CHAIRMAN OF SYNOD’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TAKES ISSUE WITH SYNOD IN REMARKS TO CONFESSIONAL FORUM
Dr.
Robert Kuhn, chairman of the LCMS Board of Directors, was the
sole speaker at a “Confessional Lutheran Forum” that took
place at Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, Illinois on
Saturday, January 22, 2005.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, Dr.
Kuhn’s prepared remarks were recorded (as well as an hour
long question and answer session that followed).
Trinity, Springfield subsequently posted Dr. Kuhn’s
remarks on its web site.
His remarks are available for downloading at:
http://trinity-lutheran.com/forum.htm
In
the following article, notes in parentheses indicate the time
(minute and second) in the presentation when the specific
remarks can be heard.
The LCMS
Board of Directors Policy Manual states in its Self-Governance
Policies the following:
“All
activities of the Board, its officers, committees or
individual members shall be in accordance with (1) the
Constitution, Bylaws, and convention resolutions of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and (2) applicable Federal
and State laws.” Dr.
Robert Kuhn is an officer of the board as well as an
individual member. He
is, therefore, bound to act “in accordance with the
Constitution, Bylaws, and convention resolutions” of the
LCMS.
One
would think that the chairman of the Board would not
publicly call into question and publicly disagree with
convention resolutions. But
Dr. Kuhn did exactly that as he publicly took issue with
Resolution 8-01A which was adopted at the last convention.
In the Question and Answer part of the January 22
presentation Dr. Kuhn said, “If you think of what happened
in reference to section 8-01 of the Handbook, where only
district presidents and synodical presidents can file charges
now, to me, that has just cut the congregation right out.
And if I were you folks, I’d raise up my hands and
say, ‘Enough is enough!’
Because you don’t have that opportunity that you had
before. I – I
just – I cannot imagine how 8-01 even got passed – just
cannot. But it
did.” (59:08 of Q&A)
In
addition, Dr. Kuhn encouraged the congregations of the Central
Illinois District to “bring a resolution to the Central
Illinois District convention to memorialize Synod to correct
the error that was made” when the Synodical convention
adopted Resolution 7-02A. (23:00 of Presentation) (7-02A
amended the Synod’s Articles of Incorporation and bylaws in
order to clarify the authority of the Board of Directors.)
One
would think that the chairman of the Board would not
publicly call into question the integrity of The Lutheran
Witness – Reporter. But
Dr. Kuhn did exactly that when he said, “If it’s about the
Board of Directors and it’s in the Lutheran Witness
Reporter, contact the Board of Directors – ‘Did this
really happen? Is
this really what the result was?
Is this really what was said? Etc., etc.’ Now
you’ve got the facts and then you can decide, ‘How are we
going to react to it.”
(41:20 of Q&A)
Earlier Dr. Kuhn had said, in reference to the Board of
Directors in the last triennium, “I know a lot – probably
three-fourths – of the information that came out about the
Board of Directors was not true.”
(40:40 of Q&A)
One
would think that the chairman of the Board would not
publicly encourage the withholding of offerings of
congregations from the Synod.
During the Q & A, a pastor indicated that he could
no longer ask his people to financially support the Synod.
This pastor went on to bemoan what he perceived to be
the improper actions and attitudes of many of the Synod’s
District Presidents. This pastor said, “This organization called Missouri –
unless there is some kind of a rainstorm that knocks out a
couple hundred people . . .” (48:00 of Q&A)
Dr. Kuhn’s response to these remarks were:
“All I can say to that is – you’re just right on
target. . . I think what you said was just a very valid point.
. . I resonate with what you say.”
(49:15 of Q&A)
One
would think that the chairman of the Board would not
belittle the voting delegates to the 2004 convention, but he
did when he said “I sense that the delegates came and did
not want to listen to anything.
They did not want information; they wanted to vote and
get the thing over with and go home.” (25:13 of Q&A)
Of course, what Dr. Kuhn did not say was that the Board
of Directors was given the unprecedented opportunity of
holding an open hearing prior to the convention in order to
share information; and that the Board had already shared pages
and pages of information with all the convention delegates
through pre-convention mailings.
One
would think that the chairman of the Board would not
encourage someone to file suit against the Synod.
But while Dr. Kuhn said he was in a conundrum as to
whether or not the Board of Directors itself should bring a
lawsuit against the Synod, he went on to say, “Now if
somebody else were to file the suit, that could be done.”
(13:55 of Q&A)
One
would think that since the decision of a synodical dispute
resolution panel is “final,” the chairman of the Board
would not continue to publicly criticize the actions of
Atlantic District President David Benke in Yankee Stadium
three and a half years ago.
But Dr. Kuhn did so at great length in his presentation
(beginning at 33:50 of the Presentation).
He prefaced his remarks concerning Dr. Benke and the
Yankee Stadium event by saying, “What I am going to say is
my opinion and I’m not really guilty of violating the eighth
commandment because I’ve spoken with those brothers
already.” (34:20
of Presentation) Perhaps
Dr. Kuhn was not really violating the eighth commandment.
But the BOD Policy Manual states at 5.7.1.2 “The
Board encourages Christ's people serving as board members,
officers and staffs who differ with their brothers and sisters
to pursue the course of harmony, peace and unity in keeping
with the mind of Christ, not
publicizing these differences, but using the scriptural
and fraternal principles of loving Christian counsel or
admonition.” So
why is the chairman of the Board publicizing his differences
with Dr. Benke, especially since the Dispute Resolution Panel
has spoken and Dr. Kieschnick publicly pronounced absolution
to Dr. Benke during his official report to the convention?
Concerning
the Benke issue, Dr. Kuhn said, “The whole matter could have
been reviewed and restudied by convention action this past
summer, but it was resolved to support the earlier
decision.” (37:50 of Presentation)
Later in the Q&A time Dr. Kuhn said, “The
convention is the final authority.”
(8:58 of Q&A)
If the convention is the final authority, and if the
convention “resolved to support the earlier decision,” why
does Dr. Kuhn continue to publicly criticize Dr. Benke?
I would
encourage you to download Dr. Kuhn’s remarks and listen to
them for yourself. If
you are inclined to do so, email him at rtkuhn@cfl.rr.com.
And then ask yourself, “Should this man continue to
serve on Synod’s Board of Directors?”
Jim Rogers
Chesterfield
MO
