It's good that there was a swift response; it's difficult to see how it is a sufficient response. Applying water to people who want to "renew" their baptisms "In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" is at the very least a misuse of the name of the Holy Trinity, verging on blasphemy. One does not "renew" one's baptism. It is the work of God. One returns to it in repentance and faith. In the video it was impossible to hear Pastor Zehnder's words, but it was clear that he was invoking the name of the Trinity both as he "renewed" the baptism of some and as he baptized others. It is a mistake no pastor who subscribes to the Lutheran Confessions sincerely could or should make
This issue needs to be further examined as King of Kings will no doubt keep trying to push the edge of the envelope with their practices. I don't trust Pr. Zehnder's statements as, at times, he says he thinks what folks questioning him want to hear.
And this is further proof of what many of us have been saying for decades: "lex orandi, lex credendi". How you worship is the law of what you believe. It should come as no surprise that when a church's worship is practically indistinguishable from a non-denominational church, its administration of the Sacrament of Baptism comes to resemble that of a non-denominational church as well.
There used to be a place on King of Kings website that explicitly talked about re-baptism (I previously found it when addressing some concerns I had with Red Letter Challenge). It’s no longer on the site, but it’s not surprising that this happened there.
We are 100% behind you if you wish to renew your baptism. We don’t call it a “re-baptism” since we believe that baptism is a one-time event and that God works powerfully in that baptism. If you wish to renew and celebrate what God did in your baptism, you are more than welcome to let us know you’re interested."
The DP’s spin - that the pastor was using ‘a form of the baptismal formula’ instead of just saying that he was ‘using the baptismal formula’ - is puzzling. It implies that the pastor was doing something that was just a little unclear and subject to leading to ‘confusion.’
In fact, the pastor said, “I baptize you.” He did not say “Let us remember when you were baptized” or any other such thing.
This is the orandi of many non-sacramental churches that will repeat baptism leading to a false confession of the credendi.
This is what happens when Lutherans (Paleo-Evangelicals) imitate Neo-Evangelicals for the sake of attracting the kinds of numbers that Neo-Evangelical megachurches do.
With respect to some of the concerns, they are all valid, but we must not discount the enormous signal this news has flashed across the Synod, just as Harrison's statement on Charlie Kirk left the Libs not coping and turbo-seething. Even liberal districts are not going to get away with deforming our confession and praxis as boldly as they used to. The consequent black pilling in the Ex-Lutheran thread on Reddit is very encouraging. https://www.reddit.com/r/exLutheran/
Most of the contributors on that Reddit exLutheran page are former confessional Lutherans complaining that the LCMS (and the WELS) reject "progressive values."
They don't like that confessional Lutherans reject: women's ordination, promiscuity, homosexuality, the "non-traditional" family, climate change, social justice, illegal immigration, "green" energy, vaxxx mandates, BLM, identity politics, the (anti-MAGA) goals of the World Economic Forum, and that followers of non-Christian religions Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. will not be saved.
If you decide to ignore such posts on that exLutheran Reddit page, what is left? Ignoring such posts instantly excludes 95% percent of them.
The LCMS (and the WELS - although the WELS is too far gone at the Synod level to matter anymore) should pay serious attention to the remaining 5% of those posts. Below is one of them. Pay special attention to these talking points:
Clergy sweat to get a specialized masters degree - an M.Div. degree that is considered worthless outside of church work. The degree also includes learning basic Hebrew and Greek.
Clergy should at minimum be compensated as much as a public high school teacher in the town where they work. They also should be married, and with 4-6 kids, to set an example for the rest of us to follow. They may need more than 40k a year in order to feed those kids.
Based on your response, I am guessing the clergy you are referring to are working in areas where the poverty rate is over 50%?
Rev. Zehnder: “I am sorry for the public confusion our service from January 28, 2024, and subsequent quarterly services caused…. I ask the Lord’s forgiveness and ours, for the confusion and offense it caused.”
Rev. Griffith: “I sincerely apologize to anyone I offended”
These are not apologies for their heterodox practices of the so-called “renewal of baptism” (re-baptism). These are Benke-style apologies for some people being confused and offended.
