Yeah, and be just like the ELCA where the Pastors wish thier congregations "a Happy Ramadan". No thanks! It is far better to hang onto the old dogma than water down the Faith. Kudos to the LCMS.
I strongly disagree. Perhaps the LCMS would do well to read the Book of Acts again -- this time for comprehension. And they might hearken also to the words of Jesus Himself:
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Jesus did not instruct the LCMS to stay at home rubbing elbows with the other Scoovies. And "all nations" did not include a noticeable proportion of Missouri Synod Lutherans. "All nations," in fact, consisted entirely of the sorts of non-Christians that the LCMS seems to want to avoid.
You can't fulfill the Great Commission if you're not willing to go and speak of Christ among non-Christians. From the sounds of it, Benke did precisely what he should have done.
The LCMS is completely out of line with this one.