|
|
Lutheran Central |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office of the President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Memo
T
o: LCMS District Presidents
From:
President Gerald B. Kieschnick
Date:
June 27, 2002
Re:
A District President on Suspended Status
Dear Brothers in Christ:
In conformity with my Constitutional and Bylaw responsibilities as his ecclesiastical supervisor, I am hereby writing to inform you of the specific implications of the suspended status of Dr. David H. Benke. Due to my absence from the office for the next several days, I’m sending this communication to you prior to my leaving St. Louis early Friday morning, June 28.
By the time you read this memo, you hopefully will have received or soon will receive official notification from Rev. Charles W. Froehlich, First Vice President of the Atlantic District, of Dr. Benke’s suspended status. A ruling of the Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters has charged Rev. Froehlich with the responsibility of notifying “in writing, the President of the Synod and all other District Presidents of the affected member’s suspended status” (Bylaw 2.25 d. 2.).
As you will recall, Second Vice President Wallace Schulz was charged on
January 30, 2002, by majority vote of the LCMS Vice Presidents with the
responsibility to “thoroughly investigate
whether the allegations”
against Dr. Benke in connection with his participation in an event at Yankee
Stadium on September 23, 2001, could be substantiated
and whether they “could lead to the
expulsion of a member from the Synod under Article XIII of the Constitution”
(Bylaw 2.27 a. and g.). Vice President
Schulz, in his letter to Dr. Benke of June 25, 2002,
has declared that Dr. Benke should have suspended status, and has informed
Dr. Benke of his right within a 15-day period
“to advise
the Secretary of the Synod that there is a desire to have the matter heard
and resolved”
(Bylaw 2.27 c. 2. c.).
Synodical Bylaw 2.25 addresses the duties, responsibilities and eligibilities
of a member of the Synod while on suspended status:
c. An individual member of the Synod on suspended status shall
1. be relieved of duties as a member of the Synod (e.g.,
as a delegate to a District or synodical convention, as a member of any
District or synodical board or commission); 2. be relieved of the duties and responsibilities which the member holds with the Synod, District, or other agency of the Synod;
3. be ineligible to accept a call to any other position of
service in the Synod;
4. continue to be eligible to perform those duties and responsibilities
of any other position held by the member, including a position with a member
congregation, which such member held at the time when placed on suspended
status.
Accordingly, as indicated in Bylaw 2.25 b.,
“until membership is duly terminated or the formal proceedings are completed
favorably to the member…”, Dr. Benke is relieved of his duties
and responsibilities as Atlantic District President, as a member of the
Atlantic District Board of Directors and of the Board of Regents of Concordia
University, Bronxville. He continues
to be eligible to perform his duties and responsibilities as Pastor of St.
Peter Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, NY.
Again, in conformity with my Constitutional and Bylaw responsibilities,
I plan to travel to New York to visit with the Atlantic District Board of
Directors, the Concordia University, Bronxville, Board of Regents and the
members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Brooklyn.
The purpose of this trip will be to encourage these members of
the Synod, to demonstrate love and support for them during this stressful
time, to be certain they understand the process of appeal available to Dr.
Benke and to assure them of the love and support of the members of the Synod
and of the Council of Presidents.
Please remember that visit, tentatively scheduled for July 11-12, in your
prayers.
And while you’re at it, please remember Dave and Judy, as well as the other
leaders and members of the Atlantic District, Concordia, Bronxville, and
St. Peter Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, in your prayers.
Obviously, this is a matter of grave concern and vital importance.
Members of the Synod in your District have already asked many of
you about this matter. All of you
will sooner or later receive inquiries and opinions about the impact of
this case on the public perception of the LCMS, its mission and ministry.
Our Synod will undoubtedly be criticized and stereotyped by both
the informed and the uninformed.
In the days, weeks, months and years ahead, I evangelically and strongly
encourage you to be patient with the process that has been established to
“provide protection for congregations,
pastors, teachers, and other church workers in the performance of their
official duties and the maintenance of their rights” (LCMS Constitution
Article III. 9.).
I further encourage you to provide steady but bold leadership of the ordained,
commissioned and congregational members of the Synod in your District to
keep their eyes focused on the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of
the world and Lord of the universe.
Remember the mission!
“In grateful response to God’s
grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the
mission of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known
the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and
the world.”
God's grace and peace be with you all!
C:
Judy Benke
Terry Kieschnick
St. Peter Lutheran Church, Brooklyn, NY
Atlantic District Board of Directors
Rev. Charles W. Froehlich,
First Vice President, Atlantic District
Dr. Viji D. George, President, Concordia University, Bronxville
Board of Regents, Concordia University, Bronxville
LCMS Past Presidents, District Presidents and Vice Presidents
LCMS Board of Directors
LCMS Vice Presidents
LCMS Board Executive Directors
LCMS Commission Executive Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