I, perhaps with some cynicism, note that the apologies appear to be around what was seen and how people took/saw what was seen.... not apologies centered on what was actually done. The classic "i'm sorry that you took it that way", shifting the blame to the observer.
It took them forever to respond, and when they finally did, they reduced it to a “confusion.” Translation: in their eyes, nothing actually wrong happened, and the rest of us just misunderstood.
But they never dealt with the actual transgender issue at all. And unless I missed it, the Synod President still has not weighed in.
And this is far more egregious than the “transgender stole-wearing” guy, too.
I didn't see the video. I wish Pr Zehnder fruitful ministry and I am glad he has a mind and heart for outreach. Obviously a renewal of Baptism is extrabiblical and doesn't do justice to the meaning of Baptism. This is also a reason why we don't need online MDivs with people being shaped mostly in their local congregations.
If you are referring to Roseborough arguing nonstop with a Fed (Mahler), then yes, attacking fed-built strawmen is misdirection. Roseborough needs to stop the senseless rabbit-chasing and return to critiquing Evangelicals, which is what he does best.
Secondarily yes. Primarily the 2026 resolutions calling for the disavowel of all things stone choir including their listeners. And antisepticism...don't forget antiseptic thoughts are bad and in opposition to Vatican II.
The origin of the Jews being at fault for everything is the original deception. Followers of stone choir are falling for it. Synod leaders could do everyone a favor by telling everyone to replace the word "Jew" with the word "globalist." Look at the goals of the UN, of various "world organizations," and of the WEF. They stand in opposition to Christianity and to traditional family values. "You will own nothing and be happy."
Would The Donald visiting Davos be interpreted as "Christian Nationalist" pushback against the WEF?
Below is a great news source every confessional Lutheran should read:
When a Lutheran church copies *everything* that a non-denominational church teaches, the only doctrinal differences that remain are infant baptism, the doctrine of Real Presence, and the belief in rapture.
Rebaptisms? What did you expect? It was only a matter of time before a "missional" LCMS congregation tried to tear down one of the very few remaining differences between itself and the non-denominational megachurch across town. I write this as someone who once attended a congregation that proudly models itself after King of Kings.
In the past, a scandal in an LCMS congregation would have been talked about on various Lutheran blogs and websites for decades while synod and district leaders slept. Is there a reason why the synod leaders responded so quickly regarding the rebaptism issue? Please don't tell me it was done just because the LCMS synod election is later this year. There must be better reasons than that!
I noted Reverend Finnern's response to a question about repentance (on the "On The Line" podcast with with Reverend Stecker, which aired recently), where he said that repentance requires taking responsibility. It is not saying, "I'm sorry you misunderstood me." Ànd after reading this, I wonder if he thinks it applies to KoK's "apology"
I'm horribly confused. Where/how do our LCMS pastors (such as in this case and any other recent traumatic episode, i.e Orange, California or Arlington, Virginia or you name it) come up with these ideas? How many LCMS pastors have abandoned the liturgy entirely or fail to use the lectionaries to guide their preaching?? Are they developing these concepts in Seminary?? The malignancy seems to be unfettered, manifested in so many ways. It's very troubling to this layman.
It's good that there was a swift response; it's difficult to see how it is a sufficient response. Applying water to people who want to "renew" their baptisms "In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" is at the very least a misuse of the name of the Holy Trinity, verging on blasphemy. One does not "renew" one's baptism. It is the work of God. One returns to it in repentance and faith. In the video it was impossible to hear Pastor Zehnder's words, but it was clear that he was invoking the name of the Trinity both as he "renewed" the baptism of some and as he baptized others. It is a mistake no pastor who subscribes to the Lutheran Confessions sincerely could or should make
This issue needs to be further examined as King of Kings will no doubt keep trying to push the edge of the envelope with their practices. I don't trust Pr. Zehnder's statements as, at times, he says he thinks what folks questioning him want to hear.
