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St. Peter's Lutheran Church-Brooklyn, NY
St. Peter's Lutheran Church-Brooklyn, NY

That We May Be One

Greetings in the Name of Christ, our Lord!

Enclosed with this letter please find a document entitled "That We May Be One."  It is prayerfully submitted by pastoral leaders of the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

It is NOT intended:

  • To be divisive.  This is a study document. You will readily determine that it has a solid Biblical and Lutheran Confessional basis, as opposed to the insufficiencies of "That THEY May Be One."
     
  • To require a signature.  This document is not intended to be a Petition. The theological soundness of the principles it states is founded in our theology and fellowship and not as a result of anyone's signature, as is being suggested in the case of the highly divisive "That They May Be One."
     
  • To rally any affirmative action program. We make no request that you affirm your acceptance to LCMS leadership or others.  Your acceptance should be evidenced in an important way, the way that counts, in your acceptance of "That We May Be One."  This is in opposition to the insufficiencies of "that THEY May Be One."
     
  • To subvert the good work being planned by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations and the Office of the President of the LCMS.  This document is intended to assist in tying together the fellowship and theology of the LCMS, and to the end that its theological and fellowship statements should be used by all.
     
  • To interfere with the process being undertaken as regards complaints against District President David H. Benke.

It IS intended:

  • For the use of congregations and pastors of the LCMS.
     
  • As a statement in support of the public theology of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod underlying its approved document "A Lutheran Understanding of Fellowship," particularly the section titled "Cases of Discretion." That public theology is rooted in Luther's distinction between God's two realms or two kingdoms – God's Kingdom of Grace and God's Kingdom of Power.
     
  • As a valuable tool to the theological dialogs planned by the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations at the direction of President Gerald Kieschnick.
     
  • To give witness to the pastoral and evangelical concern of LCMS leaders from the metropolitan New York City area so devastated by the events of September 11, 2001, and yet so well-served by Lutheran theology and practice in the months following.
     
  • To replace the insufficient theology and direction of "That THEY May Be One," which was sent to every congregation and pastor of the LCMS.
     
  • As a public call to those involved in the document "That THEY May Be One" to remove their document from public consideration, and urge all who signed it to remove their approval.

The intent of the document was initially to preclude the groundless non-scriptural application of heresy charges from falling any more on our District President. On that score, it is now too late.  However, the clear theology contained in this document IS the grounds upon which is founded the dynamic mission and ministry now taking place in the Atlantic District.

The Atlantic District, LCMS, is a fast growing District of our church body.  The latest reports released demonstrate that it was the number one District in the LCMS in percentage growth and new missions.  The message of the Gospel proclaimed in the Atlantic District is meant for all people of all nations and all backgrounds.  Our missionaries work tirelessly, giving public witness in the Name of Jesus to all who will listen. In the largest city in the USA, with the most diversified population on the planet earth, with a population still hurting deeply from the tragic disaster of 9/11/01, our opportunities are boundless.

We accept our vocation in the world at this time in the Atlantic District as baptized Lutheran Christians. We look to our wonderful theology of the means of grace to assist us in the ways our founders, forefathers and those who came before us envisioned, through the Word of God and prayer.  What we have written in "That We May Be One" is meant to assist in that global mission, not only for us, but for the Confessional Lutheran movement worldwide.

There are those who may read this document and disagree with statements contained in it. Please, in that case, follow the advice contained in the simple sentence of the fellowship document approved by our church body – "Let charity prevail."  We look forward to discussing with you ways to work through our differences as sisters and brothers in Christ, together as one, in a God-pleasing way, for the sake of our common mission.  There are those who only believe in their own way. We pray for them, that they will continue to seek better answers, so "That We May Be One."

....................................................................................................................

