Gerald B. Kieschnick - Opposition From Confessional Lutherans

Opposition From Confessional Lutherans

Polarization in the LCMS dates back at least to the Seminex controversy of the early 1970s. Kieschnick's first presidential term was stormy. He faced the opposition of more conservative members within the church hierarchy, including four out of the five vice-presidents and a majority on the Board of Directors.

During the 1990s members of the LCMS' "activist" wing (who align themselves with the goals of such non-Lutheran groups, such as the Church Growth or Megachurch movements) have been in conflict with the "traditional" wing (who often dub themselves Confessional Lutherans.) Both wings have established networks of internal caucuses, organizations, and news services to promote their viewpoints and to campaign for Synod leadership candidates.

Issues of disagreement range across the whole life of the church, including worship style, ecumenical fellowship with other church bodies, the role of women in the church, methods for training leaders and expanding congregations, approaches to scriptural interpretation, the proper relationship of the sacred and secular spheres, and the appropriate division of powers between the Synod and its constituent congregations.