Outer Rim Territories

Cyberbrethren: Fenton's Admission

Cyberbrethren: A Lutheran Blog: Fenton's Admission Rev. McCain gave us an interesting post regarding the flight of a pastor from the LC-MS to the Eastern Orthodox church.

1) He had serious doubts and reservations about Lutheranism before he went to the seminary. He had visited an Orthodox parish and read Ware's book on Orthodoxy and as he admits in his interview he had "considered dropping out of the seminary" several times, but did not. Here we have to be concerned that there was not a much more careful screening process at the seminary. Men who have these kinds of grave doubts and reservations about Lutheranism simply should not be permitted to continue in their studies. One should never be permittted to attend seminary as a way to work through such grave doubts and reservations.

This is not the first time I have heard the seminary getting some of the blame for the "problem" or "trouble" pastors. It should be said that the seminary is not molding pastors for exodus to either West or Eastern churches. The seminary molds Lutheran laity to be Lutheran pastors. Pr. Zielinski's comments sum up my sentiments nicely, along with Rev. McCain's remarks:

I must post my objection to the suggestion that the seminary is to blame.

McCain: To clarify, I am not blaming the instruction at the seminary, I am expressing a concern about the screening process before one is admitted to the seminary, which, as far as I can tell, has significantly improved since I was admitted. I was interviewed by my university president, then admitted. There was nothing further than that. Now, I understand, men are screened by a local committee, etc. Perhaps this has improved things.

In the recent history of pastors "going east" there have been accusations that what is being taught at the seminary specifically pushes these men to leave the Missouri Synod. FALSE! Pastors from BOTH seminaries have left the Missouri Synod for any variety of denominations.

McCain: Screening for seminary admission is my concern. And, hopefully, this has vastly improved since the time that John and I were admitted to the seminary, in fact, I believe it has. You are right though. A person who is not entirely forthcoming in the admission process is to blame. Thanks for your comment. I'm *not* saying that John was lead into Orthodoxy because of what he was taught at the seminary. He came into the seminary with apparently the most serious of reservations and, apparently, was never dissuaded entirely. That's too bad.

It is also suggested that an interview process would have caught these aberrations. FALSE - at the time of interview there may not have been any problems. Theological internal conflict does not (should not) disqualify one from the ministry, by reason or by scripture that I can read. It could also be that the individual simply lies and gives the answers necessary to "cooperate and graduate."

McCain: This is true. Read my response to Rev. Juhl. I sincerely still do not believe that the seminary is the time to work through questions of whether or not Lutheranism is a true confession. There are plenty of issues to work through while at seminary, but this should not be one of them, and if at any point a man develops that sort of reservation it would need immediately to be brought to the attention of the seminary administration for proper handling of the concern.

Finally, a question: What do we say of men from other denominations who, at a variety of places in their theological education, find it necessary to become a Missouri Synod Lutheran? Do we scold them for their dishonesty to their church?

McCain: No, because they are setting aside error for truth. I do know that the Synod's colloquy process strives to ascertain very carefully and diligently precisely where a man is who comes to us from other denominations and then provide whatever appropriate steps are necessary for proper schooling in our confession.

To we suppose that they deceived their professors and congregations? Or, do we commend them for their careful study of God's Word and rejoice that another brother confesses the truth of God's Word? Perhaps the dividing line is that of false doctrine vs. truth and there is no objection to one moving from falsehood to truth. I'll leave that to the academy. PZ

McCain: I concur with your second to last sentence. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Phil. Blessings, Paul

From my first-hand experience at the seminary I concur that the bad apples could lie their way through the whole process. I do think that some of the blame can be placed on field-work and vicarage supervisors and congregations. These folk (and I once was one of them) need to speak up if they sense a problem. Ultimately the blame lies on these individuals who don't heed the advice they receive over and over again at the seminary to exorcise their doctrinal conflicts, their reservation about confessional subscription, and their behaviour and attitudes that are incompatible with ministry. In class after class, the Word is presented in order that the Holy Spirit might dispute our reservations and work in us so that we might be His servants in His church. For more I have written on pastors and ordination: Ordination of Pastor for Beginners Confessional Subscription for Laity Conversi ad Dominum: Optional Orandi begets Proscribed Credendi Why Blog?