I was extremely disheartened to hear the news that Issues, Etc. was canceled today. Broadcast from KFUO in St. Louis (owned by the LCMS) and syndicated nationwide, it was the voice of confessional Lutheranism on the airwaves and appreciated by others even outside of Lutheranism for its bold confession of the Gospel. Our congregation has supported the Sunday night Issues, Etc. broadcast on our local Christian radio station (KGNW 820 AM) here in the Puget Sound region for about 8 years now and it has been greatly appreciated by many. As a result, I have had phone calls from those who heard our ads during the broadcast over the years to our congregation expressing interest in Lutheran theology. I have sent them copies of the programs on CD which we receive here. I have recommended Lutheran congregations closer to them than our own congregation. Here's a video giving you information on who to contact to voice your displeasure.
2 comments:
All this hand-wring is fine and good, but now is the time for action.
For too many years confessional pastors have played a little game of, "Oh,things are so bad" and then sat back, checked out of decision making processes, isolated themselves to their little groups and blogs and mailing lists and e-mail clubs and mutually bewailed Synod's woes.
Now is the time for ACTION. Deeds, not merely creeds.
Our Synod has a process by which we can, and must,remove the elected leadership that is doing us all such a tremendous disservice and instead put men into office who will support, not harm, the cause of the Gospel in our Synod.
This incident should help underscore our vital it is to make a change in Synodical leadership.
It is time for a change!
Time to get busy.
Time to get 'er done!!
Remember 3/18/08!!
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Here is all sorts of contact information to tell people what you think about this, let them know how important Issues, Etc. was to us, and ask why the show was cancelled:
Rev. David L. Strand
Executive Director
Board for Communication
(314) 996-1200
(314) 822-0000
david.strand@lcms.org
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295
(888) 843-5267
(314) 965-9000
FAX: (314) 996-1016
infocenter@lcms.org
KFUO Radio Station
(314) 725-0099
(314) 725-3030
(314) 721-2969
Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick
Synod President
(314) 996-1402
(314) 842-7110
president@lcms.org
LC-MS Board of Directors
(314) 996-1350
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Meanwhile, an online petition has been started up about Issues, Etc. being ended. I don't know how much good it will do, but it should be able to do some. it certainly can't hurt to put your name down. Here's the link:
http://www.petitiononline.com/Issues/petition.html
For anyone who comes across this and has Facebook, the most discussion it seems is going on at the "Bring back Issues ETC!!!" Facebook group.
http://facebook.com/group.php?gid=11679316089
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Finally, financial help for the Schwarz and Wilken families can be sent to the following address. Just put in the memo line that it’s for the “Schwartz/Wilken Fund”. The Schwarzes especially need the help and Rev. Jack Schwarz's wife Beth has been recently diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy and they need to go to Mayo Clinic to try figuring out what can be done.
"Schwartz/Wilken Fund"
Saint Paul Lutheran Church
P.O. Box 247
Hamel, IL 62046
All help and all prayers are appreciated.
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I will be continuing to post information and resources relating
to the cancellation of Issues, Etc. and firing of Rev. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz. So, if you could please help me draw people to the resource of my blog, I would really appreciate it.
http://latinkid.blogspot.com/2008/03/pulled-from-air-issues-etc.html
God bless,
--Aaron Nemoyer
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