A Team of Rivals 
Presidents Past and Present Instill Hope

 

By Charles S. Mueller, Sr.

     Doris Goodwin’s acclaimed recent book, A Team of Rivals, tells how Abraham Lincoln formed his first presidential cabinet. Key roles went to men who had run against him in the Republican primary. Any of them, many believed, had more presidential potential than that gangly Illinois rail-splitter. But with patience and great skill Lincoln molded them—and others from opposing political groups—into an effective team able to face some of the most frightening moments and complex issues in American history.

     Reading Goodwin’s book, I thought of today’s Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), complete with rivals who think it right  to pummel others in the name of Jesus, defending their theological or ecclesiastical positions. Words are loveless. Conduct is rude. And it’s not just one group. There’s shame enough for all on the bell curve. Nor is this new.  In the ‘70s I saw the same things happening. How did any of us make it through that maelstrom with a positive sense of Synod somewhat intact?

     I’ve weathered the storms because my mother and father taught me by word and example to refuse to bear the burden of hating another or of needing to lampoon others, even those with whom I had clear differences. As a result, I respected and gave the best support I was able to each synodical President under whom I have served.

Is an Effective LCMS Team Possible?

     Sad to say, some in LCMS circles are so meanspirited that I sometimes wonder if an effective biblical and confessional LCMS team can ever be gathered and empowered from such intense rivals. Thankfully, examples embedded in our past give me hope. A careful reading of LCMS history (as opposed to myth) shows that a remarkable man, C. F. W. Walther, supported by many others, gathered a team of historic rivals much the same as Abraham Lincoln—only a quarter century earlier. Both men had figured out what 21^st century group dynamic specialists teach: To be fully effective, every “team” must move through four phases: form, storm, norm and perform. One thing more. They will be stuck at any step they cannot successfully complete.

Form

     The LCMS that formed in 1847 was a vocationally diverse, first generation immigrant group (largely Germanic) with strong convictions on a wide variety of subjects, formed into mostly small churches. It survived while adapting to incredible change by clinging to the Scriptures and the core doctrine of justification by grace through faith—and by practicing the art of persuasion. Walther said as much in his inaugural presidential address.

Storms and Norms

     The LCMS path from 1847 to 2006 has been peppered with useful, but not meanspirited storming. We have faced issues and worked them out, generating mutually acceptable norms. For example, we shifted to English and changed our position on woman suffrage, Boy Scouts and dancing. Some still want to storm about those issues, but most of us have accepted new norms and are moving on to the happy world of performing in new ways. For nearing 160 years we’ve managed to move from form to storm to norm to perform without shredding our family bond. Will this continue?

Current Storms

     We differ on worship, clericalism, congregational rights and synodical polity.  These differences raise important questions: Must every difference end in a no-holds-barred fight? Is every variant stance a reason to splinter?  Must everyone conform on every issue?  That’s not how it was in our LCMS past. We were often a team of rivals. Rivals on some issues? Yes! A team, nonetheless? Double yes!

     We need that spirit today to break the bondage of cantankerousness that consumes us. We need to be the redemptive community for which our 21^st century moment cries out, the kind of believers in Christ that an ever growing majority of our members want to be and that Scripture urges us to be.

A President for Our Time

     What might hinder us from doing so? Extremism. When extremists—any extremists—kick into action we mire down in meanness as feuds and fighting rumble on.  After 50 or more years of crippling LCMS controversy two things are clear to me: First, no one can resolve extremists’ endless issues and, second, extremists have neither way nor will to help us with our concerns. Extremism is dysfunctional.

     But we can support our current synodical President who, like Lincoln and Walther, has a history of being both courageous and kind in the face of contentiousness. While facing unhappy folks within the LCMS family, he has still managed to fan the mission flame.

     I support President Kieschnick as he continues reaching out to rivals, wanting us all to become the team The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod needs to be in our day. It can happen!