wfn.org | Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Examines Church Voice in Society

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services

LCMSNews -- No. 11
March 7, 2002

COP,  sem faculties address
church's voice in society

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod's Council of Presidents (COP) and two 
seminary faculties took a close look at the church's voice in society- 
especially concerning events with other Christians and non-Christians-- 
during their Feb. 28-March 2 retreat at a St. Louis hotel.

With the theme "Open Doors and Clear Proclamation," the 100-plus 
participants heard a number of speakers on matters related to that theme 
and met in small groups to discuss those presentations.

Much of the retreat agenda was off the record when speakers addressed 
topics that directly and sometimes indirectly pertained to charges brought 
against Atlantic District President David Benke. Those charges have to do 
with Benke's participation in "A Prayer for America" Sept. 23 at Yankee 
Stadium. Last month, the Synod's Board of Directors ordered a halt to any 
information concerning those charges, because of the Synod's 
dispute-resolution process.

"I think that progress was made at this retreat, mostly in our outlook," 
said Rev. Ronald Bergen, Ohio District president and retreat committee 
chairman.

Two presentations that Bergen referred to as "especially helpful" were 
given by Dr. David Adams, associate professor of exegetical theology and 
director of educational technology at the St. Louis seminary; and Rev. 
Herbert C. Mueller Jr, president of the Southern Illinois District.

Adams, addressing the topic "The Church in the Public Square in a 
Pluralistic Society," spoke primarily about American civil religion 
and  events that fall between worship and civic events.

"As we live in mission in a pluralistic and increasingly polytheistic 
world, we must become savvy enough to recognize that not all religious 
activity around us will fall into the neat categories that we have 
generated in the past," Adams said. "We must address these new developments 
with a zeal for right teaching and witness tempered by love for one another 
in Christ and genuine care for our neighbor."

"The church is thirsting for ongoing conversation [about these matters]," 
said Dr. Bruce Schuchard, assistant professor of exegetical theology at 
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Commenting for his small group that met to 
discuss Adams' presentation, Schuchard said its members "talked about the 
church's need to hear from us after this three-day meeting."

Reporting for another small group, Southern District President Orval 
Mueller said, "We share the frustration with others that we did not make 
more significant progress in addressing the issues confronting our church 
or arrive at any statement to share with our church. Many are eager to hear 
a word of hope that would have come out of this meeting.

Dr. William Weinrich, the academic dean at Fort Wayne and fifth vice 
president of the Synod, later told Reporter that he saw the retreat as 
"very successful as a collegial exchange of viewpoints.  However, in the 
absence of strong consensus on issues confronting the Synod, a statement 
attempting to speak specifically to questions of current concern would not 
be beneficial."

Ultimately, no such statement resulted from the retreat.

Herbert Mueller's presentation was on "How We Deal with Diversities and 
Differences in Our Midst."

"The basic point is very simple," Mueller said. "Whenever we deal with 
diversities and differences within our synodical fellowship -- whatever the 
arena, whatever the relationship -- we are called to treat each other as 
brothers, men who have one Lord and Master -- Jesus."

He said that the "bottom line" of his presentation was, "We have to 
continue our dialog or else we will experience further division -- dialog 
not just for the sake of dialog, but for the sake of our united 
proclamation of the Gospel."

Other retreat presenters included Synod President Gerald B. Kieschnick; 
Rev. Carl Krueger, president of the SELC District; Dr.  Dwayne Mau, pastor 
of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Monroe, N.Y.; Montana District President 
George Wollenburg; Dr. David Scaer, chairman of the department of 
systematic theology at the Fort Wayne seminary; Benke; Rev. Lawrence Rast, 
assistant academic dean at Fort Wayne; and Dr. Roger Pittelko, visiting 
professor of pastoral ministry and mission, Fort Wayne. Rev. Terry Cripe, 
pastor of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Defiance, Ohio, was the 
retreat chaplain.

The COP met in executive session after the retreat ended.  A meeting of the 
seminary faculties planned for the same time was canceled because of a 
winter storm headed for St. Louis.

Joint COP/seminary faculties retreats are held every two or three years, 
according to Bergen, who said that a number of participants this year 
indicated that they would like them to become annual events.

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