Jesus First and DayStar are only a small contingent.
"In 1999, three dissenting groups came together to form Jesus First/DayStar, which would continue to stress outreach to the exclusion of doctrinal integrity within the Synod. This attempt at a hostile takover of the Missouri Synod was vigorously opposed by a group of more conservative, or confessional, pastors and theologians, led by Dr. Robert Preus, President of Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne. The confessional Lutherans, while not neglecting outreach--the Ft. Wayne seminary has been a beehive of mission activity, particularly in the foreign field--has sought to restore a proper emphasis on doctrinal integrity to the LCMS."
"Following his defeat at the 1992 synodical convention, Dr. Bohlmann sent what many saw as a bitter letter to all Missouri Synod pastors, condemning church politicks. In that letter, he also tried to explain that the reason he sought to remove Dr. Robert Preus was doctrinal. Referring to a Highly organized network which had opposed his presidency, Bohlmann said:
A few comments about its theological focus might be helpful
. In fact, many in the political network hold positions to the right of the Synods in such key areas as women in the church, inter-Christian relationships, the pastoral office, and the manner of exercising Christian discipline. They have labeled their own position as confessional or conservative. 246
After that, Dr. Bohlmann became instrumental in both the Lutherans Alive and Jesus First political organizations"
"Following the formation of the AELC in 1976, three dissenting movements have remained within the Synod, movements that are also dominant in American church life today: liberal, charismatic, and evangelical. These three dissenting movements have now joined forces to form one dissenting organization called Jesus First; its organizers and supporters intent on altering the doctrinal integrity of the Missouri Synod, under the banner of outreach."
"The development of the liberal movement in the Missouri Synod has been noted above with its emphasis on Gospel reductionism, the use of the historical critical method in Biblical studies, and ecumenism or church fellowship based on a standard that is less than that articulated in the Lutheran Confessions. Not all of its adherents left the Missouri Synod at the formation of the AELC.
In response to the confessional or conservative movement that proved dissatisfied with the Bohlmann presidency, and which resulted in the election of Dr. Alvin Barry as synodical president at the 1992 convention, many of those involved in the liberal movement within the Missouri Synod formed a counter political organization called Lutherans Alive in 1995. This group published a regular newsletter entitled Forward under the editorial leadership of Pastor Henry Koepchen, former Atlantic District President. This group attempted to present themselves as a mediating position within the Synod. 248 Lutherans Alive continued their political activities until they participated in the formation of Jesus First in 1999."
"The organization Jesus First was founded as a not-for-profit religious organization in April 1999. It is governed by a thirteen-member board, and publishes a popular magazine entitled Jesus First.259 A connected organization, DayStar, sponsors symposiums and publishes papers and articles espousing views similar to that of Jesus First.260 The Jesus First magazine encourages its readers to attend DayStar free conferences, and leaders of Jesus First have been speakers at these symposiums.261 Jesus First was instrumental in electing Gerald Kieshnickan ostensibly conservative Church Growth advocate whose platform was Mission is Job One as president of the Missouri Synod in 2001, and both Jesus First and DayStar continue avidly in their support of his policies."
"In the May 2001 issue of Affirm, Dr. Martin Noland provided a detailed analysis in an article entitled What Is Jesus First? Based on a thorough analysis, he concluded that this organization is made up of a diverse network of dissenting groups within the Missouri Synod.263 Dr. Noland observed that in June 2000, there were 522 people who endorsed the Jesus First statement entitled A Call to Affirm Jesus-First Leadership. Of these endorsers, 67% were Missouri Synod pastors (this included retired and those listed as CRM). Therefore, 33% of the endorsers were lay people or those holding other churchly offices (teachers, DCEs, and deaconesses). Thus, pastors outnumbered lay people two to one. The Missouri Synod pastors who endorsed the Jesus First statement constituted 18% of all LCMS pastors on the synodical roster. Noland further analyzed the pastors who endorsed the Jesus First statement, and found that many had belonged to other dissenting groups, including supporters of Seminex and John Tietjen"
"In summarizing the nature of Jesus First and the intent of those involved in this organization, Dr. Martin Noland stated:
I believe that Jesus First may best be described as a coalition of dissenting organizations and movements. Chief among the dissenters are: 1) Seminex supporters, 2) Charismatics, 3) Church Growth Movement advocates, 4) advocates of contemporary worship, 5) advocates of womans ordination, 6) advocates of open communion, and 7) advocates of ecumenical fellowship practices. In order to succeed politically, these divergent dissenters have been forced to work together for a common cause, i.e., the overthrow of traditional Lutheran theology and practice in the Missouri Synod."
"At the heart of this dissident movement in the Missouri Synod today is the same Gospel reductionism that began in the latter part of the first half of the 20th century, opened the way for the use of the historical critical method, fomented the Walkout and led to the schism that was the formation of the AELC. Now it continues to impact the Missouri Synod in the areas of womens issues, missions, and the nature and practice of fellowship.
The fiftieth anniversary of A Statement of the 44 was celebrated by the ALPB at a banquet in White Plains, New York, on October 22, 1995, with Dr. Ralph Bohlmann serving as guest speaker. Dr. Bohlmann expressed his appreciation to the ALPB for the catalytic role they have played in American Lutheranism, and in his own life. Dr. Bohlmann stated that the issues raised by the 44 are issues that still concern Lutherans in every age. He notes that A Statement identified the deep cleavage that exists among those whose theology and practice are Gospel centered, and those whose focus is in large part driven by the Law. He sees the Statementarians as having a sense of Gospel primacy.266 Of course those who push for doctrinal integrity are seen as legalistic Pharisees who have no passion for lost souls.
More current Gospel reductionism can be identified in the writings of Pastor Stephen C. Krueger, although he calls it The Promising Tradition. Krueger is a graduate of Seminex who colloquized into the Missouri Synod, and readily acknowledges:
The Promising Tradition is associated with voices like those of Bob Bertram and Ed Schroeder. I, with many others, have been a shameless borrower of many of the things they taught me. But, then, so were they, as they would be the first to say. It was Richard Caemmerer, Doc, who opened their eyes and rescued them, as he did so many, from the staid and dead dogmatism and legalism which seem to ever dog Missouri."
"Those who supported Seminex also favored the ordination of women, and after the AELC was formed, that church body began ordaining women. It is no secret that there are some women with connections to the Missouri Synod who strongly advocate the ordination of women within the Synod; there are men, including pastors, who advocate this position also. Many of them are associated with the ecclesio-political group Jesus First and its connected organization DayStar"
"Jesus First and DayStar issued their own Affirmation of Support for Benke, listing more than 600 signatures" A Prayer for America at Yankee Stadium has become a catalyst for further change in the Missouri Synod according to the agenda of Jesus First and DayStar.317 Both District President Benke and Synodical President Kieschnick, along with other District Presidents and officials in other synodical organizations, are part of this call for change, placing outreach over doctrinal integrity within the Missouri Synod.
"It is unfortunate that Jesus First and other groups that press for outreach at the expense of doctrinal integrity should make such vicious attacks on those who seek to restore balance in the LCMS with accusations of being Nazis, the Taliban of Christianity, Pharisees, and other such malicious rhetoric."
