Petition against the sale of KFUO (FM)

I previously mentioned my agnosticism on the sale of KFUO (FM) and, in fact, my view that the LCMS got a pretty good deal on the sale. And I have to tell you, I’m one of the very few people out there who feels that way, from the sounds of it! I have been hearing from Lutherans who I haven’t talked to in decades and folks all across the country. People are not happy about this sale. Their objections vary somewhat. Most people just don’t like that the Synod has found itself so mismanaged for so many years that we’re in a place where selling off the radio station is even considered. Lots of people are angry about the secrecy. Many people think this sale is a sign of further Synod, Inc. attempts to sell off seminaries and other valuable assets. Some view the broadcasting of classical music to be a point of pride for the LCMS. Some view the fact that the owner will broadcast false doctrine over the same airwaves to be particularly shameful.

Before we get into some of these discussions, I wanted to point you to a petition signed by 41 prominent members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to the Synod’s Board of Directors. Sarah Bryan Miller at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch previously reported that the Board of Directors responded to this petition by ignoring it. Well, now she put the petition and the names of those who signed it online.

And before we look at the petition, it’s worth noting that there was a time when the Board of Directors was marginally controlled by people with a different political persuasion or church vision than President Gerald Kieschnick. That hasn’t been the case for years. The board and President Kieschnick are politically aligned and what they choose to do (and not do) reflects the views of Synodical President Kieschnick. While he is a full voting member of the board, he’s been lying low on this issue. Of course, from the sounds of it, the entire board is being pretty tight-lipped about what they’ve chosen to do — and why. This is not terribly surprising given the financial picture of Synod as a result of marked giving declines during Kieschnick’s tenure. Here’s the petition:

May 8, 2009 (List of names augmented June 29, 2009)

Dear Members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Board of Directors,

Not unmindful of your responsibilities, and aware of the challenges presented Synod by current economic conditions, we ask you, nevertheless, to reconsider your decision on behalf of our Synod that authorized the sale of KFUO-FM. A sale, in our view and that of many others, would be very unfortunate. We are convinced that:

– A vital mission of proclamation, nurture, outreach, and community relations is being conducted by KFUO-FM and these missions can be expanded and enhanced in the future;

– A sale would damage the good name and reputation of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in its headquarters city and around the world;

– A sale would disenfranchise and severely disappoint many thousands of individuals and organizations that have provided virtually all the financial and volunteer support for the station throughout its history;

– KFUO-FM is the source sustaining KFUO-AM. Its sale would surely be followed by AM’s demise.

– There are attractive alternatives for retaining KFUO-FM, thereby also ensuring the future of KFUO-AM. These should be explored with time and opportunity being given for their advancement.

Respectfully yours in Christ,

The names of those who signed the petition can be found after the jump:

Dr. Andrew H. Bartelt (Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Concordia Seminary)
Dr. Karl L. Barth (President Emeritus, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis)
Dr. Robert Bergt (Director, The American Cantorei and “Bach at the Sem” concert series)
The Rev. Keith Boheim (The Marvin M. Schwan Charitable Foundation)
Dr. Ralph A. Bohlmann (President Emeritus, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)
The Rev. Larry Burgdorf (The Marvin M. Schwan Charitable Foundation)
Senator Conrad Burns (United States Senator, Retired)
Dr. Paul W. Devantier (Senior Vice President, Advancement, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis)
Richard W. Duesenberg (Attorney at Law; co-founder, “Bach at the Sem” concert series)
Robert H. Duesenberg (Attorney at Law; co-founder, “Bach at the Sem” concert series)
Dr. Charles W. Dull (Former Director, Hong Kong International School)
The Rev. Alan Erdman (President, Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri)
Dr. Jean Garton (Former member Board of Directors, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)
Oscar H. Hanson (Former member Board of Directors, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)
Dr. John F. Johnson (Former President, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis)
Dr. James W. Kalthoff (President Emeritus, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)
Dr. Robert H. King (Former Vice President, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)
The Rev. Jerry Klug (President, Clara and Spencer Werner Foundation)
Ruth M. Koch (Chair, Concordia Publishing House Board of Directors)
Thomas Kopatz (Managing Partner, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans)
Dr. Jonathan Laabs (Executive Director, Lutheran Education Association)
Michael Louis (Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Administration, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis)
Laurence Lumpe (Executive Director, Lutheran Hour Ministries)
Dr. Paul L. Maier (Second Vice President, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)
Dr. Walter A. Maier, II (Former Second Vice President, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)
The Rev. Ulmer Marshall (Former member Board of Directors, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)
Dr. Dale A. Meyer (President, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis)
Dr. Judith W. Meyer (President, Lutheran High School Association of St. Louis)
Michael Onnen (President, International Lutheran Laymen’s League)
Gerald Perschbacher (Editor, “The Lutheran Layman,” International Lutheran Laymen’s League)
Dr. Richard D. Peters (Former member Board of Directors, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)
James F. Ralls (Chair, Board of Regents, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis)
Dr. Walter Rosin (Secretary Emeritus, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)
Representative John Shimkus (United States Congressman, Illinois)
Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto (Former Religion Editor, United Press International)
The Rev. Jonathan P. Stein (Regular Pastor on FKUO-FM for more than 20 years)
Dr. Richard L. Thompson (Former Chair, Board of Directors, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)
Edwin A. Trapp, Jr. (Former member Board of Directors, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)
Dr. James Voelz (Dean of the Faculty, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis)
Phyllis Wallace (“Woman to Woman,” Lutheran Hour Ministries)
John D. Wittenmyer (Vice-Chair, Board of Regents, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis)

One point from the petition that I would like to mention is the statement that “KFUO-FM is the source sustaining KFUO-AM. Its sale would surely be followed by AM’s demise.”

That’s not true. I’ve discussed the mismanagement of KFUO in previous posts but even apart from general mismanagement by the station management and its overseers on the Board for Communication Services, here’s what the last Board of Director minutes report:

“Regarding KFUO, [the synodical treasurer] noted a loss of $443,000, although the loss by the AM station is currently being covered by designated bequest income, likely to be depleted in another year. The FM share of the loss will need to be covered by unrestricted assets, this $254,000 loss in large part due to reduced support from the St. Louis arts community.”

While one could argue that it’s just THIS year that the FM station can’t subsidize the AM station, it’s also true that the AM station costs very little to run and the FM station could make a lot of money (or serve the church better) if it were run properly. It’s a common saying that the FM station funds the AM station but it’s much more complicated than that.

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