Why was Issues, Etc. canceled for "programmatic and business reasons" without prior notice or warning on the morning of Holy Tuesday, March 18, 2008? I previously suggested perhaps it was done in the heat of passion.
The Rev. Joel Brondos, who served on the synod's Board for Communication Services, shares some interesting insider insights on the workings of the BCS and a vote of no-confidence regarding KFUO management. He also reminds us that Mr. Strand seems to be acting completely out of character in this. This is not the David Strand most people know.
The alternative explanation for the Holy Tuesday timing is that both the synod's Treasurer and Secretary were out of town and out of touch, opening a brief window of opportunity when the watchdogs were not on the watch.
Incidentally, the synod's fiscal year ends June 30th, which would have been the logical time to close down shop.
It's beginning to look premeditated.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Follow the Money
In my Best Construction article, I suggested that Issues, Etc. may have offended some folks with its harsh yet biblical criticism of the Warren/Hybels/Osteen approach. Now there is a confirmed report that LCMS Foundation Pres. Tom Ries is no fan of Issues, Etc. on account of its taking issue with Joel Osteen.
The LCMS Foundation is the fund raising arm of the synod that charged Issues, Etc. 40% for its services.
The LCMS Foundation is the fund raising arm of the synod that charged Issues, Etc. 40% for its services.
A Crime of Passion?
Reasonable men sometimes do unreasonable things in the heat of passion. I continue to be troubled by the abrupt and clandestine nature of the cancellation of Issues, Etc. The whole affair seems so sloppily handled. No notice or warning. Holy Tuesday. Web site down, web site up, web site down again. No replacement programming. Ill-prepared, evasive public statements. Treasurer out of the country and not consulted. Board for Communication Services not consulted. The military has a term for this: FUBAR.
This is not the way a well run institutional machine operates. Ducks are in a row, not waddling and quacking all over the place. Communications are in order. Actions are planned. The story is straight and transparent.
Could this have been a crime of passion? We know that decisions regarding the future of KFUO were forthcoming in May or August at the Board of Directors. But did someone get their button pushed and jump the gun? I've read on some comment lines that the March 5 show with Dr. Louis Brighton on "Women Pastors and Gnosticism" was particularly "lively," as was, I'm sure, the March 9 interview with the Rev. Matthew Harrison on "Women's Ordination" and the new book he edited on the topic.
Could these shows have pushed someone over the edge to the point that ordinary procedure was abandoned? Was this an act of anger and outrage over a show that was an obstacle to the "vision"? Is this why things seem so disorganized?
Speaking of Pr. Harrison, someone needs to keep a watchful eye on him. He could be next. He's the guy who runs the hugely effective Human Care-World Relief over at 1333 Kirkwood Ave. He's a known thorn in the flesh to the current administration. I'll bet you a shot of Patron the book he edited goes off the shelf for a second round of "doctrinal review" in the way of Concordia.
wmc
This is not the way a well run institutional machine operates. Ducks are in a row, not waddling and quacking all over the place. Communications are in order. Actions are planned. The story is straight and transparent.
Could this have been a crime of passion? We know that decisions regarding the future of KFUO were forthcoming in May or August at the Board of Directors. But did someone get their button pushed and jump the gun? I've read on some comment lines that the March 5 show with Dr. Louis Brighton on "Women Pastors and Gnosticism" was particularly "lively," as was, I'm sure, the March 9 interview with the Rev. Matthew Harrison on "Women's Ordination" and the new book he edited on the topic.
Could these shows have pushed someone over the edge to the point that ordinary procedure was abandoned? Was this an act of anger and outrage over a show that was an obstacle to the "vision"? Is this why things seem so disorganized?
Speaking of Pr. Harrison, someone needs to keep a watchful eye on him. He could be next. He's the guy who runs the hugely effective Human Care-World Relief over at 1333 Kirkwood Ave. He's a known thorn in the flesh to the current administration. I'll bet you a shot of Patron the book he edited goes off the shelf for a second round of "doctrinal review" in the way of Concordia.
wmc
Sunday, March 30, 2008
The Best Construction
For programmatic and business/stewardship reasons, the decision was made to discontinue the "Issues, Etc." program on KFUO-AM. (KFUO website)
As we are oft reminded when passions run high, the 8th commandment bids us to put the best construction on everything and thereby protect the gift of reputation. Here is my best attempt at a best construction of the facts.
I assume that the people involved are all honest men and are telling the truth. Their statements should be taken at face value. They may not be telling us everything but they are telling us what they think is necessary for us to know, and what they are telling us is assumed to be true.
The official statement says that Issues Etc. was canceled for two reasons: programmatic and business/stewardship. That means content (program) and money (business/stewardship).
Let's talk money. Issues, Etc. was losing about $250,000 per year in spite of its own donor base. KFUO has been losing money to the tune of $3.5M over the last seven years. It's no secret that the synod is in dire financial condition. Expenses are up, giving is down. Budgets need to be slashed to the bone. Expensive programs that don't bring in the bacon are the first to go. Mr. Strand was told to make due with a lot less. He made a hard, unpopular decision. He did what he had to do for the sake of the organization's self-preservation. He's taking one for the team.
The cash flow bleed had to stop. You can't run a synod on a Visa card. An ad hoc committee of the Synod's Board of Directors is studying a proposal to sell the KFUO assets and is due to report at either the May or August meeting of the BoD (BoD Feb. 2008 Minutes, pp 51-52). Who knows, you might be able to bid for it on eBay one day. Those are the cold, hard facts . An organization that is financially strapped can't afford to underwrite a costly program, no matter how many downloads and web listeners there may or may not be.
One has to wonder how bad the financial condition of the LCMS actually is that it couldn't even afford to keep Issues, Etc. on the air until the committee made its report to the Board of Directors in May.
Now let's talk "programming." Issues, Etc. stood out among KFUO-AM's programming. Issues, Etc. is hard-headed as opposed to tender-hearted. IE was accused of many things, but being soft was not one of them. It was apologetic, edgy, in-your-face, guerrilla Lutheranism, which is the way I like it but is admittedly irritating to many. Issues, Etc. was kryptonite to people who like what Hybels, Warren and Osteen are doing. They're successful, growing, popular. Winners like to hang with winners. That's one reason Lutheran theology is not very popular. What winner wants to call himself a poor, miserable sinful loser every Sunday?
Let's be honest. Issues, Etc. was not exactly seeker-sensitive. Todd had a certain "edginess" that surely grated on the ears of those who had the vision that the synodical institution could be saved by a paradigm shift in methodology if not theology. Issues, Etc. was an obstacle to that vision. A change in programming was clearly needed, something more supportive of the vision, more tender-hearted. A team player.
And so on Holy Tuesday, March 18, 2008 business and programming concerns came together in a perfect storm of synodical self-preservation, and Issues, Etc. went silent. It wasn't for financial reasons alone, otherwise there would not have been the immediate order to take down the archives from the web site. And it wasn't solely for programming reasons, as Mr. Strand's letter clearly indicates.
That's the best construction I can put on this at the moment.
As we are oft reminded when passions run high, the 8th commandment bids us to put the best construction on everything and thereby protect the gift of reputation. Here is my best attempt at a best construction of the facts.
I assume that the people involved are all honest men and are telling the truth. Their statements should be taken at face value. They may not be telling us everything but they are telling us what they think is necessary for us to know, and what they are telling us is assumed to be true.
The official statement says that Issues Etc. was canceled for two reasons: programmatic and business/stewardship. That means content (program) and money (business/stewardship).
Let's talk money. Issues, Etc. was losing about $250,000 per year in spite of its own donor base. KFUO has been losing money to the tune of $3.5M over the last seven years. It's no secret that the synod is in dire financial condition. Expenses are up, giving is down. Budgets need to be slashed to the bone. Expensive programs that don't bring in the bacon are the first to go. Mr. Strand was told to make due with a lot less. He made a hard, unpopular decision. He did what he had to do for the sake of the organization's self-preservation. He's taking one for the team.
