When I was in college, it did not take long to discover Christian News and it was urgent reading (that and Missouri in Perspective) during the tumultuous years of the Lutheran Battle for the Bible. To his credit, Herman Otten correctly saw that there was a different spirit developing at the flagship seminary of the Synod. Many will disagree over how different that spirit was but it is clear in hindsight that an unhealthful distance had developed between old Missouri and the emerging face of the new Missouri of the 1960s.
Herman was a tiger in print but gracious in person. As a college student choosing a seminary several of my friends and I made the pilgrimage to the Oracle of New Haven. We were surprised to find that he was a most welcoming fellow in person and would not let us leave without a meal. When I was in my first parish, I encountered the Monthie family who had hosted Herman and his brother Walter on their farm some summers of their youth. It was in the Atlantic District, his old stomping grounds, that I met other members of the Otten family -- Marie Meyer, his sister, and Paul Behling, his cousin. Later I got to meet Walter and Ruth Otten. Suffice it to say that not all the Ottens sounded like Herman!
The last time I spoke to Herman was when he called me earlier this year to congratulate me on an opinion piece I had written for the Forum Letter. "Brilliant" is what he called me (even in print!). It was not the first time he had quoted my blog but most of his quotes were not flattering. Herman was not a person who believed personal loyalty should overlook disagreements. In fact, you could be brilliant one moment and a hypo-euro sacerdotalist another (a serious charge from Otten). Herman judged all things by issues and was dogged in the pursuit of what he felt were the most important causes to face Lutheranism in general and Missouri in particular. Nearly every Synod President or candidate for that office since the 1960s had to deal with Herman. He was remarkably consistent but he would not fail to punish those who crossed him or who took him for granted or ignored him. If you were mentioned in Christian News you were one of many. He was still relishing his role as kingmaker and influence right up to the hour he died. And to think that for most of that history he typed every word, bicycled the copy to Washington, Missouri, all the while pastoring a Lutheran congregation in New Haven and running a Lutheran camp nearby (with the help of his large family).
What does one say to the passing of an icon and an era? I wish I could come up with something pithy. All I know to say is this, Herman Otten left some rather big shoes and long outlived in years and in influence those who were his targets. As far as the future is concerned, it is likely that his family and some of his cohorts will keep publishing the newspaper for a while but like many enterprises, the Oracle of New Haven left no line of succession and no clear future for the enterprise that guaranteed him a mention in everyman's history of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. What is ironic is that he died in the midst of trying to unseat a Synodical President he initially worked to elect -- a familiar place for Herman over the years but with an ending that was a surprise even to him. One thing you cannot say, however, is that Herman was unclear about his faith or uncertain about his conviction that Jesus Christ was and is his Savior and Lord. So now is a time to let that be the final word and to wish to his family the comfort of the Gospel and the hope of the resurrection of the dead to everlasting life..
41 comments:
While his exposure of false doctrine was helpful, it does not excuse the decades of unrelenting libel he published attacking the good name and reputation of so many. His unhinged rants and obsession with denying the Holocaust is a legacy that will not be forgotten
He gave yellow journalism a niche in the LCMS. He never understood
the 8th Commandment was meant for everyone, including Herman Otten.
As an unhinged zealot for his own brand of Lutheranism, he often would
smear those who disagreed with him.
Before there was Jack Cascione and Reclaiming Walther, there was Herman Otten. I would like to think that Christian News was instrumental in exposing Machine politics in the LCMS. There is still much work to be done in exposing the sick agendas of Congregations Matter, of FiveTwo, and of miscellaneous Lutheran pastors who have Rick Warren books in their church libraries...
Rev. Herman Otten was no role model or someone to admire. He had
an axe to grind since he was never certified for ordination by the
faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. So he spent a lifetime
as a bitter person who tried his best to bring down his enemies.
