Letters Received by Frontline About Pastor Benke's Appearance
The following are some of the letters received by "Frontline" as a result of Pastor Benke's appearance on the PBS Special called Faith and Doubt. To view all the letters, go to Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero: A Question of Religion.

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Dear FRONTLINE,
Tuesday night I watched the 'Frontline' program on PBS 'Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero.' I have also been following the vicious sentiment from some in the LC-MS that has haunted Dr. Benke since his participation in the Yankee Stadium service.

I am thankful to God for Dr. Benke's willingness to participate with others of other faiths at that service. Because he boldly prayed in the name of Jesus Christ, I am convinced that he was not practicing syncretism as some have said.

If Christians do not participate in such events, then where can the world hope to hear the Truth that is only found in Jesus Christ?

I thank God that Dr. Benke chose to live the love and mercy that comes only through Jesus Christ rather than the religiosity that some would have him live. I thank God that Dr. Benke chose be a neighbor and to come to the aid of the hurting and sorrowing rather than cross the road and walk by on the other side.

The choice to do what's right in the eyes of God sometimes comes with a high price tag in the world of men, but it is always better to please God rather than men.

Please share this with Dr. Benke. I noticed that he does not have an email address where I can write to him personally and that is probably to keep him from getting hurtful messages.

Serving Jesus in Wisconsin,
Kathleen G. Kasper

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Dear FRONTLINE,
Thank you for the most intelligent and moving discussion that I've heard about 9/11. This was such an honest exploration of spiritual responses. I'm sure that it isn't possible to present every perspective in 2 hours, but the range that you covered was amazing. And the way you presented it was excellent. There were the 2 women who accepted God's Answer to Job, and the man who lost 30 friends and found it "unacceptable." He and Job! It was brilliant to begin a sequence about the dark side of religion with the interview of the Luthern (Missouri Synod) pastor who was persecuted by clergy in his own denomination for being ecumenical. (Excuse me, didn't Jesus say "Love thy neighbor"). I especially loved the portions that essentially embraced the mystery of God. It's way too easy, and dangerous, to believe we have the answers. Personally, I was very glad to have my questions affirmed, and addressed.

Of course we should confront these questions whenever and where ever there is injustice and suffering. 9/11 hit home. And it hit middle and upper class America...

Ultimately, the evil of 9/11 was answered by expressions of love and kindness. Now that's a miracle!

Cynthia Katsarelis
Boulder, Colorado

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Dear FRONTLINE,
I thought your documentary was courageous and brilliant. The Lutheran minister touched me profoundly. He seemed to speak for me. I wanted so to console him. Those who condemned him and degraded him and caused him so much suffering are the types of people that drove me from religion. Take that behavior and the ideas that drive them to such hateful behavior and you begin to understand the mind of the extremeists and ultimately, the terrorists.

It seems to me that whenever two or more are gathered in His name, at least one of them has his eye on the throne.

Hollywood, California

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Dear FRONTLINE,
I just finished watching your program and must comment on one part that not only made me angry, but also disturbed me a great deal.

One of the clergymen that participated in one of the memorial services told what has happened to him as a result of taking part in that service. He stated that he has recieved mail condemning him and now faces charges of heresy brought forth by other members of his faith. What angered me most was the fact that this man, this good Christian, was doing something that Jesus would have commended; he did his utmost to bring comfort to those in pain. Now, he is being villified for sharing the podium with clergy of other faiths. They are accusing him of heresy and want him thrown out of the church. What I find most disturbing about this is not only the appalling kind of tunnel vision they are displaying, but the terrible timing of their attack. Instead of doing whatever they could to help heal their congregations and help heal the nation, they are displaying the same kind of religious narrow-minded thinking that the people who attacked us used to justify the murder of our citizens.

I think those people need to stop and take a look at what they are doing to the people of their congregations. To me they are saying that it is more important for them to be seen as being right than to follow Jesus' teachings about tolerance of those who differ from us. Not only is this Un-Christian, it is Un-American. SHAME ON THEM!

Mannford, Oklahoma

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Dear FRONTLINE,
My wife, Karen, and I watched the Frontline program, "Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero," on Tuesday. Many times we were touched by what we saw and heard, and had to wipe tears from our eyes. One of those times was the time you spoke, about how some in Synod have reacted to your witness in Yankee Stadium.

I am thankful for your Christian witness, not only on that day last September but also in these present days. I will not even pretend to say that I understand what you have gone through and are going through. I have been spared what you have not been spared. But I am thankful that the Lord placed you where you are. You have been and you remain His faithful and obedient servant in all of this.