The cash flow bleed had to stop. You can't run a synod on a Visa card. An ad hoc committee of the Synod's Board of Directors is studying a proposal to sell the KFUO assets and is due to report at either the May or August meeting of the BoD (BoD Feb. 2008 Minutes, pp 51-52). Who knows, you might be able to bid for it on eBay one day. Those are the cold, hard facts . An organization that is financially strapped can't afford to underwrite a costly program, no matter how many downloads and web listeners there may or may not be.
One has to wonder how bad the financial condition of the LCMS actually is that it couldn't even afford to keep Issues, Etc. on the air until the committee made its report to the Board of Directors in May.
Now let's talk "programming." Issues, Etc. stood out among KFUO-AM's programming. Issues, Etc. is hard-headed as opposed to tender-hearted. IE was accused of many things, but being soft was not one of them. It was apologetic, edgy, in-your-face, guerrilla Lutheranism, which is the way I like it but is admittedly irritating to many. Issues, Etc. was kryptonite to people who like what Hybels, Warren and Osteen are doing. They're successful, growing, popular. Winners like to hang with winners. That's one reason Lutheran theology is not very popular. What winner wants to call himself a poor, miserable sinful loser every Sunday?
Let's be honest. Issues, Etc. was not exactly seeker-sensitive. Todd had a certain "edginess" that surely grated on the ears of those who had the vision that the synodical institution could be saved by a paradigm shift in methodology if not theology. Issues, Etc. was an obstacle to that vision. A change in programming was clearly needed, something more supportive of the vision, more tender-hearted. A team player.
And so on Holy Tuesday, March 18, 2008 business and programming concerns came together in a perfect storm of synodical self-preservation, and Issues, Etc. went silent. It wasn't for financial reasons alone, otherwise there would not have been the immediate order to take down the archives from the web site. And it wasn't solely for programming reasons, as Mr. Strand's letter clearly indicates.
That's the best construction I can put on this at the moment.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friend to Friends
Thanks to Wm Weedon who published this letter from Pr. Todd Wilken. I reproduce it here.
When I was on the air, I often joked about retreating each night to the “Wilken Compound” and closing the gate. Radio can be an isolating profession. I would even say in jest, “I have no friends.” I was wrong.
In fact, the first thing Jeff said to me as the International Center’s doors closed behind us on Holy Tuesday morning was, “Now we’ll find out who our friends really are.” We have.
“Thank you” seems to fall short. “Thanks be to God” is better. In the days to come, we will need all the friends we can get.
We’ll always have one. His enemies called Him “the Friend of sinners.” To that I can testify. “While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.”
The first person I called on that holy Tuesday morning was not my wife. The first person I called on that morning was my Pastor.
I love my wife (I called her next). My wife is my best friend in the world. But that morning I didn’t need a friend; I needed a pastor.
Our Church needs a faithful pastor too.
If you want to carry on the legacy of Issues, Etc., you already know what to do: Pastors, go to the pulpit and the altar, be faithful to God’s Word and the Lutheran Confession in everything you preach, teach and practice. Preach Christ crucified for sinners.
People of God, require your pastors to do nothing less and nothing more than that. Hear the Word, trust Jesus, live for your neighbor.
Everyone, when decisions are required (be they congregational, district or synodical), remember: You need a faithful pastor, and so does your Church.
I keep hearing in my head those words from Hebrews: “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.” This is so true.
This story has no martyrs; no one has died. This story has no sacrificial lambs; no blood has been shed.
The only story I’m interested in telling is the story of the one Martyr, the story of the Lamb of God. That story has all the death and blood I will ever need.
The writer to the Hebrews also asks a question:
The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?
What can man do to me? What can man do to you?
The answer to that question is seen just inside the threshold of the hollow tomb; it is heard in the frightened voices of the women who saw Him alive again; it is written in the blood of the true martyrs mingled with the blood of their Savior.
What can man do to me? Nothing; Christ is risen.
Wir sind alle Bettler,
Todd Wilken
Das ist wahr.
___________
When I was on the air, I often joked about retreating each night to the “Wilken Compound” and closing the gate. Radio can be an isolating profession. I would even say in jest, “I have no friends.” I was wrong.
In fact, the first thing Jeff said to me as the International Center’s doors closed behind us on Holy Tuesday morning was, “Now we’ll find out who our friends really are.” We have.
“Thank you” seems to fall short. “Thanks be to God” is better. In the days to come, we will need all the friends we can get.
We’ll always have one. His enemies called Him “the Friend of sinners.” To that I can testify. “While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.”
The first person I called on that holy Tuesday morning was not my wife. The first person I called on that morning was my Pastor.
I love my wife (I called her next). My wife is my best friend in the world. But that morning I didn’t need a friend; I needed a pastor.
Our Church needs a faithful pastor too.
If you want to carry on the legacy of Issues, Etc., you already know what to do: Pastors, go to the pulpit and the altar, be faithful to God’s Word and the Lutheran Confession in everything you preach, teach and practice. Preach Christ crucified for sinners.
People of God, require your pastors to do nothing less and nothing more than that. Hear the Word, trust Jesus, live for your neighbor.
Everyone, when decisions are required (be they congregational, district or synodical), remember: You need a faithful pastor, and so does your Church.
I keep hearing in my head those words from Hebrews: “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.” This is so true.
This story has no martyrs; no one has died. This story has no sacrificial lambs; no blood has been shed.
The only story I’m interested in telling is the story of the one Martyr, the story of the Lamb of God. That story has all the death and blood I will ever need.
The writer to the Hebrews also asks a question:
The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?
What can man do to me? What can man do to you?
The answer to that question is seen just inside the threshold of the hollow tomb; it is heard in the frightened voices of the women who saw Him alive again; it is written in the blood of the true martyrs mingled with the blood of their Savior.
What can man do to me? Nothing; Christ is risen.
Wir sind alle Bettler,
Todd Wilken
___________
Das ist wahr.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Saturday Morning Hangover
I woke up with a hangover this morning, and not for the reason you think. It’s more of an Issues, Etc. hangover. The blogosphere can be like a mosh pit at times, complete with bloody noses and broken teeth.
The tone thus far has been restrained and for the most part civil. A little institution sassing, a few regrettable pieces of artwork, but nothing near the invective Luther used to hurl. We pastors who have gone public under our own names are particularly vulnerable, though not as vulnerable as Todd and Jeff. We risk offending our tender-hearted parishioners and are leaving a convenient internet record of our transgressions for the inevitable trip to the institutional woodshed.
For the most part the discussion as been ad rem, to the issue, not ad hominem, to the person. That’s good, right, and salutary. The issue is why Issues, Etc. was so abruptly cancelled after at least seven years of apparently losing money as a popular radio ministry; it’s not about the persons or personalities involved.
Pr. Michael Newnham, the Phoenix Preacher got me thinking this morning. He has been through something like this in another denomination. I take it that the outcome was less than happy. Lots of people get hurt when words fly in anger. He’s right when he says that this is about broken trust, which is why so many people are so angry. I like his advice too: “Stop trying to cover your tracks, say ‘we blew it’ and ‘we're sorry’ and count on the fact that you've taught your people about grace.” Wise words from one who has been there and done that.
The issues behind Issues, Etc. are many and complex - financial, political, personal, and theological. One of the big issues is the role of church leadership, whether local or national. Are they visionary leaders “transforming” their congregations, districts, and synods through programmatic change, or are they servants of God’s people and stewards of God’s gifts. Big difference.
This is why I use the terms “synodocracy” and “synodocrat.” I’m not being disrespectful. There is nothing wrong with being a bureaucrat in a bureaucracy, it’s just no way to run a church body.
We’ve heard a great deal of synodocracy speak, and a rather loud populist outcry in the naked public square of the blogosphere. The average person in the pew and the struggling pastor in his pulpit don’t have much of a voice in a “majority rules” church body where things are largely pre-determined in closed committees, executive sessions, and formerly smoke-filled rooms. Dissenting voices and obstacles to the corporate vision are systematically excluded and bound by cooperation clauses. Genuine avenues of dissent simply do not exist.
