A Letter from President Sonia Holder
Upon the Removal of Suspension
From the Clergy Roster of the Missouri Synod of Pastor David Benke

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord,

On behalf of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Brooklyn, New York, and our SPIRIT institute (St. Peter's Institute for Religious Interfaith Tolerance) I am writing to thank each and every person who has supported Pastor David Benke through the long months of his suspension and appeal. The defense was successful. Each of us through prayer, encouragement and financial support had a part in making it successful.

Our prayers to Almighty God have been answered! The suspension has been lifted! We knew it all along, but now it is official – we belong to a denomination, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, that encourages Christian witness in public in any and all circumstances, especially at times of crisis. The decision in Pastor B's case absolutely supports that view. From our mail, it is plain that 95% of the people in our denomination, and most of the clergy, support the same basic commitment to Christian witness, even as they supported our Pastor. It IS OK to Pray! Thanks be to God!

It is now time to initiate the healing process. At St. Peter's we do so first by means of apology.

• To anyone who has been offended in the Missouri Synod , we are sorry. It's time to start over.
• To anyone who has been offended by "It's OK to Pray ," we are sorry. It's time to start over.
• To those whose hearts are still bruised, we pray for your healing.
• To those who have attacked us, we forgive you. We love you.
• To those who are intolerant, we pray for God to widen your vision.
• To those who inflict violence rather than forging peace for religious reasons in global conflict, we pray for God to open your hearts in the Spirit of the Prince of Peace.

We have been living with Pastor B and Judy through it all. We have seen the changes God has made in his life and heart. We have a strong and dedicated man of God in our midst who will never shrink from bringing Christ to the nations. We knew it before. We know it more than ever now.

We have been learning too. We have really learned that "It's OK to Pray!" Even when you're being attacked. Even and especially when times are tough. I have been attacked for being the congregation's president, because I am a woman. All I am doing is serving God to the best of my abilities as His child. I have been elected unanimously by the people of St. Peter's to serve as president, and I am proud and humble to do so, with Pastor B as our shepherd and my dad as our head elder. You have supported me with love and prayers as well, and I thank all of you.

We at St. Peter's continue to stand up for the God's truth through Christian witness in word and deed with the great majority of those in our denomination. However, we know that the need to promote the truth will continue. So we will continue to ask for your prayers and support in every possible way. Through our ministries in the community, through the SPIRIT institute and through Pastor B's speaking and meeting people around the country we and our Pastor will continue the conversations on

• Global Mission in bringing Christ to the Nations under the banner of the Atlantic District's great theme – "Engaging the World with the Gospel of Hope"
• True tolerance in times of religious terror – exclusive claims in an expansive way
• Inclusion in the Body of Christ that tears down all boundaries of separation
• Dialog rather than Violence
• Forgiveness and Healing in our own denomination

We believe it is now time to move on in mission, just as President Kieschnick of the Missouri Synod has advised. Pastor B's one minute prayer for healing in the Precious Name of Jesus at Yankee Stadium will no longer appear on our "It's OK to Pray" T-Shirts. That issue has been decided now. He is neither a heretic nor a hero. He was and is a pastor, our pastor.

Instead, "It's OK to Pray" will take on a new meaning.

It's OK to Pray for

• Mission
• Healing
• True Tolerance
• Dialog
• Forgiveness
• Inclusion

Join us in advocating "It's OK to Pray" for these reasons, across all the divisions and walls that have separated us. All those divisions and walls have been broken down in Jesus!

God bless and keep you,
From all of us at St. Peter's
Sonia Holder, President

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