Minnesota Has Issues! (Or HAD Issues...Or MISSES Issues...Something Like That)

The following resolution was passed today by the Joint Pastors' Conference of Minnesota North District and Minnesota South District.

To Encourage Action Regarding Issues, Etc.

Whereas, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has clearly expressed its desire to be intentional in engaging our culture with the clear proclamation of the Scriptures; and

Whereas, LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick, in his March 31, 2008 letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal describe our Synod as “faithful to the Scriptures and Lutheran Confession” and “blessed by unity in our common confession and the articles of our shared faith”; and

Whereas, the KFUO-AM radio program Issues, Etc. clearly articulated that common confession; and

Whereas, Issues, Etc. has ably provided LCMS Christians with a resource that teaches them how to engage the culture with the clear witness of the Holy Scripture and the pure proclamation of the Gospel of Christ; and

Whereas, the Board for Communication Services on April 18, 2005 stated, “The board recognizes the value of [Issues, Etc.] to the Synod for nearly 15 years and is seeking ways to develop more cost-effective, engaging Lutheran apologetic programming for broad distribution”; therefore be it

Resolved, that the Minnesota State Pastoral Conference (Minnesota North District and Minnesota South District) gathered in assembly at Madden’s Resort in Brainerd, MN on May 12-14, 2008 praise God by standing and singing the Common Doxology for the many years during which the program Issues, Etc. aired, and for the faithful service of the Rev. Todd Wilken and Mr. Jeff Schwarz; and be it further

Resolved, that the Minnesota State Pastoral Conference encourage the Board for Communication Services and KFUO-AM to express publicly their appreciation for the many years of faithful service rendered by Rev. Todd Wilken and Mr. Jeff Schwarz in relation to the Issues, Etc. program; and be it further

Resolved, that the Minnesota State Pastoral Conference express its disappointmentj to the Board of Communication Services for the abrupt cancellation of Issues, Etc.; and be it further

Resolved, that the Minnesota State Pastoral Conference encourage and invite the prayers and support (including financial) of all congregations and individuals of our districts for the Board for Communication Services and KFUO-AM so that existing programming may be abundantly funded, and so that it may be possible to reinstate the former Issues, Etc. program or initiate a program of a similar format; and be it finally

Resolved, that the Minnesota State Pastoral Conference encourage the Board for Communication Services to consider reversing, revisiting, or ameliorating their actions in regard to the cancellation of the Issues, Etc. program.