11th. The purpose of the event was to pray for
survivors of the deceased and for the emergency workers who continued rescue
and reclamation work at the Twin Towers. At the time of this prayer gathering
only a few bodies had been retrieved from "Ground Zero." A number of
faiths took their turn in their time of prayer. To most observers of this
nationally televised event on C-Span, it appeared that each denomination or
faith group lead in some moments of prayer or reflection. Schulz is suspending
Benke, in part, because his "Prayer for America" is being perceived
as "praying with non-Christians, thereby denying the true God, or
teaching that all gods are the same."
Suspended status is part of the process under Synodical bylaws that can
lead to expulsion and removal from membership in the synod. While under
suspension, Benke is ineligible to serve in any Synodical or district office,
including his elected position as president of the Atlantic District or his
position on the Board of Regents of Concordia University, Bronxville, New
York. He is also ineligible to accept a call to another position. Benke was in
the process of considering a call to serve as pastor of Saint John Lutheran
Church, Fort Collins, Colorado. He may, however, continue to serve as pastor
of Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Brooklyn, New York, while the charges that
resulted in his suspension are resolved.
The next step in the process is for Benke to request that a Dispute
Resolution Panel of three (3) synod-trained reconcilers be appointed to hold a
hearing on the dispute. Depending on the decision of this panel, an Appeal
Panel of three district presidents could yet consider the matter.
I need to share with you my great sadness of this turn of events. President
Benke's motives and actions of September 23rd were carefully weighed and
permission to participate in this New York City "Prayer for America"
was received from the Atlantic Board of Directors and the Synod President,
Rev. Dr. Jerry Kieschnick. In spite of all those precautions, 21 complainants
have leveled charges against Dr. Benke.
In an earlier letter to the Northwest District congregations I outlined the
subsequent actions that have taken place in the Lutheran Church - Missouri
Synod leadership. President Kieschnick was prevented from exercising his
ecclesial supervision in response to complaints. It was the vote of the
majority of his Vice Presidents (Preus, Schulz, King, Weinrich and Meyer) that
Kieschnick be "recused" from deciding the matter because Kieschnick
had given prior permission for Benke to participate in the "Prayer for
America" event. The Presidium of Synod assigned 2nd Vice President Schulz
to adjudicate the complaints. The Board of Directors of Synod placed a
"gag" order on the LCMS leadership, so very little of this has been
in the Reporter or Lutheran Witness.
The Council of Presidents was meeting on September 23rd, while President
Benke was spearheading the Lutheran Relief efforts and participating in the
"Prayer for America." Upon President Benke's arrival at the Council
of Presidents meeting, the District Presidents and Vice Presidents drafted a
letter. On September 26th, just 3 days after the Yankee Stadium event, those
present at the Council of Presidents unanimously approved the following
Pastoral letter to the church:
A Pastoral Letter to The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Jesus Christ, the heaven-sent Rescue-worker for all people, says:
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome
the world" (John 16:33). Very few of us have lived through times such
as these when this promise from the Lord Jesus has been more appropriate.
September 24, 2001, we listened as Synod President Gerald Kieschnick and
Atlantic District President David Benke gave eyewitness reports on the
destruction and death left as a result of the evil acts of a few. The
enormity of the devastation, the tremendous loss of life, and the deep
emotional wounds have revealed the fragility of life and the ever-present
reality of sin and death. Whether it's at ground zero in New York City or
Washington, D.C., in Pennsylvania or Oklahoma City, a nation and a world
have been left with many questions-questions concerning the cause of what
has happened and questions concerning what tomorrow might bring.
Recent events provide the Church with a significant opportunity to serve
in the Name of Christ by giving comfort to the grieving, the distressed, and
the fearful, and to proclaim the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, our
Lord. Give generously to our LCMS World Relief campaign: "Comfort and
Renew." One hundred percent of the funds gathered will go to the
locations where healing is so desperately needed. We commend President
Kieschnick and District President Benke for the strong leadership they have
given at this time. We commend them, and others like them, for the
compassion and the encouragement they have given to the caregivers. We are
especially grateful for the many pastors and church leaders who seize the
opportunity to bring a clear testimony of hope in Christ to people
everywhere.
We also speak for the entire Synod when we thank God for all who have
worked tirelessly, often at great personal risk, both in New York City and
Washington D.C. In particular, we think of police officers, firefighters,
emergency relief workers, counselors, chaplains, FBI agents and the military
who have assisted, and are assisting, those afflicted by this terrible
disaster.
During these days of confusion, fear and uncertainty, we urge you to
persist in your prayers. Pray for the nation and for leaders of the world
that they may receive wisdom for the decisions they must make. Pray for the
Church that it may be filled with the boldness and love the Spirit gives.
Pray for those who represent our nation through military service. Pray for
each other as we pray for you "that the eyes of our hearts may be
enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which God has called
us"(Ephesians 1:18). Remember that the One who rescued us from sin and
death is at the Father's right hand making intercession for us (Romans
8:34). His love cannot be conquered. Therefore we face the future boldly
proclaiming in word and deed the Lord Jesus.
