Dear Board of Directors for the LCMS,
I am supremely disappointed to read and hear that the LCMS, under direct orders from President Kieshnick, is wasting precious monetary resources in order to pursue a legal resolution to a trademark dispute over a trademark that it abandoned in 1999 for a radio program that it canceled in March of 2008.
If my memory serves me correctly, President Kieschnick just a few short years ago rightly invoked 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 against those who brought suit against the LCMS. He has now become a hypocrite by threatening legal action against two men whose passion is proclaiming Christ Crucified for our sins and inviting the best LCMS theologians in the world to come on to their radio program and promote and defend Lutheran doctrine.
This threatened lawsuit is not only a breach of what scripture commands, it is a supreme waste of LCMS funds and complete insanity!
This threatened legal action that hinges on Todd and Jeff surrendering their 1st Amendment rights to freedom of speech doesn't make a bit of sense and makes LCMS, Inc. look like a political big brother that exists to harass and silence it's political enemies. Let me remind you that the congregations and ministries in our synod do not exist to serve the LCMS Corporate Headquarters. Instead, LCMS Corporate Headquarters exists to serve the congregations and ministries in our synod. This threatened legal battle over the Issues, Etc. trademark does not serve the congregations or ministries in the LCMS rather it robs them of monetary resources through wasteful and politically motivated misspending. Furthermore, these actions do not serve to unite the LCMS but instead are only further dividing the LCMS.
Lets face facts, Issues, Etc. is no longer a concern of LCMS, Inc. because the LCMS cancelled the radio program and fired Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz. To put it more bluntly, what Pastor Todd Wilken says and does on his radio program is none of your business and not within your jurisdiction. If President Kieschnick wanted a say in what Wilken and Schwarz said on their program then he should not have cancelled Issues, Etc..
I am calling on you to speak up and act swiftly to put an end to this threatened legal action and reign in President Kieschnick. The battle in the LCMS over Issues, Etc. has been stretched out far too long. It is time for LCMS, Inc. to let it go and stop harassing Pastor Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz so that these men can focus on the task at hand of producing top quality Christ-Centered and Cross Focused talk radio.
Regretfully Yours,
Chris Rosebrough
Member in good standing of Faith Lutheran Church, Capistrano Beach, California
Sent to:
Rev. Victor Belton: [email protected]
Mr. Walter Brantz: [email protected]
Mr. Kermit A. Brashear: [email protected]
Dr. William Diekelman: [email protected]
Dr. Betty Duda: [email protected]
Dr. Gloria Edwards: [email protected]
Rev. Raymond Hartwig: [email protected]
Mr. Tom Kuchta: [email protected]
Dr. Robert Kuhn: [email protected]
Chaplain Donald Muchow: [email protected]
Mr. David Piehler: [email protected]
Mr. Curtis Pohl: [email protected]
Mr. Roy Schmidt: [email protected]
Rev. Jeff Schrank: [email protected]
Dr. Kurt Senske: [email protected]
Mr. Walter Tesch: [email protected]
Mr. Ron Schultz, Chief Administrative Officer: [email protected]
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I've also sent a modified version of this letter to President Kieschnick. The front door for his email address can be found at http://www.lcms.org/cntc/contactus.asp?unitabrv=7
Wow. What is Kieschnick thinking?!?
Posted by: Lane Chaplin | February 13, 2009 at 02:50 AM
NOT to disagree with you one iota, but here's another thought:
Todd and Jeff can sidestep this whole farce by making some small change to the name of their show, making it something like "New Issues, Etc." or "More Issues, Etc." or "Issues and Answers, Etc."
If they were to do that, finding a name different enough to moot the trademark issue yet still recognizable as the same show, they could spare the LCMS the whole controversy, the divisivness, and a ton of money. (And save themselves the money and headache as well).
Posted by: Anastasia Theodoridis | February 13, 2009 at 10:12 AM
I've suggested to others that perhaps the program should be re-named "Not Petty Issues, Etc." Then LCMS, Inc. will leave it alone, because the synod hierarchy only seems inclined to deal with petty issues.
Posted by: Theologius Minimus | February 13, 2009 at 11:46 AM
No. To change the name of the show even a little would be to admit that the leadership of the synod is a little teensy bit right in pursuing this legal action.
The LCMS relinquished rights to the name when they neglected to renew the trademark NINE YEARS AGO. They do not own the name. They have no rights to the name.
Posted by: Elephantschild | February 13, 2009 at 11:54 AM
If what is said in the above text is accurate, and I'm willing to bet it is, then this is one more reason to wonder why we have this man as the president of our church. . . .
Posted by: Mickey MET | February 13, 2009 at 06:27 PM
I agree completely with Elephant. I mentioned in a comment on another recent post that anything short of defending himself and his show would result in giving Dr. K some credibility. It probably wouldn't be much, but in my humble opinion, any amount is too much.
Posted by: Jonathan Schultz | February 13, 2009 at 09:33 PM
Why do you concede that " President Kieschnick...rightly invoked 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 against those who brought suit against the LCMS"? (emphasis mine)
First, the suit was not brought "against the LCMS," but "on behalf of the LCMS," brought by those who were members in good standing because the administration (and its presidentially-appointed CCM) had put the corporation in danger by violating laws in the state of its incorporation.
Second, since there was no way for the signatories to the suit to have a hearing by the synod, 1 Cor. 6 did not in any way prohibit them from this action.
(Please note: I advised against the lawsuit because it was based on charges that could never be substantiated, were not contrary to the Constitution and Bylaws, and contained language that was contrary to Christian behavior. In the end, those who signed on had to admit that all of those things were true in order to prevent themselves from being disciplined [other than , you know, having a big red 'A' painted on their chests before the elections at the 2007 LCMS coven...I mean, 'convention'].)
EJG
Posted by: Rev. Eric J. Stefanski | February 13, 2009 at 10:05 PM
The LCMS certainly has the right to attempt to defend its claim to a trademark, though it will be difficult to justify since it hasn't even been interested enough to renew the paperwork and it cancelled the show.
What is impossible to justify is a church body attempting to extort silence in return for a trademark. One has to wonder: what's the big secret?
Posted by: William Cwirla | February 17, 2009 at 12:20 PM
The trademark was in the dead file for lack of renewal, Pr. Cwirla.
Legally, I cannot reclaim my household trash once I put it in the dumpster and some "diver" takes it out.
If someone really talked about the way Jerry spends money he wouldn't have a 50.5% win next time.
Lutherans have gotten very casual about doctrine, but I have yet to meet a Lutheran who is casual about wasting money!
Posted by: Helen | February 17, 2009 at 03:01 PM