Who Is Paula Kammerstein Who Knows So Much About the Benke Case?

By: Rev. Jack Cascione

Paula Kammerstein claims to be the author of: "A Handbook on the Synod Controversy: What's REALLY going On?"  Reclaim News received the booklet in an envelope with a Fort Wayne, Indiana postmark.

The full document is found at http://luther_news.tripod.com

"She" writes with the skill of some one highly informed on the issues of the Benke case and has analyzed the events with a great deal of theological insight.  Either, "she" has a very thick file supplied to "her" by someone else or "she" is very, very close to the events in St. Louis.  The Fort Wayne, Indiana postmark may only be an indication of the mail box that was used.  A St. Louis based Synodical official called this writer on Friday, March 14, and asked if I knew who Paula was.  My response is "I don't know." "Kammerstein" has a lot of knowledge about what is happing inside the Synodical headquarters.

This public document has been widely circulated throughout the Synod and the entire pamphlet was published in the March 3, 2003 issue of Christian News. Additional copies of the article, in a booklet form, as originally published, may be purchased from Christian News by calling 573-237-3110 or emailing cnmail@fidnet.com

At this time, we do not know whom Paula Kammerstein is or if there actually is a Paula Kammerstein.

The official in the Synodical headquarters also told this author that it is
impossible to prove the following assertions near the end of the article:

"At the direction of Dr. Kieschnick, Tom Lapacka, David Mahsman, and David Strand, (key leaders in charge of the synod's communication department), are spinning every story in Dr. Kieschnick's favor, intentionally omitting important facts and failing to do justice to the other side of the story. Mahsman, in particular, has several LCMS communications staff working directly for Dr. Kieschnick as his personal PR team.  Mahsman has a long history of opposition to Dr. Barry, refusing to cooperate fully when Dr. Barry wanted to 'get the message straight,' and 'get the message out.'"

We agree with the caller from St. Louis that "Paula" gives no evidence to prove the above assertions.  It isn't possible for "Paula" to have this information unless "she" is in the Synodical Headquarters.  The official states that the above paragraph is totally false.  Unless "Paula" reveals her true identity and the source of her information, the content of the above paragraph must be rejected.

There is also no question that President Kieschnick did indeed write his own letter to the Synod about the Benke case thus interfering with and publicizing the assigned constitutional task of the Praesidium. Kieschnick's publicity resulted in Wallace Schulz being fired from the LLL.  There is also no question that the LCMS communication's department was the first to release information about the confidential charges filed by LCMS pastors against Benke to the Media in November of 2001.

"Paula Kammerstein" has a lot of information.

The full document is found at http://luther_news.tripod.com

March 15, 2003