Kieschnick Letter - A Failed Presidency

The long overdue public response from Pres. Kieschnick to the Issues, Etc. scandal is a testimony to the utter failure of his administration.  The synodical president fails to take leadership responsibility for the decisions made under his watch, fails to acknowledge the outrage expressed in 7200 signatures on the petition, fails to acknowledge the personal harm caused to Pr. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz, and fails to recognize that this action has contributed to the divisiveness he so decries within the synod.  At least, the letter acknowledges that his failed fiscal policies have not only caused the cancellation of Issues, Etc. but are causing the recall of deployed missionaries from the field.

With all due respect, we offer this analysis and commentary:

A decision to discontinue “Issues, Etc.” on KFUO AM Radio was made March 18, 2008, Tuesday of Holy Week, for fiscal reasons described in statements issued after the decision became public. At the April 21, 2008, meeting of the Council of Presidents (COP) of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, financial details precipitating this decision were discussed in executive session by Mr. David Strand, Executive Director of the LCMS Board for Communication Services (BCS), with specific fiscal information provided by the Vice-President-Finance—Treasurer of the Synod, Dr. Thomas Kuchta. The decision was made solely by Mr. Strand after consultation with the chairman of the BCS, Mr. Dennis Clauss, with whom I subsequently spoke over the phone regarding this matter. KFUO Radio is a ministry under the umbrella of the Board for Communication Services.

Comment:  "A decision...was made."  The choice of the passive voice is interesting.  It makes it sound as though this decision was beyond anyone's control.  The "fiscal reasons" have been analyzed elsewhere on this site.

Comment:  "in executive session" - This ensures that the details of this discussion are never presented to the public.

Comment:  Mr. David Strand is held solely responsible for the decision.  He consulted Mr. Dennis Clauss, the chairman of the BCS, who then spoke with Pres. Kieschnick.  This means that Pres. Kieschnick was fully apprised of the decision and its timing.   The last sentence seems to indicate that Pres. Kieschnick has no authority whatsoever regarding the BCS, and could not even counsel or strongly urge a different course of action.

Prior to its implementation, Mr. Strand also informed me as president of the Synod of his decision. I regret that I did not counsel Mr. Strand to postpone implementation of the decision until sometime other than Holy Week. It is obvious that the timing and process connected with the discontinuation of the program have contributed to the disappointment expressed by listeners and supporters of “Issues, Etc.” in and beyond the Synod. Human Resources policies, compliance with applicable employment regulations, the process of implementation of reduction in force, accompanying severance and outplacement considerations, etc., do not allow the sharing of details about this matter. I am deeply saddened by the anxiety, worry, and consternation experienced in the Synod by those directly and indirectly affected by the decision.

Comment:  "I regret that I did not counsel Mr. Strand..."  This is a significant failure of leadership.  In this sentence, Pres. Kieschnick indicates that he had the power to counsel and failed to do so.  He seems completely unaware of the exact nature of the outrage and thinks it has to do only with the fact that it happened in Holy Week.  Holy Week simply amplified the outrage.  The outcry is over the cancellation of a "mission and ministry" of the LCMS for financial reasons during the peak of its fund raising efforts as millions of dollars are being spent on high-priced consultants and given to congregations whose teachings and practices fail to meet the confessional standards of the LCMS.

Comment:  "Human Resources policies, compliance...."  Does this include a blanket gag order on the severance package?  Resorting to left-hand language of law and business in a pastoral letter from the synodical president is an utter failure of pastoral example and leadership.

Comment:  "I am deep saddened by the anxiety, worry, and consternation...."  This shows a failure to listen.  If there is "anxiety," it is over the theological and financial condition of the LCMS.  If there is "worry," it is over the fact that a Lutheran confessional voice that was heard worldwide has been silenced.  If there is "consternation," it is over the intrusion of seeker-sensitive, purpose-driven methodologies into a "confessional and orthodox" synod of churches.

Some have interpreted the decision to discontinue “Issues, Etc.” as being theological or political in nature or purpose. Such interpretations have no basis in fact.

Comment:  Stone-walled denial does not constitute proof.  This essentially calls all who question this decision liars and slanderers.  The reason such speculations continue is the failure of the Kieschnick administration to be completely transparent to the churches to which it is accountable.

As president of the Synod, I respectfully request and pastorally encourage all in the Synod to be patient and charitable regarding this matter, putting the best construction on actions and decisions connected therewith. I pray for the day when the financial resources of our Synod do not necessitate the reduction in force of radio personnel, the return of missionaries from the foreign mission field, or any other such difficult and painful decisions. And I pray for peace and harmony in our beloved Synod.

Comment:  This is a misuse of the 8th commandment.  The 8th commandment forbids us to speak ill of persons.  It does not forbid constructive criticism of public actions in public office.  What use is the call for patience when the administration is simply engaged in patient stonewalling?

Comment:  "I pray for the day when the financial resources of our Synod do not necessitate...."  This is an admission of a failed fiscal policy that has driven the synod into debt, has caused it to borrow against its own funds, including designated world relief funds, has caused the cancellation of Issues, Etc. and the RETURN OF MISSIONARIES FROM THE FOREIGN MISSION FIELD! 

How many missionaries have been recalled since 2001, the year Pres. Kieschnick was elected?  How many missionaries are going to be recalled this fiscal year? 

How does a synod justify spending millions of dollars on high-priced consultants, giving large sums of money to congregations who set up "Satan billboards" (though not necessarily with those very dollars), while canceling a leading apologetic and evangelistic radio broadcast and recalling deployed missionaries from the field?

Comments

[Adam Earthling]

I pray for the day when the church's money is not stolen by bureaucracies and consultants.

[Paula]

excellent comments on Kieschnick's bureaucrat-speak. My thoughts exactly.