The internet has changed the venue of public discourse. It has provided an unexpected voice, much like the printing press of Luther’s day. The information is fast, unfiltered, and raw. But as the political journalists have noted, the naked public square has returned with a vengeance. This isn’t your grandfather’s reformation.
Our shouting is loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear. Let’s be sure that as we argue and analyze, the distant triumph song is playing in the background - Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for the sins of the world, and for us poor, miserable sinners as we struggle in this church militant.
At the end of the day, the issue is the Gospel of Jesus.
The tone thus far has been restrained and for the most part civil. A little institution sassing, a few regrettable pieces of artwork, but nothing near the invective Luther used to hurl. We pastors who have gone public under our own names are particularly vulnerable, though not as vulnerable as Todd and Jeff. We risk offending our tender-hearted parishioners and are leaving a convenient internet record of our transgressions for the inevitable trip to the institutional woodshed.
For the most part the discussion as been ad rem, to the issue, not ad hominem, to the person. That’s good, right, and salutary. The issue is why Issues, Etc. was so abruptly cancelled after at least seven years of apparently losing money as a popular radio ministry; it’s not about the persons or personalities involved.
Pr. Michael Newnham, the Phoenix Preacher got me thinking this morning. He has been through something like this in another denomination. I take it that the outcome was less than happy. Lots of people get hurt when words fly in anger. He’s right when he says that this is about broken trust, which is why so many people are so angry. I like his advice too: “Stop trying to cover your tracks, say ‘we blew it’ and ‘we're sorry’ and count on the fact that you've taught your people about grace.” Wise words from one who has been there and done that.
The issues behind Issues, Etc. are many and complex - financial, political, personal, and theological. One of the big issues is the role of church leadership, whether local or national. Are they visionary leaders “transforming” their congregations, districts, and synods through programmatic change, or are they servants of God’s people and stewards of God’s gifts. Big difference.
This is why I use the terms “synodocracy” and “synodocrat.” I’m not being disrespectful. There is nothing wrong with being a bureaucrat in a bureaucracy, it’s just no way to run a church body.
We’ve heard a great deal of synodocracy speak, and a rather loud populist outcry in the naked public square of the blogosphere. The average person in the pew and the struggling pastor in his pulpit don’t have much of a voice in a “majority rules” church body where things are largely pre-determined in closed committees, executive sessions, and formerly smoke-filled rooms. Dissenting voices and obstacles to the corporate vision are systematically excluded and bound by cooperation clauses. Genuine avenues of dissent simply do not exist.
The internet has changed the venue of public discourse. It has provided an unexpected voice, much like the printing press of Luther’s day. The information is fast, unfiltered, and raw. But as the political journalists have noted, the naked public square has returned with a vengeance. This isn’t your grandfather’s reformation.
Our shouting is loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear. Let’s be sure that as we argue and analyze, the distant triumph song is playing in the background - Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for the sins of the world, and for us poor, miserable sinners as we struggle in this church militant.
At the end of the day, the issue is the Gospel of Jesus.
Just Thinking
I don't know who made this chart of the Issues, Etc. web site downloads, but it sure got me thinking.
When the synod pulled the plug on Issues, Etc. it shut down nearly 97% of KFUO's entire AM internet listening audience. (We don't know anything about the KFUO-FM internet audience. Those statistics might be available by email: david.strand@lcms.org, dstortz@classic99.com) Words simply fail at this point.
[Edit 3/30 - The FM stats have been provided here.]
Another thought. If everyone who downloaded an Issues, Etc. file on the average month gave $0.99 for each file, the cost of a legal MP3 download, Issues, Etc. would have been swimming in cash.
A final thought. This isn't about money.
When the synod pulled the plug on Issues, Etc. it shut down nearly 97% of KFUO's entire AM internet listening audience. (We don't know anything about the KFUO-FM internet audience. Those statistics might be available by email: david.strand@lcms.org, dstortz@classic99.com) Words simply fail at this point.
[Edit 3/30 - The FM stats have been provided here.]
Another thought. If everyone who downloaded an Issues, Etc. file on the average month gave $0.99 for each file, the cost of a legal MP3 download, Issues, Etc. would have been swimming in cash.
A final thought. This isn't about money.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
The Wall Street Journal
M.Z. Hemingway has weighed in with her take on the Issues, Etc. incident in the Wall Street Journal in a piece entitled "Radio Silence."
In typical M.Z. style, no punches are pulled. I've always said there's nothing freer in the LCMS than an angry lay woman.
In typical M.Z. style, no punches are pulled. I've always said there's nothing freer in the LCMS than an angry lay woman.
Some Reactions
Having spent some time reading Mr. Strand's letter, I find it hard to draw much in the way of a satisfying conclusion. Yes, Mr. Strand says that the reason for terminating Issues, Etc. was financial. The KFUO statement states it was for "programmatic and stewardship (business) reasons." Apparently the "programmatic" reasons are not on the table for discussion. The letter addresses the stewardship (business) reasons, though we are asked to trust the numbers since there is no way to check the actual numbers. We are, however, assured that the books have been audited. How can anyone outside the synodocracy possibly prove or disprove pre-interpreted financial numbers?
I'll let the money people think about all this. I have a nagging headache and a few nagging questions of my own after reading this letter.
Why did it take ten days to produce such a simple letter?
Why the abrupt cancellation?
According to the letter, the station and the show were bleeding money for at least seven years. Why was the axe laid so quickly to the root in Holy Week? There was no prepared statement, and apparently no substitute programming, not even 10 days later. Even stranger is the fact that KFUO-AM is about to enter a fundraising period in April. How does this cancellation help their fund raising efforts?
Why the initial removal of the Archives if the reasons were purely financial?
According to the letter, the station and the show were bleeding money for at least seven years. Why was the axe laid so quickly to the root in Holy Week? There was no prepared statement, and apparently no substitute programming, not even 10 days later. Even stranger is the fact that KFUO-AM is about to enter a fundraising period in April. How does this cancellation help their fund raising efforts?
Why the initial removal of the Archives if the reasons were purely financial?
Why is Issues, Etc. the only show that has to develop its own donor base? How much of Issues, Etc. donations goes to pay for other things?
Why the change from viewing KFUO-AM as a "ministry" to a profit center and when did this change in philosophy occur?
Were Jeff and Todd aware that they had to raise more money to stay on the air? (We may never know the answer to that one, I'm afraid.)
There are even more questions.
There is an anonymous analysis which raises some very disturbing questions.
Finally, Mr. Strand does not deal with the download numbers from Issues Etc. org. Here is a summary of the download activity for Oct to Dec 2007:
October 2007 - 172,607 downloads
November 2007 - 320,800 downloads
December 2007 - 160, 315 downloads
Who knows how many downloads came through iTunes and other podcasting services?
All of this raises even more questions in my mind. But sufficient are these unto the day.
October 2007 - 172,607 downloads
November 2007 - 320,800 downloads
December 2007 - 160, 315 downloads
Who knows how many downloads came through iTunes and other podcasting services?
All of this raises even more questions in my mind. But sufficient are these unto the day.
Letter From Mr. David Strand, Exec. Dir. BCS
This letter appeared this morning on the lcms.org main page.
An updated statement on ''Issues, Etc.''
March 27, 2008
Dear Christian Friend:
Last week the decision was made to discontinue the “Issues, Etc.” program on KFUO-AM Radio, a ministry owned and operated by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). A brief statement was posted soon after on KFUO-AM's website citing programmatic and stewardship (business) reasons for this decision.
Following the discontinuation of the program, some KFUO-AM listeners asked for more information as to why “Issues, Etc.” had been ended. Detailed reasons are not usually provided when making program changes, and I intend to continue our policy and practice not to publicly discuss specific personnel matters. However, I do want to provide additional information regarding some of the significant challenges we faced prior to the discontinuation of the program and to respond to the inquiries of those who were particularly fond and appreciative of “Issues, Etc.”
