I can't think of a better way to illustrate how dissensions are used by God to bring to light those who are tested and worthy among us than the pastoral letter of the Rev. Herb Mueller, president of the Southern Illinois District. This is an outstanding example of pastoral leadership, honesty, transparency, and humility by one holding synodical office. I reprint it here in its entirety:
The Ascension of Our Lord 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus!
I pray this letter finds you strong in the Lord and in the grace of His Holy Spirit. Remember, the One who is both God and Man is now in charge, Lord of all things. May this message, that our Lord Jesus, our Conqueror, now rules the universe for His Church, be our comfort, our peace and our courage.
As you know, on March 18, David Strand, acting on behalf of the BCS, cancelled Issues Etc. and terminated the positions of Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz. Subsequently in April, the BCS did not reverse this decision, nor did they hear from Todd Wilken on the matter. On Monday, April 21, in executive session, the COP heard from Synod’s Treasurer, Tom Kuchta, and from David Strand, Executive Director of the Board for Communication Services. In open session on Tuesday morning, President Kieschnick presented to the COP a statement in which he says: “I regret that I did not counsel Mr. Strand to postpone implementation of the decision until some time other than Holy Week…” This statement is posted to Synod’s web site.
Out of a desire to have something to which District Presidents could refer going back home, the Council of Presidents also adopted a statement with counsel to the members of the Synod. Both statements were quickly posted to the Synod’s web site. The COP’s statement was adopted in the closing minutes of the meeting on Tuesday, April 22, after the COP had rejected a formal resolution that would not have been helpful at all. The web site says the COP statement was adopted by voice vote with no dissenting voices. Personally, I did not raise an objection to the final version of the statement because I believed at the time it was better than the first resolution presented. To those who are disappointed in the COP Statement, I understand and I do share your sense of disappointment. I am sorry I failed to do better. At the very least, I failed to slow what became a hurried process to adopt something. As a result, the COP Statement itself does not fully represent, I believe, the level of frustration on the part of many members of the COP that Issues Etc was cancelled, or that the matter was handled in the manner it was. Having said that, I do not believe it would be helpful or wise for me to have any further public comment on the COP Statement.
In all of this, each of us must examine our actions according to the commandments of God. Even as we ask legitimate questions of those in authority, each of us needs to examine ourselves, live in repentance, and see ourselves covered in Christ’s cleansing blood. The Holy Spirit in the Word gives the precious gift of repentance unto the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Yet that does not mean we receive blindly what we are told. Questions need to continue to be addressed to those in authority – that’s what the 4th commandment would also enjoin us. As indicated in President Kieschnick’s statement, David Strand (and the BCS) felt constrained by Synod’s financial realities to cancel Issues Etc. I will continue to address my questions to David Strand, the BCS and the Synod’s Board of Directors, asking if there is any way this action could be reversed, revisited or ameliorated in some way. Why was cancelling Issues Etc the only option that could effectively reduce costs? Why was this action taken without warning? Why was Issues Etc not “spun off” in some way to another group that might have been formed to support it? I have other questions that I also intend to address to those in authority, respectfully and with charity. I encourage you to do the same.
The 8th commandment enjoins us to “put the best construction on everything.” We have no way of judging the motives of the people involved. However, I will also remind everyone to accord the same brotherly privilege to Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz when the time comes for them to explain their side of the story. Todd and Jeff must be heard and we must encourage those in authority to hear them with the same charity and trust we are encouraged to grant David Strand and the BCS. Pastor Wilken and Jeff Schwarz also need our prayers and our pastoral concern. We are commanded to “defend them and speak well of them” as well. I have heard nothing which would cause me to question their integrity. On the contrary, I believe Pastor Wilken and Jeff Schwarz have done nothing that ought to have caused the termination of their positions or Issues Etc. They have served faithfully and well.
Please, if you have any questions of me, let me know and I will seek to answer them as expeditiously as possible. Pastor Timothy Scharr and I will be traveling to South Africa May 5-17 as part of our mission partnership with the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, so I will be mostly unavailable during that time, but any other time will be fine.
I encourage you to present your questions to the BCS and to the Board of Directors of the Synod, but make your case lovingly, carefully, persistently, and then trust God to do His will. Christ Jesus is Lord of His Church. His word assures us, “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; ‘His steadfast love endures forever.’ The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? … It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. … The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation” (Psalm 118:5-6, 8-9, 14).
Yours in Christ,
+ Herb Mueller
Rev. Herbert C. Mueller, Jr.
President, Southern Illinois District
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
2408 Lebanon Avenue
Belleville, IL 62221
618-234-4767
+ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me + (Galatians 2:20)
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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15 comments:
Herb Mueller for Synodical President!!!
