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Kirkwood — About 75 protesters gathered Monday outside the world headquarters of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, many holding signs that asked simply, "Why?" The question was directed at church leaders who, during Holy Week last month, pulled the plug on a popular radio program on the denomination's KFUO-AM station called "Issues, Etc." The host, the Rev. Todd Wilken, and producer, Jeff Schwarz, were fired without warning, and all reference to the show was taken off KFUO's website. Fans were left confused and angry. ... In the vacated time slot, the church has launched a new program called "The Afternoon Show,"...

read the original story here: Zion Lutheran begins 40 days campaign Sunday (LCMS)

Program's End Provokes Differing Views on Lutherans' Direction ... More importantly, I wish to address the unfortunate comments in the column that the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is deeply divided and that it is pushing "church marketing" over the historic confessions of the evangelical Lutheran Church. The Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick As a former guest on "Issues, Etc." and as a listener to the show I was very unhappy that it was cancelled. I can't help but conclude that the cancellation was somehow related to the deep divisions that exist in our denomination and that are referred to in the...

July 11, 2004 ………………………… LCMSNews – SC4DS Synod re-elects Gerald Kieschnick president, elects William Diekelman first vice president ST. LOUIS — Delegates to the 62nd Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod today (July 11) elected Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick to his second three-year term as president of the 2.5 million-member church body. The convention also elected Oklahoma District President William Diekelman to his first term as Synod first vice president. He currently also is pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Owasso, Okla. Kieschnick, 61, was elected on the first ballot on the opening day of the convention, with 52.8 percent...

An election Sunday at the 62nd convention of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod at America's Center in downtown St. Louis will decide whether the embattled president of the church will remain in office for another three years. At his installation in September 2001, Gerald B. Kieschnick said he would try to temper internal disputes that some say have thwarted the real work of the church for decades.Link to full story