The Lutheran Laymen's League (LLL) announced in its July 21, 2002
Convention News Release it was receiving protests from donors on both sides of
the Benke Case.
The LLL Board of Governors has fired Wallace Schulz for, "polarizing
the league" because he suspended Atlantic District President, David Benke
for participating in an inter-faith worship service.
Schulz was acting in place of LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick and First
Vice President Daniel Preus who were compelled to recuse themselves from the
case.
The LLL claims Schulz should also have removed himself from judging the
Benke Case. However, the LLL had not previously raised any questions about
Lutheran hour speakers Dale Meyer or Wally Schulz serving as LCMS Vice
Presidents and sitting in judgment of many difficult cases.
What was different about the Benke Case?
What was different was that President Gerald Kieschnick released
information about pastors filing charges against himself and President Benke
to the media on Nov. 11, 2001. According to the LCMS Constitution, all charges
filed in a dispute are to be kept confidential. None of the pastors filing the
charges sent their information to anyone but Kieschnick and Benke.
LCMSNews - No. 93 Dec. 3, 2001 issued by the "The Lutheran
Church--Missouri Synod Board for Communication Services" explains how the
information was released to the media.
Kieschnick issues statement:
An LCMSNews release of Nov. 11 reported that Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
President Gerald B. Kieschnick has been charged by two clergy members of the
Synod with allegedly violating synodical fellowship principles. . . The
statement was originally released by David Strand, the Synod's director of
public affairs. For more information about this matter, contact Strand via
e-mail at david.strand@lcms.org, or phone him at (314) 996-1229.
It was not possible for Strand to have this information unless Kieschnick
gave it to him. Strand could not have released it unless he was told to do so
by Kieschnick.
When Wallace Schulz finally made his decision, his ruling was posted by
President David Benke on the "Jesus First" website.[See
Note] After Schulz's ruling was made public the LCMS media
attacked Schulz's ruling but never published what Schulz had written.
There was media uproar over the 911 controversy in the LCMS after Nov. 11,
2001 and an even greater uproar after Schulz made his ruling.
If anyone is responsible for polarizing the LLL, damaging their ministry,
and costing them millions in donations, it is LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick
and President David Benke.
Losses to the LLL are considered regrettable, but necessary collateral
damage in an effort to win the media war against Wallace Schulz.
Never before in the history of the LCMS has a Synodical President held up a
Vice President for public ridicule and assault by the media.
Kieschnick even participated in a staged media event on July 11, 2002 where
Congressman Gary Ackerman characterized Schulz as a Nazi because he doesn't
pray with Jews.
What is at stake is Kieschnick's reelection and the tactics are necessarily
ruthless.
This case that is now going to a three-judge appeal panel in Dispute
Resolution has already been tried in the media.
Benke's media savvy team of lawyers successfully lobbied the major networks
and newspapers including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Wall Street
Journal, and eleven congressmen (9 Democrats and 2 Republicans) to support
Benke.
Clergy and laypeople in the LLL who also support "Jesus First"
have seized the opportunity to fire Schulz. However, it was Kieschnick who
used the LCMS media to attack Schulz before the panel of District Presidents
has heard the appeal.
We must be impressed at how successfully Kieschnick has waged his media
campaign. He has everything on his side except the Bible and honor.
What should have been decided privately has now disgraced the entire Synod,
all in the name of job security.
[Note] Please
see correction to this statment.