Dear Christian Brothers:
I know that you have heard from many in response to the current controversy
in our church. I have hesitated in my response for three reasons:
1. You have heard from many, including my wife Irene, with whom I
agree and who have been very eloquent in their message of support.
2. I am a bit of a refugee from controversy, having been involved
as a young man in the early seventies. This was not a positive experience
for me.
3. I wasn't sure that I had a message that wasn't already being adequately
covered.
We have discussed this situation extensively here at Christ Memorial in
Malvern, PA. Members of our staff, our lay leadership and our members
have questions. I do not believe that these questions have been adequately
addressed by synod. This painfully reminds me of the actions that split
synod in the 70's. Then as now the people in the pulpit were not satisfied
with the answers explaining synodical actions.
As I work with organizations as a management consultant I stress several
points critical to success. There are two of these which we must
not ignore in this period in our church:
1. Stay on mission
2. Stay focused on your customer
1. What is our mission? How can we learn more about how God
is working among us so we can join him in his work? Respectfully, I
must say that if our mission continues to be compromised by situational legalism
and personal attacks then we are not on mission. And painfully,
this lack of mission focus is most apparent to the unchurched to whom Jesus
has sent us. This is not a church which I can support.
2. a. Who is our customer? As a church leader these are everyone affected
by the work I do. This includes people now in the pew and those not.
The current attacks against Pastor Benke would suggest that those not in
the pew should be ignored because they somehow might contaminate us.
Perhaps the accusers aren't spending enough time among these new and future
Christians and don't realize how the Spirit blesses us with their energy,
questions and enthusiasm. I suggest we should thank God for the opportunity
He gave Dave Benke at Yankee Stadium and ask to be given that same chance
ourselves.
2. b. What are our customers telling us? To be fair I know that
we have a variety of inputs from those in the pew. Not everyone feels
the same way about this situation. And I appreciate that synodical
administration must listen and Pastor to a wide range of views.
But let me give you some input from some of our new members at Christ Memorial.
These folks have come to our church as people searching for the healing
love of Christ, often as shown to their children and spouse. We have
spread our arms and opened our doors wide for these people. Their response
has been to invite their family, friends and neighbors. They are coming
to love the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Why? They love our
church because we preach the word of God and aren't afraid to do so in public.
We must not take any action against a Pastor like Dave Benke for doing that
very thing. That would be rejecting the very message which I believe
God put us here to spread.
You are in my prayers.
Joel McFadden
