LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 267

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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