Let's give each man his due and treat him fairly according to history.
Loehe began the Missouri Synod, inviting the Perry County thugs to join his organization.
Later, Missouri demonized and officially forgot Loehe, even though he founded the practical seminary at Ft. Wayne. Missouri forgot their Bishop Stephan origins, too, probably the most tawdry origin of a Lutheran group in America.
Walther and Loehe were both Pietists. That era seems to have been divided between rationalists and Pietists, with the Pietists promoting world missions in a remarkable way. The Roman Catholics were also quite active in world missions. I remember CLC (sic) pastor Dave Koenig devoting an entire service to his rank about how bad the Lutherans were, how wonderful the papists and Arminians were. His sect said, "Just the man we need back in world missions!"
Loehe may have been too conciliatory, but Walther was contentious and divisive.
Loehe, who was never the subject of arrest warrants (unlike Walther), supported world missions in five countries and the deaconess movement as well.
The Ft. Wayne seminary was founded with help from Loehe and the leadership of Sihler.
Passavant also had a remarkable, positive influence on American Lutherans. He was a phenomenon in establishing charities, schools, hospitals, and missions. Abandoning the Church Growth Movement of the 19th century--revivalism--he insisted on the Lutheran Confessions.
Passavant was a great friend to the Swedish Augustana Synod and influenced them away from their origins in Pietism and revivalism.
