Necessary Roughness

The LCMS International Center was the site of a silent vigil calling to attention the lack of openness concerning the termination of the LCMS national radio ministry “Issues, Etc.” The St. Louis Post-Dispatch was there to interview and take pictures, and an article appeared this morning. Augsburg1530 reports that two synodical employees came out to take names of the people at the vigil, but nobody appeared representing synodical publications. About 75 participated for two hours during the day holding signs.

The previous night, an Evening Prayer service was held at Emmaus Lutheran Church in St. Louis. 201 people attended.

Four Missouri Synod districts have passed resolutions thanking Pr. Wilken and Jeff Schwarz for Issues, Etc., and asking the LCMS to reinstate the program: Central Illinois District, South Dakota District, South Wisconsin District, and Southern Illinois District.

Finally, the Issues, Etc., petition has broken 7100 signatures and continues to increase.

There is still more to come. The word seems to be that Pastor Wilken and Jeff Schwarz were fired by the Executive Director for the Board for Communication Services, without the knowledge of the rest of the Board. That Board meets on Thursday and Friday, and I hope we have some more clarity of the situation.

Please pray for the Board, for Director Strand, for LCMS President Kieschnick, and finally for Pastor Wilken and Schwarz, that this wrong may be made right and the value of “talk radio for the thinking Christian” re-evaluated for the rare treasure that it is.