narrow-minded has left a new comment on your post "Hoosier Daddy":
Thanks for the Loehe articles. Were it not for a hall named after him at Ft. Wayne, who would know anything about him? On the other hand, the mere mention of Walther's name results in mass prostrations in the LCMS.
There's not much info on the web regarding Grabau/Buffalo. Were they theologically solid? The only info I can find is the bad-mouthing for episcopal polity (Hint: Hyper-Euro).
People will enjoy reading more about the Buffalo Synod. Here is more information.
More about the old synods can be found here.
Buffalo is probably most influential as a foil for Missouri's attitude about the ministry, carried over into WELS. Seeing these controversies at a distance, one is reminded of cardboard cut-outs on sticks, each one flailing away at the other. Many would be happy to be in the old Buffalo Synod today. Instead they find the Syn Conference a pathetic imitation of Willow Creek. Walther went out of his way to alienate other Lutherans and denounce them, but that worked so well in the past for him, in getting rid of Bishop Stephan.
Next I will be identified as a Loehe fan or Grabau disciple. That is the contentious spirit that Walther bequeathed to his sect and its imitators. If I quote Lenski, who is still a favorite exegete across synod lines, I "worship Lenksi."
Walther earns the credit for the toxic legalism of the Syn Conference, especially in its remnants. The CLC (sic) worries that the American Legion is a church, so no one can be a member of the American Legion. Incest is not a problem, but the American Legion is anathema. Likewise, Thrivent is bad - unless one belongs to a big congregation that enjoys Thrivent benefits. Fleischer excommunicated Wehrwein on the spot for daring to question the double-standard. Does that sound familiar to Syn Conference victims?
Everything is available on the Net. Lutherans are interested. The daily page-reads here are around 1700 in the midst of summer vacations. The Intrepids are standing up to the pathetic leadership of The Sausage Factory. Simply discussing things in the open is a new experience for many Lutherans.
I appreciate the questions.
- "Simply discussing things in the open is a new experience for many Lutherans."
This was difficult to do before Al Gore invented the Internet. The syn conference bullies could get away with murder, and less, because so many of their antics were done in secret. If a mere lay person caught a whiff of it and tried to go public, or at least ask for clarification, they were promptly beaten down. Like true victims of abuse, they found it difficult to break the cycle. Progress is being made because the cost of knowledge has been lowered significantly.
Sherlock Holmes 2929 has left a new comment on your post "Pope John the Malefactor - A Grabau Disciple":
As I leafed through the Grabau articles, one name leaped out at me: "Kudu Don" Patterson. Patterson seemed to take his cue on treating congregational members from Grebau. What do ya' think, Joe?
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Sherlock Holmes 2929 has left a new comment on your post "Loehe Gets a Hall at Ft. Wayne, But Who Is Grabau?...":
I must agree with rischultz here. I think about how "California" and the Kokomo families suffered their persecution alone. At least Rick Techlin and the Krohns can tell the world. I know it may not be much comfort, but at least it's some. Some light, no matter how small, has been shown on the Syn Conference bullies
