Sample emails or letters to send

Return to Issues Etc Trademark

This page has a variety of emails that have been sent by people to the BOD or the SP, or your own district president. Please compose your own, perhaps using ideas from these, and send them in.

If you write an email or letter, please contact us with the text and we'll add it to this page!

In addition to the below, here are some talking points that you may use to come up with your own letter:

• Why does the LCMS want the trademark for Issues, Etc. when they have already canceled the show for economic reasons?
• How much money is being spent on this? It is clear that law firm partners are working on this which means large billings to the LCMS. Do you as a BOD member/District President know how much is being spent?
• Does this seem like a good thing to spend money on when our ordained missionary pool is being cut?
• Does this seem like godly action - to harm the livelihood of men who produce a show that has done so much to bring so many people to the truth of Lutheranism and to build up those who are already Lutheran?
• Why did the legal document shown starting on page 49 of the filings add so many restrictions that were not on the resolution passed by the Board of Directors?

Also, consider sending a FAX .. a piece of paper is much harder to ignore than an email:

Synod’s fax # is 314-996-1016

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Dear Rev. Kieschnick,

I'm a long-time Christian considering joining an LCMS church. My interest in Lutheran theology was sparked largely due to the well reasoned presentation of Law and Gospel, good exegesis of the Scripture, and worldview analysis I heard on KFUO radio prior to the removal of the Issues, Etc. program.

I am concerned about the statements I have heard that indicate you may be planning to take legal action against two brothers in Christ, Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz in regards to the trademark name, Issues, Etc. What is the biblical basis for Christians bringing lawsuits against other Christians? I have always been taught that this is wrong, particularly based on 1 Corinthians 6. It was my understanding that believers and unbelievers might be involved in lawsuits, which would indicate that either you or Wilken and Schwarz would be assumed to be under Church discipline and being treated as an unbeliever. This would not seem to be the case.

Such activity gives me serious second thoughts about joining an LCMS congregation. If the leadership is involved in an unscriptural conflict it would seem to erode the idea that the LCMS is committed to a high regard for the Bible.

I do hope you can reply in the near future. Thank you for your time.

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Another sample email:

Greetings in the Name of Christ, our Lord!

Ladies and Gentleman, I have become aware of the child-like, unchristian behavior from you all directed to Rev. Todd Wilken and Mr. Jeff Schwartz in regard to the "Issues, Etc." trade mark, and am thoroughly disgusted that a supposed Christian Organization, albeit human and subject to the effects of the Fall, is engaging in threats and bully tactics in regards to the same. What have you to say for yourselves? Where, in Scripture, is this type of behavior (threatening with lawsuit) condoned? You all ought to be ashamed of yourselves! If our Brothers, Wilken and Schwartz, sinned against you, please show this and show where you have, according to Matthew 18, gone to these “Proclaimers of the Gospel”, shown them their error and their refusal to listen.

The truth is, Brother’s Wilken and Schwartz have not sinned; they have not engaged in bully tactics or the threatening of lawsuits. The sin actually lies with you all and therefore I rebuke you and humbly request you turn from this sin of the 1st Commandment, 8th Commandment, and the 9th and 10th Commandment. As a sinner myself, I also have broken these Commandments, have felt the guilt, repented and have been graciously forgiven by my Lord, Christ. Please, brothers and sisters in Christ, repent of your sins in this matter so that you may graciously be forgiven. I do not have to remind you that because your sin is public, this will require a public repentance so that you may receive forgiveness, publicly.

In addition to the above questions, which I demand an answer, I also demand answers to the following questions.

Why do you continue to try to stifle the proclamation of the Gospel that comes through the program Issues, Etc?

Why do you want to spend more money, in the form of lawsuits and such, when our Synod is fiscally broken and strapped for cash? (This is evident from the information in the BOD minutes, and the trouble with the continued funding of Issues, etc.)

After you allowed the lapse of Issues, Etc. trademark, why do you now, all the sudden, want the trademark back?

Why, after the BOD, where a supposed agreement was made to allow Rev. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz use of the trademark, do you now hold back this agreement followed by a threat of lawsuit?

Why, does Rev. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz, say there was no agreement made with them, and you say there was? When answering this question, keep in mind the 8th Commandment, and remember God is listening.

Thank you for your time.

Kiley Campbell, Elder
Redeemer Lutheran Church, LCMS
Jackson, WY

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Another sample email:

President Kieschnick,

It has recently come to my attention that you along with the BOD are in the process of bringing a personal suit against Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz for use of the Issues, etc trademark. Since the trademark was abandoned by LCMS years ago and later re-registered by another person, this seems to be a waste of time and money on the part of the Synod. The money would be better spent on missions and outreach. In fact, NO Synod money should be spent on a lawsuit against fellow Christians and brothers in Christ. This is not a scriptural thing to do (1 Corinthians 6:1-8).

I have been an avid listener to Issues, etc and have been strengthened in my faith. I find it easier to share my faith with those who I come in contact with as a result of the topics and guests they have on the program. When believers are informed and built up, God's kingdom is glorified and more come to faith in Jesus Christ. It is a tremendous outreach to not only those in our Synod, but to our neighbors and the world.

Let us look at Issues, etc from the aspect of reaching the world for Christ. Put the pettiness of whatever is at the core of this and look at what is being done to spread God's Word of Salvation through the Savior, Christ Jesus. Isn't that what we as Synod are called to do?

