Conservatives aim to defeat president

Pastors objected to the mixing of religious beliefs.
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Rev. David Benke caused a stir within the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod by praying at a Yankee Stadium interfaith service days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Nearly three years later, that brief prayer will be a central issue in the denomination's elections scheduled for today.
The Rev. Gerald Kieschnick, a first-term president of the conservative Missouri Synod, had approved the Rev. Mr. Benke's participation in the New York event. Some pastors objected, saying the service improperly mixed different religious beliefs, and they blamed the Rev. Mr. Kieschnick for allowing Mr. Benke to join in.
The bad feeling lingers as about 1,200 church delegates prepare to vote in St. Louis on whether Mr. Kieschnick or one of four other candidates should lead the 2.6 million-member denomination from now on.
"I think it's 50-50 as to whether he is re-elected or not. Conservatives are very intent on his defeat," said the Rev. Russell Saltzman, editor of Forum Letter, a publication about Lutheranism.
Mr. Benke, president of the synod's Atlantic District based in Bronxville, N.Y., uttered a prayer of fewer than 300 words at the Sept. 23, 2001, service, asking God to provide strength and consolation. Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu clergy were among the participants, as were celebrities such as Bette Midler and politicians including Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
Objections
The objecting pastors said Mr. Benke's actions violated denominational rules against syncretism -- the mingling of Christian and non-Christian beliefs -- and unionism -- when people of different faiths worship together. The pastors filed formal charges against Mr. Benke and he was suspended for several months until a church review cleared him.
Mr. Kieschnick stands by his actions in the interfaith dustup.
"Our church body has a position that when a pastor is invited to offer a prayer, read Scripture or speak at an event sponsored by a government organization -- as long as there is no restriction on his Christian witness -- he can choose to participate," Mr. Kieschnick said.
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