In fiscal year 2007-08, KFUO-AM’s operating deficit was $620,698. Since 2001, the accumulated deficits at the station have been in excess of $3.5 million. The LCMS budget, entrusted to our care by members of our Synod’s congregations, has absorbed these shortfalls for years. After long and prayerful consideration, it became clear that measures had to be taken to stop the ongoing, staggering losses.
Although some are under the impression that “Issues, Etc.” was profitable and self-supporting, the fact is the program lost approximately $250,000 in the last fiscal year. While airing for only 18 percent of KFUO-AM’s programming week, “Issues” accounted for more than 40 percent of the station’s total deficit. These figures are based on the audited financial statements of the LCMS.
Over the years, every effort has been made to cut expenses at KFUO-AM. At the same time, particularly in the past year, extraordinary measures were taken to bolster the financial support of the station. A sizable portion of those efforts focused on assisting “Issues, Etc.,” the most costly program on the AM schedule. Unfortunately, these measures have not solved the problem. As of February 29th, two-thirds into the current fiscal year, KFUO-AM was on pace to suffer heavy losses again.
Some may also be under a misapprehension about the size of the “Issues” audience. In 2005, station management decided it could no longer justify paying for expensive ratings reports in light of the predictably low and static nature of KFUO-AM’s audience numbers. At the time, a blending of the spring 2004 and spring 2005 “books” showed an average listening audience during the “Issues” Monday-Friday timeslot of 1,650. There is no indication these numbers have grown appreciably since.
As for the audio streaming of “Issues, Etc.” via the Internet, the numbers are similarly low. During the last full month (February 2008) for which we have reports, the average number of live, streaming listeners during the “Issues” Monday-Friday timeslot was 64.
On Sunday nights, when the first hour of “Issues” was syndicated in a number of markets (an opportunity for which, during the past fiscal year, the LCMS actually paid $66,000 in broadcast fees), and where the second hour was available only on the Internet, the peak number of online listeners on the KFUO stream was 39.
Sadly, very difficult financial conditions sometimes require decisions that are not popular among all affected. In the case of KFUO-AM, the time had come when good stewardship of the church’s funds required a decision that meaningfully curtailed the deep, ongoing losses at the station. Ending the costs associated with “Issues, Etc.” was the only viable option, and the decision to do this was prayerfully and contemplatively made.
I am sorry that those who enjoyed “Issues” are disappointed, but I have made the show’s archives available, and I respectfully hope that all listeners will support the ongoing radio ministry of our beloved Synod.
Sincerely in Christ,
David L. Strand
Executive Director
Board for Communication Services
An updated statement on ''Issues, Etc.''
March 27, 2008
Dear Christian Friend:
Last week the decision was made to discontinue the “Issues, Etc.” program on KFUO-AM Radio, a ministry owned and operated by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). A brief statement was posted soon after on KFUO-AM's website citing programmatic and stewardship (business) reasons for this decision.
Following the discontinuation of the program, some KFUO-AM listeners asked for more information as to why “Issues, Etc.” had been ended. Detailed reasons are not usually provided when making program changes, and I intend to continue our policy and practice not to publicly discuss specific personnel matters. However, I do want to provide additional information regarding some of the significant challenges we faced prior to the discontinuation of the program and to respond to the inquiries of those who were particularly fond and appreciative of “Issues, Etc.”
In fiscal year 2007-08, KFUO-AM’s operating deficit was $620,698. Since 2001, the accumulated deficits at the station have been in excess of $3.5 million. The LCMS budget, entrusted to our care by members of our Synod’s congregations, has absorbed these shortfalls for years. After long and prayerful consideration, it became clear that measures had to be taken to stop the ongoing, staggering losses.
Although some are under the impression that “Issues, Etc.” was profitable and self-supporting, the fact is the program lost approximately $250,000 in the last fiscal year. While airing for only 18 percent of KFUO-AM’s programming week, “Issues” accounted for more than 40 percent of the station’s total deficit. These figures are based on the audited financial statements of the LCMS.
Over the years, every effort has been made to cut expenses at KFUO-AM. At the same time, particularly in the past year, extraordinary measures were taken to bolster the financial support of the station. A sizable portion of those efforts focused on assisting “Issues, Etc.,” the most costly program on the AM schedule. Unfortunately, these measures have not solved the problem. As of February 29th, two-thirds into the current fiscal year, KFUO-AM was on pace to suffer heavy losses again.
Some may also be under a misapprehension about the size of the “Issues” audience. In 2005, station management decided it could no longer justify paying for expensive ratings reports in light of the predictably low and static nature of KFUO-AM’s audience numbers. At the time, a blending of the spring 2004 and spring 2005 “books” showed an average listening audience during the “Issues” Monday-Friday timeslot of 1,650. There is no indication these numbers have grown appreciably since.
As for the audio streaming of “Issues, Etc.” via the Internet, the numbers are similarly low. During the last full month (February 2008) for which we have reports, the average number of live, streaming listeners during the “Issues” Monday-Friday timeslot was 64.
On Sunday nights, when the first hour of “Issues” was syndicated in a number of markets (an opportunity for which, during the past fiscal year, the LCMS actually paid $66,000 in broadcast fees), and where the second hour was available only on the Internet, the peak number of online listeners on the KFUO stream was 39.
Sadly, very difficult financial conditions sometimes require decisions that are not popular among all affected. In the case of KFUO-AM, the time had come when good stewardship of the church’s funds required a decision that meaningfully curtailed the deep, ongoing losses at the station. Ending the costs associated with “Issues, Etc.” was the only viable option, and the decision to do this was prayerfully and contemplatively made.
I am sorry that those who enjoyed “Issues” are disappointed, but I have made the show’s archives available, and I respectfully hope that all listeners will support the ongoing radio ministry of our beloved Synod.
Sincerely in Christ,
David L. Strand
Executive Director
Board for Communication Services
Let's Lighten Up on KFUO-AM
I was chatting with someone who knows a thing or two about life at KFUO-AM, that cute little building at 85 Founders Lane on the Concordia Seminary campus. He indicated that life has not been happy there since last Holy Tuesday what with callers sabotaging their call-in shows and various nasty phone calls and emails. Now I appreciate guerilla tactics as much as the next guy, but let's aim before we shoot.
The KFUO folks are just running a mom & pop radio station and doing what they are told to do from on the purple powers on high. These are decent men and women who are trying their best to keep their little boat afloat in the midst of hurricane force synodical winds.
I've also learned that KFUO's twin Tandy TRS-80's are simply not up to the pressures of a big time Issues, Etc. controversy, and they are on their last pack of Energizer batteries. The Issues, Etc. audio files apparently are stored as 40mHz "broadcast quality" files (in case a guest fails to show - deadbeats!). These files are being recompressed down to 20mHz for faster downloading. The music won't be as good, but hey, it's about the talk. If you want to listen to music, buy the CD, cheapo! This explains why the Archive is down and probably won't be fully up and running until next week. This calls for patience among the saints. This is not a case of synodical censorship but a genuine technological meltdown.
Perhaps we could hold a bake sale or something to get these guys some decent equipment.
As for the defunct Issues, Etc web site, KFUO is not the pressure point there either. The synod owns the name Issues, Etc. and the work product generated under that name. It's all up to the synodocracy whether it will grant permission for the Issues, Etc. site to return.
So the news for this morning is: Lighten up on the poor folks at KFUO. They're just trying to run a radio station.
Pilgrim Radio Interview
Pr. Michael Newnham (aka Phoenix Preacher) is doing an interview regarding Issues, Etc. on Pilgrim Radio, a web based radio network. Watch out for web-based radio - it's fast becoming a major mega-trend in broadcasting - cheap, worldwide, uncensored. The possibilities are nearly endless.
I don't know more than what the Phoenix Preacher web site says. The interview will be broadcast on Pilgrim Radio, Monday, March 31st at 2:00 AM, 12:04 PM, and 9:04 PM.
You might want to point your browser and have a listen.
I don't know more than what the Phoenix Preacher web site says. The interview will be broadcast on Pilgrim Radio, Monday, March 31st at 2:00 AM, 12:04 PM, and 9:04 PM.
