1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,266 The Lord be with you. 2 00:00:06,266 --> 00:00:12,800 Dear Seminary community and friends of Concordia Seminary, brothers and sisters in Christ, 3 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:20,833 Fifty years ago this morning, most of the faculty and most of the students of this Seminary 4 00:00:20,833 --> 00:00:26,800 enacted a dramatic march of departure signaling that they were leaving to continue their Seminary 5 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:34,066 teaching and learning elsewhere, establishing Seminary in Exile or Seminex. 6 00:00:34,066 --> 00:00:40,133 The previous summer in 1973, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod had declared by convention 7 00:00:40,133 --> 00:00:47,066 resolution that there was false teaching at Concordia Seminary and that such false teaching 8 00:00:47,066 --> 00:00:51,466 was not to be tolerated in the Church of God. 9 00:00:51,466 --> 00:00:57,966 In January of 1974, the Seminary's Board of Control removed John Tietjen from his position 10 00:00:57,966 --> 00:01:00,866 as Seminary President. 11 00:01:00,866 --> 00:01:06,933 Stung by these actions and insisting they were in the right, the faculty majority and 12 00:01:06,933 --> 00:01:10,433 the majority of the students planned their departure. 13 00:01:10,433 --> 00:01:15,666 There were white crosses on that morning staked down in the Seminary quad bearing the names 14 00:01:15,666 --> 00:01:17,233 of those departing. 15 00:01:17,233 --> 00:01:22,033 The news media were here, it was a national story. 16 00:01:22,033 --> 00:01:27,600 There were banners singing and as many of you have seen in photographs, there were great 17 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:35,233 sheets of plywood boarding up the arches under Luther Tower inscribed with the word, Exiled. 18 00:01:35,233 --> 00:01:42,266 This was the Seminex crisis or as it is sometimes called, the walkout. 19 00:01:42,266 --> 00:01:51,600 It was a painful time and it came to a head with these events on February 19, 1974, 50 20 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,066 years ago. 21 00:01:54,066 --> 00:01:59,866 The impact of this controversy, blessings that have come from it and also its lasting 22 00:01:59,866 --> 00:02:03,700 wounds continue to this day. 23 00:02:03,700 --> 00:02:10,333 On the occasion of the 50th anniversary, it is appropriate that we pause and reflect and 24 00:02:10,333 --> 00:02:18,066 in this brief reflection I want to encourage among us four things, repentance, gratitude, 25 00:02:18,066 --> 00:02:24,466 love and a steadfast commitment to the Holy Scriptures. 26 00:02:24,466 --> 00:02:26,833 First repentance. 27 00:02:26,833 --> 00:02:32,166 For many of us, this was not our controversy. 28 00:02:32,166 --> 00:02:40,466 On that morning in 1974, I was only two years old when I began as a student here at Concordia 29 00:02:40,466 --> 00:02:43,166 Seminary in the summer of 93. 30 00:02:43,166 --> 00:02:50,100 It had been only 20 years since the walkout but I knew almost nothing about it. 31 00:02:50,100 --> 00:02:54,333 The controversy was not my controversy. 32 00:02:54,333 --> 00:03:01,800 When I read accusations about which side was most unfair and unchristian and prideful and 33 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:06,566 power seeking during those times, I have no first-hand knowledge of these things. 34 00:03:06,566 --> 00:03:09,333 I wasn't there. 35 00:03:09,333 --> 00:03:18,733 But when I examine my own heart, it does not surprise me to hear that those struggles were 36 00:03:18,733 --> 00:03:23,200 sometimes attended by ugliness and sinful actions. 37 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:33,733 We each have so much for which to repent before God, before our holy and gracious God. 38 00:03:33,733 --> 00:03:38,766 May the Lord have mercy on them all for Christ's sake. 39 00:03:38,766 --> 00:03:43,966 May the Lord have mercy on me for Christ's sake. 40 00:03:43,966 --> 00:03:46,966 Second gratitude. 41 00:03:46,966 --> 00:03:52,666 I am so thankful for the Word of God. 42 00:03:52,666 --> 00:04:00,266 I am so thankful for clear Lutheran doctrine centered in the saving work of Jesus, who 43 00:04:00,266 --> 00:04:10,166 has won for me and for all believers forgiveness of sins, rescue from divine wrath, resurrection 44 00:04:10,166 --> 00:04:15,433 from the dead, and an eternal kingdom. 45 00:04:15,433 --> 00:04:21,533 I am so thankful for the clear scriptural confessional teaching which I received at 46 00:04:21,533 --> 00:04:23,800 this seminary. 47 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:31,266 As I look back on the days of the walkout 50 years ago, at the core theological issues 48 00:04:31,266 --> 00:04:39,466 that were under dispute, I thank God in my heart and before all of you today that He 49 00:04:39,466 --> 00:04:42,566 has preserved His Word among us. 50 00:04:42,566 --> 00:04:45,866 Soli Deo Gloria. 51 00:04:45,866 --> 00:04:49,866 To God alone be the glory. 