Published on August 23, 2024, 12:38 am

A seldom-seen triumph in the realm of American religious history is the successful recoil of a Christian denomination against an attempted induction into theological liberalism by professional theologians. This victory occurred half a century ago when conservative pastors, along with affiliated laity, shielded the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod from this impending fate.

A remarkable incident took place in 1974, wherein 90% of the faculty members (comprising forty-five out of fifty professors) at Concordia Seminary walked off campus to establish their independent liberal theological institution. Further, about four-fifths of the student body went into self-declared “exile” in solidarity with these educators. Subsequently, around two hundred congregations departed from the church body’s original six thousand and were amalgamated into the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches.

The battle to keep the church intact amid ideological conflict was filled with intense drama characterised by tumultuous conventions, rebellious meetings, pompous orations, shrill protests and press conferences. The imbroglio culminated in a theatrical exodus from the seminary site featuring symbolic moves such as boarding up arches and gateways on campus alongside holding mock funeral rites for Concordia Seminary.

In contemporary times, when churches splinter over issues like sexual orientations or thinly veiled political motives, it might seem oddly refreshing that at its core this ecclesiastical rupture was about theology – specifically biblical interpretation. At its heart lies a dispute over historical criticism – an interpretive method initiated in blood during the Enlightenment era that treats divine scripture merely as any other product of human effort open to questioning and critique.

This method is pivotal to liberal theology as adopted by many mainline Protestant denominations including Lutherans, Presbyterians Episcopalians and Methodists among others despite its dismissive approach towards miracles and undermining stance towards biblical authority. Over time increasing reports began surfacing within Concordia Seminary about some professors publicly favouring this controversial analytical method casting doubt over the verbal inspiration of scriptures by the Holy Spirit.

This triggered multiple synodical conventions between 1962 and 1969 focused on dissecting the emerging concerns. These convents passed various resolutions reinforcing long-standing biblical principles only to discover additional fears around these teachings gravitating towards liberalism thus indicating a clear shift from religious orthodoxy to an assertive questioning of scriptural authority.

The showdown reached its peak during the 1973 Synod convention held at the Rivergate Convention Center, New Orleans. The liberal majority found themselves declared “not to be tolerated in the church of God.” However, further escalation took less than week with protest rallies being held on campus spearheaded by faculty representatives launching their own alternative newspaper.

Ultimately, when upper-echelon leadership was finally suspended in January 1974 – temporarily; remuneration was marked and benefits were accorded – defiant members experienced a “Here I Stand” moment. This culminated with a symbolic procession featuring academic-dressed professors reading from Scriptures, prayers being offered, climaxing with songs from a carillon before marching away into exile.

What followed this departure lasted for thirteen years evolving eventually into Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches home to congregations that stood proudly left-leaning exactly as theological liberals had intended it to be. This story is an essential reminder: If divine authority imparted through Scriptures is belittled or neglected, then contemporary trends easily commandeer its place leading inevitably towards eventual disintegration exemplified in dwindling membership and diminishing reverence in American Protestantism.

Yet Concordia Seminary bounced back reasonably quickly returning to pre-exodus numbers within five years while its parent entity – Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod – remained resolute despite momentary setbacks safeguarding its conservative biblical theology driven by departures that banished most of its faction leaning towards liberalism from its ranks in February 1974.

This chapter in church history reveals critical lessons for religious institutions. Firstly, faith-bodies armed with a solid theological education and an unwavering commitment to principles can effectively deflect left-leaning forces intent on reshaping their essential character. Additionally, such sagas emphasize the indispensable role of maintaining scriptural sanctity. When human wisdom attempts to seize the prerogative rightfully belonging to the divine word, it lays open a Pandora box where temporal causes take precedence over time-honoured teachings – all too evident in modern Protestant mainline churches today.

So in our quest for trusted news about real events unfolding around us rooted in a Christian worldview, it’s crucial to balance progressive ideals with traditional doctrines underpinning Christianity.