THAT WE MAY BE ONE

A Scriptural and Confessional Statement Concerning The Responsibility of the Christian living under God's Two Kingdoms

Preface

On September 11, 2001, multiple acts of terrorism shocked our country. Responses to this atrocity have revealed a deeply divided Synod, particularly with regard to the historic Lutheran understanding of the "Two Kingdoms" and the vocation of the Christian man in the midst of this world. We believe there exists in our church severe confusion over the manner in which Christians relate to both their civil government and the pluralistic citizenry of our United States of America. This lack of clarity will have a major impact upon the Missouri Synod in the future, potentially leading to a position of isolationism, similar to the monkery of the Anabaptists. Our Confessions soundly condemn the errors of the Anabaptists. (FC SD Article XII: 15-27) 

In response to the atrocities of September 11, 2001, the Mayor of New York called upon people from a wide range of vocations to work together. Police, firemen, EMT workers, doctors, nurses, engineers, iron workers, truck drivers, etc. all came together to exercise their vocations and serve their neighbors who were in grave need.

On September 23rd, the Mayor called upon the leaders within his city to exercise their vocation, including religious leaders, by asking them to pray on behalf of their constituencies, many of whom had been bereaved in the horror of September 11th.  Dr. David H. Benke, the President of the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod was invited to participate, along with several Rabbis, a Sikh, several Muslims, a Hindu and several other representatives from Christian denominations. Dr Benke, with the approval of his ecclesiastical supervisors - Dr. Gerald Kieschnick President of the LCMS, the Board of Directors of the Atlantic District, and St. Peter's Lutheran Church - participated and offered a prayed "in the precious name of Jesus."

While many properly lauded Dr. Benke's participation, others raised grave concerns.  They defined Dr. Benke participation as "unionism and syncretism" and filed charges against him, seeking to have him expelled from the fellowship of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Citing Article VI of the Constitution of the Synod they stated that a condition for membership in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is the "renunciation of unionism and syncretism of every description."  Dr. Wallace Schulz, the Second Vice-president of Synod, was entrusted with the responsibility of adjudicating the case. Without foundation and clear support, he determined that Dr. Benke should be expelled from the Synod. We shake our heads in disbelief, unable to fathom how at a patriotic civil event a man's simple prayer in behalf of suffering people presented in the "precious name of Jesus," could cause him to be expelled from an organization identifying itself as a "Christian Church."    

In response to the decision of Dr. Schulz we present this confession.  We believe his decision in this case lacks theological clarity and sound reasoning. If we fail to properly think through the implications of our Lutheran theology for our relationship with the world we will produce a church that remains isolated for fear of being polluted.  In so doing, we will place the light of the pure Gospel under our self-imposed bushel basket of paranoia.  This is a historic moment in the history of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, especially at this present time when courts are debating whether or not we as a nation are "one nation under God." We certainly do not want to make a mistake and by so doing give the impression that the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod desires to remove God from the secular market place. We believe the following confession is in full agreement with the Lutheran Confessions and the clear teaching of the Holy Scriptures.

We Concur with Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions Concerning The Following Points:

    Regarding the Two Kingdoms

    We believe, teach, and confess:

      1. That we are citizens of two separate kingdoms in which our God rules. We are members of the Kingdom of God's Grace, the Church of Jesus Christ ruled over by the Gospel. This is a spiritual kingdom as the Apology states, "it is the knowledge of God in the heart, the fear of God and faith, the beginning of eternal righteousness and eternal life." (AP AC XVI: 2)

      2. That we are also members of the Kingdom of God's Power whereby He rules this world by His Law through the agency of civil government. We agree with the Lutheran Confessors who said that church and government are "the two highest gifts of God on earth." and that these two authorities should not be "mingled or confused." (AC XXVIII: 4,12)

      3. That in the Kingdom of God's Grace our lives are ruled over by the Gospel and we look forward to the hope of sharing in God's Kingdom of Glory. We celebrate that hope as members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. While on this earth we will remain, by the grace of God, citizens of the greatest nation in the world, joined with our fellow citizens of every race, creed, and religion, as a part of these United States of America.

      4. That we should pledge our loyalty and allegiance to both the Constitution of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Constitution of the United States of America.

We reject:

      1. The error of the modern followers of Menno Simons who, for matters of conscience, refuse to participate in the affairs of civil government.  

