Valparaiso repents for interfaith service

Christian Century, Nov 1, 2003

Top officials at Valparaiso University have "expressed sincere repentance" to Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod members for permitting a 2002 interfaith service to take place on their campus in Valparaiso, Indiana. The service marked the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Last year's campus service was the subject of a formal complaint because it included prayers by Muslim and Jewish leaders.

University President Alan Harre, an ordained minister, and Joseph Cunningham, pastor of the campus chapel, received letters September 22 that clarified the resolution of the dispute by the synod's Praesidium, the Associated Press reported. "The defendants expressed sincere repentance for the wrong that they did in authorizing and conducting the service," read the letter signed by Paul Maier, president of the Praesidium, which is composed of the president and the five vice presidents of the denomination.

Clergy from eight states had filed a complaint about the service, but the former president of the Indiana district cleared the university leaders of any wrongdoing earlier this year. The Praesidimn ordered a further investigation.

David Strand, a spokesman for the St. Louis based denomination, said the conflict shows "the synod takes its doctrine and its clear public proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ very seriously." He added: "At the same time, it shows that the synod, like other Christian church bodies, is trying to discern its proper role in au increasingly pluralistic society while staying true to its doctrines and practices."

Reggie Syrcle, spokesman for the university, said the conflict probably will influence future interfaith relations on the campus, which has ties to the denomination but is not financially supported by it. "It probably will help inform the way, we go about doing things," he said.

In a similar controversy, LCMS minister David Benke was suspended from his job as president of the church's Atlantic District after taking part in all interfaith Yankee Stadium event days after the 9/11 attacks. The denomination announced in May that Benke's suspension had been lifted after a panel determined that he had not rejected church practices.--RNS