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