A New Relationship

I was surprised to see that I received a magazine (Fall 2023) published by a former LCMS university. But to be charitable, I suppose it takes time to update mailing lists and magazine subscriptions when one leaves the synod. I did not give it much thought, and set the publication aside. Why I didn’t toss it in the trash, I don’t know. But I’m glad I didn’t. Because after some fellow LCMS pastors told me what was in it, I would not have enjoyed picking it out of the garbage.

The theme of the issue is “Fearless Exploration.” And the opening article features a statue of Martin Luther. There is an interesting paragraph that reads:

Instead, fearless exploration can be the story of the first-generation college student who changes her family’s trajectory, the professor whose personal adventure inspires students to step out of their own comfort zones, or innovative programs that evolve in step with real-world needs. It can be the story of our university itself as Concordia adjusts its governance and explores a new relationship with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS).

A “new relationship”?

Now that is a bodacious bit of gaslighting, isn’t it?

In the movie “Gaslight” from which the figure of speech comes, an abusive husband uses the gaslight in the house to convince his wife that she has lost her mind (in order to get his hands on her money, no less). Clearly, the leadership of CTX thinks that we in the LCMS have lost our minds. What is this “new relationship”? Unless the courts rule that their unilateral secession from the LCMS was illegal, CTX has severed its ties with our synod. The new regents who were elected at this last convention were not seated by the rump remainder of the regency.

To call this a “new relationship” is a most apt term in the current trashworld in which we live. Indeed, we have a plethora of “new relationships.” Nobody even bats an eye at the most ridiculous things that are called “relationships” these days. These “new relationships” are, well, “interesting.”

How many of us have heard lurid tales of “new relationships,” like the gaslighting husband who, out of the blue, announces to his wife that he is moving out, has a “new relationship” - and is maybe even bisexual and polyamorous - but he is still going to maintain his “relationship” with the wife and children? And in fact, maybe he is only maintaining this “relationship” for the sake of money. Such is the trashworld in which we live, where the moral compass spins around like Linda Blair’s head in The Exorcist.

Right. “New relationship.” Be fearless, members of synod, for this is a “new relationship.” Sweet.

In the masthead, it is claimed that CTX is “aligned with The Lutheran Church—-Missouri Synod.”

“Aligned.”

As seen in the examples below, CTX’s oversight by synod in years past has already been, shall we say, permissive. Can you see the gaslight flicker? Even before the “new relationship,” CTX has not exactly been the paragon of Lutheran identity. As I published here earlier, have a look at their worship, shall we, my fellow alignees?

Here is chapel explained by Pastor Jake:

Here is a chapel worship service from earlier this year. At about minute 21:20, Pastor Jake leads an altar call. He explains the significance of the altar: “This is where Jesus, not the physical one, but it’s a memorial of Jesus sacrificing His life for us”:

Here is a chapel service led by a young woman who appears to be a student. She not only reads Scripture, but also leads prayers, including the Confiteor from Compline, and she pronounces the benediction at the end:

Per the magazine: “Concordia Texas offers Chapel three times per week, complemented by a student-led worship service called the Refuge.”

Here’s what that looks like. The sermon begins at 19:30:

And here is the most recent chapel service. At 16:45, the campus pastor explains that they are going to introduce the Eucharist to the chapel services a couple times per semester. Then he gives what appears to be an interesting communion statement:

And speaking of “new relationships,” the two members of the CTX counseling staff include “LGBTQ concerns” and “an LGBTQIA+ trained provider.” Yes, this acronym actually appears on CTX’s website (I took screenshots in case the gaslight flickers in the future). In case you’re wondering what it stands for, it’s “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and the + holds space for the expanding and new understanding of different parts of the very diverse gender and sexual identities.” Lots of “new relationships” there.

I suppose it is understandable why CTX wants even less synod oversight - though the previous paradigm kind of makes it seem like there has been little to no ecclesiastical supervision happening at all. But now with the “new relationship,” we can only imagine how the “alignment” will manifest itself.

Of course, as with the gaslighting husband in the movie, there is a pecuniary aspect to CTX sending members of synod this magazine. There are indeed several appeals for donations. One could understand that if the university were still part of the LCMS. But then again, maybe this is what “alignment” means: members of synod pay, while their elected regents are refused a seat. Members of synod are solicited for money, but not invited to exercise any oversight. That’s quite a “relationship.”

So now we know what a “new relationship” looks like. As the old saying goes, “Why buy the cow when the milk’s free?” It does seem like the shrewd leadership of CTX is indeed fearless, both the president and the chairman of the rump. And this calls to mind a part of what they would hopefully describe as their “Lutheran roots”:

We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

These fearless new relationships are indeed, well, “interesting.”