You might want to point your browser and have a listen.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Let Us Pray
One problem with having a sarcastic tongue and a cynical sense of humor is that people don't know when to take me seriously. Therefore, permit me to be overtly explicit. I am being serious. Pastorally and personally serious. Much has been said and much more is being done than I could ever have imagined 9 days ago. As with all emotionally charged battles there has been a fair share of "sin boldly and trust Christ yet more boldly." There is also a time to pray, even as things remain unresolved.
Pray for our synodical leaders, especially Pres. Gerald Kieschnick and Mr. David Strand, who are in a very difficult position at the moment. Pray that they receive holy wisdom, courage, crucified strength, and humility to speak the truth in love. Pray that their hearts and minds would be free of every assault of the devil, the world, and their own sinful flesh. Even if you are angry with them, especially if you are angry with them, pray for them.
Pray for Jeff and Todd, and their families, that they receive the needed support to provide daily bread for their tables, and especially for Jeff's wife Beth, who is sick. Pray that they have the courage and wisdom to make sound decisions about their short term and long term futures.
Pray for the KFUO staff who has to field the brunt of the public's anger, though they are only doing their jobs and providing for their families.
Pray for the nice lady at the LCMS switchboard who has likely heard vocabulary usually reserved for a hockey game.
Pray for our synod, that we truly learn to walk together in the unity of confession, faith, and practice.
Pray for our apologists and evangelists who stand at the front lines to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world that has not heard and needs so desperately to hear the good news of the justification of the ungodly by grace through faith for Jesus' sake.
Pray for all who fight to defend our Reformation heritage, remembering that our warfare is not with flesh and blood but with the powers and principalities of darkness. Pray that they fightly boldly, bravely, and with honor. Pray that the Lord would grant each of us repentant and receiving hearts that trust in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Almighty God, grant to Your Church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down from above, that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ's holy people, that in steadfast faith we may serve You and, in the confession of Your name, abide unto the end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
KFUO and Issues, Etc. Archives
I have been told that the Issues, Etc. archive at the KFUO site is being compressed so as to streamline downloading. The compression process takes approximately six hours per year of archival material. The folks at KFUO are working hard to accomplish this and promise that things will be running smoothly by Monday. Apparently the demand for Issues, Etc. archival material has been overwhelming the server. The KFUO folks are amazed at the volume of interest the archive has generated.
We still need to have the Issues, Etc. web site restored. This was a much more accessible site and is the first site returned in a Google search on "Issues, Etc." Since KFUO is working hard to preserve this archival material, there would seem to be no barrier to their giving permission for an Issues, Etc. archive sight that is independent of their web site.
The current Google return is kind of sad:
Issues, Etc. articles are still available here.
The current Google return is kind of sad:
Issues, Etc. articles are still available here.
Issues, Etc. Archives
A reader indicated that the audio files of the Issues, Etc. web site at KFUO-AM do not work. I have confirmed this on both Mac and PC. In a random sampling of files, neither the WMA or the MP3 versions are operational. It appears to be a silent shell.
Technical glitch or Purple Politburo?
Day 9
Technical glitch or Purple Politburo?
Day 9Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Issues, Etc. Hall of Fame
Amazing what kids will dig up on the internet. They are so much more versatile than us old folks. These were somehow gleaned from the ALPB cache via Google. Or something like that.
Issues, Etc. Quotes
July 2007
Truth-Centered Mission Outreach
DR. ROBERT KUHN, President Emeritus of the LCMS
In keeping with the thoughts of our former president Dr. A.L. Barry when he said at the time of his election, “Get the message straight Missouri. Get the message out Missouri.” Issues, Etc. does precisely those two things…And as the record shows there are individuals who have come not only to the Lutheran church but also have come to faith through the broadcast known as Issues, Etc.
DR. RAYMOND HARTWIG, Secretary of the LCMS
It provides a forum for taking a good, Christian swat at issues that really matter. I’ve been privileged to be a guest on the program to discuss some of those issues and I am thankful for that opportunity and for the ministry that this program provides for the church and society.
DR. PAUL MAIER, Second Vice President of the LCMS
I’m delighted not only to listen to Issues, Etc. but also to have the privilege of being on the program from time to time. Issues, Etc. is never afraid to take a stand on the thorny, vexing issues that clutter our daily horizons. And it does so in the name of a solidly based Christianity that doesn’t flirt with fads or fantasies. Whereas some Christian programs sidestep ethical and doctrinal questions, Issues, Etc. takes them head- on in a fearless, responsible, thoughtful manner. Both head and heart are involved when Issues, Etc. applies Holy Scripture.
DR. DEAN WENTHE, President of Concordia Theological Seminary
I’d like to commend in the very highest fashion Issues, Etc. for it’s lively and substantive analysis of current theological issues…Listeners to Issues, Etc. will not get generic religious talk but a firm and a clear witness to Christ and his precious Gospel.
DR. KARL BARTH, President Emeritus of Concordia Seminary
Issues, Etc. fills a great need in Christian talk radio…The clear scriptural message of Issues, Etc. strengthens the faithful Christian. It challenges the many tenets of modern Evangelicalism. And the comments of many listeners indicate that the program is becoming an effective mission arm in leading many to the Savior. I’m happy to add my voice to that of many others who thank God for this ministry.
DR. JOHN JOHNSON, President of Concordia University Chicago
I certainly have enjoyed my opportunities to be a guest on Issues, Etc. and especially appreciate the willingness of this program to engage those questions and debates in theology, and religion, and culture which face our situation today…Issues, Etc. is an excellent program and Concordia Seminary appreciates the opportunity of having a role in it.
DR. J.A.O. PREUS III, President of Concordia University-Irvine, CA
Issues, Etc. has provided a forum for me and for several of the faculty members of Concordia University-Irvine to speak about issues that are important to the church and to the society. In Issues, Etc. we’ve found an opportunity to teach Lutheran doctrine and practice in the public square…Host Todd Wilken is not only a solid theologian but a great interviewer.
DR. PAT FERRY, President of Concordia University-Wisconsin
Personally, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity that I’ve had on several occasions to be interviewed by Pastor Todd Wilken…What has impressed me most is his breadth and depth of knowledge and the level of preparation that he has obviously had to put into in order to make the interview successful. He does an outstanding job!…One of my great goals at Concordia is for our University to be a resource for the Church. This program has given us a venue for that as some of our fine faculty have lent their expertise to these discussions.
DR. WALLACE SCHULZ, Former Associate Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
In an age where truth is relative and compromise is the norm, Issues, Etc. boldly defends and teaches confessional Lutheran doctrine and practice… Many Issues, Etc. listeners have joined Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations because they proclaim Biblical, Christ-centered truth…As editor of Good News magazine, we have enjoyed our affiliation with Issues, Etc. and look forward to more opportunities to promote Good News to Issues, Etc.’s national and international audience.
REV. PAUL MCCAIN, Publisher, Concordia Publishing House
Issues, Etc. is truly a unique radio show. There’s nothing else quite like it. I’ve been privileged to be a guest on Issues, Etc. a number of times, and my appreciation for Todd Wilken’s ministry continues to grow. Now why do I say Issues, Etc. is so unique? It's unique because it’s all about the TRUTH and not just a generic, watered-down version of the truth, but the truth as we know it through God’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions witnessed to that Word. It’s also about mission. And I think there’s no better combination than truth in the service of the mission of Jesus Christ, to spread the Gospel…I encourage you to support Issues, Etc.’s ongoing ministry in the service of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
REV. MATTHEW HARRISON, Executive Director of LCMS World Relief
There is simply nothing, anywhere comparable to Issues, Etc. Todd Wilken and his staff have put together a radio program which mirrors the very best of solid, conservative, confessional Lutheranism...In an era where the Christian world is so often lost in the “froth” and “foam” of emotion, I appreciate the show’s deep intellectual and spiritual rigor and vitality.
Issues, Etc. on the Blogosphere
The blogosphere has been lively this past week. It only takes a spark to get the fire going, as we used to sing at summer camp. Here is a sampling of what I could find in a quick search. I'm sure there are plenty more.
