13 April 2008

Press Release for Issues, Etc. Demonstration

Media Alert
4/11/2008


On Monday, April 14 at 11:00am, concerned Lutherans from across the country will demonstrate outside the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Headquarters in Kirkwood, MO (Address: 1333 S Kirkwood Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122) in response to the cancellation of its popular talk radio show “Issues, Etc.” and the firing of its host Rev. Todd Wilken and the producer Jeff Schwarz. Issues, Etc. broadcast on AM 850 KFUO weekdays from 3pm -6pm and was nationally syndicated Sunday nights.

The show was cancelled on Holy Tuesday (five days before Easter) by the Executive Director of the Synod’s Board for Communication Services, David Strand. On that day, not only were the two men fired without any given reason, but the show’s archives and audio files were pulled from websites as if the show never existed. For more information, see Mollie Ziegler Hemingway’s article Radio Silence in the March 28 edition of the Wall Street Journal.

There has been much public outcry, including a petition with over 7000 signatures, numerous phone calls and emails to the Synod to reverse their decision, and resolutions passed by LCMS Pastors’ Conferences and District Board of Directors.

Pertinent websites:
http://augsburg1530.wordpress.com/
http://weedon.blogspot.com/
http://rasburrysres.blogspot.com/
http://www.kfuoam.org/
http://bringbackissues.blogspot.com/

2 comments:

Rob Olson said...

Who is coming to the demonstration in support of Issues, Etc. between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Monday, April 14 at the LCMS International Center, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road in St. Louis?

Randy Asburry said...

Lots of folks. I think several of us were pleasantly surprised at how many showed up this evening for Evening Prayer and dinner at Emmaus. We were tickled with how many showed up for the "poster-making party" at Hope afterward (and that after having to drive from Emmaus to Hope via St. Louis city streets! :-).

So, I for one can't give a whole list, but it looks like many folks will show up for a good cause.