Interfaith Service Rocks Missouri Synod
By Jim Suhr
Associated Press

August 2, 2002

ST. LOUIS -- Twelve days after terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center, Rev. David Benke, a Lutheran minister, joined with clergy from other faiths in a New York City prayer service for the victims.

He had permission to do so from the president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, despite the denomination's rules against syncretism, or the mingling of Christian and non-Christian beliefs.

But after 21 of the synod's pastors and three of its congregations complained about his role in the Yankee Stadium event, the minister was suspended in June for praying with "pagans."

Now the synod's president, Rev. Gerald Kieschnick, is struggling to deal with the fallout within one of the more theologically conservative Protestant denominations.

It's the kind of situation he had hoped to avoid when he was elected a year ago to head the 2.6 million-member Missouri Synod. His goal has been to make the denomination more unified and tolerant.

"While some may see it as a rift, I see it as a pivotal moment in defining who we are and why we're here," said Kieschnick, who is standing by Benke.

Last month, the Missouri Synod second vice president who disciplined Benke was pulled from his role as chief preacher on "The Lutheran Hour" radio program--the synod's prominent pulpit, carried by more than 1,000 radio stations--for deciding the matter.

Benke, the church's top New York leader, is appealing his suspension by Rev. Wallace Schulz, who declined to discuss the decision or his own suspension.

Although Lutheran Hour Ministries took no stand on Benke's conduct, Schulz's decision unwillingly dragged the independent auxiliary of the Missouri Synod into the debate, spokesman Jim Telle said.

"It really has rocked our church," said Telle. "It's been an absolute landslide of acrimony."

The synod's 1847 constitution demands that its congregations and pastors reject syncretism, and traditionally Missouri Synod leaders did not lead prayer services with leaders of other religions or even other Lutheran denominations.

But at the church's convention a year ago, Kieschnick said, a resolution allowed synod officials to lead services with other clergy at civic events. With that in mind, he allowed Benke to say a 10-sentence prayer during the "Prayer for America" event, where Benke shared the stage with other Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Sikhs.

After various synod pastors and congregations decried Benke's alleged syncretism, Kieschnick was recused from ruling on Benke's conduct. That duty eventually fell to Schulz.

On June 25, he announced Benke's suspension, ruling that "to participate with pagans in an interfaith service and, additionally, to give the impression that there might be more than one God is an extremely serious offense."

Instantly, Telle said, "our worst fears [of a backlash] were maximized."

"I use the word `paralyzed' because we were hit by e-mails and phone calls," most voicing outrage over Schulz's decision, Telle said. "People generally were in a tirade."

Donors pledged to cut off their support, Telle said. Pastors said they would no longer encourage the faithful to support Lutheran Hour Ministries.

On July 12 Lutheran Hour Ministries chief Rodger Hebermehl pulled Schulz, with pay, from the gospel program for allegedly violating policies on ethics and conflict of interest.

Kieschnick, who has asked for a church review of Benke's suspension, said in a July 9 letter to church members that the Missouri Synod "is experiencing a period of emotional anxiety and doctrinal disharmony."

If he loses his appeals, Benke loses his offices and will be kicked off the clergy roster.

Copyright (c) 2002, Chicago Tribune

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