In Christ,

Billye Roseleip
Deer Lodge, Montana

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President Kieschnick,

Please explain to me how you can justify the lawsuit concerning the Issues, etc. name. The show does an excellent job of spreading the truth of the word from a Lutheran standpoint. The LCMS BCS determined that it was not financially feasible to run the show on KFUO so why the big problem with Wilken and Schwarz preaching good Lutheran doctrine from another venue?

I hope you will drop this ridiculous effort and put the money toward spreading the Gospel instead of suppressing it. The Synod's congregations do not support the ministry of the Synod to have the money spent in this way.

I await your response.

Prayerfully,

Jerry Roseleip
Deer Lodge, MT

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Dear Sirs,

Please drop your pursuit of the Issues Etc. trademark. You have cancelled the show for your own "financial" reasons and have not replaced it with anything meaningful or utilized the name. You have fired the two individuals responsible for the show and said you hold no malice to them. You claim to be in financial shortfalls in many areas including missions forcing the recall of ministers from remote locations. YET you squander the resources of Synod on this frivilous trademark pursuit without reasonable justification. You threaten harm to the two individuals you fired in the pursuit of their vocation and their correct and courageous proclaimation of Christ's Gospel.

Again I request that you cease this meaningless and pointless pursuit. Consider how ridiculous you appear. If nothing else - shine daylight on your reasoning for this action so that we may know why you take such pointless actions.

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President May and Synod Board of Directors,

Grace, mercy and peace in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The very Jesus who shed his blood to redeem the world and gave to his Church the task of spreading the Good News to all nations. May his grace sustain you.

I wrote to you last March when the Synod's Board for Communication Services canceled the station's top-rated show, Issues,Etc, and fired the host, Pastor Todd Wilken, and the show's producer, Mr Jeff Schwarz. I was hoping for a definitive explanation from the BCS, but the reasons offered for their actions have been unsatisfactory, and have in fact changed over the following weeks and months.

While I was saddened to see the mission-minded show leave the station, God has blessed their efforts and it has come back as an independent internet ministry on the Pirate Christian Radio network, a new media project of an LC-MS member in California. The show has a documented listenership in the tens of thousands. (Internet broadcast statistics are much more accurate than traditional radio ratings.) I know of no TV, radio or internet broadcast that daily deals with the same topics from a Christian viewpoint, much less from a strong Lutheran perspective. It truly has a worldwide reach and has brought many listeners to Christ, and to the LC-MS. It should be the type of outreach that all LC-MS members, congregations, districts and synod should be supporting in this age of "new media".

However lawyers, on behalf of our synod Board of Directors, have initiated legal action over the trademark "Issues, Etc". Legal action has also been threatened against Wilken and Schwarz personally because Pastor Wilken and Mr Schwarz have declined to sign a one-sided agreement with the Synod. The offer was refused for several reasons.

Synod did not renew the trademark when it expired in 1999. It has no ownership rights to bargain or threaten with.
Since the show was removed from KFUO, our synod has made it clear that it has has no desire to use the trademark.(see B.O.D. minutes from last fall)

The "agreement" included a clause that would have prevented the show from criticizing the LC-MS.

I find the third point particularly troublesome. The Church ought to remain in a constant state of reformation. This cannot be done without constructive criticism being made. I shudder to think what would have happened if Martin Luther had recanted and kept himself silenced thereafter. Truly, the Gospel would have suffered!

Indeed, I struggle to see how this recommendation by the lawyers, if carried out, would bless the Gospel and glorify Christ’s name. Does it not hinder the Gospel and tarnish the name of our Savior? Would such a suit be good stewardship of the resources God had granted us?

One of the main reasons given for the cancellation and firings was "financial", the show was declared to be simply too expensive to continue. If that was truly the case, why has Synod hired a legal firm and begun legal proceedings to regain the trademark name that they failed to renew when it expired in 1999? Why are synod lawyers threatening to sue Pastor Wilken and Mr Schwarz unless they sign a "gag order" and agree not to comment on the LCMS? The lawyer fees alone could easily surpass the Issues, Etc. portion of the KFUO budget. Just another reason so many congregations are questioning their contributions to district/synod.

I believe that there is a Board of Directors meeting and also a Council of Presidents meeting this weekend, and, for the sake of the Gospel, I urge you to oppose any possible action against Issues, Etc. and to support a resolution that may be introduced at the Indiana district convention, condemning the legal actions.

In just a little over twelve hours, nearly 1000 supporters of the show have signed an online petition here asking the synod to drop the challenge and let the show and its staff continue their efforts without harrassment from synod lawyers.

We as a synod should pray for the best for the ministry of Issues, Etc. and that God may forgive us for the sake of his Son for letting such a letter as the one below to be sent.

Unfortunately, events such as this seem to be the new norm for the Synod leadership. Traditional, confessional, liturgical teaching and ministers are being sacrificed in the name of numbers and church growth principles, regardless if they are based in the scriptures as revealed in the confessions. My concern is that this latest cycle of lawsuits is not an isolated event, but the chosen direction of the President and Board of Directors to help enforce their definition of "success" in the synod.

If you would like to review some of the backup material and dialogue on these concerns, please refer to the website of the Brothers of John The Steadfast, a website begun by concerned laymen and pastors in the aftermath of the cancellation and firings last spring.

Blessings in Christ,

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