In the strong Name of Jesus who has rescued us for life now and forever,
The Council of Presidents
35 District Presidents
5 Vice Presidents
The President of The Synod
Within a very few weeks following Dr. Benke's participation in the
"Prayer for America" at Yankee Stadium, he and Dr. Jerry Kieschnick
began to receive sharp criticism from fellow members of the LCMS. The
criticisms were mainly the charge of "syncretism" the notion that
"all roads lead to the same god." There were some in the Synod who
charged that by merely being a part of this event with other faiths the
"Prayer for America" event constituted "syncretism."
President Benke was suspected of publicly teaching that all faiths were equal
and that all religions lead to the same "god."
The Northwest District Board of Directors became aware of these accusations
of "syncretism" leveled against Benke for participating in the
"Prayer for America" event and the criticism against Kieschnick for
giving permission for Benke to speak a prayer at this event. The Northwest
District Board of Directors sent the following letter of encouragement to
Presidents Kieschnick and Benke in November 2001:
November 1, 2001
Dr. Gerald Kieschnick
1333 South Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, Mo 63122
Dr. David Benke
171 White Plains Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
Dear Brothers in Christ:
We have become acutely aware of the widespread response, both positive
and negative, generated by your actions following our national crisis on
September 11. Although your respective offices dictated and involved
different reactions, you affirmed one another in those efforts. As members
of the Board of Directors of the Northwest District, we add our voice of
support for the prompt and courageous leadership that both of you provided
in behalf of our church. No one can measure how many people were consoled,
how many lives were directed to Him who is our refuge and strength, a very
present help in trouble.
We have every confidence that the actions you took were not precipitous,
but conscious of our corporate existence as a church body and aware of
possible repercussions. God could not have opened a wider door of
opportunity for us to speak His word of comfort and hope to people in a
state of desperation over such cataclysmic events. To have by-passed those
opportunities would only have confirmed the skeptics who view the church as
being sterile, irrelevant, and uncaring. The witness you gave honors our
Lord's own words, "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also
acknowledge him before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10: 32 We regret
the voices of dissent that have adjudged your faith response as being wrong.
Be assured of our continued prayers and support in your respective
ministries. Your leadership roles place you in vulnerable positions. It is
our solemn belief that God has chosen you to be his prophets among us for
such a time as this.
May His Spirit rest upon you always,
Reverend Clemens Pera, Chairman
Board of Directors
The Northwest District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Cc: Council of Presidents"
I urge congregations of the Northwest District to be patient during this
most troubling time. Our Synod has NOT been known for its kind and courteous
treatment of one another when we disagree in some practice or activity. It
remains to be seen if we can rise above this behavior and support those who
are so severely criticized.
The next steps in the process that leads to either exoneration or expulsion
of President David Benke include his right for an appeal of this decision.
This appeal needs to be made within 15 days, and will result in a "blind
draw" of 3 Synod trained reconcilers who will review the suspension. The
reconcilers can either agree with VP Schulz's opinion that Benke be expelled
from synod or remove the suspension. One final Review Panel of three District
Presidents is open to President Benke, should the initial Dispute Resolution
Panel rule against him.
Please pray for those who are charged with the responsibility of leading
our church body. The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod has been blessed with
over 150 years of ministry here in America. We have often been on the
sidelines of major events and movements in this country. Yet the future still
holds the hope of this small immigrant church body making a bold new witness
here in America that is virtually as "pagan" as the 1st Century
world. Our focus of being a New Testament, Book of Acts sort of
outreach-oriented church body may yet be realized. Maybe not. Much of this is
in God's hands, as he leads us and all church bodies who proclaim His Son 's
saving Gospel for the lost and lonely.
The 1st Century church needed to call a council to determine if allowing
the gentiles into the church was going to be tolerated. Acts 15 records this
first council in Jerusalem. This same text will be used at the August 5-7
theological conference training event in Phoenix, AZ. Over 600 leaders of the
LCMS will be brought together to design and experience a "model
theological conference" that will be held in each and every District of
the Synod to deal with current issues that confront and often divide us.
Pray for God to use our frail human efforts to accomplish His Great
Commission. Pray that God does not allow this present crisis of the suspension
of one of our most gifted and effective leaders detract us from the greater
good that is yet to be accomplished as the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
boldly proclaims Jesus Christ in the churches, communities, and the market
places of this world.
The mission statement of the LCMS "In grateful response to God's grace
and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of
the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of
Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and the world."
Nothing can deflect this church body from accomplishing the Great
Commission. If this suspension is allowed to result in the expulsion of the
Rev. Dr. David Benke, we will be in for a season of strife, anger, pain, and
suffering unknown in any of our previous Synodical difficulties.
Pray to the Lord of the churches around us to assist us in overcoming this
and other difficulties that we face. Allow us to be ministered to by those who
love the gospel. Attached, below, is a MEMO from the President of our Synod,
the Rev. Dr. Jerry Kieschnick.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Send a letter to the attention of Dr. Jerry Kieschnick or Dr. Wallace
Schulz:
1300 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122
Send a letter to the attention of Dr. David Benke:
171 White Plains Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
Send e-mail to:
Dr. Jerry Kieschnick: gbk@lcms.org
Dr. David Benke: DHBAD@aol.com
Dr. Wallace Schulz: LLLFRANCKBL@LHM.ORG
Together in Christ,
Warren Schumacher