The LCMS controversy is getting messier day by day. At the upcoming International Lutheran Layman's League (the organization responsible for producing the well known Lutheran Hour radio broadcast) everything was all set to honor Dr. Wallace Schulz for his 25 years of faithful service to the Lutheran Hour and preaching nationally and internationally over their groundbreaking radio broadcast.
In stead, as a punitive action against Schulz for also holding the office of 2nd Vice President of the LCMS (for the second term) and rendering a controversial decision in the case, the LLL cancelled the ceremonies honoring his service at their international convention this week and have relieved Schulz of all Lutheran Hour responsibilities. Some called for an investigation of his actions as the second Syndodical vice president.
For those who have not followed the unfolding of the controversy involving Dr. Benke's participation in "A Prayer for America" on September 23rd of last year, here's the saddest side of the tale.
Dr. Kieschnick, the President of the LCMS approved Dr. Benke's (then the Atlantic District president) participation in the interfaith service involving Christian and non-Christian clergy. Many across the LCMS filed charges against Benke for violating the consitution of the syond, which requires of every clergy, churchworker and congregation member the promise of "renunciation of unionism and syncretism of every description."
Because President Kieschnick had given approval to the action, charges were also filed against him (subsequently dismissed) and an apparent conflict of interest was evident such that he was recused of the responsibility to investigate the charges against Benke. Likewise, because first Vice President Daniel Preus had written and spoken in public criticism of Benke -- he recused himself of the responsibility to oversee the investigation into the charges. The duty then fell to the second vice president, Rev. Wallace Schulz -- who also happens to be the Lutheran Hour preacher for the last 25 years. American Christians and non-Christians alike have been watching the whole while.
Schulz has been caught in the crossfire of a very heated debate, one which he neither aspired to nor should ever have been dragged into the midst of it. The Lutheran Laymen's Leage has sorely disappointed me by refusing to differentiate between the man who has served them so very well "bringing Christ to the nations, and the nations to the Church" for the last 25 years on the Lutheran Hour broadcast -- and his constitutional responsibilities as the second VP of synod to rule on a case which would have brought critical fire upon whomever was given the task, regardless of whether he ruled in favor of Benke's actions or not.
The LLL should have determined to stay entirely above the ongoing controversy rather than becoming a willing participant in a fight that is only going to get nastier as the days pass. They had an opportunity to be a shining example of a Lutheran laity committed to the Gospel and the lost, unwilling to be turned from their first and only priority.
In stead, it appears they chose to more or less forsake a man who has served them faithfully and well for 25 years -- because he was elected to a second term as an officer of the Synod -- and did what no man in his right mind would ever have wanted to do: carried out the responsibilitiy entrusted to him as an officer of the LCMS knowing full well that in doing so he would earn the great displeasure of many of his Lutheran brethren -- regardless how he ruled on the charges.
