Program's End Provokes Differing Views on Lutherans' Direction (Issues Etc, Kieschnick, Hemingway)

Wall Street Journal ^ | April 3 (4?) 2008 | letters to the editor

[Terriergal]

Program's End Provokes Differing Views on Lutherans' Direction

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More importantly, I wish to address the unfortunate comments in the column that the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is deeply divided and that it is pushing "church marketing" over the historic confessions of the evangelical Lutheran Church.
The Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick

As a former guest on "Issues, Etc." and as a listener to the show I was very unhappy that it was cancelled. I can't help but conclude that the cancellation was somehow related to the deep divisions that exist in our denomination and that are referred to in the article. While many publicly pretend that the divisions do not exist, as a pastor in the denomination and as a delegate to the 2007 LCMS Convention in Houston, I have observed these divisions firsthand and have been dismayed by them. Keep up the good work!
Rev. Wayne W. Schwiesow
Pastor
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In truth, the denomination had its most "unified" convention in years last summer because the opposition to the Rev. Gerald Kieschnick was simply kept from any meaningful participation. Mr. Kieschnick was re-elected by only 52% in spite of this control. "Missouri" is divided.

Helen Jensen
Austin, Texas
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Thanks for printing this article. It is a clear and perceptive summary of the situation in our denomination. I agree with Ms. Hemingway in her analysis. It seems that this "Radio Silence" may be just a symptom of the synodical leadership's plan to transition the LCMS into a "market-driven" church rather than a confessional one.
Greta Martin
Bristol, Wis.

[Terriergal]

Kieschnick tries to spin, saying that the LCMS isn't deeply divided, and four other letters are obviously in deep disagreement with him (excerpted)

Kieschnick steps right in it!

I might direct you all to this post where an attendee to the '06 convention had heard Kieschnick say that "You are NOT free to preach or teach publicly that Synod is wrong on ANY given issue." He wanted us to be sure we understand that, so he repeated it. Slowly. No one may publicly preach or teach that Synod is wrong any any issue, ever.

What a clueless man.

[Gamecock]

BTTT

[Terriergal]

Hemingway has responded again to Kieschnick

http://augsburg1530.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/responsorama-1/