Fine Print Disclaimer: This listing is published as a public service purely for informational purposes. It does not imply my agreement or endorsement of the views set forth in them. View them at your own risk. Your mileage may vary. Void where prohibited by law. Do not read while driving. Ask your doctor if you experience side-effects. For blogging that lasts more than four hours, seek immediate medical attention.
Bring Back Issues, Etc. is trying to bring all things Issues, Etc. together under one roof. It appears to be both timely and reliable: http://bringbackissues.blogspot.com/
Pr. William Weedon is a reliable source, always pastoral; he is pastor to the Schwarz family
http://weedon.blogspot.com
Noteworthy are the blogs outside of Lutheranism:
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger of the White Horse Inn:
http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/the-latest-post/2008/3/18/lcms-pulls-the-plug-on-issues-etc.html
http://radongas.blogspot.com/2008/03/issues-etc-canceled.html
http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=2585
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/669-kfuo-issues-etc
In the secular press, The Corner, a blog site at The National Review:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZmYzMjVmNTNkNzcxMzI4MDY4Mjk3ZjkyZWRkZmIyMGQ=
First Things:
http://www.firstthings.com/blog/2008/03/19/what-happened-to-issues-etc/
Various other Lutheran Blogs:
http://rasburrysres.blogspot.com/ (reliable and pastoral)
http://housemdiv.blogspot.com/
http://xrysostom.blogspot.com/
http://talkingdonkey.wordpress.com/
http://generalscuttlebutt.blogspot.com/2008/03/che-eff-you-oh.html (nice graphic work!)
http://generalscuttlebutt.blogspot.com/2008/03/back-in-lcmssr.html
http://hornswoggled.blogspot.com/ (Warning: Not for the ironically challenged.)
http://hocestverum.blogspot.com/2008/03/issues-etc-cancelled.html
http://phoenixpreacher.com/cms/?p=2710
http://lutherimwald.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/issues-etc-taken-off-the-air/
Feel free to add more in the Comment field as you find them.
Day 8KFUO-AM Statement Change
The official KFUO-AM statement about Issues, Etc. has changed slightly:
Day 8
For programmatic and stewardship reasons, the decision was made to discontinue the "Issues, Etc." program on KFUO-AM. We look forward to bringing you new programming in this time slot in the near future. Also, we thank "Issues" host Rev. Todd Wilken and producer Mr. Jeff Schwarz for their years of service on behalf of the station. Those interested may still download past "Issues, Etc." programs from the "Issues" archive on this website. Thank you sincerely for your continued support of KFUO's radio ministry.
The original statement had "business" instead of "stewardship." Stewardship does sound a bit more religious.
Day 8Monday, March 24, 2008
Kübler-Rossing on Easter Monday Morning
Every time I lock my keys in the car, I’m reminded of the five point model for acceptance of grief/loss articulated by Swiss psychologist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.
Denial - “I can believe I just did that.”
Anger - (kicks the tire) “Why me? This always happens to me.”
Bargaining - “Maybe I can pry open the window.”
Depression - “My day is ruined, my life is ruined, I hate my life.”
Acceptance - Call AAA.
I went through the same things with the loss of Issues, Etc. First, there was utter denial and disbelief. In fact, when I got the initial email I misread it and thought it said that pres. kieschnick had cancelled an appearance on Issues, Etc. Then I found out, he’d cancelled Issues, Etc. Correct that. He was aware of the cancellation of Issues, Etc. but neither ordered nor directed it. (Yeah, that’s right.) I emailed some friends, clicked on the Issues, Etc web site. It was still there. Must be a mistake. Everything is OK. But then the files started going away and the blogosphere started lighting up. End of denial.
Anger followed. Storm the bastille! Hone the guillotines! Off with their heads! I ranted, I fumed. I blogged. I engaged in satire, my favorite anger outlet. I do some of my best work when angry. People called for organized protest (ah, shades of the 60’s angst), which simmered down to a vigil (much more 00’s; candlelight preferred). Anger never works the righteousness of God, but it sure can sound a wake-up alarm for dopey complacency. See what happens when you aren’t watching? “In your anger, do not sin,” says the Scriptures. That means anger isn’t a sin, but it’s a slippery slope on which to take your stand. I imagine Jesus was neither happy nor clappy when He turned the tables on the moneychangers of His day.
Then came bargaining. We are inveterate transactionalists. Sign petitions, flood the switchboards, crash their servers. Bring back Issues, Etc. We promise not to say bad things about Rick Warren and Joel Osteen. We didn’t realize they were friends of ours. We promise to be good, just bring back Issues, Etc. There isn’t much use in bargaining, though. As Oz Guinness once said, “When you dine with the devil, bring a long spoon.”
Depression kicked in. Not the serious, clinical sort of depression that sends you to the counselor or the medicine cabinet. Maybe a shot of Patron or two, or a nice Cabernet. I miss my Issues, Etc. I miss talking with my buddy Todd over the radio. I miss those urgent phone calls from Jeff. “Cwirla, you have some time this afternoon?” “What do you want to talk about?” “I dunno. Whatever you want.” Great times. I waxed nostalgic, and put on a CD from the St. Louis seminary chorus. I broke down in tears during the singing of “When You Woke That Thursday Morning” (LSB 445) at Holy Thursday’s Divine Service. The hymn is schmalzy enough; the events of the week put me over the top.
Then came Good Friday, Holy Saturday, the Paschal Feast, capped off with our congregation’s great Easter Agape of roasted lamb, smoked prime rib, ham, pastitsio, taboulli, skordillia, baklava, pascha with Easter bread, fine wines. (This isn’t your grandmother’s church potluck!)
Weeping remains for a night, rejoicing comes in the morning. Sweet acceptance! Issues, Etc. is not coming back to KFUO-AM. It is dead. Good! You can’t take on the issues of the synodocracy when you are nestled to Mama Missouri’s breast. A show like Issues, Etc. needs its freedom. Radio Free Lutheranism. Todd is a pastor on the roster of the lcms. That’s all the supervision he, or any of us, needs. Layers of synodocracy only muffle prophetic voices. If Amos were a Lutheran, we’d give him a desk job and probably bring him up on charges of violating the 8th commandment.
I’m sure Todd and Jeff will be back in business. They are young, creative, fearless, and staunchly non-institutional. There are a lot of resourceful people in the Issues, Etc. fan base. I know some of them personally, and they are not the types to sit around and wring their hands begging with bureaucracies.
Good things will come of this. Before the seed can be abundantly fruitful, it must die and be buried. Let’s have a good funeral for Issues, Etc, perhaps even a candlelight vigil. I’ll bring the scotch for the wake.
Then we’ll look for resurrection. Be patient. Resurrections take at least three days.
Day 7
Denial - “I can believe I just did that.”
Anger - (kicks the tire) “Why me? This always happens to me.”
Bargaining - “Maybe I can pry open the window.”
Depression - “My day is ruined, my life is ruined, I hate my life.”
Acceptance - Call AAA.
I went through the same things with the loss of Issues, Etc. First, there was utter denial and disbelief. In fact, when I got the initial email I misread it and thought it said that pres. kieschnick had cancelled an appearance on Issues, Etc. Then I found out, he’d cancelled Issues, Etc. Correct that. He was aware of the cancellation of Issues, Etc. but neither ordered nor directed it. (Yeah, that’s right.) I emailed some friends, clicked on the Issues, Etc web site. It was still there. Must be a mistake. Everything is OK. But then the files started going away and the blogosphere started lighting up. End of denial.
Anger followed. Storm the bastille! Hone the guillotines! Off with their heads! I ranted, I fumed. I blogged. I engaged in satire, my favorite anger outlet. I do some of my best work when angry. People called for organized protest (ah, shades of the 60’s angst), which simmered down to a vigil (much more 00’s; candlelight preferred). Anger never works the righteousness of God, but it sure can sound a wake-up alarm for dopey complacency. See what happens when you aren’t watching? “In your anger, do not sin,” says the Scriptures. That means anger isn’t a sin, but it’s a slippery slope on which to take your stand. I imagine Jesus was neither happy nor clappy when He turned the tables on the moneychangers of His day.
