|
(Corrected: A misplaced sentence in the first release
changed the entire direction of the article. This is the Corrected
release.)
Planning and strategy meetings for the 2004 LCMS Convention are now taking
place throughout the Synod.
Recent rulings by the LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters have raised
the authority of the LCMS President to a virtual Lutheran papacy. The
direction of the Synod will now be determined by who is elected President.
In other words, the Synod has evolved into a one vote, winner-take-all
Convention.
Just as Walther, the Synod's founder prophesied, once a church body is no
longer governed by doctrine, the real issue is the arrangement of the
chairs.
While in California, on Wednesday February 9, 2003, this writer met with
"Affirm," "Balance," "Consensus" and
"Lutheran Concerns" operatives in four locations.
Last year it was assumed that Rev. Daniel Preus will be the conservatives'
candidate but I was rather surprised to learn how much support there is for
Robert Kuhn. It now appears that if Kuhn chooses to allow his name to
stand for election, he is the most likely conservative candidate for the
LCMS Presidency.
Kuhn has served as a District President, Synodical Vice President, Acting
LCMS President, and is currently Chairman of the LCMS Board of Directors.
There isn't anyone close to his qualifications. The question is,
"Will he allow his name to stand for election?" He withdrew
his name from consideration in 2001. However, conditions in the Synod
are in near chaos and Kuhn has the skills to put the fire out.
The finances of the LCMS are a disaster. The current LCMS President
desperately needs the support of the Synod's District Presidents (COP) to be
reelected. But the unbridled growth of District bureaucracies is
bankrupting the Synod, cutting teacher colleges and seminaries down to an
abysmal 1% of Synodical support, and causing the recall of nearly 1/4 of all
LCMS foreign mission workers. Kieschnick will not demand that Districts send
80% of all resources received by the Districts to the Synod.
The tragedy is, there are more than enough funds given to Synod but in 2003
the Districts kept approximately $100,500,000 for themselves and only sent
$24,293,120 to the Synod. In other words, the Districts kept 80 cents
of every dollar they received. The District Offices have become the
Synod's highest priority and mission.
While speaking at First Lutheran Church in the San Fernando Valley, I
pointed out that the Pacific South West District (PSWD) typified the greed
that is now destroying the LCMS.
According to page 728 of the 2003 Lutheran Annual, the PSWD received
$7,192,687 but only sent $200,000 to the Synod in 2001. On page 58,
the PSWD lists 14 paid staff, not counting secretaries and other workers.
In 1961, the PSWD's District President was a full-time parish pastor but
things have changed.
Like many Districts the PSWD has placed its own agenda above the human souls
around the world that need to hear the Gospel. Few members in the pew
realize their offerings are making life very pleasant for the District
elite.
The day will come when Loren Kramer and Larry Stoterau and the self-serving
clergy who reelect them will have to give an account for what they did with
the church offerings in their hands.
|
|