Letters of Support for Rev. Dr. David H. Benke

Page 1 | 2

Pastor Benke-
This is a day of reflecting and remembering. I want to express my support to you for the loving action you took last year at Yankee Stadium. I'm sorry for the controversy that arose from your actions - for the harm brought to you and to our entire Synod.

I'm sure it's no coincidence that the congregation where you serve has a mission
statement that speaks of "deeds."

May God continue to bless you as you bring blessing to many -

Jan Amrein

+  +  +  +  +

Dear Pastor Benke:
I read a newspaper account of actions being taken against you by the Synod based on your having given the service address after the September 11disaster. I, also watched the TV program on PBS. As a longtime Lutheran, mostly from the UCLA synods until my recent affiliation with Pastor Ron Schornhorst as Pastor of the Lake Oconee Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, and am quite disturbed by the anger and antagonistic actions being proposed and for the calls you have been receiving from fellow Pastors. My reaction has been expressed by most of the members of this wonderful, caring congregation and, our prayers are with you.

I was very moved by what I read and heard of the content of your sermon and felt that you hit the appropriate median approach that encompassed all of faith and love of God by all peoples, religions, and cultures. If it would help in any way for us to bombard the appropriate officials who are leading these actions, please feel free to >let me know and give me an address or email address. I will pass them on to my fellow congregation, otherwise, please know that we will all be praying for you.

Yours in Christ
Mr. & Mrs. Norman Martin
Greensboro, GA.

+  +  +  +  +

Dear Brother David,
As we approach the anniversary of September 11, my heart is heavy saddened with what some in our "beloved" synod are doing to you. I am not one of eloquent words, but I want to extend to you my thanks and appreciation for your prayer at Yankee Stadium. I believe it to be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ and a source of comfort and strength for those directly afflicted by the events of that day, and for our country as a whole as we look to God for His help.

As a hospital Chaplain, I deal with people in crisis, from all backgrounds, on a daily basis. Through my presence and prayer, I hope they would experience God and His love with them. I believe you truly brought the presence of God and His love in Christ to New York, and to our country with your presence and prayer. It is a sad day when we are chastised for that.

I know sometimes words do not offer much. My purpose for this communication is to let you know I am one more of the "reserved seven thousand" (1 Kings 19:18) who offer up my prayers to God for you and your family, and stand in support of your ministry and witness at Yankee Stadium.

God's Peace be with you.

Rev. Michael Porter, MDiv., BCC
Chaplain/ Director of Pastoral Services
Porter Memorial Health Systems

+  +  +  +  +

Dear Dr. Benke,
I would like you know I am in support of your participation and prayer after the 9/11 attack. There are a number of Lutherans who are relaxed in their spreading of the word of God in our synod, located especially in the mid west. I have a cousin who was out there teaching who felt somewhat reluctant to come back east where it would be difficult to make sure the school which he would be connected to would be always full. It is a challenge and an effort to reach out to those who are in need
of the word of God. He did accept the challenge which I am glad for, yet it has let me know how effortless it is to be in a mid-west Lutheran church community. I almost feel that the door is closed to those outside the church there unless one is already self-righteous enough before being allowed to walk through the doors of a MO. Synod Church. Such is not the case in this world. You did right and don't let anyone pass judgement on you to say different. The parable of the wedding feast is the example I give to you for confidence that what you did was right and commendable. God Bless you and your future. Sometimes it takes an act like this to do a little housecleaning to tidy up the difference between our doctrine and our practices. You may have been the Lord's way to initiate this. Don't loose heart. Many of us are behind you and what you did!! ( I know you are a busy person and I don't expect you to answer this. The Lord lets us know your gratitude via prayer and spirit).

Your in our prayers,
Roy Meissner
roymeissner@netzero.net

+  +  +  +  +

Dear Dr. Benke,
Thank you for praying with others after 9-11-01.

Thank you for being prayerful. For being a testimony for Christ. For being a presence in the hurting world.

May you be uplifted by the Holy Spirit, who I believe also prompted the words of your prayer...And may you get encouraging words from others to offset the hurtful things that are coming from too many of your "brothers in Christ" who are not showing you the love of Christ. I'm so sorry for the hurt they are and have inflicted on you since that day of prayer.