Then came bargaining. We are inveterate transactionalists. Sign petitions, flood the switchboards, crash their servers. Bring back Issues, Etc. We promise not to say bad things about Rick Warren and Joel Osteen. We didn’t realize they were friends of ours. We promise to be good, just bring back Issues, Etc. There isn’t much use in bargaining, though. As Oz Guinness once said, “When you dine with the devil, bring a long spoon.”
Depression kicked in. Not the serious, clinical sort of depression that sends you to the counselor or the medicine cabinet. Maybe a shot of Patron or two, or a nice Cabernet. I miss my Issues, Etc. I miss talking with my buddy Todd over the radio. I miss those urgent phone calls from Jeff. “Cwirla, you have some time this afternoon?” “What do you want to talk about?” “I dunno. Whatever you want.” Great times. I waxed nostalgic, and put on a CD from the St. Louis seminary chorus. I broke down in tears during the singing of “When You Woke That Thursday Morning” (LSB 445) at Holy Thursday’s Divine Service. The hymn is schmalzy enough; the events of the week put me over the top.
Then came Good Friday, Holy Saturday, the Paschal Feast, capped off with our congregation’s great Easter Agape of roasted lamb, smoked prime rib, ham, pastitsio, taboulli, skordillia, baklava, pascha with Easter bread, fine wines. (This isn’t your grandmother’s church potluck!)
Weeping remains for a night, rejoicing comes in the morning. Sweet acceptance! Issues, Etc. is not coming back to KFUO-AM. It is dead. Good! You can’t take on the issues of the synodocracy when you are nestled to Mama Missouri’s breast. A show like Issues, Etc. needs its freedom. Radio Free Lutheranism. Todd is a pastor on the roster of the lcms. That’s all the supervision he, or any of us, needs. Layers of synodocracy only muffle prophetic voices. If Amos were a Lutheran, we’d give him a desk job and probably bring him up on charges of violating the 8th commandment.
I’m sure Todd and Jeff will be back in business. They are young, creative, fearless, and staunchly non-institutional. There are a lot of resourceful people in the Issues, Etc. fan base. I know some of them personally, and they are not the types to sit around and wring their hands begging with bureaucracies.
Good things will come of this. Before the seed can be abundantly fruitful, it must die and be buried. Let’s have a good funeral for Issues, Etc, perhaps even a candlelight vigil. I’ll bring the scotch for the wake.
Then we’ll look for resurrection. Be patient. Resurrections take at least three days.
Day 7Sunday, March 23, 2008
Pres. Kieschnick's KFUO Interview - Holy Tuesday
Here is the interview with lcms pres. Gerald Kieschnick on KFUO-AM which took place on Holy Tuesday, March 18, 2008, the very same day that Issues, Etc. was cancelled. He speaks of the challenges and opportunities for the synod in the contemporary culture and how we need to reach out in new, creative ways, including use of the internet. A caller even commends KFUO for its programming that equips the people.
Remember what Pres. Kieschnick said: "The KFUO decision transpired with my awareness but neither by my order nor at my direction." That means he is aware at the time of this interview what has transpired with Issues, Etc.
Purpose-Driven?
Chris Rosebrough over at Extreme Theology has an intriguing thesis about what might be going on under the synodical hood. That rattling sound you hear in the synodical transmission might well be Rick Warren.
Chris' thesis is that the synodocrats are lifting a page right out of Saddleback's playbook for transitioning a church. Several chapters, actually. Possibly the whole darned book. Now I know this sounds like one of those conspiracy theories you hear on late night AM talk radio by people who wear tin foil hats, but this is certainly worth a read and a long, hard think. This guy knows about which he writes. He's spent years studying, analyzing, dissecting, and hammering all that purpose-driven ooze emanating from Saddleback. When Chris says there's something fishy going on, I get out my rod and reel.
Check out the article for yourself and see if there aren't some interesting parallels. The article is entitled "LCMS Seeker Sensitive Take Over?"
In a talk to the Northern Illinois District pastors' conference in January on the "tentatio" of the pastoral office, I observed that the concept of "synod" has shifted noticably from a unity in confession and practice to a unity in purpose. "Many paths but one purpose" seems to be the "vision" we are receiving from on high, especially when it comes to matters of worship and outreach. We are, in effect, "purpose-driven."
This may not be the bungling bureaucracy it appears to be, in which case the Issues, Etc. incident is but a symptom requiring a much deeper diagnosis.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
A Pastoral Letter to My Congregation
A Pastoral Letter
Easter, 2008
Dearly beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen! Alleluia!
You know that I do not involve you in synodical politics or business lightly or even willingly. I view most of it as a necessary evil at best, and a distraction to the Gospel at worst. This is an exception. This letter concerns not the good news of the Resurrection but the sad news of the loss of a distinctive Lutheran voice.
On Holy Tuesday, March 18, Issues, Etc., a powerful and dynamic radio program in Lutheran apologetics, doctrine, and evangelism out of KFUO-AM - St. Louis, a synod-run station, was abruptly cancelled and its host, Pr. Todd Wilken, terminated together with the show’s producer, Mr. Jeff Schwarz. Issues, Etc. ran as a local show in St. Louis and a national show on Sunday evenings. The reason we didn’t have Issues, Etc. here was that radio time is very costly in our neck of the woods. People here listened to it via the internet.
The official statement from KFUO reads:
For programmatic and business reasons, the decision was made this week to discontinue the “Issues, Etc.” program on KFUO-AM. We look forward to bringing you new programming in this time slot in the near future. Also, we thank “Issues” host Rev. Todd Wilken and producer Mr. Jeff Schwarz for their years of service on behalf of the station. Those interested may still download past “Issues, Etc.” programs from the “Issues” archive on this website. Thank you sincerely for your continued support of KFUO's radio ministry.
Those of you familiar with the evasive language of bureaucracies and institutions will recognize that this statement says nothing at all except that they still want your money. This is not an explanation but an evasion. We are assured that this had nothing to do with the show’s content or its host. Issues, Etc. was the most popular show on KFUO-AM, whose other programming is hardly on the cutting edge. Admittedly, Issues, Etc. was controversial, but it was Christianity for the hard-headed thinking person with a huge internet following worldwide. I can personally attest that these two men are among the finest spokesmen and advocates for Lutheran orthodoxy today. They are respected across denominational lines.
At a time when the synod is pushing hard to bring the Gospel to the unevangelized world, it defies all common sense why it would pull the plug on a show that reached out to millions of people throughout the world. If anything, the show should have been given even more air time and support. The evasiveness of synodical officials is even more disturbing. For a few hours, the archives of the show had been taken down from the KFUO web site, as though the show never existed. Only persistent pressure caused them to restore the archive, though the Issues Etc. site remains down. This is precisely the way repressive, totalitarian regimes operate, not church bodies.
A further disturbing aspect is the horrendous timing of the event. Tuesday in Holy Week is not the time to terminate two employees in the church, no matter what the reason. This simply defies Christian decency. This is the way the business world operates, and we expect much better and different from our synodical officials, many of whom are pastors. Mr. Jeff Schwarz has an additional family burden in that his wife, the mother of their four young children, was diagnosed with a rare nerve disease that will likely exclude her from a change in medical plans. She is on her way to the Mayo Clinic for further testing.
I am having considerable difficulty containing my personal anger over this matter. These are friends of mine; Todd and I were classmates at the seminary. I have been a frequent guest on their show. (No, that’s not the reason they were canceled!) Scripture reminds us that our anger never works the righteousness of God, but it does rouse the complacent from sleep. “In your anger, do not sin.” While I expect very little from church institutions, the least I expect is that they act in a churchly manner befitting Christian men.
So what can we do about it? There are three things to do at the moment.
