Why Missouri Stood Alone

Ken McGuire

In 1922, to celebrate its 75th anniversary, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod released a book covering many aspects of its history.  LC-MS is infamous for being standoffish, and this has led to some bad press, especially from a press that does not know where we come from.  This is not a new concern.

And so one of the essays included is an explanation for why it was necessary.  Yes, there are other sides to these debates.  I know that.  But Missouri has actually taken the effort to explain themselves quite often, and in my experience has been generally sad when there was so little common ground, as well as much rejoicing when common ground is found.

For Missouri members - hear one of our fathers proclaiming how our isolation is to clearly proclaim the Gospel - not just because we are standofish.  For Non-Missouri Lutherans - try to hear how sad and shocked we have been that there has been this painful separation.  For Non-Lutherans - try to hear how our wierd "distictinves" are there...

SDG

Ken McGuire

NB.Mick

Thanks a lot, Ken, for making this available. 

I'm glad to learn a bit of American Lutheran church history - after all, we often need to know where people come from to understand where they are now. To me it seems, the LCMS fathers joined Luther where he sat at the end of the Marburg colloquium with the Zwinglians. I can appreciate that and I understand why they could not form a union with others (or others with them).

But then again, how to proceed in unity if everybody sits in the trenches some people dug hundred of years ago? A very interesting question. Maybe we can follow this up in our Faithlife group (as it fits there better than here, according to forum rules).

 

Jack Caviness

Thank you, Kenneth. Although not Lutheran of any persuasion, this should be interesting.

I belong to another standoffish group—Baptist, with a definite Independent streak [:D].

Milford Charles Murray

Kenneth McGuire said:

For Missouri members - hear one of our fathers proclaiming how our isolation is to clearly proclaim the Gospel - not just because we are standofish.

Thanks, Ken!                               to clearly proclaim the Gospel!!!!               Yes!                      That's what Missouri is for me!

Peace to you!                       ... and ....         Always Joy in the Lord!                      *smile*

Friedrich

Ken, my unity movement of the Christian Church split off into 3 main streams with several factions splintered off of them as well.  We still had good ideals and have good things to offer the wider church.  can't wait for heaven to REALLY unite.

I live here in St. Louis, so I'm in Mecca, so to speak.  Thanks for the .docx.