Theology is Too Important to Be Left to the Experts

The latest controversy in the Synod regarding the Annotated Large Catechism has once again demonstrated the great strength of the Missouri Synod as a church that defines itself as being made up of, and led by, both pastors and laymen. The most widely read catena of quotations from the book was made by a concerned layman and posted to his Twitter account which was encouraged other laymen, and pastors, to read the essays and express their concerns to President Harrison. To his great credit, President Harrison took the concerns of these laymen seriously. He determined that these concerns need to be addressed.

President Harrison not only acted swiftly – he acted in the exact same way as any good pastor would act if a hue and cry went up from the laity about something that was said in church that didn’t seem right to them. He did not diminish the critique out of hand because it came from laymen. He did not insist that since various experts had signed off on it, everything was fine. He did not say, “Don’t worry, you can trust the pros.” He knows that the sheep hear the voice of their Shepherd and will not follow another – so it concerned him that so many seemed to be hearing a foreign voice in some of these essays.

One more word about the process of doctrinal review in the Missouri Synod. Here’s how it works. In a collection of essays like this, each essay would go to one reviewer chosen from the pool of reviewers. Sometimes a reviewer’s expertise can be taken into account in what is assigned to him for review – but it’s still one guy. He can give the piece a pass, pass with suggestions, or fail. It’s not another line of editing; it’s not a committee; it’s one man on the clergy roster doing his level best. It’s a fine process for 99% of what is published in the Synod and helps keep our Confession clear.

But nothing’s perfect in this fallen world. In the past few years there have been a couple of well-publicized examples of works which went through DR, passed, but then later had their approved status revoked after an appeal was filed. One was a book of essays against women in the office of the ministry and another was an edition of the Book of Concord with notes.

So it happens. President Harrison wisely put the brakes on this book as soon as the alarm was sounded: otherwise DR appeals were sure to number in the hundreds and it would have been recalled anyway.

It’s another good example of how important the office of Synod President is. A reminder not only for those who do the electing, but also to those who are elected.