pastor suspended for associating with pagans

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Lutheran pastor suspended over interfaith meet

Missouri Synod wants apology for meeting with 'pagan clerics'

Alan Cooperman, Washington Post

Saturday, July 6, 2002

A high-ranking Lutheran pastor has been suspended from his duties and ordered to apologize to all Christians for participating with Muslims, Jews, Sikhs and Hindus in an interfaith prayer service in New York's Yankee Stadium after Sept. 11.

Supporters of the Rev. David Benke say he will appeal his suspension as a district president -- the equivalent of a bishop -- in the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod, which has 2.6 million members and is the 10th-largest church in the United States.

If he does not apologize or appeal by Wednesday, he will automatically be removed from the Missouri Synod's clergy.

"By President Benke's joining with other pagan clerics in an interfaith service (no matter what the intent might have been), a crystal clear signal was given to others at the event and to thousands more watching by C-Span. The signal was: While there may be differences as to how people worship or pray, in the end, all religions pray to the same God," the Rev. Wallace Schulz, the Missouri Synod's national second vice president, wrote in the suspension letter.

"To participate with pagans in an interfaith service and, additionally, to give the impression that there might be more than one God, is an extremely serious offense against the God of the Bible," Schulz added.

Twenty-one Missouri Synod pastors and congregations filed charges against Benke because of his participation in the Sept. 23 Prayer for America. The televised service, whose host was Oprah Winfrey, brought together New York's Cardinal Edward Egan, other Christian ministers, Sikh and Hindu holy men, imams, rabbis and civic leaders.

The ruling against Benke illustrates the growing tension between two major trends in American religion: ecumenical or interfaith efforts, which have been bolstered by President Bush's calls for tolerance since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and back-to-tradition or "renewal" movements, which have taken hold among Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Methodists as well as Lutherans.

While the interfaith efforts emphasize common values, the renewal movements emphasize theological differences.

The charges against Benke included "unionism" -- mixing the beliefs of various Christian denominations -- as well as "syncretism" -- mixing Christian and non-Christian views. Both are forbidden by the 1847 constitution of the Missouri Synod, which is based in St. Louis and is the country's second- largest Lutheran group, after the 5.1 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

"The principle is, you don't want to do anything that would compromise the gospel of Jesus Christ," said the Rev. David Mahsman, editor of the Missouri Synod's newspaper, the Lutheran Witness. "The question is, does participating in an interfaith service after September 11th do that? Benke would say no. In fact, it honors Christ and shows that Lutherans are concerned about the well- being of the entire community. Others would say it placed Christ on an equal footing with Allah and Vishnu and whatever gods are involved."

In February, after a bout of negative publicity over the charges, the synod's board of directors barred Benke, the complainants and all other parties to the dispute from talking about it. But Missouri Synod members, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the charges are viewed as an attack not only on Benke but also on the synod's national president, the Rev. Gerald Kieschnick, a moderate who was elected last year.

Before the gag order went into effect, Kieschnick said in an interview that he gave Benke permission to attend the interfaith service. He cited a decision by the synod last year to allow pastors to participate in civic events as long as they are free to express their religious view.

Formal accusations of syncretism have been filed against Kieschnick, too. But a church panel ruled that he answers only to the full synod, which convenes every three years. In the meantime, both Kieschnick and his first vice president recused themselves from ruling on Benke, which is why the case fell to Schulz.

In his letter suspending Benke as president of the church's New York district, Schulz stressed that even though the pastor had permission to join the prayer service, "you are still accountable for your own actions."

Benke's deputy, the Rev. Charles Froehlich, who has temporarily taken over Benke's duties, wrote Schulz that the decision "contains inaccuracies and intentional omissions" and "reflects the author's preconceived bias." He also expressed confidence that Benke would win his appeal, which goes first to a three-member panel and then to a five-member panel, a process that could take six months or more.



-- Cherri (whatever@who.cares), July 06, 2002

Answers

Islamic Sheikh suspended over interfaith meet

Taliban synod wants apology for meeting with 'pagan clerics'

Alan Cooperman, Washington Post

Saturday, July 6, 2002

A high-ranking Sunni Sheikh has been suspended from his duties and ordered to apologize to all Muslims for participating with Christians, Jews, Sikhs and Hindus in an interfaith prayer service in New York's Yankee Stadium after Sept. 11.