Rev. Herman Otten was introduced on the first page of the Introduction in \i{Power, Politics, and the Missouri Synod} by Dr. James Burkee (Fortress Press, 2013) (also in his Ph.D. dissertation):
"In late 1958, a brash young seminarian from the Bronx, New York, named Herman Otten stood before the faculty of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, to answer charges that he had “violated the law of love” as expressed by Jesus in the New Testament. Earlier that year, Otten had leveled accusations of heresy against several seminarians. Later, in a secret meeting with Synod president John W. Behnken, Otten charged that members of the Concordia faculty were teaching heresy, denying the veracity of cherished Bible stories, and questioning scripture’s inerrancy and infallibility. Faculty members, soon confronted by Behnken with Otten’s charges, were incensed. They demanded not only that Otten admit that he had sinned in making charges without first confronting the accused—a clear violation of the principle of Matthew 18—but that he retract his accusations. Otten refused. and so the faculty stood in judgment: after years of study and a graduate degree, Herman Otten would not be certified by Concordia Seminary for service as a minister in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). In effect, he was blackballed from the church.
"Fourteen years later, in October 1972, many of the same men who had sat in judgment of young Otten were marched, one at a time, before a similar committee in St. Louis. This time, they were on trial. Each man was now forced to answer the charges first raised by Otten in 1958: Were Adam and Eve real historical persons? Was Jesus’ mother, Mary, a virgin? Is the holy Bible infallible and inerrant? Within three years, all but five would be out of a job, fired after a series of political defeats, tactical errors, and self-exile."
Yes, Otten was very helpful during the Synod's Seminex crisis, and the years following. He and his blind followers felt that the good he did in those years somehow granted him a blanket immunity for all the horrible sinful libel he printed for so many decades following. Speaking of him as a "hero" must be tempered by the reality of the legacy he left behind: trashy yellow journalism, unrelenting sin against the 8th commandment and a delusional, if not deranged, denial of the Holocaust, among other things.
In an hour-long video of a KMOX television public affairs program from around 1974, with other panelists including Rev. Samuel J. Roth, Gerald A. Miller, and Rev. Thomas A. Baker, discussing the doctrinal conflicts in the Missouri Synod that eventually resulted in Seminex, and later, the XXXA, Rev. Otten addressed (00:22:58) the question of where the authority is in the church:
"I would say that the ultimate authority in our church still is Scripture. And for that reason the position held by Mr. Miller and a good majority of the faculty at the seminary is contrary to Scripture. And for that reason I maintain they have no right remaining in our church as professors as long as they do not affirm, for instance, the historicity of Adam and Eve
"Now I know we can talk about all sorts of fancy language here about 'We affirm the historicity' or 'We don't affirm.' The fact of the matter remains these men do not affirm the historicity of Adam and Eve as that is commonly understood.
"Today we have, actually, an untruthful use of language in our church. Our professors will say, 'We believe in the historicity of Adam and Eve.' And then you start questioning them. What do you mean by history? Do you mean it's an event that occurred like George Washington in 1776 crossing the Delaware River?
" 'Well, now it's a little different than that, you see. It happened in a different realm, perhaps the realm of geschichte.' Or you know they make that distinction between the two realms of history."
Anonymous, analogous to your venomous condemnations of Herman Otten and his followers on April 25, 2019 at 4:33 PM, and on April 26, 2019 at 8:55 AM. and at 9:58 AM, the Lutheran Church, particularly those congregations within the Missouri Synod, should castigate and disown Martin Luther and his followers because of his later writings about the Jews.
A July 26, 2012, New Haven Banner article, "BREAKING NEWS: Pastor Herman Otten leaving Trinity Lutheran Church after 55 years," discusses Rev. Herman Otten's career, accomplishments, and interactions with the Missouri Synod.
Vehse is a good example of the blind loyalty that would require us all simply to ignore the reality of Otten's unrelenting campaign of publishing libel and slander for many decades, sinfully breaking the 8th commandment without apology for decades, and he would have us excuse it all and ignore it because of Otten's role in exposing the errors of Seminex.
This is delusional hero worship, which we have come to expect from "Carl Vehse" aka Richard Strickert of Austin, Texas. I agree with Anonymous' remarks about Otten.
On April 26, 2019 at 10:35 AM, Anonymous continues to spew his violations of the 8th commandment, which he projects on others. There has been no blind loyalty or hero worship in my comments about Rev. Otten, who has been correct on many issues and wrong on others.
OTOH, the continuing comments of Anonymous are evidence of his true hatemongering nature.
