Prior to the 2010 LCMS Convention, when Matthew Harrison was elected Synod President, his supporters published statistical membership data for the incumbent president, Dr. Gerald Kieschnick’s years in office. How do those 2000-2010 statistics for Kieschnick’s compare to the 2010-2017 statistics for Harrison’s administration?
From the beginning of our Synod, we struggled with big questions of relationships and governance polity. Should the laity have authority over the clergy? Should the clergy have authority over the laity? Should a “bishop” have authority over the congregations? Questions like those formed the chaotic beginning of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod! This essay will follow the decisions our Synod has made from its beginnings with quotes from C.F.W. Walther and our own LCMS Constitution. Top-down or bottom-up? What is right-side up?
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch broke a story on March 21 that points out the lack of light and truth from our Synod leadership: “Top diplomat of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is out, but nobody will say why.”
Read Pastor Timothy Klinkenberg’s letter to his congregation about the need for “Truth and Light” in our Synod. Maier and Klinkenberg’s nominations totaling 57.4% of all nominations show of support for a change in leadership far greater than Harrison’s support for re-election. Synod is saying: “It’s time for openness and truthfulness in our Synod leadership.”
In a welcome speech intended to energize his supporters and gain nominations at the Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne (CTSFW) Symposia Series, President Matthew Harrison raised the fears of his audience with the specter of Fort Wayne being “on the ropes” in the near future without him as Synod President. Really? Nothing could be further from the truth.
Last week, Congregations Matter became aware of irregularities in the voter registrations of five congregations affecting the vote of seven churches. Let’s make sure all registered votes count!
On Feb 20, nominations for Synod President will close. If Matthew C. Harrison finishes in the top three nominees, Harrison’s nomination total will be illegitimate. His total may include nominations he gained via misuse of his Presidential office and unconstitutional advice.
President Harrison sent handwritten postcards on January 3rd and 4th from the President’s Office at Synod expense to the pastors of select congregations. Because he advised them to circumvent their Voter’s Assemblies if they could, are his nominations valid?
In a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article, the LCMS is accused of institutional mobbing against church workers who dare to speak up about problems and increasing divisions in our beloved Synod. Harrison dismissed the article, characterizing it as “sadly bizarre” and “disconcerting.” Does his response prove the point?
President Harrison, Secretary Sias and the LCMS Board of Directors (BOD) shamefully hid from Synod their true intentions regarding Selma. Newly shared documents and open records from Synod BOD minutes, convention records and the CCM opinions reveal their double-dealing. Selma never had a chance. Could this happen to a Concordia near you?
