By David S. Luecke

Personal sin we know how to handle. Or at least we think we do. Church sin is a stretch for most of us. When and how does a church sin? What calls for repentance?

German Lutherans used to know. Every Fall congregations observed a Day of Repentance.  The September 2003 issue of Jesus First presented excerpts from C. F. W. Walther’s sermon for that day in 1870 (Selected Sermons of C. F. W. Walther, CPH, 1981, pp.155-163).

Going Forward or Backward?

The reference point was whether a congregation (or Synod) has gone forward or backward in respect, first, to faith in God and, second, to love of the neighbor.

The question of church sin is freshly on the agenda of the LCMS because of an accusation of sin made at the Theological Conference of the Pacific Southwest District in February, 2004.  Second Vice- President Wallace Schulze charged that President Gerald Kieschnick sinned by approving Atlantic District President David Benke’s participation in the memorial at Yankee Stadium after the September 11, 2001 tragedy. When he made that decision, Jerry Kieschnick was acting as the elected spiritual head of this church body. There is very strong evidence that the vast majority of the church body approve of his action. If he sinned, we sinned.

Leadership Failures of Pastors

Now President Kieschnick would be the first to step up to his responsibility to humble himself and repent of failings of his leadership. He has called for the whole church body to join him in repentance and prayer for renewal.

There isn’t a pastor alive who does not fail  repeatedly in application of Law and Gospel to specific   individuals or church circumstances. The failures may be due, for instance, to lack of discernment, too little   initiative, faulty vision or insufficient courage.

Church leadership is an awesome responsibility.  It’s amazing the Lord of the church entrusts his     treasure to the clay pots we all remain. Thank God for his promise of grace and mercy also to those he calls to leadership in his church.

Consider why, however, the judgment exercised by President Kieschnick in the matter of President Benke’s prayer was not faulty or sinful.

This Approval Was Not Faulty

His approval was direct application of principles and guidelines for practice of church fellowship that emerged from wide spread, very public district participation.  The formulation of guidelines was developed and affirmed—unanimously—by this church’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations.  Jerry Kieschnick himself had led that commission and knew first hand the intent of the church in this matter.

Church process does not get any better than this.  The best human protection we have against faulty church judgment is the collective wisdom of well informed colleagues who have studied together the relevant Scripture.

To use Walther’s reference point, the Yankee Stadium prayer was a step forward in very visible expression of love.  It was also a step forward in the faith that this witness was indeed Scripturally based and God-affirmed.

Thank God for courageous church leadership.  Pray now that the convention will find the courage to stop the many steps backwards the LCMS has been making in so many other areas of its mission.