Christian News announced a joint free conference in Minnesota. One part is represented by the Rolf Preus Synod. The other part is ELDONA (the tiny sect with the huge name). Jack Cascione will speak on his only topic, the supremacy of the Voters' Assembly. Someone from ELDONA will speak about the absolute need for bishops.
Cascione and Heiser both graduated from Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne, so I have to assume that both became doctrinally befuddled there. Their solutions recall the story that the Russian Orthodox Church was debating the benediction (three fingers for the Trinity or two for the Two Natures) during the Communist Revolution.
Here is another view from Bente, who edited the Concordia Triglotta:
"The Lutheran Church differs from all other churches in being essentially the Church of the pure Word and unadulterated Sacraments. Not the great number of her adherents, not her organizations, not her charitable and other institutions, not her beautiful customs and liturgical forms, etc., but the precious truths confessed in her symbols in perfect agreement with the Holy Scriptures constitute the true beauty and rich treasures of our Church, as well as the never-failing source of her vitality and power.
Wherever the Lutheran Church ignored her symbols or rejected all or some of them, there she always fell an easy prey to her enemies. But wherever she held fast to her God-given crown, esteemed and studied her confessions, and actually made them a norm and standard of her entire life and practice, there the Lutheran Church flourished and confounded all her enemies.
Accordingly, if Lutherans truly love their Church, and desire and seek her welfare, they must be faithful to her confessions and constantly be on their guard lest any one rob her of her treasure."
F. Bente, Concordia Triglotta preface.
The old Synodical Conference no longer wants Bente. Concordia Publishing House gave the rights to Northwestern Publishing. Everyone wants to use a new edition.
