Any future meetings between the ILC members and ILC pastor, congregational, or district officials need to be recorded. This is substantiated by Ryan Turnipseed's experience.
More offense and breach of faith, trust, and process happened again today in the service (livestream was cut before the comments were made to parishioners, but which statements have been reported to the banned members.)
Two whistleblowing members of Immanuel Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Easton, Maryland, have been banned from church property and face expulsion. Here is the breakdown:
The Core Conflict
For over a year, these members—who have backgrounds in compliance and law—privately raised detailed concerns to church leadership and district officials regarding financial mismanagement and potential federal harboring liability (related to a church partnership with an immigrant group). Leadership consistently ignored these warnings.
The Retaliation
After the whistleblowers shared their findings with Ad Crucem News, leadership moved to discipline them. Pastor Mark Tooley and the Board of Elders accused them of “slander” and causing “division” for speaking to the media.
The Institutional Failure
Procedural Bypass: The church is attempting to expel the couple without following the mandatory Matthew 18:15–17 process, which requires specific, graduated admonitions that never occurred.
Contempt for Synod Rules: The members formally invoked LCMS Bylaw 1.10, which provides a right to independent dispute resolution (using trained reconcilers) for those facing excommunication. Leadership ignored this request and moved directly to a property ban and a special assembly vote to expel.
The “Comfort Dog” Smear: Leadership utilized a national LCMS ministry (Lutheran Church Charities) to publish a press release implying the congregation was in “trauma” due to the whistleblowers, essentially using a public platform to paint them as dangerous agitators before even holding a vote.
The Verdict
This is a classic case of institutional self-preservation. Leadership is prioritizing the silencing of dissent and the concealment of governance failures over the spiritual and legal welfare of the congregation. The members are being punished not for heresy, but for being “inconvenient” to the established hierarchy, which has been aided by District President Bill Harmon. The whistleblowers are now formally challenging this entire process at the Synod level.
Wow! I have also been involved in a similar situation. I really like President Harrison, but his actions make me wonder why he'd want to run again for his position. He doesn't seem able to exercise his authority as president.
I see LCMS, Inc. denying the request. If I read it right, all the congregation has to do is table the excommunication process. Then authorities in this matter can wash their hands before the people.
It occurs to me that ILC leadership does not fully understand the existential threat their mismanagement has created should the Internal Revenue Service discover what they have been up to. A simple CC should cure that. A line from “The Hunt For Red October” comes to mind: “You arrogant ass…you’ve killed us!” <boom>.
I wish I could say I'm surprised, shocked, and appalled. I live in the Michigan District. This behavior has been normalized here during my entire 50 years. I do not see any LCMS President, no matter how good or bad, future, or present, able to do anything about it. 100 years of the best president won't heal the Kieschnick years. And we wonder why people leave for Eastern Orthodox or other churches...
Any future meetings between the ILC members and ILC pastor, congregational, or district officials need to be recorded. This is substantiated by Ryan Turnipseed's experience.
More offense and breach of faith, trust, and process happened again today in the service (livestream was cut before the comments were made to parishioners, but which statements have been reported to the banned members.)
Who can read all of this?
Who can navigate ornate synodical bylaws if they don't already have a bunch of shark lawyers on staff?
This couple should have shaken the dust off a long time ago. Probably against swamp suburb MD as well.
Maybe it would help the faithful congregations if someone worse than even Biermann takes over and kicks all of them out.
gab.ai summary follows, f w i w
Two whistleblowing members of Immanuel Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Easton, Maryland, have been banned from church property and face expulsion. Here is the breakdown:
The Core Conflict
For over a year, these members—who have backgrounds in compliance and law—privately raised detailed concerns to church leadership and district officials regarding financial mismanagement and potential federal harboring liability (related to a church partnership with an immigrant group). Leadership consistently ignored these warnings.
The Retaliation
After the whistleblowers shared their findings with Ad Crucem News, leadership moved to discipline them. Pastor Mark Tooley and the Board of Elders accused them of “slander” and causing “division” for speaking to the media.
The Institutional Failure
Procedural Bypass: The church is attempting to expel the couple without following the mandatory Matthew 18:15–17 process, which requires specific, graduated admonitions that never occurred.
Contempt for Synod Rules: The members formally invoked LCMS Bylaw 1.10, which provides a right to independent dispute resolution (using trained reconcilers) for those facing excommunication. Leadership ignored this request and moved directly to a property ban and a special assembly vote to expel.
The “Comfort Dog” Smear: Leadership utilized a national LCMS ministry (Lutheran Church Charities) to publish a press release implying the congregation was in “trauma” due to the whistleblowers, essentially using a public platform to paint them as dangerous agitators before even holding a vote.
The Verdict
This is a classic case of institutional self-preservation. Leadership is prioritizing the silencing of dissent and the concealment of governance failures over the spiritual and legal welfare of the congregation. The members are being punished not for heresy, but for being “inconvenient” to the established hierarchy, which has been aided by District President Bill Harmon. The whistleblowers are now formally challenging this entire process at the Synod level.
Wow! I have also been involved in a similar situation. I really like President Harrison, but his actions make me wonder why he'd want to run again for his position. He doesn't seem able to exercise his authority as president.
I see LCMS, Inc. denying the request. If I read it right, all the congregation has to do is table the excommunication process. Then authorities in this matter can wash their hands before the people.
The Iron Law of Beuracacy is certainly working with the LCMS.
It occurs to me that ILC leadership does not fully understand the existential threat their mismanagement has created should the Internal Revenue Service discover what they have been up to. A simple CC should cure that. A line from “The Hunt For Red October” comes to mind: “You arrogant ass…you’ve killed us!” <boom>.
I wish I could say I'm surprised, shocked, and appalled. I live in the Michigan District. This behavior has been normalized here during my entire 50 years. I do not see any LCMS President, no matter how good or bad, future, or present, able to do anything about it. 100 years of the best president won't heal the Kieschnick years. And we wonder why people leave for Eastern Orthodox or other churches...
Take home lesson: Follow your bylaws. All too often, I see congregations ignore their own bylaws. Follow them.
100%. No shortcuts. If it's too difficult, address the bylaws to align with the church's structure and capacity.