Tea Party Insurgence Ripples Through Missouri Synod Election
One of the largest pieces of business for delegates in Houston will be a proposed sweeping restructuring of the entire denomination that would consolidate some of the church's boards and commissions. "This is not," Kieschnick said, "a consolidation of power."
But Rossow and others see the proposed restructuring as exactly that. The proposals, he said, "centralize power in the synod office. That's not necessarily bigger government, but it's certainly stronger government."
Like all important elections, the presidential contest in Houston this July will determine the immediate direction that Missouri Synod Lutherans will take.
"There's a strong grass-roots movement that the synod can do much better in its life all the way around," Harrison said. "There's a strong sense of desire for a change of course.
Not surprisingly, Kieschnick sees things differently.
The fact that so few churches cast ballots, he said, means that people are largely satisfied with the job he's done, and out of that sense of satisfaction, they simply figure not voting will ensure the status quo.
"I've been a part of this church long enough to know that if someone in office is doing a very poor job, we'd have more than 30 percent of them weighing in," he said. "Call it apathy or satisfaction, but they see no need to make a change."
Tim Townsend writes for The St. Louis Post-Dispatch in St. Louis, Missouri.
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cynthia curran
The problem with modern evangelcalism is that many don't know that there are parts of the historical litguary that go back to almost new testement ties. I found this out by reading first clement and clement was probably written about the 90's A.D. Here's a quote, holy, holy. Lord of Saboath the whole creation is full of your Glory. This appears in most old Litguary in the 5th century like St James, St Mark and St Basil, and JOhn Chrysostom, which means orobably some part of it old. This is the prpblem with copying evangelical churches.
Zuko N
When some people think of TEA partiers, possibly including the author, they think "hard-working, freedom-loving Americans rallying against Big Government". When some see the words "TEA partiers", they think "Angry racial bigots who look down on the poor hiding behind patriotic rhetoric". Because that is the image it will conjure up for many readers, this article bears false witness against Harrison and his supporters. We would do much better to actually let Harrison speak for himself, as he does in "It's Time". It's impossible for anyone dislike the man- very concerned with extending God's mercy both in the comforting words of the Gospel as well as through tangible means, eager to have our different parties talk TO each other instead of ABOUT each other, and always a humble man. Although people often misuse the Bible verse about being all things to all people, this is the kind of situation it applies to. Let's drop the politically loaded language and talk about the real issues.
Sheldon M.
I think that being orthodox means that a church stays true to the Scriptures and the Creed. I don't think it means being true to the old hymnal, the organ, and the order of service. Hey, if Christ didn't use these things, I don't feel bound to use them either. Martin Luther's bar-song inspired hymns were once brand new and many dismissed Lutheranism as just a fad. As Luther did, some Lutheran churches use contemporary styles to convey the age-old truths of the orthodox faith.