Issues, Etc. and the Travesty of its Cancellation

By now, I'm sure many of you have heard about the cancellation of the very popular radio program "Issues, Etc.", which was hosted by Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Mr. Jeff Schwarz. And if you've heard about this, you likely also know about the OUTRAGE it has caused amongst those who listened to the program.

It is still not known WHY the program was canceled, or by WHOM! A statement was put on the KFUO-AM website stating that the decision had been made because of "programmatic and business reasons," but those reasons are never given. What's even worse, especially for Pr. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz, is that THEY were never given a reason for what happened!

Now, I don't know about you, but if I'm terminated from a job, I would like to know why. 

There are literally hundreds, probably thousands of people not just in the United States, but WORLDWIDE who are very upset and hurt by the decision to cancel this show. I've read comments from people who've said that Pr. Wilken and the show in general were responsible for their conversion to Lutheranism, and in some cases, Christianity.

It wasn't just Lutherans – and certainly not just Lutherans in the Missouri Synod – who listened to the show on a daily or weekly basis, but also those from various other denominations who enjoyed and benefited from listening to the confessional Lutheran pastor who ran the program, and his equally confessional guests. One of the reasons for this was that the Gospel and Law were presented in truth and in love and deep devotion to Christ and His church on Earth.

To cancel this show abruptly, without warning or explanation, is a devastating travesty, and none of us should take any of this sitting down, and we don't have to.

There is a petition circulating that you can sign your name to, and hopefully it will make an impact at KFUO, the LCMS headquarters, the LCMS Board of Directors, and the Board of Communications. It's being targeted at the "Purple Palace" and KFUO directly, because it is thought that these organizations were primarily responsible for canceling the show and firing Pr. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz.

It appears that a PROTEST may be in the works, as well. The idea is to protest in front of the LCMS headquarters, and possibly also in front of KFUO in St. Louis, Missouri, very soon. How soon? We don't know. Pastor William Weedon of Hamel, Illinois, is asking that we keep these problems and the people involved in our prayers, and try to make it through the rest of Holy Week and Easter focusing on these very holy events instead of getting riled up. I know that's not going to be easy, though.

The Wittenberg Trail administrators have created a fund that you can contribute money through PayPal to Pr. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz, but if you don't feel comfortable with doing that, you can send a check or money order to this address: 

"Schwarz/Wilken Fund"

St. Paul Lutheran Church

P.O. Box 247

Hamel, IL 62046

Also, Darth Nemoyer has listed a LOT of information on his blog about this event, and has even listed websites and other blogs where the issue about "Issues" is being discussed. 

We CANNOT allow our confessional pastors to be persecuted, fired and left to fend for themselves, especially when OUR SYNOD, the same entity that gave them their training and congregations by means of callings or placements, is the one that is throwing them to the curb because they're being FAITHFUL! Issues, Etc. was the ONLY Christian radio station that taught correct Christian doctrine from a Lutheran standpoint. It was the ONLY one that guided confessional Lutheranism, and helped not just pastors, but laity... and even people in other denominations! 

WE WILL NOT SIT IDLY BY AS CONFESSIONAL LUTHERANS ARE SYSTEMATICALLY WEEDED OUT IN FAVOR OF FALSE DOCTRINE. WHETHER THE DECISION CAME FROM PRESIDENT KIESCHNICK, KFUO OR SOMEONE ELSE, THESE PEOPLE DID NOT DESERVE TO BE TREATED SO POORLY, AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE SHOULD BE ASHAMED THAT THEY DID THIS DURING HOLY WEEK!!!!!

Join the fight. For Issues, Etc. For Pastor Wilken. For Mr. Schwarz. For all that is holy, right and salutary! Pray that evil will not take over our synod, and that we have the courage to stand against it when it comes knocking. If we allow this to continue, evil will overtake this synod. WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE! God save us all.