To the Leaders of the Missouri Synod:

I’m not a theologian, but perhaps the answers to the crisis and growing division in our church (surrounding the issue of Dr. David Benke’s suspension) can be found in the life of Jesus:

Jesus said that the greatest commandment of all was to love God with all your heart, and to love your neighbor as yourself. He admonished us not to sit in judgment of others. He preached repentance and forgiveness. He was intolerant of religious laws that stood in the way of caring and compassion. He spent time teaching and healing among people of all kinds, many of them on the fringes of society.   He disliked public displays of piety. When he prayed, he preferred to pray in solitude, not in open places. He spoke very little about prayer specifically, but when asked about it he shared the short and simple prayer of petition that we know of today as the Lord’s Prayer.

I hope this will be helpful.

Sincerely,

Bernie Schaeffer

Chairman of the Elders

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Goleta, California