May God guide and protect you and your faith and spirit.

Your sister in Christ,
Cathy Cryer
Director of Caring Ministries, Hosanna! Lutheran Church, St. Charles, IL
....an ELCA congregation, more concerned with being Christian, than Lutheran or ELCA variation of Lutheran. May we all bring Christ to this dark world!

+  +  +  +  +

Dear Dr. Benke:
After hearing about the criticism you received from your church colleagues for participating in the Yankee Stadium inter-faith prayer ceremony, I wanted to write you to let you know that I, and I'm sure countless other people, are appalled and saddened that you should have been treated so badly by so-called Christian people.

Although Christians are divided into a myriad of denominations, all people who profess to be Christians should realize that the central tenet of Christ's teaching is "love thy neighbour". Everything else to my mind is secondary. The theological aspects of the Christian religion are man-made constructs which do more to divide peoples than bring them together (the action of your colleagues is just another example of that sad fact). What is important to all mankind is the moral rightness of "love thy neighbour" as it teaches us how we should relate to one another to achieve a peaceful world.

God bless you for having the courage of your own convictions to take part in that inter-faith ceremony. We need more such events if we are to make progress in bringing peoples of the world together in peaceful harmony.

As a young person in Vancouver, B.C., I irregularly attended a Lutheran church (my parents were both Norwegian). I am ashamed to hear that your branch of this Christian denomination has acted in this way. I realize that you've been a life-long member of that denomination but I would respectfully suggest you give serious consideration to affiliating yourself with an Christian organization more in line with your personal convictions.

Barrie Stanfield, Librarian (PCAG)
Crops and Livestock Research Centre
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Charlottetown, PEI
Canada C1A 4N6
E-mail: stanfieldb@agr.gc.ca
Web: http://www.agr.gc.ca/science/charlottetown

+  +  +  +  +

Dear Brother Benke,
As a brother pastor working in the city of Cleveland, and, being active in community affairs, my prayers are with you. Your testimony means more to my people, and I am sure to all who know the city and the sufferings that go with it, let alone the situation you had to address. It is so easy for those who sit in safe places of comfort to pass judgement on those who are called to do the Lord's work. It reminds me of the Indians baseball game when the spectators, who did nothing but pump beer and wieners into their b. and criticized those who gave their best; have the nerve to come from the game and shout: "we" won. Who are the we? Lets hope and pray, our Synod gets back to to the LORD'S work. We may be at war soon (which I oppose, been there) and need more peace makers for our country and our beloved Synod. God have mercy. God bless and keep you.

Horst Hoyer
Cleveland

+  +  +  +  +

Dave

'Defining moment.'

It is appropriate that the controversial inter-faith prayer service (August 2002 of The Northern Light - Northern Illinois District publication of the LCMS) occurred in Yankee Stadium where catcher Yogi Berra once said, "This is like déjà vu all over again!"

Rev. David Benke's sin was "praying with pagans" as the AP reporter Jim Suhr reported in last Sunday's Chicago Tribune [Aug. 4]. There's the déjà vu--the story about that Jewish man teaching in the synagogue one day only to be caught having table fellowship with sinners on the next. Jesus had the habit of hanging around with the wrong crowd.

And who got upset? A vocal segment of the local synod-the Pharisees, who felt threatened as the self-righteous religious innovators of their day. LCMS President Kieschnick has called this a defining moment for the denomination. I'd like to think that we might re-discover that the "L" in our acronym stands for "Lutheran" and not "Legalistic."

This is why Martin Luther's (remember him?) thoughts on adiaphora regarding ecclesiastical ceremonies-"that God neither commands nor forbids"-may apply to Lutheran pastors participating in national days of mourning on behalf of our nation. The Augsburg framers had the grace (Luther was big on this one!) to say, "Disagreement in fasing does not destroy agreement in faith."

Paul O. Bischoff
Member, St. John
Wheaton, IL

Page 1 | 2

Back to "It's OK to Pray"...The SPIRIT Page

Home | Who We Are | Calendar | Our School | Prayer for America | Directions | Contact Us | Links