LCA Issues Open Letter to LCMS Officials to Oppose False Teaching or Resign

The Lutheran Concerns Association has issued an “Open Letter to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,” in its newsletter, The Lutheran Clarion, vol. 7, no. 4, March 2015, available online here (page 3).

The Open Letter quotes the statement of Synodical President Matthew C. Harrison on January 26, 2015 concerning the failure of the Northwest District to discipline Dr. Matthew Becker for false teaching. In his statement, titled “Regarding a recent decision of a panel not to proceed with charges regarding a public false teacher in the LCMS,” President Harrison had written:Martin Luther, Denkmal, Marktplatz, Lutherstadt Wittenberg

When a public teacher on the roster of Synod can without consequence publicly advocate the ordination of women (even participate vested in the installation of an ELCA clergy person), homosexuality, the errancy of the Bible, the historical-critical method, open communion, communion with the Reformed, evolution, and more, then the public confession of the Synod is meaningless. I am saying that if my Synod does not change its inability to call such a person to repentance and remove such a teacher where there is no repentance, then we are liars and our confession is meaningless. I do not want to belong to such a synod, much less lead it. I have no  intention of walking away from my vocation. I shall rather use it and, by the grace of God, use all the energy I have to call this Synod to fidelity to correct this situation.

Matt Harrison

After quoting that statement, the LCA writes:

Simply put, the Synod is once again at a defining point as an “orthodox” church body. The Board of Directors of Lutheran Concerns Association calls upon the presidents of every District of Synod, of every Synodical institution of higher learning and every regent thereof as well as every member of every elected board/commission to publicly indicate their unqualified support for President Harrison in his statement above or resign their position forthwith. It is time to be as bold in the secular world of today as Luther was at the Diet of Worms: “Here I stand…..” We are in GOD’S CHURCH, not a secular semi-religious philosophical organization or in a governmental legislative body where too often the accepted practice in actuality truly is flimflamming constituents.

LCA Board of Directors,

Mr. Walter C. Dissen, President
Mr. Scott Diekmann, Vice President
Rev. Jerome Panzigrau, Secretary Treasurer
Rev. Dr. Kristian Kincaid
Mr. John Klinger
Mr. Scott Meyer, Esq.
Rev. Dr. Martin Noland
Rev. Andrew Preus
Rev. David Ramirez
Mr. Leon Rausch
Mr. Don Zehnder

If you would like to add your name to the open letter for publication in a future Lutheran Clarion, email Mr. Walter Dissen at [email protected].

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