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The apology from the CTX president did not include the University stepping back from their actions. Instead he reiterated that CTX is independent of Synod.

I think we have a problem with the regents understanding their role as representatives of the Synod. I wonder if too often the regents just accept what the university administration says and does without asking hard questions. Regents need to beware of making decisions on information that maybe filtered by the administration, perhaps unintentionally. How many regents actually are acquainted with the bylaws that define their jobs?

Floor committee 7 (universities) was packed, I could not get in and listen. They did end early. Either they ran out of speakers or no one had anything new to say.

There was disagreement about the theology of Portland.

As a voting lay delegate to the 2023 Convention my question is why didn't CTX wait for the convention to express their concerns and ask for separation. Why the hurry? I have REAL problems with this clause in the new Articles of Incorporation:

"Article V Board:

The management of the affairs of the corporation is vested in its Board of Regents in accordance with the Bylaws. ... All determinations regarding the university's alignment with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, including but not limited to, the university's subscription and adherence to the Confession of the LCMS as currently outlined in Article II of the LCMS Constitution, and qualifications for board members and the presidency, will be subject to and determined by the sole and exclusive discretion of the Board of Regents."

To me this indicates CTX is going down the road of weakening if not eventually eliminating their confessional subscription. Calling a University "Concordia" under these circumstances is false advertising.

In the end the Regents who voted for separation clearly have violated the Fourth, Seventh, and Ninth Commandments.

There is an article by Dr. Schulz in this morning's "The Federalist", which covered his suspension in March.  He argues that his suspension is an attack on academic freedom.

https://thefederalist.com/2022/05/16/christian-university-still-hasnt-reinstated-professor-it-kicked-out-after-he-criticized-identity-politics/

Is academic freedom different in a religious school versus other places? If so, how?

More and more people are coming to the conclusion that "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" is a Trojan Horse carrying a lot more than advertised. What people think about that assertion probably determines the degree to which they think CUWAA has gone "woke."

But I agree that I can't imagine anyone encouraged anyone to share that letter publicly online. In it, the synodical president calls out two people by name and recommends removing them from the Board of Regents. Normally, that kind of thing would be shared verbally at a personal meeting and the text would not come out unless anyone publicly denied or misrepresented the substance of it. That would allow face-saving measures all around and a "re-start". It seems to me that making it public cements people into their positions. Much like the Russia-Ukraine thing, nobody was given a "golden bridge" on which to retreat.

Is this a leaked letter? Perhaps similar motivations on a more parochial level as leaking a Supreme Court draft opinion.

Yes, it is a leaked letter.  And yes, it's an embarrassment in terms of calling out three people by name, two regents who are asked to resign after extensive references to them both, and one former employee.  That's provocative and unproductive at the maximum level.  The weasel words in the leak are "was encouraged to share it."  So what? Reading the letter, why participate in that provocation of CUWAA?  The letter was "leaked" to this site by Harry Edmon, the father of a member of the St. Louis Seminary Board of Regents, who has responded to his own struggle with posting it here.  My wish, Harry, is that you had not done so.

Dave Benke

I take the words of a pastor and former DP seriously, so I will take your words to heart. If a copy of the letter had been sent to me directly I would not have posted it. The only reason I did is this had already become public. Maybe that was not a good enough reason.

More and more people are coming to the conclusion that "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" is a Trojan Horse carrying a lot more than advertised. What people think about that assertion probably determines the degree to which they think CUWAA has gone "woke."

But I agree that I can't imagine anyone encouraged anyone to share that letter publicly online. In it, the synodical president calls out two people by name and recommends removing them from the Board of Regents. Normally, that kind of thing would be shared verbally at a personal meeting and the text would not come out unless anyone publicly denied or misrepresented the substance of it. That would allow face-saving measures all around and a "re-start". It seems to me that making it public cements people into their positions. Much like the Russia-Ukraine thing, nobody was given a "golden bridge" on which to retreat.

Is this a leaked letter? Perhaps similar motivations on a more parochial level as leaking a Supreme Court draft opinion.

That is an interesting question. I struggled with whether or not to post the letter at ALPB, and that is why I "indirectly" did by pointing to the Steadfast Lutheran site instead of the letter itself to give context for where it is coming from. They have posted their article on Facebook and Twitter, so this is already quite public.

There is an article on Steadfast Lutherans which includes a letter from President Harrison to the Board of Regents about his visit to CUWAA:

https://steadfastlutherans.org/2022/05/president-harrison-faithfully-addresses-cuw-regents/

Here is the press release from the defendants legal team:

https://adfinternational.org/free-speech-victory-finnish-mp-wins-trial-over-bible-tweet/

President Harrison is making an official visit to CUWAA next week:

https://reporter.lcms.org/2022/announcement-of-presidential-visitation-of-concordia-university-wisconsin

Dr. Gregory Schulz was on Issues, Etc. today. The show also offered to interview the Interim President of CUW, but the offer was declined.

https://issuesetc.org/2022/03/15/0742-allegations-of-woke-ideology-at-a-lutheran-university-dr-gregory-schulz-3-15-22/

Several of the overtures to the District Convention that were addressed by the resolution explicitly mentioned Lutherans for Racial Justice. The convention was wise in not including such language in the final resolution and concentrating on the biblical issues involved.

According to President Matthew Harrison the following resolution was passed at the Mid-South District Convention on July 3:

SUBJECT: TO REJECT RACISM AND ADVANCE THE GOSPEL

WHEREAS, God has created all people and they are blood related going back to our mutual fathers, Adam and Noah, and all are subject to the stain of original sin, but now also have been equally redeemed by the blood of Christ in order to be reconciled to God and to each other; and

WHEREAS, God's Word says, "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,'" you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors." (James 2:8, 9); and

WHEREAS,  Racism (the sinful notion that some races are inherently superior to others),   misunderstanding, and strife are present in the world and experienced in congregations due to our sin; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) abhors racism, and in convention has passed resolutions repudiating all racism, (see 1992 Res. 3-03 and 2019 Res. 11-04A); and

WHEREAS, Critical Race Theory (CRT) has become a common, multifaceted, and controversial theory for discussion of contemporary race relations; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Mid-South District in convention reject the world view of CRT, as it is contrary to Scripture and counterproductive to true racial conversation and reconciliation, for it pursues equality of outcome ("equity") between racial groups, which requires treating individuals unequally based on race, and also reject all organizations, movements, petitions, and theological language that support that world view in a positive manner; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the LCMS Mid-South District reject any doctrine that teaches:   

● One's race, ancestry, or nationality are inherently superior to the race, ancestry, or nationality of another.
● Any individual is inherently racist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously, because of his or her race, ancestry, or nationality;

RESOLVED, That the circuits of the Mid-South District of the LCMS develop an objective mission and ministry action plan for outreach to diverse communities among us;

RESOLVED, That the congregations of the LCMS Mid-South District be encouraged to conduct conversations on race and diversity, to strengthen unity within the congregation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the congregations of the LCMS Mid-South District be encouraged to engage members of their communities in these conversations, in light of Christ's Gospel; and be it further

RESOLVED, We commend those within the LCMS Mid-South District who intentionally proclaim and work to reach out with the Gospel of Jesus to those who are different from themselves in the light of the Great Commission; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That the Mid-South District send this resolution to the Synod as it gathers at its 2023 Convention to do similarly.

Dr. Thomas Egger has accepted the call to be the 11th President of Concordia Seminary.

https://www.csl.edu/2021/02/egger-accepts-call-as-11th-seminary-president/