      2. The error of John Calvin and the Reformed who teach that the task of "constituting religion aright" is assigned to the civil government. (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV; Chapter XX; 3)

      3. The error of Rome whereby the power of the Church has historically been brought to bear upon the affairs of civil government.

Regarding Church Fellowship

We believe, teach and confess:

      1. That as a part of God's Kingdom of Grace and as members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod we renounce unionism and syncretism of every description within the Church of Jesus Christ.

      2. That the position of our Synod regarding Church fellowship is the true interpretation of the Word of God for Scripture says in 2 Corinthians 6:14 concerning the sanctity of the temple of God, the Church: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God."

      3. That on certain occasions, since all Christians are united in Christ Jesus, it is proper to pray with people of a heterodox confession without injury to conscience and without compromising the truth or purity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

We reject:

      1. The practice of declaring Church fellowship where no agreement on doctrine exists.

      2. The error of postmodernism that absolute truth in matters of faith and doctrine does not exist and that truth is relative to the community of faith confessing that truth.

      3. The error that "all men of goodwill" will be saved. We confess boldly that our Lord Jesus Christ is the only Way to the Father and only by faith in Him can any person hope to be saved.

Regarding a Christian and Human Government

    We believe, teach and confess:

    1. That the natural knowledge of God (Romans 1:18ff.) manifested in the Kingdom of God's Power has great value as the basis for morality, natural law and civil righteousness. The theologians of our church have stated, "The natural knowledge of God is of value also for the Church. For one thing, the Church has its temporary home in the body politic; and civil righteousness, which maintains order and peace, thus serves the Church indirectly." (Pieper; Vol. 1; pg. 374)

    2. That we should thank God for a government where God is acknowledged. We should thank God for our "daily bread," which, according to Dr. Martin Luther's explanation includes "godly and faithful rulers" and "good government." In his exposition of Psalm 82:2, Luther wrote:  "In a word, next to the Gospel or the spiritual office no better jewel, no costlier gift, no finer foundation, no more precious possession, exists on earth than a government that administers and upholds justice." In his Large Catechism explanation of the Fourth Commandment, Luther equates rulers and magistrates with the role of "fathers" through whom God provides us with the necessities of life and protection from our enemies.

    3. That it is a blessing for the Church that freedom of religion is granted to all citizens of the United States of America. Such freedom of religion is a witness to this world that "people of faith"* holding varied confessions and religious convictions can live together in peace and harmony. Such peace and harmony benefits the enterprise of the Gospel.

    4. That it is pleasing to God that the founders of our great nation acknowledged God and included in our Constitution the recognition that the rights we enjoy and cherish and the laws whereby our nation is governed find their source in our Creator.

    5. That the responses of our government officials to the atrocities of September 11th:  President George W. Bush who called for a national prayer service at the National Cathedral on September 14th; the members of Congress for their spontaneous singing of "God Bless America" on the steps of the Capitol on September 12th; and New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani who called together A Prayer For America at Yankee Stadium on September 23rd were examples of Godly government for which we thank God.

    6. That it is proper for us and all Christians to acknowledge with great pride and resolution together with all of our fellow citizens, regardless of their race or religion our motto "In God We Trust." We pledge allegiance with people of all races and religions to "one nation under God." With joy we sing "God Bless America" in any pluralistic gathering of the citizens of our great country.

We reject:

    1. The attempt of organizations such as the ACLU to remove any acknowledgement of God from the civil arena.

    2. The two-kingdom confusion of those who erroneously equate the civil religion of the United States of America with Christianity.

    3. The two-kingdom confusion of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod who neither endorse the motto of the United States "In God We Trust" nor the claim that we are "one nation under God."  In so doing, they weaken the value of the natural knowledge of God as basis for both natural law and civil righteousness.

Regarding a Christian and Civil Religion

We believe, teach and confess:

    1. That it is both proper and God-pleasing that our founding fathers put into place the constitutional restriction forbidding our government from establishing the primacy of one religion over the other. 

    2. That the civil religion of the United States of America, the belief in God, natural law and civil righteousness, according to our Constitution, must equally acknowledge all religions. It can be no other way if the Two Kingdoms are to remain separate.