Sheikh Yoor Bhout's's deputy, Sheikh It Up Baby, who has temporarily taken over Yoor Bhouty's duties, wrote Schulz that the decision "contains inaccuracies and intentional omissions" and "reflects the author's preconceived bias." He also expressed confidence that Yoor Bhouty would win his appeal, which goes first to a three-member panel and then to a five-member panel, a process that could take six months or more. Taliban Synod, which has 2.6 million members and is the 10th-largest mosque in the United States.

If he does not apologize or appeal by Wednesday, he will automatically be removed from the Taliban Synod's clergy.

"By President Yoor Bhouty's's joining with other pagan clerics in an interfaith service (no matter what the intent might have been), a crystal clear signal was given to others at the event and to thousands more watching by C-Span. The signal was: While there may be differences as to how people worship or pray, in the end, all religions pray to the same Allah," Mullah Omar, the Taliban Synod's national second vice president, wrote in the suspension letter.

"To participate with pagans in an interfaith service and, additionally, to give the impression that there might be more than one Allah, is an extremely serious offense against the Allah of the Quuuu'ran," Mullah Omar added.

Twenty-one Taliban Synod Sheikhs and congregations filed charges against Yoor Bhouty because of his participation in the Sept. 23 Prayer for Amerikkka. The televised service, whose host was Oprah Winfrey, brought together New York's Cardinal Edward Egan, other Christian ministers, Sikh and Hindu holy men, imams, rabbis and civic leaders.

The ruling against Yoor Bhouty illustrates the growing tension between two major trends in Islamic religion: ecumenical or interfaith efforts, which have been bolstered by President Bush's calls for tolerance since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and fundamentalist movements, which have taken hold among Sunnis, Shiites, Sufis and Dervishes.

While the interfaith efforts emphasize common values, the renewal movements emphasize theological differences.

The charges against Yoor Bhouty included "unionism" -- mixing the beliefs of various Islamic denominations -- as well as "mongrelism" -- mixing Islamic and non-Islamic views. Both are forbidden by the 1997 constitution of the Taliban Synod, which is based in Dearborn MI and is the country's second- largest Islamic group, after the 5.1 million-member Sunni Fun-Fellowship in America.

"The principle is, you don't want to do anything that would compromise the gospel of Mohammed," said the Iman bin Biden, editor of the Taliban Synod's newspaper, The Gang-Rape Your Sister Witness. "The question is, does participating in an interfaith service after September 11th do that? Yoor Bhouty would say no. In fact, it honors Mohammed and shows that Sunnis are concerned about the well- being of the entire community. Others would say it placed Mohammed on an equal footing with God and Vishnu and whatever gods are involved."

In February, after a bout of negative publicity over the charges, the synod's board of directors barred Yoor Bhouty, the complainants and all other parties to the dispute from talking about it. But Taliban Synod members, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the charges are viewed as an attack not only on Yoor Bhouty but also on the synod's national president, Sheikh It-Up-Baby, a moderate who was elected last year.

Before the gag order went into effect, It-Up-Baby said in an interview that he gave Yoor Bhouty permission to attend the interfaith service. He cited a decision by the synod last year to allow Sheikhs to participate in civic events as long as they are free to express their religious view.

Formal accusations of mongrelism have been filed against It-Up-Baby, too. But a mosque panel ruled that he answers only to the full synod, which convenes every three years. In the meantime, both IUB and his first vice president recused themselves from ruling on Yoor Bhouty, which is why the case fell to Schulz.

In his letter suspending Yoor Bhouty as president of the Mosque's's New York district, Schulz stressed that even though the pastor had permission to join the prayer service, "you are still accountable for your own actions."

Yoor Bhouty's deputy, Sheikh Rattle n Roll, who has temporarily taken over Yoor Bhout's's duties, wrote Schulz that the decision "contains inaccuracies and intentional omissions" and "reflects the author's preconceived bias." He also expressed confidence that Yoor Bhouty would win his appeal, which goes first to a three-member panel and then to a five-member panel, a process that could take six months or more.

The final decision is absolute. Whiners will be stoned.

-- (BS detector@Unk's.Saloon), July 06, 2002.


I think that the real issue that the Lutherans have with him is that they found out that he has been posting here under the name of Lars.

So, not only was he associating with pagans, he was espousing some pretty paganish stuff himself.

-- Jack Booted Thug (governmentconspiracy@NWO.com), July 06, 2002.


I'm not a pagan, I'm a vegan.

-- (lars@indy.net), July 06, 2002.

Lars, my wife is also a vegan.

-- dr. pibb (drpibb@new.formula), July 07, 2002.

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