Vehse proves himself a true disciple of Otten, making use of the Otten rhetorical playbook. Such sad and pathetic creatures are they both.
Greg
The real sad and pathetic creature, Greg, is one who labels the revealing of lies posted by Anonymous @ 10:35 AM as coming from a rhetorical playbook.
The funeral service for Rev. Herman John Otten will be Sunday, April 28th, 2 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, New Haven, MO.
Maybe someone will count how many Missouri Synod or District officials show up. Or maybe someone will be there to count how many LCMS pastors dare to show up.
Apparently, we are supposed to make-believe that Otten's obsessive raging libel and slander against thousands of people never happened and instead the good that he did when he blew the whistle on Seminex is all that should be remembered. Vehse and other Otten worshippers would have us all turn a blind eye to his maniacal and delusional rantings for decades, his denial of the Holocaust, his anti-semiticism and his close association with many fundamentalist false teachers.
R. Kendall
R. Kendell, I have not advocated turning a blind eye to anything that Rev. Otten did. If you think otherwise, then please identify where you believe I specifically advocated such a view. Otherwise your false accusation reveals you as fitting Luther's Large Catechism description of swine who "roll themselves in their feces and root in it with their snout."
I am glad to know you agree with me Mr. Vehse.
RK
If you are now telling the truth, R. Kendall, apologize for your false accusations in your April 26, 2019, at 1:22 PM post.
The question is not if I'm telling the truth, but if you are, Mr. Vehse. Do you agree with my comments about Otten? If so, state so.
RK
Well, Mr. Vehse?
RK
Here's the way it works, R. Kendall: As I stated in my post on April 26, 2019 at 1:46 PM, you made a false accusation in your April 26, 2019, at 1:22 PM post. You were asked to apologize for it. So far you have not done so.
The question to be answered is: Do you, R. Kendall, still chose to remain with your lie?
There are three ways to look at Herman Otten.
[Black] He was a total reprobate and had nothing good to contribute to the well being of the life of the Church.
[White] He was a super hero of the faith and worthy of a place in the Church hall of fame, next to King David and Moses - Both of whom violated Commandment V.
[Gray] He was a complex human being that lived simul iustus et peccator and, putting the best construction on his life and works, was penitent and received the full forgiveness of his sins.
CV, just as I thought you would....bob and weave, dodge and duck, etc. Not surprised, thanks for proving my point. RK
Project away, RK, but your lie remains with you.
Lie? Prove it. Agree with my statements about Otten and I'll gladly say I was wrong about you and your hero worship of Otten. Go ahead...I'll wait.
RK
I showed you are a liar in my post of April 26, 2019 at 1:46 PM. You, R. Kendall, have chosen to remain so.
And now you issue an ultimatum?!? You have now shown, Kendall, that you are an arrogant liar.
Still waiting, Vehse. Do you, or do you not, agree with my assertions about Otten? If you say you do, I'll gladly apologize. I'm waiting.
You wait as an unrepentant and arrogant liar, who should not partake in the Lord's Supper tomorrow while you continue to be unrepentant.
Do you, or do you not, agree with my assertions about Herman Otten? Still waiting. Your hero worship comments remain. Your refusal to agree with my comments about Otten remains. I'd be happy to apologize, but you need to give me a reason to. Blustering as you do make you look like a fool.
RK.
I made no "hero worship comments," thus you lie again, R Kendall. Your continuing posts only flaunt your arrogant impenitence.
Do you agree with my remarks about Herman Otten, or not? Yes/no. Easy question.
Your continuing refusal to answer a simple question continues to prove that in fact you are simply all about Otten hero worship.
I'm still waiting.
But I'm patient. You keep avoiding the question, I'll keep asking.
Still waiting for your answer, Vehse.
My answer on April 26, 2019 at 11:37 AM is a clear comment on Rev. Otten and a sufficient refutation of your lies. And if you are going to wait, spend your time thinking about what your false witness and arrogance have done and continue to do to rot your soul... and on a public blog for the whole world can see.
If not to me, then see your pastor and confess your sins to him and receive absolution.
