Rediscovering the Issues

Much more than a clash of personalities between those in the Missouri Synod leadership or a simple "battle for the Bible," the Walkout and the creation of Christ Seminary-Seminex were the culmination of theological conflicts that had been brewing for decades. Among these were strong disagreements about the relationship between the Gospel and Scripture, the historicity of biblical events and persons, methods of biblical interpretation, subscription to synodkal confessional statements, guidelines for church fellowship, the uses of God's Law, and how the Christian mission is to be carried out. Rediscovering the Issues provides historical and theological background for the events of the spring of 1974. Each of its eleven chapters explores a key issue that contributed to the fragmenting of congregations, families, a seminary, and a church body. Study questions for individual or group reflection and additional suggested reading material advance the discussion of this pivotal episode in North American Christianity.