A Reaction to Pastor Matthew Scharf’s Essay “Gospel Ministry—Gift, Giver, and Getter”

Abstract

Chuck Westra’s essay, The WELS in Colorado Springs: The Suspension of Mt. Olive Ev. Luth. Church (1988), recounts the events leading to the suspension of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) in 1972. The controversy originated with Pastor Harold Schulz’s suspension in 1967 over his interpretation of the Third Use of the Law and escalated when Pastor James Koch of Mt. Olive protested Schulz’s suspension at the 1971 Synod convention. Koch charged two statements in WELS educational manuals as false doctrine, sparking prolonged conflict with synod officials. Despite multiple meetings, doctrinal presentations, and appeals, Koch refused to recant, and Mt. Olive supported him, resulting in their suspension. The dispute centered on the proper teaching of the Law’s role for believers, with Koch citing confessional sources and accusing WELS of inconsistency. Legal battles over church property followed, ultimately awarding assets to members loyal to WELS. The break led to the formation of Salem Lutheran Church and later another mission, Fount of Life, in Colorado Springs. Westra highlights how doctrinal disagreements, procedural disputes, and strained relationships disrupted WELS’s work in the region, underscoring the challenges of maintaining unity in doctrine and practice. Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT‑4).