And this is further proof of what many of us have been saying for decades: "lex orandi, lex credendi". How you worship is the law of what you believe. It should come as no surprise that when a church's worship is practically indistinguishable from a non-denominational church, its administration of the Sacrament of Baptism comes to resemble that of a non-denominational church as well.
There used to be a place on King of Kings website that explicitly talked about re-baptism (I previously found it when addressing some concerns I had with Red Letter Challenge). It’s no longer on the site, but it’s not surprising that this happened there.
You can find it on the waybackmachine, 2024-02-24:
https://web.archive.org/web/20240224092845/https://www.kingofkings.org/web/20240224092845/https://www.kingofkings.org/baptism/#1659543089193-b64f6c6b-860a
It reads, "What if I want to renew my baptism?
We are 100% behind you if you wish to renew your baptism. We don’t call it a “re-baptism” since we believe that baptism is a one-time event and that God works powerfully in that baptism. If you wish to renew and celebrate what God did in your baptism, you are more than welcome to let us know you’re interested."
The DP’s spin - that the pastor was using ‘a form of the baptismal formula’ instead of just saying that he was ‘using the baptismal formula’ - is puzzling. It implies that the pastor was doing something that was just a little unclear and subject to leading to ‘confusion.’
In fact, the pastor said, “I baptize you.” He did not say “Let us remember when you were baptized” or any other such thing.
This is the orandi of many non-sacramental churches that will repeat baptism leading to a false confession of the credendi.
This is what happens when Lutherans (Paleo-Evangelicals) imitate Neo-Evangelicals for the sake of attracting the kinds of numbers that Neo-Evangelical megachurches do.
This is a case study.
With respect to some of the concerns, they are all valid, but we must not discount the enormous signal this news has flashed across the Synod, just as Harrison's statement on Charlie Kirk left the Libs not coping and turbo-seething. Even liberal districts are not going to get away with deforming our confession and praxis as boldly as they used to. The consequent black pilling in the Ex-Lutheran thread on Reddit is very encouraging. https://www.reddit.com/r/exLutheran/
Most of the contributors on that Reddit exLutheran page are former confessional Lutherans complaining that the LCMS (and the WELS) reject "progressive values."
They don't like that confessional Lutherans reject: women's ordination, promiscuity, homosexuality, the "non-traditional" family, climate change, social justice, illegal immigration, "green" energy, vaxxx mandates, BLM, identity politics, the (anti-MAGA) goals of the World Economic Forum, and that followers of non-Christian religions Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. will not be saved.
If you decide to ignore such posts on that exLutheran Reddit page, what is left? Ignoring such posts instantly excludes 95% percent of them.
The LCMS (and the WELS - although the WELS is too far gone at the Synod level to matter anymore) should pay serious attention to the remaining 5% of those posts. Below is one of them. Pay special attention to these talking points:
1, 2a, 2b, 8, 9, 12, 13, 17a, 17b, 17c
Source:
https://www.reddit.com/r/exLutheran/comments/wd3pmy/my_list_of_problems_with_the_lcms_which_lead_me/
Clergy sweat to get a specialized masters degree - an M.Div. degree that is considered worthless outside of church work. The degree also includes learning basic Hebrew and Greek.
Clergy should at minimum be compensated as much as a public high school teacher in the town where they work. They also should be married, and with 4-6 kids, to set an example for the rest of us to follow. They may need more than 40k a year in order to feed those kids.
Based on your response, I am guessing the clergy you are referring to are working in areas where the poverty rate is over 50%?
Rev. Zehnder: “I am sorry for the public confusion our service from January 28, 2024, and subsequent quarterly services caused…. I ask the Lord’s forgiveness and ours, for the confusion and offense it caused.”
Rev. Griffith: “I sincerely apologize to anyone I offended”
These are not apologies for their heterodox practices of the so-called “renewal of baptism” (re-baptism). These are Benke-style apologies for some people being confused and offended.
Well said.
I, perhaps with some cynicism, note that the apologies appear to be around what was seen and how people took/saw what was seen.... not apologies centered on what was actually done. The classic "i'm sorry that you took it that way", shifting the blame to the observer.
