Good Publicity/Bad Publicity

If anyone asks you, "What are you fighting about in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod?" You can answer by saying, "The real battle is for the political control of the future of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod." Sad but true, in the middle of this political battle is Dr. David Benke, a pastor and former District President, who seemingly violated synodical sensibilities by expressing his concern for bereaved people at a time of great national and local crisis through the words of a prayer ending "in the precious name of Jesus" at Yankee Stadium.

The interminable process of appeal and re-appeal continues at its snail's pace, but in the midst of it all, there is a shift in focus. Publicity is the issue. The problem is not that the Schulz decision is a bad decision. The problem is not that a wrong hill has been very awkwardly climbed, as a District President is punched out for prayer at the moment of the country's greatest recent patriotism. The problem is not that average people don't and can't understand how it can be wrong to pray for bereaved people. No, those are not problems. It's about publicity. We have heard that the Board of Directors of Synod will be spending big bucks to publicize their opposition to publicity. Say it isn't so!

Why fear publicity? So, the people outside the walls of the Missouri Synod are hearing about this. So what? Are the publicity phobiacs ashamed of what they are doing or the way they are doing it? Didn't our Lord Jesus say: "For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. (Mark 4:22). Perhaps of the words of the Apostle Paul are most relevant to this case. "Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:22)"

Where under Bylaw 2.27 does it say that the written statement prepared by the adjudicator and provided to the accused is confidential? Yet, Dr. Schulz's decision is deemed confidential. Why? If Schulz's decision is reflective of the sound theology and commitment to truth that characterizes our Synod, why not shout it from the housetops? If it is not, overturn it. Why hide it? One District President accused Benke of revealing this confidential document. What is Benke supposed to say to his constituents, "They suspended me but I can't tell you why?"

Let's talk about bad publicity:

What would happen if Dr. David Benke had a friend, as do Dr. Wallace Schulz and the Rev. Daniel Preus, or a brother, as does the Rev. Walter Otten, who publishes a newspaper and prints cartoons, or caricatures of the characters on the other side of the fence in this whole fiasco? Can you imagine a cartoon of Dr. Schulz on his knees pleading with the LLL for his job; or First Vice-President Preus on his cell phone calling Benke immediately after the recusal of the Synodical President and saying with glee, "I've got the case!" or one of the Secretary of Synod Ray Hartwig reaching his hand into a mayonnaise jar saying, "Who can we choose as reconcilers? Two out three ain't bad."

This is not to suggest that these cartoons would be true but neither are the cartoons printed in Preus's and Schulz's friend's newspaper true. Regardless of the fact that David Benke has been referred to as a terrorist or has been compared with Osama Bin Laden, he would not stoop to the level of using slanderous cartoons to characterize his opponents in the Synod. That is really down and dirty. That is bad publicity, and believe it or not, Benke is above that.

Why aren't the anti-publicity enthusiasts doing something about the trash that emanates out of New Haven, Missouri? Perhaps they are happy with it or the cartoons cause them to giggle. Perhaps they do not see this as publicity? Perhaps it is acceptable because we are used to it. We have grown accustomed to slander from within, we are not accustomed to Fox News, CNN and most of the major newspapers telling our story. Is it fair and just for a newspaper to be circulated throughout Synod with the headline, "Benke is Guilty!" if the congregation and District of the accused is not permitted to defend their pastor and suspended District President?

The difference is that the average American, and more than that, the average Missouri Synod Lutheran American, has heard via the legitimate media, not some "Christianized" version of the National Enquirer, that a man is being put out of the Missouri Synod for praying in public after a global disaster. They are not amused. They are not fooled. They are not happy. Many are older, veterans of wars fought for valiant causes. They know how deep the human need for prayer is under fire. They appreciated Benke's prayer at Yankee Stadium, no matter what the control group feels and says, no matter what the decision reached.

Let talk about good publicity:

The real publicity goes right back to September 23, 2001. An LCMS pastor prayed a prayer in front of the world in Yankee Stadium, and we looked good. People by the thousands were proud to be Missouri Synod Lutherans. People by the millions were touched by that simple prayer, that simple Christian witness. It was great publicity for us. Compared to the other clerics representing their constituencies, Benke won the "Dueling Religions" hands down. While the control group objects, the fact is, Dave Benke made us look good. How much ice cream money it would take to buy such publicity?

As a result, Dave Benke is suspended. Huh? Is it strange that the national media thinks of the suspenders as being dumb for doing so? How many members of the LCMS would agree with them? And if it takes publicity to keep those seeking political control of the LCMS from sweeping Benke and his prayer under the LCMS rug, then that will also be very good publicity. May the Lord of the Church open more doors to such publicity so that we can finally breathe some fresh air.

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