    3. That it is necessary for our civil government to grant equality to all religious convictions, Christian and non-Christian alike, while retaining the truth that we are indeed, "one nation under God."  We would not choose to live under any other government, particularly an atheistic regime, where the very existence of a Creator and Supreme Being is rejected. We strongly condemn the worship of a "generic God" within the Church, God's Kingdom of Grace.

    4. That we, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod should be represented in civic affairs. Within the make-up of our national fabric we, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod are "one religion among many." We represent nearly 2.5 million citizens of our United States of America.  As such, we expect to be duly represented in both civic events as well as once-in-a-lifetime situations within the wider context of civil religion.  We expect to be granted the same measure of publicity or national exposure granted other religions or Christian denominations. We choose not to be isolationists and expect to be treated with equality.

    5. That it was proper that Dr. David Benke, the President of the Atlantic District, was invited to participate in the Prayer for America at Yankee Stadium. The Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has been influential in many of the social issues within the great city of New York,

    6. That is was proper for Dr. David Benke to participate in the Yankee Stadium Prayer for America.  The event was an expression of the religious pluralism that is a part of our national fabric and the government placed no restrictions upon the words spoken by the participants.  Each participant represented his own "faith conviction" and participated for the benefit of the members of his own "faith community."  Dr. Benke did not "join in praying with," nor did he "pray together with" the leaders of non-Christian religions. He prayed in their presence as they did in his.

    7. That the prayers offered at this event could have just as well taken place in the various "houses of prayer" that bear the name of each "faith community." But the Mayor of New York, acknowledging the need for the people of his city to implore the aid of Almighty God, and recognizing the unity of suffering and grief that existed among his people, called religious and other leaders to participate together at this event. This was a proper administration of godly leadership.

    8. That the Yankee Stadium Prayer for America included an expression of the religious pluralism that characterizes our constitutional civil government.  The civic expressions "In God We Trust" or "one nation under God" of necessity includes the understanding of God found within all religions afforded religious freedom under our constitution.

We reject:        

    The application of the condition for membership in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod – "renunciation of unionism and syncretism of every description" - to our civil government. Requiring Christians to renounce the leaders of their civil government for seeking God in response to a national tragedy, as a condition for membership in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is contrary to both the clear Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions. 

Regarding the Relationship Between Christians and non-Christians

We believe, teach, and confess:

    1. That as citizens of these United States of America, within the Kingdom of God's Power, we are not ashamed to be equally "yoked together" with people of many races and religions who also embrace the theistic civil religion that defines our nation and acknowledge the God of all creation.

      a. Concerning the relationship between Christians and non-Christians, the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:9, "I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world."

      b. Concerning fellowship with unbelievers, the Apostle writes in 1 Corinthians 10:27: "If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience."

      c. Concerning our witness before unbelievers we embrace the command of the Apostle Peter, "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)"

    2. That it is the will of God for us to condemn the attempt of any government or civil authority that requires Christians to compromise. We stand with our church fathers who soundly rebuked the Prussian Union of 1817 and sought religious freedom elsewhere. We will obey God rather than men.

We reject

    The compromise of those in the Christian church who have yielded to the spirit of this secular age by refusing to name the name of Jesus Christ within the civil arena. We believe that the interaction within God's Kingdom of Power with non-Christians should not cause the Christian in any way to compromise the doctrine and theology that defines truth within the Church of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God's Grace.

Conclusion

We believe that this confession reflects the true teaching of the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions.  We believe that the clear understanding of the Two Kingdoms presented by the Blessed Reformer, Dr. Martin Luther is profoundly relevant to the case before us and should be held high as a beacon to inform and instruct others within the Christian community.  We have an incredible contribution to make in answering the question of how a Christian interacts under the domain of a God-affirming civil government within a pluralistic society.

We are calling upon President Kieschnick and the entire Praesidium of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, especially Dr. Wallace Schulz, to rethink the groundless decision that was stated in the case against Dr. David Benke and to apologize for sinning against him.

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