'Jesus First' Blames Deceased Robert Preus For Synod's Problems

By: Rev. Jack Cascione

The entire September 2002 issue of "Jesus First," was written by is by former Ohio District President David Buegler and was sent to every LCMS congregation and president.

The head reads, "Do You Know What is Going On In The LCMS."  The article is prefaced with the words: "Veteran Pastor David Buegler Explains To His Congregation."

The editors of "Jesus First" give the following preface to Buegler's article:

 

"Editor's Note: In respond to questions from his members, Rev. David Buegler laid out 60 copies of a 'Synodical White Paper' for anyone to pick up.  Those copies found wide circulation and brought requests from many sources to make his paper available to the church.  Permission is granted to make copes.  Printed copies are available to order."


The following is the third section of eleven sections in the article by Buegler printed by "Jesus First."  Buegler develops a logical progression based on the assumptions stated in the third section titled, "Enter the "Confessionals."

(Our rebuttal will be published in the next Reclaim News release.)

"Enter the 'Confessionals'" by Rev. Buegler

"That movement I will call 'confessional.'  It was a step beyond 'conservative' because after the seminex split all parties in power were theologically conservative.  This confessional movement took upon itself other features such as 'high' liturgical practices, an elevated teaching regarding the role of clergy 'over' laity, more emphasis on 'sacramentalism' than on evangelism and mission, a battle against 'church growth' principals,
a desire to repeal the 1969 Synodical decision to allow women's suffrage. It became a movement to legalize our Synod's long established understanding of 'close communion' so as not to allow any pastoral discretion, and a tightening up of our Synod's long-running understanding of the varies levels of how we can fellowship with other Christians.

Clergy in this movement were marked by wearing clerical collars in most public settings.  Some in this movement held that laity could only receive absolution from clergy and that private confession should be emphasized in the parish and that there should never be a worship service that does not offer Holy Communion.

People in our Synod (like me) who believed that in all the miracles of the Bible, the inerrancy of Scripture, that God created the world in six 24-hour days, the historicity of Adam and Eve, that Moses parted the Red Sea etc., etc., etc. were now labeled as 'moderates or liberals' if they didn't hold to the 'Ft Wayne Confessional' movement.  Partially as a result of his leadership of this movement, Robert Preus was removed from his office as Ft. Wayne president by the Board of Regents with the concurrence of Synod President Ralph Bohlmann.  The battle was about to get nasty."

 

CLICK HERE TO READ PASTOR CASCIONE'S REBUTTAL

September 7, 2002