52 00:04:49,866 --> 00:04:55,366 I am also grateful for those who stood up and stood firm and labored to continue the 53 00:04:55,366 --> 00:04:59,633 mission of Concordia Seminary during very hard times. 54 00:04:59,633 --> 00:05:04,400 To our Synod leadership at the time, with its president, J.A.O. 55 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:05,400 Preus. 56 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,333 To our Seminary board at the time, under its chairman, E.J. 57 00:05:09,333 --> 00:05:10,633 Otto. 58 00:05:10,633 --> 00:05:15,366 I am grateful to the five professors who, though under great pressure, did not walk 59 00:05:15,366 --> 00:05:17,733 out but remained. 60 00:05:17,733 --> 00:05:19,366 Ralph Bohlmann. 61 00:05:19,366 --> 00:05:20,966 Richard Klann. 62 00:05:20,966 --> 00:05:22,600 Robert Preus. 63 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:24,200 Martin Scharlemann. 64 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,466 And Lorenz Wunderlich. 65 00:05:26,466 --> 00:05:31,566 And to the professors who drove over to help temporarily because of the immediate need 66 00:05:31,566 --> 00:05:37,700 to staff classes just before and after the walkout, Robert Kolb from the Center of Reformation 67 00:05:37,700 --> 00:05:43,666 Research at the time, and Walter A. Maier II, David Scaer, and Dean Wenthe from the 68 00:05:43,666 --> 00:05:46,266 Springfield Seminary. 69 00:05:46,266 --> 00:05:51,466 And I am grateful to those professors who taught in the challenging years, those challenging 70 00:05:51,466 --> 00:05:58,466 rebuilding years, just after the walkout, many of whom were the teachers of today's 71 00:05:58,466 --> 00:05:59,666 faculty. 72 00:05:59,666 --> 00:06:01,300 Larry Bielenberg. 73 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:03,133 Louis Brighton. 74 00:06:03,133 --> 00:06:04,800 Jerrald Eickmann. 75 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:06,633 Arthur Graudin. 76 00:06:06,633 --> 00:06:08,100 Martin Haendschke. 77 00:06:08,100 --> 00:06:09,366 Rudolph Harm. 78 00:06:09,366 --> 00:06:10,733 Jacob Heckert. 79 00:06:10,733 --> 00:06:12,166 Robert Hoerber. 80 00:06:12,166 --> 00:06:14,000 Roland Hopmann. 81 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:15,833 Horace Hummel. 82 00:06:15,833 --> 00:06:17,466 Erich Kiehl. 83 00:06:17,466 --> 00:06:19,233 John Klotz. 84 00:06:19,233 --> 00:06:20,966 Eldon Petersen. 85 00:06:20,966 --> 00:06:22,900 George Robbert. 86 00:06:22,900 --> 00:06:25,166 Francis Rossow. 87 00:06:25,166 --> 00:06:27,133 William Schmelder. 88 00:06:27,133 --> 00:06:28,600 Martin Schmidt. 89 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,033 Wayne Schmidt. 90 00:06:30,033 --> 00:06:31,566 Richard Schultz. 91 00:06:31,566 --> 00:06:33,333 August Suelflow. 92 00:06:33,333 --> 00:06:35,000 Roy Suelflow. 93 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:36,666 Richard Warneck. 94 00:06:36,666 --> 00:06:39,100 David Wollenberg. 95 00:06:39,100 --> 00:06:45,166 And there were so many other staff, students, and volunteers who worked to rebuild Concordia 96 00:06:45,166 --> 00:06:48,433 Seminary after that traumatic time. 97 00:06:48,433 --> 00:06:54,466 And we cannot forget to give thanks to the men and women of our LCMS congregations, our 98 00:06:54,466 --> 00:07:02,433 faithful, well-catechized laity, who likewise stood up and stood firm and insisted that 99 00:07:02,433 --> 00:07:09,933 their future pastors be taught to rely with total trust on the sacred writings of the 100 00:07:09,933 --> 00:07:14,833 Old and New Testaments, the written Word of God. 101 00:07:14,833 --> 00:07:19,166 To all of them, we owe a debt of gratitude. 102 00:07:19,166 --> 00:07:22,633 And I want to acknowledge that debt this morning. 103 00:07:22,633 --> 00:07:24,333 Repentance. 104 00:07:24,333 --> 00:07:25,966 Gratitude. 105 00:07:25,966 --> 00:07:29,966 Third, love. 106 00:07:29,966 --> 00:07:38,133 Brothers and sisters, as we recall the events of the walkout, let us love one another. 107 00:07:38,133 --> 00:07:45,200 It is Christ's own commandment, and it is Christ's own disposition towards us and towards 108 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:46,466 the world. 109 00:07:46,466 --> 00:07:53,800 The world hated Jesus, but Jesus loved the world and willingly bore the sins of us all. 110 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:59,400 Father, forgive them, he prayed to those who were crucifying him. 111 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:04,766 I have met a number of people over the last years whose reflections on the walkout are 112 00:08:04,766 --> 00:08:08,033 full of vitriol. 113 00:08:08,033 --> 00:08:13,800 Old hatreds would not be too strong a term. 114 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:21,833 I don't know what 50 years of an actively nurtured hatred does to a soul, but may the 115 00:08:21,833 --> 00:08:30,200 Lord grant you the grace not to give place to old hatreds in your hearts as the years 116 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,166 go on. 117 00:08:32,166 --> 00:08:34,433 You belong to Christ. 