Let me state clearly what I am referring to when I speak about "Suppression" It is a term of art relating to the manner in which an official in a church hierarchy disposes of real property owned or used by a congregation. Suppression traditionally has been a practice within the Roman Catholic Church. It is initiated by the Bishop having jurisdiction over a diocese.
Suppression has become very well known in Roman Catholic circles in recent years. The onslaught of legal actions by those abused by priests has necessitated the Catholic Bishops to find some way of satisfying the resultant claims. To accumulate the vast sums of liquid assets needed, the Bishops have frequently ordered congregations to be closed and their properties sold.
These acts of Suppression have not always been supported by the members of the parishes involved. In fact, often members of these congregations have fought hard to keep their property. These efforts have not always been successful. Organizations such as Endangered Catholics, have been established to fight the efforts of Bishops to use Suppression to close and sell these congregations.
The Endangered Catholics website can be found at http://www.endangeredcatholics.org/, It should be remembered that unlike in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, the Catholic Church has a hierarchy, and the Diocese has a legal interest, if not title to all the property in its jurisdiction.
It appears that some District Presidents of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod have now taken the position that a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod District holds some interest in real property owned by congregations, even though the title or deed is solely in the name of the congregation. These District Presidents also claim for themselves the authority, if not the title of bishops, with the power to close congregations, seize real property or transfer title thereof to the District's own name, sell or otherwise dispose of the property and use the proceeds as the District deems appropriate.
This was the position taken by the District President for The California-Nevada-Hawii-District in a lawsuit filed against members of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.(Lee v.Bowles Alameda County Superior Court Case # RG07363452) That District was unsuccessful becasue the Court found the District had no authority to claim any interest in the property of the congregation.
The District President for the Northwest District now claims District ownership of the property of Gloria Dei Lutheran congregation in Spokane. The basis for claiming the District's ownership is that Gloria Dei dissolved. Yet no dissolution papers have ever been filed, the congregation is still recognized as "Active" by the State of Washington, and many members still gather each Sunday to worship together, though at another location..
These are just two instances where the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Presidents have acted like "Bishops" and used "Suppression" tactics of Roman Catholic hierarchy to obtain property.
Why would these particular District Presidents take this unprecedented step and assume for themselves a power that is authorized neither in the Constitution or Bylaws of the Synod,and that turns upside down the relationship between LCMS congregations and the Synod?
The answer is found in the May special issue of the Synod's own magazine, Lutheran Witness. The Synod has a serious financial shortfall. For example, the Northwest District has had a 36% drop in pledged contributions. (LW, page 11).
As congregations of the Synod, and as individuals who love the Church, it is time we communicate our displeasure to any District Presidents who presume power or authority they do not have. We should demand they acknowledge that our Constitution and Bylaws do not recognize any power of Suppression or similar right or power in the District, and insist District Presidents not claim such authority simply because it is expedient.
If they do not restrain themselves from such actions as were done to Our Redeemer, Oakland, and Gloria Dei, Spokane, it may become necessary for congregations and individuals to take unusual steps such as withhold pledges and contributions to the Districts, as several Roman Catholics are now doing in their various Dioceses..
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