911 Prayer Was A Worship Service But Kieschnick and Benke Say No

By: Rev. Jack Cascione

Paula Kammerstein (a pseudonym) has written a widely circulated document titled: "A Handbook on the Synod Controversy: What's Really Going on?"  This article is only a small portions of the full document found at
http://luther_news.tripod.com

"Paula" answers the question "Was Yankee Stadium really a worship service?" and then explains "Why Dr. Benke and Dr. Kieschnick argue that it wasn't a worship service?" as follows:

------------------------------------------

WAS YANKEE STADIUM REALLY A WORSHIP SERVICE

News media from all over the world report the event as a prayer service.  It began with an invocation and ended with a benediction.  It contained prayers and hymns.  For example, MSNBC reported that:

"Yankee Stadium became a cathedral, mosque and synagogue Sunday as some 20,000 people gathered for an interfaith service to remember the victims of terrorism" and reported that "One after another, members of the clergy - Jews, Roman Catholics Muslims, Hindus, Protestants, Sikhs, Armenians, Greek Orthodox - stepped up to offer prayers."

And NBC News stated that:

"Second base became a stage and podium for today's service, dubbed a Prayer for America , and a spray of red, white and blue carnations covered the pitcher's mound.  Winfrey and actor James Earl Jones hosted the service, which included prayers from several Roman Catholic clerics, Jewish rabbis, Islamic and Sikh ministers.  Cardinal Edward Egan, Iman Izak-El Pasha and Dr. Inberjit Singh were among those officiating.

The world considered this to be an interfaith worship service, getting the impression that each participant was praying to the same Supreme Being, each in his own "tradition."  This is altogether offensive to the Lord God who will have no other gods before Him.

DID YOU KNOW?  Many articles other documents related to this crisis have been archived at this website:
www.standrewslcms.org/tracts/crisisinlcms/lcmscrisis.htm

-------------------------------------------

"WHY DO DR. BENKE AND DR. KIESCHNICK ARGUE THAT IT WASN'T A WORSHIP SERVICE?

The reason these men are so vehemently opposed to calling "A Prayer for America " at Yankee Stadium a worship service is because they know very well that the members of the LCMS have formally agreed not to participate in worship services where all kinds of religious beliefs are mixed together. In fact, one of the conditions for being a member in the LCMS is agreeing not to participate in joint worship services with people who teach contrary to the clear Word of God.

Dr. Benke has a long history before and after this service of praying, worshiping and communing in churches which hold contrary beliefs to our own. For example on September 9, 1998 - nearly three years before "A Prayer for America " - the Rev. Dr. David Benke participated in an interfaith prayer service, convened by the Roman Catholic Cardinal of New York and held in the Roman Catholic cathedral.  It included clerics from the Jewish and Muslim faiths.

Dr. Barry, who was the synodical president at that time, called Dr. Benke to repentance, Dr. Benke signed this confession, which later he implied that he was coerced to sign:

'On September 9, 1998 , I participated in an interfaith prayer service for the poor entitled:  'Lift Up the Poor With the Voices of Faith.'  The service included representatives of non-Christian religions, and also representatives of Christian churches with which our Synod is not in fellowship.  My participation in this service was a direct violation of the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, and consequently, a violation of the Constitution, Bylaws and doctrinal resolutions of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.  I also recognize and admit that my participation in this interfaith prayer service was a violation of my duties and responsibilities as an elected officer of The Lutheran Church --Missouri Synod.  While well-intended, what I did was wrong.  I therefore sincerely and publicly apologize to the Synod for my actions in this connection.  I assure the Synod that I will not repeat this error in the future by participating as an officiate in ecumenical services.'"

March 24 , 2003