Our Lord Jesus is at work in you and reaches out through you. Of that I'm certain. And the trouble you are experiencing from some in Synod, the pain and sadness you hinted at during that TV interview, all that you are suffering because of the Lord Jesus.

May the Lord continue to give you grace sufficient, and may He soon restore you the office of President of the Atlantic District.

You may me proud to be a pastor in the LCMS.

God bless you.

Ron Schornhorst
Lake Oconee Lutheran Church

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Dear FRONTLINE,
I was very moved by this documentary and I would very much like to let the Rev David Benke know that not everyone finds him evil. I am not from New York yet on the day of the memorial service at Yankee stadium I found great solace from all the prayers of all the speakers. I have no doubt that God in what ever form was present at that service and that all those prayers in all those languages and religions format reached out. I know I felt God's presence that day. I hope you prevail.

Rodeo, California

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Dear FRONTLINE,
You were remarkable on the PBS Frontline special. I have printed out a copy of your speech.

I feel what has happened to you takes away from what meaningful message that may be found in 9/11. You were not wrong, for your words were strong, and healing.

If there is a good side, perhaps it is that your words and message from your pray are still reaching out to others.

I pray that this matter can be resolved within your church, and perhaps be a catalyst for tolerance and change. I am sorry this has happened to you, but stay strong.

Mary Chandler

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Dr. Benke,
After viewing the PBS special Tuesday night I was both saddened and angry by what you shared. Saddened because of the way you have been treated by some members of our synod. Saddened to see your obvious pain because of their accusations. This also makes me very angry because of the unjust nature of the attacks. As one who ministers to God's people as a parish DCE, I understand that ministry is challenging as we seek to bring the message of Christ to a hurting world. But to be attacked for bringing that message as you did in Yankee stadium and to see what you have had to endure makes me very angry. Please know that you have been and continue to be in my prayers. I also pray for God's guidance for our Synod. I look forward to meeting you and hearing the message you will be bringing to our PSW District DCE Conference in October. I pray that your time with us will be a time of renewal for you.

Peace & Joy in Christ,
Steve Schedler, DCE
St. Paul's Lutheran, San Diego

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Dear Pastor Benke,
This is I hope a letter of encouragement and support. As a baptized Lutheran (raised in Missouri synod, now a member of an ELCA congregation) I am appalled that you are being declared a heretic. I think it very unjust and just wrong. I do not think our Lord would have done this to you; unfortunately, the Church is made up of people.

I am a firm believer that whatever can bring us closer together as human beings is a good thing. I am a fan of the ecumenical movement and that we should celebrate what we have in common with other faiths and not what sets up apart.

Thank you for what you did at Yankee Stadium. Please remember that you are in good company as a "heretic", Christ, Joan of Arc and Luther just to name a few.

Sincerely,
Susan Lane
8046 Quartz Ln.
Smartville, CA 95977

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Dear Rev. Behnke,
It has been a long time coming, and I apologize for the delay, but I feel compelled to let you know of my support of you and your participation in the Yankee Stadium service. I saw last night's Frontline special, and I was ashamed of "my" synod. I am a member of my church--Trinity Lutheran, Roselle, Illinois, but I do not feel that I am a member of the LC-MS. I was the lay delegate to our NID convention two years ago, and that began my eye-opening journey into what is the sad reality of the state of this denomination. I couldn't help but think that Jesus was weeping at the infighting taking place. Hours were absorbed by arguing over such things as whether evangelism was "a" priority or the "first" priority. Much of what occurred struck me as very un-Christian.

I was watching the Yankee Stadium broadcast when I turned to my mom and said, "You won't see any LC-MS participation in this...," since I knew of some of the issues with "fellowship" and "unionism" and such, but within minutes, there you were. I shouted "Cool!" but then followed it up with "I wonder if he's going to get in trouble for this, too?"

I spoke to my supervisor, Pastor Charles Mueller, Jr., and asked him if you were headed for trouble. He told me that you had clearance from our synodical president, and for the time being, I thought there was hope for the LC-MS...and so much has happened since then, hasn't it?

Oh, well...I wanted you to know that many folks in this neck of the woods (even though it is the dreaded midwest) support you. God bless you and keep you as you face this struggle.

Peace--
Lisa Ancona-Roach
Pastoral Assistant--Communications
Trinity Lutheran Church, Roselle, IL

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