Snow, Zehnder, and Griffith are not telling the truth about the cross-dressing man that was "baptized" at the church on January 28, 2024. This is that man: https://getordained.org/find-a-minister/34868/yukie-lola-nashaia-soto-elliott
https://control.resi.io/webplayer/video.html?id=Njk1NjU3OWQtMjA0NC00NDJmLTk4MTctOTk3ZjRiZmM3MzVlOmIyZGYyY2UwLWJlMjItMTFlZS1hMzlmLTM3Nzg2ZTJiMjcwYw==&type=library&autoplay=false
It took them forever to respond, and when they finally did, they reduced it to a “confusion.” Translation: in their eyes, nothing actually wrong happened, and the rest of us just misunderstood.
But they never dealt with the actual transgender issue at all. And unless I missed it, the Synod President still has not weighed in.
And this is far more egregious than the “transgender stole-wearing” guy, too.
I didn't see the video. I wish Pr Zehnder fruitful ministry and I am glad he has a mind and heart for outreach. Obviously a renewal of Baptism is extrabiblical and doesn't do justice to the meaning of Baptism. This is also a reason why we don't need online MDivs with people being shaped mostly in their local congregations.
Was Pastor Zegnder a SMP? I've seen heterodox practices also coming from our seminaries.
Also, a transgender man can’t claim to be repentant if he still dresses in women’s clothing for his baptism.
Christian News covered what was neglected here. https://christiannewsmissouri.com/2026/01/17/video-evidence-of-transgender-baptism-re-baptism-at-king-of-kings-omaha-nebraska/
Big, big yikes.
Don't worry folks, nothing to see here. Move along. Lets talk about racist podcasts not how member churches subvert the foundations of Lutheranism.
If you are referring to Roseborough arguing nonstop with a Fed (Mahler), then yes, attacking fed-built strawmen is misdirection. Roseborough needs to stop the senseless rabbit-chasing and return to critiquing Evangelicals, which is what he does best.
Secondarily yes. Primarily the 2026 resolutions calling for the disavowel of all things stone choir including their listeners. And antisepticism...don't forget antiseptic thoughts are bad and in opposition to Vatican II.
The origin of the Jews being at fault for everything is the original deception. Followers of stone choir are falling for it. Synod leaders could do everyone a favor by telling everyone to replace the word "Jew" with the word "globalist." Look at the goals of the UN, of various "world organizations," and of the WEF. They stand in opposition to Christianity and to traditional family values. "You will own nothing and be happy."
Would The Donald visiting Davos be interpreted as "Christian Nationalist" pushback against the WEF?
Below is a great news source every confessional Lutheran should read:
https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/
Specific and timely WEF stuff here:
https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/about-face-monday-january-19-2026
When a Lutheran church copies *everything* that a non-denominational church teaches, the only doctrinal differences that remain are infant baptism, the doctrine of Real Presence, and the belief in rapture.
Rebaptisms? What did you expect? It was only a matter of time before a "missional" LCMS congregation tried to tear down one of the very few remaining differences between itself and the non-denominational megachurch across town. I write this as someone who once attended a congregation that proudly models itself after King of Kings.
In the past, a scandal in an LCMS congregation would have been talked about on various Lutheran blogs and websites for decades while synod and district leaders slept. Is there a reason why the synod leaders responded so quickly regarding the rebaptism issue? Please don't tell me it was done just because the LCMS synod election is later this year. There must be better reasons than that!
I noted Reverend Finnern's response to a question about repentance (on the "On The Line" podcast with with Reverend Stecker, which aired recently), where he said that repentance requires taking responsibility. It is not saying, "I'm sorry you misunderstood me." Ànd after reading this, I wonder if he thinks it applies to KoK's "apology"
I'm horribly confused. Where/how do our LCMS pastors (such as in this case and any other recent traumatic episode, i.e Orange, California or Arlington, Virginia or you name it) come up with these ideas? How many LCMS pastors have abandoned the liturgy entirely or fail to use the lectionaries to guide their preaching?? Are they developing these concepts in Seminary?? The malignancy seems to be unfettered, manifested in so many ways. It's very troubling to this layman.