Citizen’s Petition Filed on KFUO Situation – Has There Ever Been a More Troubled LCMS Administration?
We thank one of our readers (LCMS Christian Classical Musician) for alerting us to the citizens petition that has now been filed to stop the sale of KFUO – FM. (To view the petition click here.) Those of you following this story on this site know that the sale is hotly debated even among our readers. Pastor Wilken has had the best view of the situation for the last several years and supports the sale of the signal but he also admits that the LCMS Board of Directors has acted in a much too secretive way.
Controversy follows President Kieschnick and his leadership has brought much distraction to the work of the synod to maintain the purity of the Gospel and to get that Gospel out to the ends of the earth. The list of controversies is long: granting District President Behnke permission to participate in a unionistic service at Yankee stadium, a drastically shrinking corp of missionaries in the field, the firing of Todd Wilken and Jeff Scwharz, an Ablaze fundraiser that has not returned much for the investment, being sued for granting too many electoral circuit exceptions, etc.
The list goes on and on, and now the arts community of St. Louis is filing a petition against the sale of KFUO FM with the discussion focussing on secretive, closed door sessions at the LCMS Board of Directors Meetings of which President Kieschnick is a member.
I do not remember this amount of controversy and scandal while President Bohlman served as President of Synod or likewise when Dr. Barry served in the office. This relentless controversy is tiring and distracts the synod from its work.
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How very telling indeed. So that makes one federal petition & how many lawsuits? How many does that make in the last 9 years? I won’t lay this at just the feet of President Kieschnick, I would choose to lay it at his feet, and the feet of those on the BOD, CTCR, & the Synod’s legal counsel/s, and those who are the tickling whispers in their ears. Here is where I see a rub: now, with this, you involve a federal government entity. When that occurs, other “entities” tend to look sideways and a fair bit deeper than before. It is far too easy, for others to ask or petition books to be opened, & considering the legal suits & legal ranglings, it would stand to reason. Can we really expect anything less, I don’t. We have a loving Father, and He tends to use any & all means, to utilize a “behavior modification” with His children. His Love, is not the same as our idea of it. When you feel the sting of a Spiritual spanking, that is what you tend to take notice of. Synod & those who sit in St Louis, have ignored quite a few. If you miss the little ones, you must take notice of the biggies. Parents who truly love their kids, correct them, in love, but firmly. I think this qualifies, along with many another.
Between this new wrinkle and the current goings on (see Scott Diekman’s Bursting the BRTFSSG, Pastor Nolan’s articles, Pastor Preuss’s, etc) do we see a pattern here? I, would have no problem, streamlining (not control or power) to an ELECTED & SELECTED. However…this current elected (questionable to say the least) few, have proven themselves poor, illiterate, and dare I say it, BAD stewards of what was given & trusted to them! Power & authority can be idols folks. If we just look at, the postings here at BJS & elsewhere, can there be any question as to their ignorance & arrogance? I think not. But, this petition, takes it to a whole new level. The LCMS, is no longer dealing, with those within it’s 4 walls, no, it is dealing with those outside it. And, those…may or may not know our Lord. They may not know or agree with how things are to be handled Biblically. (Synod doesn’t remember either) Why should they? If our own officals forget themselves, and what the spew, how can we expect anything less from those in the world?
When we choose to play in the world’s playground, you must play by the rules of who owns the playground. When you give power & authority, to those who cannot manage, nor police/control themselves, this is the probable outcome. They have decided to not recall that whom they serve. Oh, that would be God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, & trust me, they have a very, very, long memory.
When the statement was made, “this isn’t your grandfather’s church”, if it isn’t our grandfathers, it could not possibly be or resemble anything past the 3nd generation? Bach, Luther, the Hymns, the Contatas, those beautiful German, Latin, French, pieces, that were written for God’s Glory are thrown over for what? CCM. Liturgy & matins, written for God’s Glory, thrown over for what? Borrowed & begged for CCW rewrites.
I, for one, do not want to see “pockets lined” when we continue to recall witnesses from foreign fields. Not for the likes of those who peddled this secretive contract, amonst other falsehoods. Not for the likes of those who peddle these falsehoods, as in the BRTFSSG props, that isn’t what me & mine worked for. We, worked & served for the glory of the Trinity Alone, what & who is it those who sit in offices in St Louis work for? Themselves.
Secrecy, once accepted, becomes an addiction. –Edward Teller
Todd,
How very well said!!!!! I would love & welcome the “ton o bricks” at this point. It would expose what needs to be amended or changed MUCH BETTER & WISER than anything this current Synod has peddled! I love how our Heavenly Father, the Perfect Parent, works!!!!
Fr. Rossow-
re: presidential controversy.
You might remember the horror of the Bohlmann administration with the unjust and sinful removal of Robert Preus as president of Ft. Wayne and members of the class of ’92 not receiving calls – “Those Confessional Guys”.
Ball
history repeats itself and that too is most certainly true
Good point Ball, but I would still say there is even more controversey connected with President Kieschnick’s administration.
But I could be wrong.
TR
Scriptural history is rife with examples of God bringing in foreign powers to knock Israel down a few pegs when they fell astray. This is certainly a play He can use today.
Another horror: Ex-President Bohlmann’s letter refuting President Barry’s advertisement that criticized the Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification. He claimed that President Barry did not speak for the LCMS.
It’s another controversy that Bohlmann was an honored guest of President Kieschnick on the stage several times at the 2007 convention.
Interestingly, I think Bohlmann’s name appears on one of the petitions to deny, doesn’t he?