# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S267 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 267 vote of at least 50% of the District presidents present and voting, and shall be by written ballot.” Circuit 3 Forum, South Wisconsin District; Circuit 16 Forum, South Wisconsin District; Circuit 17 Forum, South Wisconsin District; Pilgrim, West Bend, WI 7-90 To Certify Pastor Herman Otten WHEREAS, In 1957 Pastor Herman Otten successfully completed the prescribed course of studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and was granted his Theological Diploma, which says that he is fit and suitable to preach the Word of God and administer the sacra- ments as a pastor in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, Since 1958 Pastor Otten has been the pastor of Trin- ity Lutheran Church, New Haven, Missouri, one of the congrega- tions in the Washington Circuit of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Missouri District; and WHEREAS, In 1960 and in 1984 the Commission on Appeals of the LCMS ruled that Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, has never shown any valid scriptural reason why Pastor Otten should not be certified for the pastoral ministry in the LCMS; and WHEREAS, The rulings of the Commission on appeals are bind- ing upon the seminary; and WHEREAS, The Washington Circuit Pastoral Conference asked the faculty of Concordia Seminary to send a representative of the faculty to explain to the pastors of the Washington Circuit why Pas- tor Otten was not certified by the seminary; and WHEREAS, The faculty of Concordia Seminary refused to send a representative to the Washington Circuit to present the seminary’s reasons for not certifying Pastor Otten; and WHEREAS, When the Washington Circuit Pastoral Conference asked to meet with representatives of the faculty of Concordia Seminary at Concordia Seminary to receive the faculty’s reasons for not certifying Pastor Otten, the seminary refused the Circuit’s offer to meet at the seminary; and WHEREAS, Pastor Kenneth Fischer as Circuit Counselor of the Washington Circuit said in a statement presented to a convention committee at the 1995 convention of the LCMS: Herman is a modern-day John the Baptist. All that is lacking is the wearing of camel’s hair and the eating of locusts and honey. The issue here is not whether you like Herman Otten or even if you agree with Herman Otten. The issue here is whether Rev. Otten has been denied his civil right to serve as a certified pastor on the LCMS clergy roster without the necessary colloquy. Voting for or against Rev. Herman Otten for certification is not just a matter of sentiment for those of us who have known him in the Circuit. Some day I think: I know, we will be called upon to explain why we didn’t support the modern day prophet ... who stood up to defend the clearly revealed teaching of Scripture. I am appalled at the present day faculty that has refused to give him a hearing ... 1 don’t want my Synod or the Seminary faculty to be embarrassed or lose face but if Rev. Otten were to take this matter to the civil courts, I feel the Seminary and the Synod would lose and it would be very costly. I think he has shown great integrity by not going to the courts of the land. The simplest and best thing to do is simply let the 62-year-old Rev. Herman Otten be certified. Let it be done with. WHEREAS, Pastor Fred Hertwig and Pastor Ronald Hoehne, who had been Counselors of the Washington Circuit prior to Pastor Fisher and through the years other pastors of the Washington Cir- cuit, who have known Pastor Otten since 1958, supported the posi- tion taken by Circuit Counselor Fischer; and WHEREAS, The pastors of the Washington Circuit during the 40 years that Pastor Otten has been the pastor of a Washington Cir- cuit congregation have had far more direct contact with Pastor Otten than the professors now at Concordia Seminary who never had him as a student; and WHEREAS, Some laymen in the Washington Circuit have been confused when Pastor Otten does not participate in Circuit instal- lations and ordinations because he is not certified; therefore be it Resolved, That the 1998 convention of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod itself take whatever action is necessary to have Pastor Herman Otten certified for the pastoral ministry in the LCMS. Washington Circuit Missouri District 7-91 To Place Herman Otten on Roster and Provide Compensation WHEREAS, The malicious 30-year campaign of technicalities against Pastor Herman Otten’s attempt to gain official membership in the Missouri Synod is a notorious injustice and a public scandal; and WHEREAS, The highest Missouri Synod judicial body, the Board of Appeals, has unanimously ruled, in 1984, that the earlier 5-5 split decision meant that Pastor Otten had prevailed; and WHEREAS, It is not fair to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, to ask it to act as judge and party in the same dispute; therefore be it Resolved, That the Missouri Synod in convention assembled of- ficially recognize that the 1984 Board of Appeals decision is the correct and final resolution of the matter; and be it further Resolved, That the President of Synod is hereby directed to im- plement this decision at once; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod express profound regret that the 1984 decision has been unjustly ignored for 14 years, and request the President of Synod at his discretion to take all necessary steps to provide fair monetary compensation to the Herman Otten family for losses sustained as a result of the synodical breach of justice and of its own Bylaws. Trinity Westville, IN 7-92 To Accept Herman Otten into Ministry of the LCMS WHEREAS, Rev. Herman Otten has suffered a great injustice and has been kept out of the ministry of The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod for more than a quarter century without just cause, therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod at the 1998 convention accept the ruling of its Commission on Appeals and declare that Pastor Otten is eligible for the ministry in the LCMS. St. John Waterbury, CT 7-93 To Certify Rev. Herman J. Otten and Amend Bylaw 2.09 WHEREAS, In 1957 Rev. Herman J. Otten (hereinafter Otten) successfully completed the prescribed course of studies at Concor- dia Seminary, St. Louis (hereinafter Concordia Seminary), includ- ing a year of vicarage, was granted his theological diploma, which on its face stated that he is fit and suitable to preach the Word of God and administer the Sacraments as a pastor in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, Since 1958, Otten has served with distinction as the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Haven, Mo., a church in 1957 and now a member in good standing in the LCMS; and