Lutheran pastor suspended for participating in interfaith service

Mpls (red)Star Tribune / AP ^ | 7/9/02 | AP

[Valin]

NEW YORK -- A minister with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has been suspended for participating in an interfaith service at Yankee Stadium for the families of those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.

The Rev. David Benke, president of the New York-based Atlantic District, was also ordered to apologize for mixing Christian and non-Christian views in violation of the denomination's constitution.

[Charles Henrickson]

If you want to keep up with what's going on in the Missouri Synod and take part in discussions about events and issues, I suggest you get on this list:

Missouri Synod Talk

I regularly participate in discussions there, and we have been talking quite a bit about the Benke issue.

[cinFLA]

Perhaps the readers would enjoy seeing a policy statement from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I wasn't aware that they were eco-freaks.

We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are deeply concerned about the environment, locally and globally, as members of this church and as members of society.

This social statement on Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice was adopted by a more than two-thirds majority vote as a social statement of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America by the third Churchwide Assembly on August 28, 1993, at Kansas City, Missouri.

Even more widespread and serious, according to the preponderance of evidence from scientists worldwide, are:

the depletion of the protective ozone layer, resulting from the use of volatile compounds containing chlorine and bromine; and dangerous global warming, caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide.

[cinFLA]

In case you are wondering, I am in the Central Illinois District, which with a few exceptions is considered conservative.

I am almost completely ignorant on the issues but looking at Evangelical Lutheran Church in America policy statements, it appears to be a fairly liberal organization. They have no position on the death penalty while conveying serious questions about its justification; they allow for abortion and are extremely radical about the environment blaming man for global warming. Not trying to argue, just looking for insight on what I have read.

[Ford Fairlane]

The ELCA is very liberal.

It was formed by the merger of (i think) the LCA and the ELC (in the 80's?)

One of these two groups was formed after a group split off of the LCMS after the Seminex crisis in the early 70's in which the LCMS seminary had been corrupted by very liberal professors.

[tubebender]

Bump for later...

[egarvue]

Hey Ford, I also in the Central Illinois district, but am unfortunately stuck attending one of the non-conservative exceptions that you mention :) Interestingly enough, nothing's really been mentioned here about the Benke case; I guess our liberal pastor is sticking his finger in the wind to find out what side to take. What town are you in?

[Charles Henrickson]

Schulz Relieved of Duties at Lutheran Hour Ministries

Comment form at lhm.org

[Ford Fairlane]

I am in the Decatur area, we have 8 LCMS congregations in the area, 2 of them are fairly liberal, 2 very conservative, the rest vary between moderate and conservative depending on the issue.

It has recieved a lot of attention here, because the local "conservative" morning talk radio host, Brian Byers, discussed it on his show.

I didn't hear the show, but I understand Byers said that the LCMS is as bad as the Taliban.

The interesting thing is, his station manager is LCMS and he has relatives in one of the local congregations.

[Charles Henrickson]

New article posted:

Interfaith Is No Faith