I appreciate the tone of Pastor Mueller's letter. That being said, is there any other communication from Pastor Mueller in which he explains why he voted against the following two motions:
1. “that the program Issues, Etc., be restored to KFUO-AM; that the Rev. Todd Wilken and
Mr. Jeff Schwarz be asked to return to host and produce the program; and that, since the program was canceled and the two men were dismissed to reduce costs to the Synod, time be allowed until August 31 to develop increased funding and/or reduce the costs of the program.”
2. “to encourage Rev. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz to work quickly toward establishing a Recognized Service Organization under which to operate Issues, Etc., assuring them continuing use of the program name and restoring them to full time employment at KFUO until August 31.”
(From Augsburg 1530)
In both cases, he could have reversed the decision of the BCS.
Michael,
The Mueller referred to in the BCS meeting minutes is one Candace Mueller, not SID DP Herb Mueller.
Thanks Brad. My apologies to Pastor Mueller for my post.
I think the first time I mentioned that I would love to have Herb as Synodical President was 7 years ago.
But, seriously, I'd rather have him go back to the parish.
He knows the Gospel. He should have a flock of his own.
All ordained synodical officials should have an altar and pulpit.
It's certainly refreshing to hear pastoral words from someone in authority.
Now, as to the remaining questions as he frames them, Rev. Mueller asks: "Why was cancelling Issues Etc the only option that could effectively reduce costs?"
The bureaucrats have been successful in framing this as a financial question and it's serving them very well as a red herring, drawing our attention away from the real issues.
Even if it was financial, the question remains, why was this particularly effective apologetic outreach considered unworthy of the synod's resources while so many other questionable modes of outreach (e.g. Ablaze!) are garnishing exponentially more of our synod's resources? That question demands that we realize there are theological considerations involved here.
As Rev. Mueller continues: "Why was Issues Etc not 'spun off' in some way to another group that might have been formed to support it?"
Indeed! But the synod can simply claim other priorities. We simply can't do everything.
The more disconcerting question is whether this was more than a simple matter of differences in priorities. Was Issues, Etc. considered to be a monkey wrench in the smooth oiled machinery of "change" in the LCMS toward a church growth approach to ministry and outreach? Sadly, I believe the answer to that question is YES. That would mean this was not only theologically motivated, but politically calculated.
THAT question, I believe, is the real issue we need to be focused on. Analyze the current leadership's priorities and see what answer you find to this last question.
Issues, Etc. would not have been what it was were it not for the bold and uncompromising confession of what was right in the face of wrong.
Sadly, no DPs were near as bold as the two men undone. I suppose that there's a bit of the cowardly Saul in us all. But, God's call made Saul to be Paul.
Wouldn't it be great if more than one DP who stood by and said nothing regretted their silence and stood up and said something?!
Oh, I'm glad this Mueller is the cool Mueller, because I was confused about the Mueller on the Board that voted 'no'.
And then there's the Mueller with Jesus First. That's a different Mueller?
Too many Germans...;-)
"Too many Germans...;-)"
As one who hides his maternal German descent behind a Ukrainian surname, I think there is more truth to that than one would dare think.
Rev. Mueller's letter dances around the question of how he voted on the motion adopting the COP statement. His wording (and apology) that he "did not raise an objection" simply does not address the question on his vote, which has been asked on several Lutheran blogs. Other concerns about statements in Rev. Mueller's letter are discussed in posts here, here, here, and
here.
Carl Vehse,
Repent. Our brother Herb has apologized for his silence. It is our joy and privilege to receive this with joy and to forgive our brother.
Yet you are determined to put the absolute worst construction on his words.
Your sin stands in sharp contrast to Herb's integrity. You are not permitted to withhold forgiveness from him.
Our brother Herb has apologized for his silence.
Rev. Mueller apologized because he "did not raise an objection to the final version of the [COP] statement" and he "failed to slow what became a hurried process to adopt something".
His letter simply did not address the question of his vote, which has been asked on several Lutheran blogs, and remains unanswered.
Nowhere in what I wrote have I denied or questioned Rev. Mueller's apology for what he admitted he did not do. Thus, Rev. Lehmann, you transgress the eighth commandment when you falsely accuse me of putting the worst construction on his words and implying that I withhold forgiveness from him.
I also forgive you.
Carl Vehse is Richard Strickert, who belongs to a contempo-worship congregation. Stickert is perpetually obsessed with tearing down pastors whenever he can. He hides behind a fake name and takes his little potshots, from behind the skirts of his anonymity.
James,
By your false and slanderous accusations, you show yourself to be a liar.
My identity is readily apparent to those who checked the links I provided above. As for Carl Vehse, it is an appropriate Lutheran nom de guerre against residual pietistic Stephanism (like your post) within the Missouri Synod... on both extremes.
As for the church in which I am a member, it is no more "contempo-worship" than the Missouri Synod, both of which I and other confessional Lutherans are trying to change. Congregational members recently voted down a Jerry-inspired CEO-type of constitution at my Austin church, even though such progress may not be as fast as you, James, on your high horse, perceive we should gallop.
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