Since it is clear that both Messieurs Strickert (Vehse) and Kendall know each other, it is not necessary to jab against each other here. Email each other or fight it out on Facebook but these are not comments appropriate to the topic.
Carl Vehse loves to pontificate, spout off and never be called out. He has revealed himself to be the baffoon he is. He praises Otten, cries foul when called on it, then plays games when confronted with hard facts. Would his father really have been proud of his son's online sinful activity? I'm sure he would be horribly embarrassed.
Doug from Dallas, TX
Psa 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Psa 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
It's asshole racists like Herman Otten that made me flee the Missouri Synod
I have always wondered how a true Christian could have such a love affair with the so-called "Jews." After all, the orthodox Jews are "anti" Christ, and the atheist Jews are even anti-God. Meanwhile the ethnic Jews can be anyone of any race or religion, including Al Gore's daughter and Donald Trump's son in law. Whatever happened to the bible verse "be not equally yoked to unbelievers?" These people that call themselves "Jews" have a proven history of corruption, communism, and anti-Americanism, most notably involving usury money (which in and of itself is anti-scriptural), and funding governments to fight ongoing wars (which is mass murder and terrorism). Not to mention satanic involvement. Why is the so-called "Christian" church so adamant about either defending them or, worse yet, being hush-hush about all of their scandalous activity? Not Herman Otten, not Martin Luther. Where is there a scriptural marriage between "Evangelicals" and today's "Jews"? I dread the answer. It is apostacy. Because anyone who calls themselves a Christian and is yoked to the "Jews" either does not understand the role of Christ or else refuses to believe it, namely, lacks having a trusting faith, including Billy Graham. Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to heaven. It says that in the bible. The Jews are not A way to heaven's throne. That means God does not necessarily bless those who bless Israel. (Hello Baptists, Hello PTL club.) In fact, is not the reverse more likely to be true? Just look at America ever since the Federal Reserve became the Jew's main synagogue. Oh, sure, maybe America is the richest nation on earth, thanks to our reserve currency, but is it not one of the most relationally bankrupt? Is it also one of the most spiritually bankrupt? Yes it is if it does not believe that Jesus is the only way we have access to God the father. That means that all of the shiny cars, all of the bank accounts, all of the monster homes, and all of the stock-casino portfolios--thanks to the Jews ponsi schemes--are the only glimpse of heaven America's apostate Christians will ever see. As Herman Otten reported, which is also common history, the only Jew that has any relevancy to scripture and therefore any relevancy to American Christianity is someone who was born of parents who (both) belonged to one of the twelve tribes of Israel--Jesus Christ being the last one that mattered as far as biblical prophecy is concerned. The Jews have done so much interbreeding and fornicating since the time Jesus died on the cross that there is likely not one Jew left on this planet. But even if there was one left, who is to say who it is? All of the pedigree papers were destroyed when the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. (Can any historian who is reading this prove otherwise?; please do so if you can.)So if "God blesses those who bless Israel," good luck trying to find anyone of the tribe of Israel to go and give your idolatrous offering--such as your gambling token drawn on margin in a multi-national corporation. Even worse, good luck trying to prove you found him or her so you can claim your blessing, even if it is only to go to sleep that night praising yourself to God for doing so. And if that "Jew" is not a Christian "Jew," shame on you instead--namely a curse. After all, you have used that human being as a mediator to get access to God. You have not used Jesus Christ. That means you have no mediator. In other words, you either do not understand what faith is or else you DO understand what faith is but you do NOT have it. Therefore, God has turned away His face from you. You have no blessing except material blessing from the prince of the earth (aka Satan, which, by the way, is many of the "Jew's" god, even as is their "God of Money").
Please prove me wrong if I'm wrong
You are not wrong Anti Anti Otten.
I began to read Otten's 'Christian News' in the 80's, and unknown to him, he was an influencer that solidified my decision to become a 'confessional Lutheran pastor'; I remain a confessional Lutheran even causing the chagrin of others I've debated inside and outside our synod who claim they are 'confessional', but do not teach or practice what to they've subscribed to in our BoC. Pfarr Otten was a sinner-saint, imperfect yet declared righteous. I am personally thankful to God for using him for all the good he did in glorifying Christ's Name and edifying many in His Church.
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