118 00:08:34,433 --> 00:08:37,733 You are called to love. 119 00:08:37,733 --> 00:08:41,233 To love even your enemies and to pray for them. 120 00:08:41,233 --> 00:08:46,133 Not to let the sun go down on your anger so as to give the devil a foothold, but to be 121 00:08:46,133 --> 00:08:48,400 reconciled to your brother. 122 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:50,666 We are children of God. 123 00:08:50,666 --> 00:08:54,566 We are called to live with all godly virtues. 124 00:08:54,566 --> 00:09:03,133 But above all, St. Paul says, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect 125 00:09:03,133 --> 00:09:05,766 harmony. 126 00:09:05,766 --> 00:09:12,400 And fourth, steadfast commitment to the Holy Scriptures. 127 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:19,533 Of course, the call to love does not entail indifference in the face of false teaching. 128 00:09:19,533 --> 00:09:26,533 Jesus' call to love our brother requires that we care deeply, that God's life-giving 129 00:09:26,533 --> 00:09:31,766 word and life-giving truth is preserved for our brother and for all. 130 00:09:31,766 --> 00:09:40,233 Yes, we are called to speak in love, but we must always speak the truth in love. 131 00:09:40,233 --> 00:09:43,400 Where would our Lord Christ point us? 132 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:45,066 To know the truth. 133 00:09:45,066 --> 00:09:49,766 To know Him truly, and to truly be His disciples. 134 00:09:49,766 --> 00:09:54,333 Where would He point us to find sanctification and eternal life? 135 00:09:54,333 --> 00:10:00,433 Where would our Lord Christ, who is Himself the truth, point us to resist the devil and 136 00:10:00,433 --> 00:10:02,866 his deceptions? 137 00:10:02,866 --> 00:10:09,833 Jesus points us to the Scriptures, to the written Word of God. 138 00:10:09,833 --> 00:10:12,833 These Scriptures testify of me, Jesus says. 139 00:10:12,833 --> 00:10:21,200 When tempted by the devil, Jesus replies, it is written, man shall not live by bread 140 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:27,400 alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 141 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:34,266 If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, Jesus 142 00:10:34,266 --> 00:10:36,833 says. 143 00:10:36,833 --> 00:10:40,566 Scripture cannot be broken, Jesus says. 144 00:10:40,566 --> 00:10:46,433 If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced, even if someone 145 00:10:46,433 --> 00:10:50,200 should rise from the dead, Jesus teaches. 146 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:55,633 Blessed is the man who delights in the word of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. 147 00:10:55,633 --> 00:10:59,600 I trust your word, the psalmist declares. 148 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:05,933 And Isaiah writes, the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will 149 00:11:05,933 --> 00:11:09,133 stand forever. 150 00:11:09,133 --> 00:11:16,533 Our Lutheran confessions rejoice to receive and embrace with our whole heart the Old and 151 00:11:16,533 --> 00:11:23,466 New Testament Scriptures, the clear fountain of Israel, as the rule and norm for judging 152 00:11:23,466 --> 00:11:26,133 all teaching. 153 00:11:26,133 --> 00:11:33,233 To be Lutheran does not mean to substitute the Gospel in the place of the Scriptures, 154 00:11:33,233 --> 00:11:42,000 or to substitute Christ in place of the Scriptures, but rather to recognize Christ as the heart 155 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:52,466 and giver of the Scriptures, who directs us to the Scriptures with all diligence and confidence. 156 00:11:52,466 --> 00:11:57,633 Let me close my reflections on the 50th anniversary of the walkout then on this note and with 157 00:11:57,633 --> 00:11:59,766 this prayer. 158 00:11:59,766 --> 00:12:08,433 May we never become indifferent or skeptical toward the written word of God, but rather 159 00:12:08,433 --> 00:12:12,066 may we meditate on it day and night. 160 00:12:12,066 --> 00:12:18,333 As we approach the sacred Scriptures, may we always pray, speak, Lord, your servant 161 00:12:18,333 --> 00:12:28,366 listens, and to what God has spoken by his prophets and apostles, may we ever say, Amen, 162 00:12:28,366 --> 00:12:31,733 it is certain. 163 00:12:31,733 --> 00:12:35,633 Please pray with me. 164 00:12:35,633 --> 00:12:40,366 Stay with us, Lord, and keep us true. 165 00:12:40,366 --> 00:12:48,966 Preserve our faith, our whole life through your word alone, our hearts defense, the church's 166 00:12:48,966 --> 00:12:51,566 glorious confidence. 167 00:12:51,566 --> 00:12:53,133 Amen. 168 00:12:53,133 --> 00:12:56,033 Thank you for your time this morning. 169 00:12:56,033 --> 00:12:57,200 Go in peace. 170 00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:58,200 Serve the Lord. 171 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:10,600 Thanks be to God.