First, express yourself to the synod. I suggest you save yourself some postage and use one of those pre-paid envelopes the synod keeps sending you for your money. They tend to open those rather quickly. If you are not inclined to write long letters, simply write “Issues, Etc.?” on the back and send it in. The key contacts are:
Mr. David L. Strand, Executive Director
Board for Communication Services
(314) 996-1200
(314) 822-0000
david.strand@lcms.org
The Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick
(314) 996-1402
(314) 996-1402
(314) 842-7110
president@lcms.org
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295
(888) 843-5267
(314) 965-9000
FAX: (314) 996-1016
infocenter@lcms.org
LC-MS Board of Directors
(314) 996-1350
Second, go online and sign the Issues, Etc. Petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/Issues/. Don’t forget to put Holy Trinity - Hacienda Heights down. I like to see us in action. As of the time of this letter, there are over 3500 signatures. Take a bit of time to read some of the comments. You will be impressed at the influence Issues, Etc. had even outside the small world of Lutheranism. It is a moving tribute to these two men.
Third, consider making a contribution to help Todd and Jeff. Severance packages always come with hush clauses attached to them. Todd and Jeff need to be free to speak the truth, and we can help them and their families.
Contributions can be sent to:
“Wilken/Schwarz Fund”
Second, go online and sign the Issues, Etc. Petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/Issues/. Don’t forget to put Holy Trinity - Hacienda Heights down. I like to see us in action. As of the time of this letter, there are over 3500 signatures. Take a bit of time to read some of the comments. You will be impressed at the influence Issues, Etc. had even outside the small world of Lutheranism. It is a moving tribute to these two men.
Third, consider making a contribution to help Todd and Jeff. Severance packages always come with hush clauses attached to them. Todd and Jeff need to be free to speak the truth, and we can help them and their families.
Contributions can be sent to:
“Wilken/Schwarz Fund”
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Box 247
Hamel IL 62046
You can also donate via “PayPal” at “The Wittenberg Trail” (http://wittenbergtrail.ning.com/). Follow the directions on this web site. This is where I made my donation. The funds will be immediately available to the families.
Finally, please keep these two courageous men in your prayers. Every day when the radio microphone came on, Todd and Jeff put themselves on the front line to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified across the airwaves and the internet. They have been silenced by our own church body for “programmatic and business reasons.” As those who love our confessional Lutheran heritage, hymnody, and doctrine, we cannot sit idly by and watch.
Pray also for our synodical officials, that the Spirit of God would turn their hearts in repentance, open their minds to divine wisdom, free them from bondage, and remind them that they are stewards of a church institution serving churches who expect them to behave as servants of the Lord.
Blessed Easter to all of you.
Grace and peace be with you in Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord.
Pr. William M. Cwirla
The Babylonian Captivity of Issues, Etc.
The Truth Held Hostage
Day 5
Welcome to my underground bunker. I set this up in case of acts of repression or terrorism. You never know these days when your web site will disappear like Issues, Etc. The quarters are kind of cramped, but we have all the amenities - fridge, TV, pool table, dart board, internet, several phone lines, plenty of beer, a great cache of weapons.
I've taken the Issues, Etc. discussion over here so as not to drag my friends over at Higher Things, Inc. into the fray. They understandably get a little jumpy when things go nuclear.
As of today, Holy Saturday, IssuesEtc.org has not returned to the web. The kfuo archive is available at the kfuo.org, but sources tell me it is incomplete. A reconstructed archive can be found at issuesetcarchive.org. They are looking for someone with a complete set of wma files. Unfortunately, the hands of the people who have such files are legally tied up by the lcms and kfuo.
The petition continues to grow by about 1000 signatures a day. I expect that the activity will be even greater over the weekend, as people discover that the national Issues, Etc. has been unplugged. Large Easter crowds in church will ensure that people are apprised of the situation. I'm planning to have a computer available so that members can sign the petition after the Divine Service.
Take some time to read the comments. One of the most impressive comments comes from Richard Abanes from Saddleback Church, not exactly a Todd Wilken favorite. Now there's respect for you! I hope that Todd and Jeff get a bound printout of the final petition, not to mention the bureaucrats who precipitated this ordeal. What a great tribute!
There has been no useful information forthcoming from the synodical office building. Here's all that has been said to date:
From KFUO:
For programmatic and business reasons, the decision was made this week to discontinue the "Issues, Etc." program on KFUO-AM. We look forward to bringing you new programming in this time slot in the near future. Also, we thank "Issues" host Rev. Todd Wilken and producer Mr. Jeff Schwarz for their years of service on behalf of the station. Those interested may still download past "Issues, Etc." programs from the "Issues" archive on this website. Thank you sincerely for your continued support of KFUO's radio ministry. For those of you who don't speak that peculiar bureaucratic dialect called "weasel" permit me to translate into plain English:
"We couldn't get Issues, Etc. off the air fast enough and Holy Week was as good a time as any. Todd and Jeff were a big pain to all of us closet emergentchurchgrowth sycophants. We're tossing you saps a crumb by putting back the archive we took down, hoping you wouldn't notice and now hoping you'll just shut up and go away. Keep sending us your money."
From the lcms synodical president:
"The KFUO decision transpired with my awareness but neither by my order nor at my direction."
Translation: "Strand's taking the fall for this one."
There is talk of a good old-fashioned rally, vigil, protest, whatever which sounds like great fun to the ears of this ex-hippie late baby boomer. Could be interesting. If nothing else, it should generate some press.
Speaking of press, the word is out in the secular press with a post over at The Corner at National Review Online by Mark Hemingway. The name says it all. Rumour has it (I've adopted a British accent at the moment for all you Ft. Wayne graduates) that there might be an article appearing in a major paper in the near future. You never know what catches an editor's interest. The only thing the synodocracy hates more than bad press is the loss of money, which tend to be tied together.
The synodical spin seems to be saying, "We can't talk about it because this is a personnel matter." Except that they bumped their most popular radio show off the air. That's not a personnel matter, that's a public policy matter that calls for a public accounting.
For those who continue to be outraged along with your Easter joy, you can still write, email, call, and generally vent at the following outlets:
Mr. David L. Strand
Executive Director
Board for Communication
(314) 996-1200
(314) 822-0000
david.strand@lcms.org
the lutheran church - missouri synod
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295
(888) 843-5267
(314) 965-9000
FAX: (314) 996-1016
infocenter@lcms.org
KFUO Radio Station
(314) 725-0099
(314) 725-3030
(314) 721-2969
The Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick
(314) 996-1402
(314) 842-7110
president@lcms.org
LC-MS Board of Directors
(314) 996-1350
If you are writing the synod, consider using one of those handy prepaid envelopes the synod always sends us. They have a way of opening those first, and it saves on postage.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, several funds have been set up to help Todd and Jeff and their families. Jeff's wife has some very serious medical issues and this termination could not have come at a more inopportune time for them. Please help as you are able. The Wittenberg Trail, a fine bunch of people, have set up a Paypal account and are able to distribute funds very quickly. Ah, the wonders of the internet! You know, it occurs to me that the synodocrats seem to be uniquely tone deaf to what's going on with the internet. Must be a generational gap or something.
The Most Holy Rev. Fr. William Weedon, Jeff's pastor, has a relief fund over at his congregation. You can send your donations directly to:
Saint Paul Lutheran Church
P.O. Box 247
Hamel, IL 62046
A final thought or two. I realize that this whole thing is, at least in part, a left-hand kingdom business decision. Having worked in the "real world" of work in a prior vocation, I also understand that circumstances change, layoffs occur, etc. I have members who have been laid off right after Christmas. I know how it works to be told one minute and escorted to the parking lot the next. But when a church institution is run in the same manner as a ham-fisted left-handed corporation, that really gets my dander up. And when two guys who put their names and reputations on the line as Jeff and Todd did every day the microphone came on, they deserve a little more institutional respect than what they received. Church workers don't have unions, golden parachutes, or even much of a pension plan. We walk the financial tightrope without much of a safety net. I think we all owe Todd and Jeff as much support as we are able to give them in thanks for all they have given us.
Blessed Holy Saturday.
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